James Bond Watches Blog

Serious analysis of TAG Heuer watches

During the first week of January, 2010, JamesBondWatches.com formed a study group with David Chalmers and Paul Gavin to critically test the Heuer-Bond watch theory. Chalmers, based in Hong Kong, runs Calibre11.com, “a website dedicated to both the Vintage Heuer watches from the 1960-1980 period, as well as the new TAG Heuers of today.” Gavin, in the United Kingdom, collects Heuer watches focusing on 1964 to 1984, and includes among his current projects an effort to extensively catalogue Heuer and TAG Heuer diver watches. He has just launched HeuerWorld.com to facilitate ongoing research into these tool pieces.

Neither of these men was predisposed to name TAG Heuer the first newly identified addition to any list of James Bond watches since Omega took on the mantle with GoldenEye in 1995. They’re watch guys, not 007 fans. Further to this, I actually held off for continue reading…

Beginning research, May 2008

Early in 2008, I started an organized effort to identify the James Bond watch or watches worn by Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights. It quickly became clear that at least two different watches were featured: The first appeared to have a cream-colored dial, black case, and black band; the second showed a silver-colored case on a silver-colored band. As an aid to research and collection, JamesBondWatches.com labeled the first “Gibraltar Watch,” the second, “Tangier Rooftop Watch.”

Glimpses of the Gibraltar Watch can be seen at various points in the pre-title sequence. But the best close-ups come during the parts where Bond has torn through the canvass roofing on the bad guy’s getaway vehicle, between approximately 5½ and 6½ minutes into the film (as viewed on the 2006 Ultimate Edition DVD). Here Dalton grabs the steering wheel with his left hand, wristwatch exposed below the sleeve, providing over seventy-five distinct frames that we stop-captured for closer analysis.

Several attributes are readily apparent. In addition to the Gibraltar Watch description above, Bond’s timekeeper shows dark hands and dark markers. It has a graduated bezel, black in color. Additionally, the bracelet is jubilee-style.

While it wouldn’t have made sense at this point to rule out some form of polymer or high-tech resin as a case material, the first most likely candidate here is something with PVD-coated surfaces.

“Physical Vapor Deposition,” or “PVD,” is a term used to continue reading…

Official Omega SA Press Kit

Driving the Revolution in Mechanical Watches

Bienne Switzerland (16 January 2009)—

When Omega launched its Co-Axial calibre 2500 in 1999, the entire mechanical watch industry was put on notice. The Co-Axial Escapement in the calibre was the first practical new mechanical watch escapement to be launched in 250 years.

The operative word here is ‘practical’: in the decade following the launch of the first Co-Axial calibre, Omega introduced the state-of-the-industry escapements into every one of its watch lines. Before long, each new mechanical watch produced by Omega will be equipped with the technology which watch industry observers once predicted would be, at best, a niche product only suitable for expensive, limited run timepieces.

Master watchmaker George Daniels, who invented the Co-Axial Escapement, said of his masterpiece, ‘It is intended to sustain the public affection for the mechanical watch during the 21st century.’ It is well on its way to doing so.

In simple terms, the escapement is the heart of the mechanical watch, as it maintains the continue reading…