He is the James who doesn’t need to be introduced. The agent who has been in Her Majesty’s service for more than 60 years, who has vanquished 104 sinister kinds and yet managed to find time for 52 women to sleep. And he’s a guy who most definitely knows his watches. We bring you a list of the best James Bond Watches.
“He could not just wear a watch. It had to be a Rolex.” So states Ian Fleming in his première 007 books, “Casino Royale.” But James Bond was never the one to obey the rules and has hosted some of the most popular and diverse tickers in film history over the past 56 years with his weapon-grade wrist.
While James Bond first strutted into the fictional landscape at the Casino Royale in 1952, there was no mention of a Rolex until the next novel, Live and Let Die. Nevertheless, it is not until the Thunderball of 1961 that you find out which one when a CIA operative tells 007: “You still wear your old wristwatch with the big phosphorous numerals.” Ian Fleming himself wore one, and this description led fans to assume that he was describing an Explorer Ref 1016.
The Secret Gem: Precision Gruen
Although Rolex got all the column inches, a Gruen Precision can be seen peeping out Connery’s cuff in the casino scene at the beginning of Dr. No. it is the watch that gets the accolade of becoming the first Bond watch on video. This dress watch accompanied him and his dinner suit with Love and Goldfinger in From Russia as well.
A great low-key alternative to the sportier Submariner, with a black fabric strap and stripped-back style, was the gold dress watch. Formerly one of America’s largest watchmakers, Gruen went out of business in 1977.
Rolex the Original and The Best James Bond Watches
For the first four franchise films, the world-renowned OG of 007 watches, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner, graced Sean Connery’s bushy, Richard Keys-an wrist.
It only tells the time, none of Q’s improvements here; apparently, the fake Nato strap on in Goldfinger is too narrow, and tradition has it that Rolex either couldn’t loan a watch or wouldn’t, so Cubby Broccoli took his own Rolex and gave it to Connery.
Recently sold at auction for $60,000, when Connery illuminated the dial with a lighter, the famous watch’s starring moment came in ‘Goldfinger.’ Some fans assume it was personal belongings, Connery, actually.
The Classic Modern: Omega Seamaster 300m
Since 1995’s “Goldeneye,” when Pierce Brosnan for the first time wore his blue-bezel Seamaster Diver 300M, 007 has pledged allegiance to OMEGA. The Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming was “convinced that the Seamaster with the blue dial would be worn by Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world.”
The Seamaster was kitted out with outlandish ridiculous gadgets during the Brosnan years that proved essential to the plot, including a laser, a grappling hook, and a mine detonator. Still, the casting of Daniel Craig in “Casino Royale” prompted a return to tradition (though with a black bezel to represent the tortured psyche of emo Bond).
A sell-out will be the new Bond watch planned for No Time To Die. It has a lovely retro military vibe, the dial colour is just gorgeous (blue was getting a little obvious), it’s not exclusive to the first 007 version, and it’s the first time a titanium mesh bracelet has been offered to a Seamaster since the 1960s. Besides, you get all of the superlative co-axial master chronometer technology that you would expect from Omega to power it. And that’s just £7,390. Get your order now there’s no time to spare.
Also Read, Best James Bond Gifts and Gadgets: Watch is one of them
“Astronaut” Hamilton Pulsa P2/2900
Disregard the fact that it looks like a microwave from the Jetson family. For his time, the Pulsar P2 was technically advanced. Roger Moore brought in the multimedia hype for “Live and Let Die.” in 1973.
When LCD displays appeared on the scene, LED technology quickly fell out of favour, and Bond sheepishly ditched the timepiece forever. For about a grand, you can pick one up.
Top Time by Breitling
The Top Time, lost for decades after its appearance in “Thunderball,” appeared at a car boot sale in 2013 and sold at auction for an astounding $160,383. About why? Since it was the first watch significantly changed by the “Q” branch and given to Bond. He mounted a handy Geiger counter, which Bond uses to check for SPECTRE stolen atomic bombs.
TAG Heuer Technical 200M Professional
Although Bond typically prefers Rolex or Omega, few people realize that in Timothy Dalton’s 1987 debut “The Living Daylights.” he once wore a TAG Heuer.
For decades, the particular model was shrouded in mystery before legions of internet snoops scrutinized 10 seconds of fast-paced footage and found it to be the 200M Professional.
Yet one line from that book stayed true: “A gentleman’s preference of chronograph says much about him, and so does his Savile Row suit.”
