“How I Found the Original James Bond Watch”
The story behind the February 2009 WatchTime solution to a decades-old mystery
by Dell Deaton, jamesbondwatches.com
Further details on the literary James Bond watch have just been published by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (“NAWCC”) in its journal, Bulletin.
As I wrote for the first paragraph: “Details related to my making this first definitive identification were published in the February 2009 issue of WatchTime magazine. So this is not an article about ‘what’ Agent 007 wore, but, rather … ‘How was it found?’”
Source documentation discussions include research involving the manuscripts and an Uncorrected Proof of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service from the archives of the Lilly Library on the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington. Ian Fleming’s 1962 letter to Playboy magazine.
And, of course, Rolex paperwork.
Never-before-released technical details take readers inside the original James Bond Rolex. Specific caseback markings are discussed, its movement caliber disclosed. Moreover, the June 2009 issue of the NAWCC Bulletin describes the Radium dial with which Mr. Fleming’s Explorer was fitted at manufacture.
Look for a bit of controversy as well. For example, Ian Fleming obviously knew about the Rolex Submariner worn by Sean Connery during location filming for Dr. No in early 1962. James Bond’s creator then went on to clearly reject that as his own intent for the 007 wristwatch: Repeatedly.
NAWCC members started receiving their copies of the June Bulletin last week. If you’re not a member (you should be!), you can purchase this issue separately through their Gift Shop, and they’ll mail it out to you.
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