May 26, 2008

Following are results of a poll I ran in a highly-trafficked forum frequented by aficianados from across the spectrum of watch interests. I posted this survey on May 26, 2008, and ran it for 7 days. The thread was viewed well-over 500 times and garnered 69 votes as distributed below in response to the following question.

Do you have to actually own the watch you’re researching, interested in, passionate about to be ultimately satisfied in your search?

46%   Rolex: Because that is the only brand Ian Fleming referenced by name
22%   Any brand consistent with the Rolex image specified by Ian Fleming at the time he wrote the original James Bond books
19%   Omega: This is the company that is investing in the future of the films today
3%   Whatever watch brands Ian Fleming himself wore, personally: James Bond was his fantasy alter-ego
No one said   A cheap, disposible watch (deferring to the premise that 007 has frequently lost or destroyed his equipment in the field)
3%   Other
7%   No opinion / no answer

(Numbers may not exactly total 100% due to rounding.)

Of particular note here is the fact that this survey was initiated just two days before what would have been the 100th birthday of Ian Fleming, and celebrations surrounding the so-called “Ian Fleming Centenary.” Additionally, this feedback was obtained before the original (literary) James Bond watch was truly identified in the February 2009 issue of WatchTime magazine.