James Bond Watches Blog

"Ian Fleming's Own James Bond Watch" display runs through this summer at the National Watch & Clock Museum, Columbia, PA

On May 4, 2011, the personal Rolex Explorer wristwatch of James Bond author Ian Fleming got its own display on the main exhibit floor of the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

This followed its year-long placement as signature piece in the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” special exhibit there.

“Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch,” along with two other 007-associated models, by Omega and Seiko, runs through this summer.

Then, starting in August 2012, Ian Fleming’s Rolex Explorer will join George Washington’s pocket watch and a variety of other historical timepieces as part of a new special exhibit at the National Watch & Clock Museum, titled, “Enlisting Time” (sponsored by Gallet).

Although “Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch” was setup barely a year ago, it’s own history has evolved with ongoing updates to the James Bond legacy. For example, when continue reading…

Exactly one week ago today, Empire magazine posted this photo of Daniel Craig in-character as James Bond in "Skyfall." Would you buy an Omega watch now based on speculated identification based only on what you see here?

Last Friday the thirteenth must have been a happy one for James Bond fans, considering the number of Tweets and eMails I’ve gotten with requests to identify the Skyfall wristwatch — based on this movie set image released through Empire magazine, one week ago today.

“There it is!” read one subject line.

Sorry. I still don’t see it. And, from the watch forum threads I’ve watched spring up that day, only to crash for lack of substance the next, neither does anyone else.

Anyone “credible,” that is. Of course there are those wish-watch experts who “see” without a doubt a blue titanium Seamaster Planet Ocean by Omega in this Skyfall image.

Nobody buys that. Or, rather: Nobody’s gonna buy based on that.

With all due respect, ask yourself: Why on earth is anyone looking in the first place?

I for one wasn’t even hell-bent to break news with the Quantum of Solace James Bond screen-worn watch model identification. Beyond that, I believe the difference in time between whoever actually did, versus the blogger from Timbuktu who picked it up as old news, could be measured in hours.

The Skyfall Omega won’t be any different.

Unfortunately, product placement partners are playing by 2005 rules, operating on assumptions based on what they saw with James Bond watches tied to Casino Royale.

Let’s remember some of the James Bond watch factors that had us watching 7 years ago:

• “The James Bond Omega” was ostensibly continue reading…

It’s not hard to find one of the ubiquitous cut-and-paste forum posts or blog with self-proclaimed “definitive list of James Bond watches” asserting that the 1967 Casino Royale James Bond watch was a Rolex GMT (“GMT-Master”).

That’s obviously wrong.

And one needn’t be an expert on Rolex to know that. Or even generally familiar with watches, for that matter. Just, you know: Actually watch the movie. (The incredible dearth of original research regarding James Bond watch identification never ceases to amaze me.)

Let’s start at the beginning

If you’ll take a look at the film on DVD or via iTunes, you’ll see before the opening credits roll that Peter Sellers is addressed as “Mr Bond” by a character who identifies himself as “Mathis.” This is clearly a preview of things to come later in Casino Royale.

We know this because Sir James Bond (David Niven) approaches Vesper Lynd (Ursula Andress) about recruiting a master card player to go up against Le Chiffre. This is approximately 45 minutes into the movie. Later, about 10 minutes later, running-time, Vesper approaches the master card expert, Evelyn Tremble, to take on the cover name “James Bond” to play Le Chiffre — sort of turning on its head the notion of James Bond assuming the cover as someone else for an assignment.

Thus, it is Evelyn’s watch, and, at that, his personal wristwatch, that is describe as a:

1965 Rolex Oyster Perpetual, date indicator, and log table ’round the outer band.

To which Peter Sellers, as Evelyn Tremble, adds:

And a thing that shows you what shape the moon is.

(See starting at 59-minute marker.) Guess the self-promoters not only couldn’t be bothered to continue reading…