James Bond Watches Blog

Image: Omega 2531.80 James Bond watch, with Aston Martin model in background ("Die Another Day," 2002, starring Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007)

Actually, it’s been in beta for a while now.

But we’re set with the shakedown, and committed to a schedule of twice-monthly updates.

James Bond Watch Photos is a dedicated sister-site where we’ve organized and made available mostly exclusive photography. There is only a limited number of Categories, for straightforward access: By wristwatch type, James Bond story title, and image size.

All known brands featured in the movies are covered. Most models are here. Some literary and licensed product James Bond watches have started to be included, with more to come. This is also where we have and will be cataloging official product placement photographs, such as wallpapers provided by Omega.

Images are available for immediate download, for personal use only. Subject to copyright limitations.

Media inquiries are welcome: Contact Proteus Publishing for access to photographs at higher resolution, without watermarks.

Omega Seamaster 2531.80 James Bond watch

The image continue reading…

How would you go about authenticating the identifcation of a hero car from Ian Fleming's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" movie (1968)?

Three weeks ago, Aaron Richardson posted an article on Aol Autos titled, “Flying Car For Sale: Buy Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. No Kidding!”

This referred to an eBay auction “alleging” (his word) “to be the original hero car from Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” motion picture.

That movie was produced by Albert R Broccoli and released in 1968 — after Sean Connery had made his last uninterrupted appearance as James Bond for Eon Productions and before On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was released, starring George Lazenby.

Now, returning to Mr Richardson and eBay, via Aol Autos, the auction link that he was kind enough to provide shows an Item number 350455879688 for “1967 Other Makes Ford GEN 11: Original Hero ‘GEN 11′ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car. Just 1 bid, for one million dollars, Reserve not met, ended April 25. It was then re-listed, again apparently attracting a single US $1,000,000 bid, no deal.

That one closed May 5.

And it’s back today, with not-quite 2 days left for bidding (zero so far).

As I’ve followed this, the thing that’s struck me, too, is this from Aaron Richardson’s final paragraph: continue reading…

"Bond Watches, James Bond Watches," National Watch & Clock Museum, literally made history, as well as covering it

It may be the ultimate James Bond countdown for 2011.

Well— at least insofar as James Bond watches are concerned.

On April 30, “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” will end its special exhibit run at the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Following over a year-and-a-half in development, its mid-June opening last year drew large very large crowds, local and national print features, and repeated television coverage. It could turn out to be one of the most popular displays ever offered at a historical landmark dedicated to preserving the history of timekeeping.

Ian Fleming family heirs were first to appreciate the importance of the “Bond Watches” concept, readily committing over a year-out to loan the only surviving watch of 007′s creator to this effort for its entire 11-month run.

The Lilly Library, Indiana University at Bloomington, committed to the unprecedented showing of original James Bond manuscripts and Fleming papers — including the true first draft of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which Fleming wrote his own Rolex 1016 Explorer onto the wrist of his fictional gentleman spy. Thus, the National Watch & Clock Museum brought actual manuscript and actual watch together for the first time since Ian Fleming’s passing.

Seiko UK provided unprecedented access to personnel and documentation, resulting in the first-ever definitive identification of all models it had provided for Eon Productions Bond films in the 1970s and 1980s. Examples of each model, as well as signed paperwork from Seiko UK, are currently on display here.

“Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” is more than continue reading…