He’s the James that wants no introduction. The spy who has been in service to Her Majesty for over 60 years, who has defeated 104 nefarious kinds and nonetheless managed to search out time to sleep with 52 girls (although that’s solely the movies). And he’s a person who most definitely is aware of his James Bond watches.

Though James Bond first strutted onto the fictional panorama in 1952’s On line casino Royale, it wasn’t till the following e-book Stay and Let Die that there’s a point out of a Rolex. Nevertheless, it isn’t till 1961’s Thunderball that you simply discover out which one, when a CIA operative says to 007: “You’re nonetheless sporting that outdated wristwatch of yours with the massive phosphorous numerals”.

This description, and the truth that Ian Fleming himself wore one, led followers to imagine he was describing an Explorer Ref 1016. Whereas the mannequin and reference quantity modified, it wasn’t till 1981 when British novelist John Gardner took up the franchise once more that Bond switched horological allegiances and wore a Luminox, presumably as a result of Gardner thought the hard-wearing model can be excellent for the fashionable undercover agent. Nevertheless, the Rolex had been returned to its rightful place on Bond’s wrist by 2015’s Anthony-Horowitz penned Set off Mortis.

James Bond Watches On Display: The Early Years

Connery sporting a Submariner on the set of Dr. No, 1962

On display, Rolex dominated the early Connery years aside from two small cameos from a Gruen Precision. Goldfinger’s Pussy Galore even acquired in on the motion along with her personal GMT Grasp Ref. 6542.

In 1965 James Bond watches continued with a Breitling Prime Time, which he used as a Geiger counter, counting on his trusty Sub to inform the time. That actual Breitling, which was modified with a big water resistant casing, turned up at a automobile boot sale within the UK in 2013. Some detective work from the customer and affirmation from Breitling itself revealed it to be the prop used within the movie; a discovery that earned the fortunate boot scavenger £103,875 when Christie’s put it underneath the hammer that very same yr.

Connery and his Breitling Prime Time in Thunderball, 1965

George Lazenby’s solely outing in On her Majesty’s Secret Service was accompanied by each a Submariner Ref. 5513 and a beautiful pre-Daytona chronograph Ref. 6238.

Then issues acquired a change up in 1973’s Stay and Let Die when Roger Moore arrived on the scene and Q was allowed so as to add some further options, together with a bezel that doubled as a round noticed; a modification that, in response to a 2016 publish on the model’s Instagram feed, continues to be working.

George Lazenby and his Submariner in OHMSS, 1969

That movie additionally featured a slightly novel Pulsar LED from Hamilton, which appears to have been the watch that paved the way in which for the addition of Seiko into the combination of James Bond watches.

From 1977 to 1985 when Moore handed his license to kill over to Timothy Dalton, Bond wore round eight completely different iterations from the Japanese model, together with one with a tv display perform that was solely used to ogle a colleague’s breasts to a slightly handsome Diver 150m.

Roger Moore sporting a Hamilton Pulsar LED whereas holding a Submariner in Stay and Let Die, 1973

This inclusion noticed some purists getting sniffy however bear in mind this was the center of the quartz disaster, not solely was the Swiss watch trade on its knees however the cause it was struggling was as a result of good males about city wished to put on quartz; Bond is simply such a person, so a Seiko made sense.

The Omega Period of Bond Watches

Timothy Dalton was the one Bond to put on a TAG Heuer, a Skilled Night time-Dive Ref. 980.031 to be exact after which, after a hiatus, in 1995, Pierce Brosnan sashayed onto our screens and ushered within the Omega period.

Regardless of accusations of product placement, it was really the Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming who selected the Seamaster 300m for Brosnan. “The colour blue actually suited Pierce,” she says. “I used to be dressing him in numerous blue shirts and the blue bezel and dial of the Seamaster matched completely. Plus after all, blue-suited Commander Bond’s naval background too.

