Beginning with the December 25 James Bond Watches Blog™ post this past Wednesday, a banner image will appear above each headline and content. These will be locked in place to serve as a sort of time capsule against future updates to the website, proper banner going forward.
The current banner is comprised of nineteen images, with priority placed on having each of the confirmed James Bond movie watchmakers in some way represented.
Following are the descriptions, beginning on the top row, left, and ending on the bottom row, right.
- Pulsar P2, The Time Computer
Screen-capture from an original video that I produced and posted to YouTube on April 5, 2010 [a] — having wrongly accepted the popular position that credited this as a product of the Hamilton Watch Company [1-2].
- “How I Found the Original James Bond Watch” [b]
This was the story-behind-the-story of my discovery of the only real-world James Bond watch to feature in any Ian Fleming thriller [4]. This ran under my byline in a 2009 NAWCC Bulletin [5].
- Ian Fleming display in “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” [c]
For the first time ever, the Rolex Explorer that had served as model for the 007 wristwatch in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963) and the typewritten manuscript for that novel [10] were brought together in this 2010-2011 gallery setup under my curation at the National Watch & Clock Museum (also known as “Museum of Time” [11]).
- Gruen 510 Precision with 9/12/3 starburst dial
Photograph that I took of a screen-correct piece identical to the first James Bond watch to appear in any motion picture [12].
- Sicura brochure page with summary of company history [13]
This was the sole watchmaker for Sir James Bond (ie, the only authentic James Bond) in the 1967 Casino Royale.
- March 3, 2006, letter from Stephen Urquhart of Omega
At the time in position of president, he sent this detailed communication to me regarding Omega marketing campaigns and “James Bond.”
- “Casino Royale” kiosk in “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches”
Expansively appointed layout of how many items could go into a “collection” centered on the 2006 “Casino Royale” limited series wristwatch from Omega. All items were (and remain) a part of my personal collection; the reference 2907.50.91 was purchased arms-length from Authorized Dealer Lewis Jewelers.
- GoldenEye Omega quartz on the cover of Antique Week [14]
Feature article by Barbara Miller Beem covered opening of “James Bond Originals” kiosk [d] in the Wristwatch Gallery at the Museum of Time, mid-November 2017.
- Hodinkee coverage of “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” gallery [16]
In those early days of his enterprise, Benjamin Clymer personally made a trek to Columbia, Pennsylvania, for what was billed as an “Enthusiasts Weekend” at the Museum in September of 2010. He recorded this video [17] in one continuous take, using a vertically-oriented handheld device; I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the first such effort for Hodinkee.
- First page of original manuscript for From Russia, with Love
I’ve always liked this for what it says about the value of hands-on research into original materials. In this case, it shows a lengthy expanse of emptiness where Ian Fleming had repeatedly struck the spacebar on his typewriter — without the slightest thought to what his trusted editor William Plomer [18-19] would later propose be defined as a “Girard-Perregaux” piece [20].
- April 30, 2010, letter from Mark Mills FBHI of Seiko UK [21-22]
Ironically, no independent researcher had ever before made contact with Seiko UK about its pivotal work as James Bond watch supplier until my contacts in Japan put me in touch with Mr Mills in September of 2009. This document was his summary contribution to the official record, identifying the eight models provided for five movies, beginning with The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and concluding with A View to a Kill (1985).
- Autographed photograph of James Bond holding Rolex Submariner in Dr No
Working through channels, I was able to obtain this signed photograph of Sir Sean Connery [23] holding the earliest on-screen James Bond diver’s watch. This 8×10 was first displayed as part of my “By the Books with Two Original James Bond watches” showcase that inaugurated the then-new Wristwatch Gallery at the National Watch & Clock Museum.
- “Mrs James Bond Watches”
Photograph from her appearance at the Museum during the run of “Bond Watches,” when she emceed a number of stage events for the “Enthusiasts Weekend.”
- First complete list of Seiko James Bond watches to appear in a magazine
Issue USA 16 of Revolution magazine [24] broke the news of my work with Mark Mills viz all James Bond watch models that had been supplied by Seiko UK to EON Productions as The Quartz Revolution [25] unfolded.
- JamesBondWatches.com™ version 4.0 home page, circa 2013
As I’ve written elsewhere on this site, the preceding iteration was laid out for a very different time period in terms of accessibility viz devices, as well as scope of content.
- “Swatch” kiosk in James Bond Wore the Quartz Revolution™
This gallery realized my ultimate goal for work with the National Watch & Clock Museum: To leverage “James Bond watches” as a means to attract, engage, and raise the bar on understanding among those in the general public on important aspects of horological history. Then-Museum Director Noel Poirier [26] was a visionary, indespensible partner throughout.
