"Ian Fleming's Own James Bond Watch" display at the National Watch & Clock Museum, as it appeared before modification to recognize the new 007 author Jeffery Deaver yesterday
Our “Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch” display was changed yesterday.
And it won’t be returned to that first configuration, shown here, at left, on this James Bond Watches Blog.
As of 7:30am this past May 4, the Rolex and Omega watches were wound; synchronized and running in time with the functioning quartz Seiko completing this trio. The case was closed, security measures put in place. Here it is.
I’ve heard feedback from some that they’d prefer professional photos taken through the cover, as this is more historically representative of how visitors actually experienced it.
First editions of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service were included for the references made therein to the original literary James Bond 1016 Explorer that Ian Fleming not only wore on his wrist as he typed the very first manuscript, but also “wrote onto the wrist of James Bond” in exposition text. Topmost is a first-impression; underneath, a rarer, but inexplicably less popular Uncorrected Proof (only about 250 printings are believed to have been run).
We had several photograph options for showing Ian Fleming, some of which were previously part the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibit that this display follows at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania. We agreed on this openning to a page from the February 2009 issue of WatchTime magazine, showing my feature article, “Discovered: James Bond’s Rolex,” for the personal, relaxed side it shows of the 007 creator.
And, of course, he’s wearing the James Bond Rolex Explorer 1016 watch that’s exhibited here.
Those claiming to be “unsure” just haven’t done their homework
The facing page of the magazine cites Fionn Morgan, Ian Fleming’s stepdaughter, as primary source both for validation of the watch as Ian Fleming’s only Rolex, and as his reference for the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service literary James Bond watch. (Keep the accountability that I have shown in mind when considering spurious arguments that there’s “still a lot of doubt” about which real-world watch, if any, was really the one worn by the book-Bond: Curious how they never mention her first-hand account, isn’t it? If they’re this sloppy as readers, imagine how unreliable their “research” must be, along with whatever else they may be trying to sell you).
The Seiko, of course, is in this case, not only as a model consistent with the Eon Productions 007 movie, Octopussy. It also supports some of the strongest leverage of hero against the clock as ultimate enemyplot-lining we’ve seen on screen. Most Fleming-esque.
This exact watch was personally prepared for exhibit by Mark Mills (retired), of Seiko UK. Mr Mills was another of my original sources in James Bond watch research: He was liaison to Eon Productions from 1977 through 1985, and I was the first person to whom he’d ever given an interview in creating a definitive list of James Bond watches supplied by Seiko UK.
Finally, upper-right: An Omega 2907.50.91 Seamaster Planet Ocean BIG SIZE ”Casino Royale” limited that I acquired through authorized dealer Lewis Jewelers in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Working with an official Omega dealer meant that I had this on my wrist for the early appearances of Casino Royale here in the United States. Other buyers who thought they could do better via grey market channels and worse were not only left missing another of the great joys such as this in ownership, but also lost out on the COSC certificate and other necessities that maximize its value as a collectors’ piece.
Between the Seiko and Omega, there are 5 playing cards — representing James Bond’s ultimately winning hand in Casino Royale (2006).
Behind and above, a Penguin book cover from the Ian Fleming Centenary edition of From Russia with Love was chosen for several reasons. First, so many cite it as their favorite James Bond story, from President John F Kennedy to actor Sean Connery. From a horological “trivia” standpoint, it’s been the source of much confusion (and erroneous assertion) regarding Girard-Perregaux as a James Bond watch (which it never was). Finally, as I’ve mentioned on this James Bond Watches Blog previously, From Russia with Love serves as splendid backdrop in teasing an upcoming special military timepieces exhibit of which Ian Fleming’s own Rolex 1016 Explorer will be a key part, openning later next year.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Like I said: This display changed yesterday.
Not radically. All 3 of the same watches are still there.
Fulfilling our desire to be, um, “timely,” however, we felt it important to respond to the great success being enjoyed through the release of Carte Blanche, the new James Bond novel by Jeffery Deaver. Simon & Schuster has been incredibly gracious to include me as a guest at its VIP launch party in New York just over 2 weeks ago. They then made arrangements for me to have a private meeting with Mr Deaver on the last stop for his US book promotion tour just two days ago.
In total for the month of June, then, I’ve spent a little over an hour with him, talking James Bond watches, Ian Fleming, James Bond, and a variety of other most interesting matters that I’ll be sharing here and elsewhere in the coming months. Rough count, Jeffery Deaver sat for a 40-image exclusive photo shoot with me, after which I captured another couple of dozen at his McIntyre Books appearance.
Additionally, he provided me with some very special materials in support of the “Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch” display, which I incorporated during my visit to the National Watch & Clock Museum yesterday.
How could I resist sharing that with you all?
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