James Bond Watches Blog

The James Bond Watches YouTube Channel topped 100,000 views this month: Without a single update in 2011 and virtually no promotion

Is that a lot?

I dunno. To be honest, I actually had to look back over the dozen-plus videos myself to recall when I’d uploaded the first one (just before Christmas, 2009).

Still, it’s a barometer of sorts for serendipitous interest in the James Bond watch niche. By way of perspective, the official Omega Channel on YouTube is about to reach 400,000 views. Elsewhere, I see that one very heavily promoted James Bond fan Channel may make it to 200,000 this year.

The jamesbondwatches YouTube Channel was set up shortly after my presentation at the 2009 NAWCC Annual Convention. I didn’t see it as much more than a place to make that content available to those who were unable to attend. Uploaded in 6 parts, the most popular has proven to be Part 4, which is focused on gadget watches, Seiko, and Omega.

Ironically, perhaps, my first effort at a watch-specific James Bond video — featuring an early 1970s Hamilton Pulsar P2 — has proven more popular than the expansive educational content.

People also like very basic videos of James Bond watches simply ticking. There are far more static photos available, and I’ve heard that many of those so-called wristwatches of James Bond photographs are of pieces that don’t actually run (and in some instances continue reading…

Yeah, I know— It’s been too long.

After over year since my last jamesbondwatches YouTube Channel update, we’ve come up with a basic format with which I’m generally satisfied in starting to release James Bond watch videos on a more regular basis.

All will feature running wristwatches and exclusive footage.

The latest entry, here, is of the James Bond watch designated by author Jeffery Deaver for the last chapters of his novel, Carte Blanche. As part of 007′s cover there, James Bond wears a Breitling for Bentley model on stainless steel bracelet. It’s a “huge” wristwatch, Mr Deaver wrote.

This video puts those descriptions in fuller context.

For example, I show it in comparison to the familiar Omega Seamaster chronometer associated with Pierce Brosnan’s tenure as James Bond in the Eon Productions movies; and compared to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date model with which Jeffery Deaver had his own James Bond start out in Carte Blanche.

Of additional interest to collectors, this video provides some views of original packaging and paperwork that comes along with the Breitling for Bentley Motors T Speed watch when purchased new. Including a Chronometer Certificate.

Also note: The watch featured in this video is the exact watch worn by Jeffery Deaver at the last stop on his US book tour promoting Carte Blanche for publisher Simon & Schuster. That was a McIntyre Books in North Carolina.

Subsequently, this same watch continue reading…

In case there’s any doubt—

Ian Fleming created James Bond.

On January 15, 1952, at his home, Goldeneye, in Jamaica. Starting with a blank sheet of paper, it all began with these words.

The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino combine together and hit the taste-buds with an acid shock at three in the morning.

Feel free to confirm this history for yourself. You’ll find Ian Fleming’s first-draft manuscript for Casino Royale in the Lilly Library archives, Indiana University at Bloomington. That’s where I took the time to do my own original research into into this aspect of the James Bond legacy.

Elsewhere in the world, from what I’ve been seeing on the ‘net and print, tomorrow’s gonna be a big day as anniversaries of the Eon Productions 007 movies go. I’m looking forward to it.

But today, I’m remembering that it all began with Ian Fleming. Six decades ago.

With his wife-to-be, Ann.