This particular focus on Swatch served dual roles: As parent to current James Bond movie watchmaker Omega, and as licensee for pieces tied to the first twenty EON Productions movies. More broadly, Swatch had been the Swiss answer to what some in the watchmaking industry would rather label as “The Quartz Crisis” [27],
- Press Kit for launch of Cartier Santos sports watch line
The two-tone reference 2961 of this collection was worn as a James Bond wristwatch throughout most of The Living Daylights (1987).
- October 29, 2009, letter from Breitling public relations office
Communication in support of acknowledging its Top-Time and Navitimer models that appeared in Thunderball (1965) as part of then-upcoming “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” gallery at Museum of Time.
Notes
- As of this posting, that video has been viewed 102,897 times.
- Shout-out to both Diana De Lucca and Joe Thompson, my editors on these articles at NAWCC Bulletin and WatchTime, respectively. I’ve made a living through research and journalism since 1983 [3], and I’ve never worked with better. Each represented a distinctly different readership interest in wristwatches. Yet each came to the subject of “James Bond’s watch” with an informed respect for the subject-matter, requirements for proof of every claim that I made, and a pleasant style of interaction.
- I believe that “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches,” which ran in a special appearance gallery at the National Watch & Clock Museum [6], June 18, 2010, through April 30, 2011, was the first exhibition of all then-known James Bond watchmakers. Leading sponsors (ie, all proceeds to Museum) were Revolution magazine [7] and Watchmakers International [8]; joined by Lewis Jewelers [9], beginning in September.
- “James Bond Originals” was sponsored (ie, all proceeds to Museum) by King of Prussia Omega Boutique [15].
— Dell Deaton
off-site
References
- “Exploring James Bond Watches” / April 5, 2010 / jamesbondwatches (via YouTube, accessed July 5, 2024)
- Hamilton (accessed December 26, 2024).
- “Thirty Years Ago, I Celebrated My Five-Year Anniversary As A Journalist – In Florida, Taking Photographs (As Usual)” / August 6, 2018 / Dell Deaton / Saline Journal (accessed December 27, 2024).
- “Found: James Bond’s Rolex” alt “Discovered: James Bond’s Rolex” / January-February 2009 / Dell Deaton / WatchTime magazine (pages 10, 14, 18, 84-90, and 92-93; Ebner Publishing: New York).
- “How I found the Original James Bond Watch” / June 2009 / Dell Deaton / NAWCC Bulletin: Journal of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors (pages 256, 307-309, and 312; National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors: Columbia, Pennsylvania).
- National Watch & Clock Museum (accessed January 5, 2024).
- Revolution (accessed December 26, 2024).
- Watchmakers International (accessed December 26, 2024).
- Lewis Jewelers (accessed January 22, 2024).
- “Ian Fleming and the World of James Bond: The James Bond Novels and Their Manuscripts” / April 30, 2003 / Dawn Thornton / Lilly Library, Indiana University (via Internet Archive, accessed November 19, 2024).
- museumoftime.org (accessed December 27, 2024).
- “Gruen 510 Precision 9/12/3 Starburst – James Bond Watch” / February 1, 2024 / Dell Deaton (Pro) / Flickr (accessed December 26, 2024).
- “History of the Sicura watch brand” / August 6, 2015 / Large Vintage Watches (accessed December 26, 2024).
- Antique Week (accessed December 26, 2024).
- King of Prussia Omega Boutique (accessed January 2, 2024).
- Hodinkee (accessed December 26, 2024).
- “Dell Deaton explains ‘James Bond Watches’ at the National Watch and Clock Museum” / September 19, 2010 / Benjamin Clymer / Hodinkee (via Vimeo, accessed January 9, 2024).
- “William Plomer: South African Writer” / April 2, 2024 / Britannica (accessed April 6, 2024).
- James Bond: The Man and His World / 2005 / Henry Chancellor (page 107; John Murray: London).
- Girard-Perregaux (accessed December 26, 2024).
- “Last member of James Bond watch team retires from Seiko UK: Part 1” / August 3, 2010 / Dell Deaton / James Bond Watches Blog (via Internet Archive, accessed June 11, 2024).
- “… Part 2” / August 6, 2010.
- “Biography” / Sean Connery (accessed April 1, 2024).
- “Secret History: The Seiko Watches of 007” / 2010 / Dell Deaton / Revolution (pages 127-131; Revolution International: Port Louis, Mauritius).
- “Four Revolutions – Part 1: A Concise History Of The Quartz Revolution” / October 10, 2017 / Joe Thompson / Hodinkee (accessed April 27, 2024).
- “About Me” Noel B Poirier / The Lazy Family Historian (accessed February 3, 2024).
- “The Quartz Crisis: The (Almost) End of the Watch Industry” / June 14, 2022 / Sideprojects (via YouTube, accessed April 27, 2024).