Shortly after I began this investigation of conflicting ownership claims regarding the George Lazenby James Bond Rolex 6238 Chronograph, this photo was sent to me by a fellow in Europe: He believes that it is the actual wristwatch worn in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969)
It’s funny how often some watch guys who’d otherwise have no interest or respect for Ian Fleming take refuge in regurgitating the Bond-author’s words when pushed to actually substantiate their claims.
Specifically, arguing the notion that Mr Fleming seriously advocated that any claim made must be unconditionally accepted until proven untrue.
A standard that would allow any online seller to claim that his Omega Speedmaster offered up at auction is, in fact, the Buzz Aldrin moon watch.
“How do you know it isn’t?”
Perhaps a bit more history would be helpful here.
The Ian Fleming citation we’re talking about here refers to a throw-away line he’d included as little more than coloring in an otherwise straightforward time-of-day reference.
“When the big hands of Moscow’s three hundred electric clocks reach the hour of six….”* (Emphasis added.)
Upon contemporaneous review, prior to publication, colleague Robin Kinkead asked him: “How do you know there are three hundred?”
To which Mr Fleming flippantly replied: “How do you know there aren’t?”
Now, seriously: Does anyone actually believe that Ian Fleming intended this as a standard by which all facts should be validated?
For those who do, perhaps it’s a good thing that the United States government has stepped up with oversight “to protect the innocent.” I am not a lawyer. Nor do I play one on TV. But it’s my understanding that “truth in advertising” laws trump cliched misquotes of Ian Fleming when it comes to seller offerings. To wit:
“Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims.”
Also see Title 15 of the U.S. Code, §1125, and, more generally, “the Lanham Act.”
Eight years ago today, Christie’s sold what it represented as the actual James Bond 6238 Rolex pre-Daytona Chronograph worn by George Lazenby in the movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Along with that James Bond watch, this Lot 164, of Sale 9771, included an associated invoice “from Bucherer of Switzerland to Eon Productions dated 23rd October, 1968.”
To me, this is a good example of “evidence to back up their claims.” I believe Christie’s sold the Lazenby-Bond Rolex Chronograph on December 16, 2003.
So does everyone who now claims to know the current whereabouts of that wristwatch.
But they don’t appear to agree on much else.
In going forward with this investigation, then, I believe that examination of competing claims under 15 USC §1125 is not only helpful in terms of legal accountability, but also most generally dispositive.
This is an important question of both historical and monetary significance. It’s not gonna be resolved by falling prey to the argument that the burden is on the rest of us to prove a negative.
And that sort of thinking is more like the Ian Fleming I’ve come to know.
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*The Life of Ian Fleming (1966), page 50, by John Pearson (1966).
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