“By the Books, with Two Original James Bond Watches” Display

BULLET POINTS

“By the Books with Two Original James Bond Watches” [1]
National Watch & Clock Museum [2], center to “Wristwatch Gallery”
December 19, 2013 through May 24, 2015

PRESENTATION

A completely new, expansive gallery dedicated solely to wristwatches had been budgeted, developed, and slated to open for the Christmas holiday in 2013. A key part of the concept called for placement of two large display cases front-and-center: Each would be set up on a rotating basis with special-focused content, which would change every twelve to twenty-four months according to staggered schedules.

One of these would feature James Bond watches and materials literally bookended by two original timepieces associated with 007 books.

One was the Rolex 1016 Explorer personally owned and worn by Ian Fleming and which served as his model for the 1963 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service James Bond watch [3]. The other was the Breitling for Bentley [4] worn by Jeffery Deaver during promotions for his 2011 Carte Blanche [4,5] and which served as his model for the second of two James Bond watches in that novel [6]. Between the two, a series of resource materials, DVDs related to EON Productions motion pictures, and, importantly, screen-correct wristwatch models, were displayed.

Significantly, this exhibit marked the first public display of a screen-correct Gruen 510 Precision wristwatch, on screen-correct, one-piece woven strap with pin-buckle. The Gruen Precision was the first James Bond movie watch, worn by actor Sean Connery when he first introduced himself as “Bond, James Bond,” in the 1962 film, Dr No. The original model went on to appear in From Russia with Love and Goldfinger, and was the only watch worn by Agent 007 in You Only Live Twice.

“By the Books” marked the second loan extension by Ian Fleming family heirs, following their first permission for it to appear as centerpiece in the “Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibition.

The Breitling for Bentley was first lent by Authorized Dealer Lewis Jewelers, to promote the Carte Blanche book launch in 2011; it was later purchased by Dell Deaton via arms-length transaction.
A photograph from Dr No featuring Sean Connery in-character and holding the Rolex 6538 Submariner James Bond watch from that movie was acquired with the personal signature of Sir Connery special for this display.

EXTRAS

In support of this display, James Bond Watches produced eight videos that highlighted select wristwatches in running, and in some cases, real world, development-purpose conditions. Custom QR Codes were created for these individual watches to support visitors interested in accessing videos from their smartphones during their time in the National Watch & Clock Museum.

re 1962 Dr No movie — Gruen Caliber 510 Precision, on screen-correct strap [7]
re 1979 Moonraker movie — Seiko Quartz LC Model SFX003 “Memory Bank Calendar,” on screen-correct bracelet [8]
re 1981 For Your Eyes Only movie — Seiko Model S60583 “Quartz Professional 600m,” informally called “The Tuna,” and the very first titanium James Bond watch [9]
re 1985 A View to a Kill movie — Seiko Model SPD094 two-tone dress watch [10]
re 1987 The Living Daylights movie — TAG Heuer 980.031 “Quartz 200 Metre Professional” PVD diver, otherwise known as the “Night Dive” model [11]
re 1989 Licence to Kill movie — Rolex Reference 16610 “Submariner” (Oyster Perpetual Date) [12]
re 2011 Carte Blanche book — Breitling for Bentley Motors Model A2536513 / C781 “T Speed” chronograph [13]
re 2012 Skyfall movie — Omega Reference 231.10.39.21.03.001 “Seamaster” (Aqua Terra) [14]

UNDERWRITING

JamesBondWatches.com financed all costs associated with production of display contents, primarily including wristwatches (except as noted below), original artifacts and Sean Connery and Jeffery Deaver autographs, adjunct properties, signage, transportation, and production of related videos. Other than recognition of curation by Dell Deaton in association with James Bond Watches web presences in on-site graphics and written communications distributed by the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, no other compensation of any sort was offered, requested, or received.
Omega Authorized Dealer Lewis Jewelers of Ann Arbor, Michigan [15], had originally contributed the Reference 2201.50 Seamaster Planet Ocean for later addition to the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibition. In return, Lewis Jewelers was provided with run-of-site display advertising on the James Bond Watches Blog for a period of six months [16].

Processing (blog) category: “National Watch & Clock Museum“

— Dell Deaton
Last updated: February 3, 2024
Originally published: December 23, 2013

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