James Bond Watches Blog

What would those most passionate in the watch collecting community like to see James Bond wear for a wristwatch in the new “Project X” novel coming out next May 28?

This was a question I put to one of the more highly trafficked Internet forums just over a month ago now, as promised here on this James Bond Watches Blog on July 27. I’d actually posted the poll one day prior to that, targeting watch folks across the spectrum of interests.

My survey ran 30 days, was viewed over 800 times, and garnered 98 votes.

Here are the results. continue reading…

They say the best place to hide your most important assets is in plain sight.

And that’s exactly the approach agreed upon by the very small number of us who were in-the-know during my top secret assignment to personally courier Ian Fleming’s only known Rolex Explorer reference 1016 watch to the United States earlier this year.

How?

I wore it on my wrist.

Having actually worked professionally for many years in security (a part of my résumé that has continued applicability in my commitment to James Bond horology), I’m continue reading…

Last Thursday, Omega SA unveiled version 1.0 of its very impressive wristwatch App on the iTunes Store.

As those of you who Follow me on Twitter already know, a Facebook Friend of mine from Italy alerted me to this over the weekend. I immediately downloaded it (free) to my iPhone 4, and now I’m here to share first impressions.

All positive.

Development goals clearly focused on active and potential customers interested in current models — and making it easier to buy through continue reading…

“Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” will feature for the first time anywhere a complete collection of all watch models identical to those provided by Seiko UK to Eon Productions for wear by Roger Moore as Agent 007.

As visitors to our James Bond watch exhibit at the National Watch & Clock Museum have already seen, Seiko UK has provided us with exclusive documentation that details specific case and model numbers for every type of wristwatch delivered to the filmmakers as part of its product placement agreement.

These movies include The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), and A View to a Kill (1985). Of the eight watches identified, seven were continue reading…

What sort of packaging, paperwork, and other materials came with the purchase of a new 1960 Rolex reference 1016 Explorer?

As the only real-world wristwatch ever chosen by Ian Fleming for his fictional James Bond character (and the only Rolex that’s been confirmed as his own, personally worn by him), this is the next logical question of serious collectors and diehard 007 fans.

One answer comes from Christie’s, which, according to its website, continue reading…

When I worked in professional advertising, it was often the small, simple print ads that gave me the greatest satisfaction.

These hardworking pieces forced our creative team to hone layout and dominant graphic, make every word of copy earn its keep, and come up with a headline that compelled if not differntiated on a magazine page full of other options for reading.

This ad for the Pulsar P2 from 1973 ran in print publications around the same time that actor Roger Moore was wearing an exactly similar model for his inaugural (big  screen) debut as James Bond, Agent 007, in Live and Let Die, from Eon Productions.

Measuring just 2¼” wide by 5″ tall, it tells us the material from which this wristwatch is made, that is is accurate to within 60 seconds a year, and that it sells for $275.00 at retail.

By way of perspective, the watch worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond in Quantum of Solace (2008) is rated to an accuracy of between +6 and -4 seconds per day.

In 1973, persuit of “the ultimate in wristwatches” was still centered on timekeeping. The Quartz Revolution was in its infancy — although coming on fast. And at this point in history, it was not only anticipated that digital watches would ultimately dominate, but that the preferred technology would be based on the light-emitting diode (“LED”) as opposed to liquid-crystal-diode (“LCD”) displays.

But power consumption was an issue for either approach; for LEDs, it was huge. To its credit, Hamilton did what I continue reading…

Online registration just opened for the upcoming “James Bond Enthusiasts Weekend,” September 10-11, 2010, in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

This first-of-its-kind event is being held at the National Watch & Clock Museum, where the exciting “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibit is already attracting an increased number of visitors to the facility.

A program schedule for the “James Bond Enthusiasts Weekend” was posted here on the James Bond Watches Blog, July 22.

Now I’m here to give you a head’s up on getting your reservations in via the Museum website. continue reading…

From 1977 through 1985, Mark Mills was the go-to guy for James Bond watches from Seiko UK that were featured in all five of the Eon Productions 007 films released during that period.

