James Bond Watches Blog

"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 continue reading…

Seiko G757 Sports 100 model serviced for display by Mark Mills, FBHI, of Seiko UK (retired): Along side Ian Fleming's own James Bond watch (at right)

Returning to coverage of the new James Bond watch exhibit that opened just one month ago tomorrow at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania, I’m pleased to present: Seiko.

Referring back to the exhibit gallery layout diagram posted on this James Bond Watches Blog on May 20, the angle of approach here is the first aspect of the “Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch” display case that visitors see when rounding out their visit path.

In my May 24 photo of the full kiosk, this would be the left-most face (obscured from view in that image).

This watch is, of course, a Seiko Sports 100 model WLK005, caliber G757-5020 LCD dual-display, circa 1983. It is identical to the timekeeper worn by actor Roger Moore as James Bond, Agent 007, in the Eon Productions film, Octopussy.

For the last 11 months, it was part of the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibit here. As that was the first time in history that continue reading…

Your first look at the new "Ian Fleming's Own James Bond Watch" display, open to the public on May 4

Here’s your first look at the new “Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch” display.

As noted previously, James Bond horology has now taken a longer-term place with higher visibility on the main floor of the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

The From Russia with Love Penguin book cover (used with permission, of course) was chosen as dominant graphic for several reasons.

First, it nicely connects this display with its historic, year-long predecessor and the upcoming special exhibit of military timepieces in which Mr Fleming’s personal Rolex will be featured as a highlight.

Second, of course, it serves as reminder that the fictional James Bond character originated with Ian Fleming — in fantastic literature that’s as great a read today as it was when first published.

Historically, United States President John F Kennedy once named From Russia with Love among his ten favorite books. So we felt it a nice reminder of the “Presidental Timepieces” exhibit that had previously occupied this space in the Museum.