Pierce Brosnan sporting Omega in Goldeneye, 1995

“I had additionally recognized contemporaries once I was in my twenties,” she continues, “who have been army and naval, and a few who labored within the area of vitality and electrical energy, all of whom swore by their Omegas. Due to this fact, as one of many early duties in designing the brand new Bond, Pierce Brosnan, I went to a ‘props and hand props’ assembly and argued for the usage of Omega.”

It’s a partnership that has lasted 24 years and survived collapsing ice palaces, a lodge flood and a model of Residence Alone within the Scottish Highlands. When Daniel Craig stepped into these blue trunks, he was issued with a Planet Ocean, alongside his Seamaster, which acquired upgraded to a Planet Ocean 600m for all of the water-based shenanigans of Quantum of Solace, whereas an Aqua Terra was seen within the opening sequence of Spectre.

Daniel Craig sporting Omega in On line casino Royale, 2006

And now for a brand-new decade of James Bond watches, and the twenty fifth movie, comes a Seamaster with a distinction. The blue dial is gone and changed with a extra rugged, classic vibe enhanced by the completely wonderful aged-brown dial and complementary bezel.

Relatively than the historically linked bracelet, this time it’s on titanium mesh; a bracelet not seen on a Seamaster because the Nineteen Sixties. It’s manly, retro and really 007. Fleming would have accredited.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 007 Version

The 5 Finest James Bond Watches

If you happen to’re searching for the very best James Bond watches so as to add to your assortment, try these prime 5 picks.

The Hidden Gem: Gruen Precision

Whereas Rolex acquired all of the column inches, the watch that will get the accolade of being the primary Bond watch on display is a Gruen Precision that may be seen peeping out Connery’s cuff within the on line casino scene firstly of Dr No. This gown watch additionally accompanied him and his dinner go well with in From Russia with Love and Goldfinger.

Though Gruen, a US model, went bust in 1977, if you happen to’re fast, yow will discover them on eBay fairly ceaselessly.

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The Basic: The Rolex Submariner Refs 6358 and 6538

Star of the primary 4 Bond movies in two reference numbers, for a lot of purists that is the quintessential James Bond watch.

It simply tells the time – none of Q’s upgrades right here; apparently, the fake Nato strap that it’s on in Goldfinger is just too slender and legend has it that Rolex both couldn’t or wouldn’t mortgage a watch, so producer Cubby Broccoli took off his personal Rolex and gave it to Connery.

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The Interloper: The Seiko Diver 150m

The Bond love affair with Seiko began in 1977 when The Spy Who Liked Me noticed Roger Moore strap on a 0674 full with an in-built ticker tape printer. By 1985’s A View to A Kill he had three Seikos on rotation, together with the Diver 150m, a chunky little powerhouse, although not technically a diving watch, whose legacy lives on within the Prospex Automated Divers 200m.

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The Fashionable Basic: Omega Seamaster 300m Quartz Skilled

In 1995, we acquired a brand new Bond within the type of Mr Remington Steele himself, Pierce Brosnan. It additionally meant the continuation of recent James Bond watches. Omega so impressed the movie’s costume designer Lindy Hemming she was satisfied “that Commander Bond, a Naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world would put on this robust however subtle watch.”

It’s a traditional diving watch and one which, like Mr Brosnan, seems to be nearly as good right this moment because it did 24 years in the past.

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The Prompt Finest-Vendor: Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 007 Version

So, we’ve solely seen it on paper and within the trailer (price rewatching for that motorcycle stunt alone), however we’re calling it – the newest of the Bond watches designed for No Time To Die will likely be a sell-out.

It’s acquired a beautiful classic army vibe, that dial coloration is simply beautiful (blue was getting a bit apparent), it’s the primary 007 editions to not be restricted and it’s the primary time a Seamaster has been given a titanium mesh bracelet because the Nineteen Sixties.

Added to that you simply get all of the superlative co-axial grasp chronometer tech powering it that you simply’d anticipate from Omega. Get your order in now; no time to attend.

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