James Bond Watches Blog

The first James Bond watch seen in the movies was filmed for Dr No, 50 years ago today

The James Bond Films by Steven Jay Rubin is my preferred source of shooting schedule references for the early Eon Productions 007 movies.

But now that we have an “official” history from Eon Productions itself via @007 on Twitter, it seems only appropriate to nail down some of the most important dates vis-à-vis information they’ve just provided.

Around 4:00 am EST (US) today, @007 Tweeted: “ON THIS DAY IN BOND HISTORY: 1962, shooting was completed on the first scene in which 007 says, ‘Bond. James Bond’ in DR. NO.”

Indeed!

Experts generally agree that this was a vitally important scene to introduce James Bond, to establish Sean Connery as on-screen incarnation of Ian Flemings by then already hugely successful literary character.

As director Terence Young said in his so-called “banned” commentary for The Criterion Collection CAV LaserDisc release of Dr No, attention to detail was never greater than in preparation and filming for this scene. Cigarette case. Reveal. Timing of line delivery.

And, as readers of this James Bond Watches Blog know: The view of the Rolex Precision wristwatch that Sean Connery was wearing continue reading…

James Bond watch choices among the most memorable features of 007 movies

The UK Mail Online today has a feature story on the 50 most memorable images from James Bond on-screen.

Second-to-top on the list: James Bond watches.

In total, specific wristwatches worn by the James Bond character were referenced 5 times. And that doesn’t include the “Villain’s watch garotte,” worn by Red Grant in From Russia with Love (coming in at number 35) nor the non-watch “Wrist dart gun” from Moonraker (47).

Curiously, the first James Bond watch named, at number 15, is the “Rolex with laser,” from Never Say Never Again. Not an Eon Productions movie. And, whatever the watch is, it is definitely not a Rolex.

In total, Rolex is named by brand three times. Rolex is the only watchmaker specified for Agent 007 by Ian Fleming in the original books. Jeffery Deaver put a Rolex on his James Bond in the novel Carte Blanche last year. The last movie-Bond to wear a Rolex was actor Timothy Dalton, with a reference 16610 Submariner Date in Licence to Kill, Eon Productions, 1989.

Only one other James Bond watchmaker is cited in this top 50: Seiko.

Showing up with room to spare at number 47, the “Seiko detonator watch” appeared in Moonraker, Eon Productions, 1979. Hat’s off to the marketing power of Seiko for this achievement. Seiko hasn’t been officially associated with James Bond since 1985, when actor Roger Moore wore 3 in A View to a Kill.

On the other hand, it’s stunning to see how little mindshare impact that Omega appears to be getting from the money it’s put into the James Bond movie and video franchises.

The Omega name appears nowhere on this top 50 list. continue reading…

The style, class and fundamental character of Sean Connery's James Bond was established in no small part by details such as the Rolex dress watch he wore in Dr No

Style: Circa 1962.

After locating an independent image of what may well be the Rolex that Albert R Broccoli “tossed” to the Eon Productions art department for Sean Connery to wear for introduction as James Bond in Dr No, I got to thinking about what might be called the “Submariner Sc0toma.”

The word scotoma refers to bias. More particularly, a self-filtering mechanism (of which the individual is very likely unaware); it sorts incoming data. Based on what that person has seen before, and how they’ve interpreted it, they are more receptive to information that confirms what they already believe, and tend not to see otherwise obvious facts that refute their preconceptions.

For example, ask most people who are quite interested in Rolex which model they think is the most popular — based on sales.

“Submariner” will show significantly among responses. That’s certainly what you’ll see on the Internet forums, whether we’re talking watches in general, Rolex-specific, or James Bond.

Fact is, the most popular Rolex is a 28mm model for ladies.

Two weeks ago, I quoted from Men’s Style, by Russell Smith, in what readers of this James Bond Watches Blog now know was setup for the likely “Sylvia Trench” James Bond Rolex watch photo posted here this past Monday.

Since then, I’ve started to spend some time looking for any indication that a gentleman of class or sophistication, dressed otherwise in formal attire, playing cards at a casino in the early 1960s, would — by stretch of imagination or oversight — be shown wearing a diver’s watch.

So far, continue reading…