His second-most-important contribution to James Bond watch researchers and collectors is in the written documentation that he has provided directly to me as definitive identification of all eight distinct Seiko models that were used. On June 17, 2010, this paperwork was shown publicly for the first time when we cut the ribbon on “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches,” a special exhibit running through April 30, 2011, at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Professionally, Mr. Mills proudly carries the designation of “FBHI,” indicating that he is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute. He’s also served two years as its chair.

He has also owned two Seiko models tied to the James Bond films continue reading…

Mark Mills, Technical Support Manager for Seiko UK, turned out the light on his bench for the final time this past Friday.

And with that, the last personal connection between the Eon Productions James Bond films and Seiko wristwatches came to an end.

But I got to know Mr. Mills not in his current capacity nor most recent accomplishments — of which there are an impressive many.

Rather, it was in connection with one of his first assignments for the company then referred to as Seiko Time, which he joined almost a decade into his chosen profession. That year was 1977. Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli had negotiated a deal to put a Seiko LCD watch on Bond’s wrist through a unique product placement partnership for The Spy Who Loved Me. continue reading…

Shortly before the death of Ian Fleming in August of 1964, the James Bond comic strip returned to print after disappearing from The Daily Express in 1962.

This came via serialization for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, illustrated by John McLusky. It’s the second of three frames from strip number 144, which finds 007 in disguise as Sir Hilary Bray, preparing to make good his escape from Blofeld’s hideaway in the Alps of Switzerland.

Although Mr. Fleming himself could not have provided input or sign-off on Mr. McLusky’s interpretation, a descriptive basis did, of course, exist in the novel itself, published during the first half of 1963. Two or more different movie watches could have been seen as well, including the Rolex 6538 reference, identified for JamesBondWatches.com by internationally-recognized expert and collector Franca E. Guido Mondani (blog). continue reading…

With the draft manuscript still months away, and a publication date set for May 28, 2011, exact details for the next James Bond novel — code named “Project X” — are far from set in stone.

Exactly the sort of environment that makes a rumor-mill grind fine. Advocates will scream. And second-guessers will continue reading…

Columbia, Pennsylvania— Ever thought of what it would be like to live a night in the alluring world of James Bond? Are you up to the challenge of testing your knowledge of 007 film and book trivia in competition against some of the most passionate aficionados anywhere?

Mark your calendars for the weekend of September 10 through 11 when a special “James Bond Enthusiasts Weekend” will be held in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Those who attend are encouraged to dress as their favorite James Bond character, whether it is one of the glamorous Bond girls, infamous villain, henchman, or Agent 007 himself. Anonymous judges will be present to decide on the best dressed character. Guests of all ages are allowed to attend. The kick-off Casino Night will include classic casino games such as Poker, Blackjack, and slot machines.

Prizes will be awarded to continue reading…

Here’s a truly fantastic example of how a museum can leverage its offerings as a physical communications medium to make youth education compelling.

“Secret Agent Training Camp” opens today at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Limited to 30-child enrollments, both the July 20 and July 22, 2010, sessions are already filled. But staff may repeat the program again during the balance of this summer.

Here’s what you can expect.

Kids (grades 1-6) go through secret agent training and find out if they have what it takes to solve a mystery at the Museum. The Museum is hosting a special exhibit — Bond Watches, James Bond Watches — during this event.

As Guest Curator for “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches,” I’m personally gratified to see our work serve to continue reading…

A day or so before “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” opened at the National Watch & Clock Museum, I started to hear a number of understandable discussions come from among the women with whom I was working behind the scenes.

“What are you going to wear Thursday evening?”

With so many of them rightfully able to claim Bond-girl status in appearance, including my own wife (“Mrs. James Bond Watches”), it certainly portended a preview of what we’re likely to see at the Museum again at the “James Bond Enthusiasts Weekend,” September 10-11, 2010.

But when things got down to business on Thursday, June 17, 2010, some of the key attention wasn’t so much female attire as it was 007 horology. From newspaper writers and television reporters to VIP guests and the top collectors in the field, the questions were all for me. Which watch was Dell Deaton wearing to the exhibit opening? And, as a close second: Who is my favorite James Bond actor?

I demured on both temptations to comment.

And more than simply withholding top secret information, this approach speaks volumes to why JamesBondWatches.com has succeeded where so many other James Bond watch researchers and commentators have failed. continue reading…