James Bond Watches Blog

A View to a Kill (1985)

James Bond wore the world's first quartz chronograph (from any maker) in the Eon Productions film, A View to a Kill

This film features an unprecedented three completely different models for James Bond — a record that stands to this day.

First, for Bond’s cover as James St John Smythe, Roger Moore wears a two-tone 6923-8080, model SPD094. It reflects what, up to that point, had been the driving Seiko philosophy called ‘Grammar of Design,’ then nearing two decades in application.

The second watch is a Seiko caliber H558-5000, model SPW001. Period print advertising touted its ‘severe impact resistance’ and an ‘underwater alarm function.’ Formally labeled by Seiko as the Duo-Display Diver’s Quartz, it combines features from each of the two 007 watch models worn in For Your Eyes Only. but most of A View to a Kill finds Moore wearing a third watch. It’s a strong finish for the Bond Seikos: The world’s first analog quartz chronograph. Referenced as a stainless steel model SPR007 [case number 7A28-7020] with white dial, it features four independent step-motors for elapsed time measurement.

Current EON co-producers and daughter of Cubby Broccoli, Barbara Broccoli, is my source in crediting the creation of ‘product placement in films’ to her late father. Not only did he choose Seiko for the cinematic Bond, but also for himself.

The Bond watches provided by Seiko UK were certainly breakthroughs in continue reading…

The definitive list of James Bond watches from Seiko UK, by Dell Deaton, in Revolution magazine, 2010

For the first time ever, a 6-page feature article in the current Revolution magazine authoritatively labels and describes all 8 James Bond watch models supplied by Seiko UK to Eon Productions for its 007 films (so far).

Based on exclusive access to personnel and records through Seiko UK, James Bond Watches has finally ended guesswork — and outright misrepresentations — that have frustrated researchers, collectors, and James Bond fans for literally decades.

Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, et al., first put a Seiko watch on the wrist of Roger Moore as James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me as part of an innovative cooperative marketing arrangement with Seiko UK. That film was released in 1977, and the deal continued through a total of 5 films, until the 1985 feature A View to a Kill.

Mark Mills, FBHI, joined Seiko UK in 1977 and ultimately became point-man for the supplier of these James Bond watches.

Yet despite the number of insistant discussions about these watches on fan forums, and self-proclaimed “experts” who’ve set up shop to continue reading…

While we’re on the subject of chronograph wristwatches associated with the fictional James Bond character, I thought this a good opportunity to highlight the last one featured in an Eon Productions film.

This watch also has a place in its own right, technology-wise: As the world’s first quartz chronograph.

It’s the Seiko model SPR007 (note the last three digits, which, I’m told, “officially,” are purely coincidental), in a caliber 7A28-7020 stainless steel case. Actor Roger Moore wore this in the role of James Bond throughout most of the action in A View to a Kill.

So far, it’s the only James Bond movie from Eon Productions where we’ve been able to confirm that three distinctly different watch models were featured on the wrist of Agent 007.

A screen-correct SPR007, 7A28-7020 is currently on display as part of our “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibit at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

This watch is included in our exclusive Definitive List of James Bond Watches, identified with “100% certainty,” as documented continue reading…