James Bond Watches Blog

Ian Fleming's James Bond watch: Rolex 1016 Explorer, with original letter written by Ian Fleming on Dr No letterhead supplied by Eon Productions

The original literary James Bond watch.

Original Dr No letterhead, courtesy of Eon Productions.

And, ironically— evidence that a Rolex Explorer reference 1016 wristwatch was formally associated with the movie Dr No before any other watch, of any other sort.

So to speak.

My latest release of computer wallpaper images featuring James Bond watches is focused on the only Rolex Ian Fleming is known to have owned and worn.

This is his personal Explorer model, in a photograph I made while it was concluding its display as part of the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibit at the National Watch & Clock Museum last year.

A further part of that display consisted of original 007 thriller manuscripts and papers. These were made available for loan courtesy of the Lilly Library, Indiana University at Bloomington.

We believe that our “Bond Watches” exhibit was the first time that the watch and letter have been together since Mr Fleming signed the latter.

Of additional interest continue reading…

Ian Fleming's personal James Bond watch (the actual Rolex Explorer that he owned, wore, and referenced for 007 when first writing "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"), along with a letter he wrote and signed in 1962, using Eon Productions-supplied "Dr No" letterhead

Ten years and 1 day after Ian Fleming created James Bond, cameras began to roll on the first day of filming for “Dr No.”

Starring Sean Connery as James Bond 007 and directed by Terence Young, the crew for Eon Productions were, appropriately, on location in Jamaica.

Albert R “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were partners with United Artists, thanks in large part to UA’s David Picker, on the project.

The James Bond watch of choice that day was a Rolex 6538 Submariner, according to expert Franca E Guido Mondani — from whom I’ve received this verification.

That Sub was worn on a dark brown leather crocodile strap. Intriguingly, the strap was mounted backwards, so that excess from its non-buckle side fed through toward Mr Connery’s thumb.

Ian Fleming was also in Jamaica, with his wife, Ann, that January. There, he started writing what would be his eleventh James Bond book, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (published in 1963 by Jonathan Cape).

As we know, the watch that Mr Fleming had in mind for his literary James Bond was a Rolex reference 1016 Explorer. That was also the watch he personally wore in 1962, and the only Rolex he ever owned.

That actual watch is continue reading…

Photo Set #3: Rolex 6238 Chronograph, serial number 1206613 (same as reported by Christie's for James Bond watch in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service")

Not including the original from the 2003 Christie’s auction, that is.

To recap: This past Thanksgiving Day weekend, a credible source appeared on Twitter in response to a post made by Hodinkee about its report that Matthew Bain, Inc., had purchased and now continues to own the screen-worn James Bond Rolex 6238 Chronograph from the movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Eon Productions, 1969).

That story, “So— is it ‘the’ George Lazenby James Bond Chronograph, or not?” appeared on this James Bond Watches Blog on November 28, 2011.

You can also read about my own follow-up to the Hodinkee story, including reports from my own interview with Matt Bain, posted here on September 29, 2010.

As part of that, Mr Bain kindly provided me with high-resolution photographs of this Rolex 6238 pre-Daytona Chronograph. Those half-dozen-plus images can be found here on the September 29, 2010, post. Let’s call this “Photo Set #1.”

Then, as the current controversy broke, I received a photograph said to be of the Rolex 6238 sold by Christie’s on December 16, 2003, via Sale number 9771, Lot 164. That photo was published here on this James Bond Watches Blog on December 16, 2003. It was taken by a customer of the “euro-collector” shortly after the Christie’s sale. Recall that Christie’s listed its case number (serial number) as 1206613.

Label this: “Photo Set #2.”

Assuming both claims are true— the Christie’s watch would have to have been sold first to the euro-collector. Then the euro-collector would have to have continue reading…