James Bond Watches Blog

Author Jeffery Deaver signed a limited number of Carte Blanche first edition novels with specific reference to James Bond's Rolex, one of which is shown here

Rare among rarities, is this James Bond watch photo.

During the last stop on his 2011 US book tour to promote Carte Blanche for Simon & Schuster, James Bond continuation author Jeffery Deaver signed a limited number of first editions with watch-brand references.

In this case, “To those who enjoy seeing James Bond wear Rolex watches.”

The autograph page on one of those books is background for this photo of a Rolex reference 115200 Oyster Perpetual Date wristwatch — the 34mm, black dial, domed bezel time keeper that James Bond wears as his personal choice in Carte Blanche.

All “James Bond’s Rolex watch” books were signed on June 29, 2011, at McIntyre Books in North Carolina.

As books in print move closer to becoming a dying breed, I lit this photograph with an eye toward emphasizing the feel and texture of the paper. Rather than a high-key look, there’s a bit more sense of blemishes, as well as 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…

"James Bond's Choice" magazine ad by watchmaker Omega, product placement partner with Seamaster 2531.80 worn by Pierce Brosnan in "Tomorrow Never Dies"

This layout without a doubt tops my list of favorite James Bond advertisements. Period.

Print shown at left from the December 1997 issue of Gourmet magazine — which suggests something about audience targeting, as much as anything else.

Actor Pierce Brosnan is featured as James Bond, with Omega reference 2531.80 Seamaster wristwatch and BMW motorcycle. Promotional tie-in is for the movie then-in-release, Tomorrow Never Dies. It uses a standard layout that was made available for Authorized Omega Dealer use, with an option for them to drop-in their logo and contact information lower-left.

Minimal copy describes the James Bond watch being promoted here, in deference to an image of the timekeeper itself, which dominates.

From a historical perspective, it’s worth noting that the quartz reference 2541.80 Seamaster featured in GoldenEye (1995) was actually the only established James Bond Omega prior to Tomorrow Never Dies.

And whereas the magazine ad with GoldenEye tie-in utilized an existing movie image, this Tomorrow Never Dies raises the bar with creative that is both custom-photographed and strongly invested in leveraging the watchmaker’s product placement partnership with Eon Productions.

The effective continue reading…