BULLET POINTS
  • “James Bond Originals”
  • National Watch & Clock Museum [1], in “Wristwatch Gallery”
  • November 18, 2017 – present
PRESENTATION

From May 2015 through November 2017, National Watch & Clock Museum staff and volunteers were most commonly asked the following.

  • Where are the quartz watches that Sean Connery wore?
  • Don’t you have anything recent, like the current movie watches for Daniel Craig?

James Bond Wore the Quartz Revolution™ proved an ongoing center of visitor interest following its May 2015 opening (and to this day). However, as neither the first nor then-current “James Bond” actor from the EON Productions films had ever worn a quartz wristwatch in-character, not even a passing reference was made to either as part of the Quartz Revolution gallery.

Based on this, discussions were initiated in early 2017 as to how this need might best be addressed.

An adjusted “By the Books, with Two Original James Bond Watches” was possible — with an intact 1960 Rolex Explorer in place for the Ian Fleming wristwatch [2] that had been returned to the family in 2015. On the other hand, “shouldn’t” a good bit of the Roger Moore-related content have been omitted to avoid repetition (if not dilution) of Quartz Revolution content? More importantly, unlike December of 2013, a major James Bond horology display case front-and-center of the Wristwatch Gallery would now be augmented by an additional, stand-alone James Bond wristwatches gallery, and thus risk overshadowing the vitally important mission of Wristwatch.

The idea of new “Original James Bond Watches” scaled to the 2011-2012 “Ian Fleming’s Own James Bond Watch” kiosk was then proffered. Images of Daniel Craig and Sean Connery, significantly positioned viz James Bond wristwatches, would serve as backdrop. From there, selection of physical materials would be prioritized based on featuring watchmakers that were not a part of James Bond Wore the Quartz Revolution.

With that, four wristwatches were selected to make this case.

  • A forth-quarter 1960 Rolex Reference 1016 Explorer

This wristwatch was manufactured at virtually the same time as the Ian Fleming Explorer, and was displayed along side that original throughout “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” to show visitors an example that had retained its OEM dial.

  • A circa 2011 Breitling for Breitling for Bentley Motors Model A2536513 / C781 “T Speed” [3]

This was the exact wristwatch that had been worn by Jeffery Deaver during his promotion tour for release of Carte Blanche [4] and which served as his model for the second of two James Bond watches in that novel. A copy of a first edition of that novel, personally inscribed the the author, would serve as platform for the chronograph.

  • A 2006 commemorative Omega “Casino Royale – Limited Series”

This model represented a unique turning point for the EON Productions film franchise, watchmaker Omega, and the way in which all of the above were moved through and by the Internet. When previously displayed in its own case, along with complete Omega packaging and supplemental Casino Royale movie memorabilia, it more than “held its own” as one of the most attractive parts of the “Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibition.

  • A circa 1962 Gruen caliber 510 Precision on screen-correct strap [5]

It’s common knowledge on this website that the Gruen Precision on fabric strap is the first EON Productions James Bond watch, and the model that Sean Connery was wearing when he first introduced himself to Bond girl Sylvia Trench (played by Eunice Gayson). Originally identified in 2013, displayed for seventeen months as part of “By the Books,” and subjected to public scrutiny since mid-November 2017 — its ID has never been refuted.

The signed photograph obtained from Sir Sean Connery for “By the Books” was on the short list of must-includes from the get-go here. Something similar with original signature by Daniel Craig was deemed a comparable need for balance. Current James Bond watchmaker Omega was approached directly about this and it was agreed that one of their photographs of the actor in-character, wearing a tuxedo was preferred. Their people were incredibly supportive throughout in facilitating this well-in-advance of our display opening date target.

That choice also worked out nicely in balance to the image we would use of Ian Fleming, in signature bowtie — and wearing, of course, his own James Bond watch.

Fionn Morgan, who was the stepdaughter of Ian Fleming and personally knew his 1960 Explorer quite well, wrote an extremely supportive letter for the opening of this kiosk display. A decision was made in curation, however, not to include it for show to the public.

EXTRAS

Antiques Week covered in-person the grand opening of “James Bond Originals” at the National Watch & Clock Museum on Saturday, November 18, 2017 [6]. This included at two-hour formal presentation with Q&A in the main auditorium, followed by a two-hour open discussion of James Bond watches on the Museum floor (between the Quartz Revolution gallery and “Originals” kiosk areas).

UNDERWRITING
  • JamesBondWatches.com financed all costs associated with production of display contents, primarily including wristwatches (except as noted below), original artifacts and Sean Connery, Daniel Craig, and Jeffery Deaver autograph; adjunct properties; signage; and transportation. 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.
  • King of Prussia Omega Boutique [7] sponsored the opening. In return, this Omega store was provided promotional recognition and ability to display Omega watches to visitors on-site throughout that day.
PERSONAL

This was the last project on which I was privileged to work with Museum Director Noel Poirier [8] and Gift Shop [9] Manager Abby Krause. Over the nine years that passed since our first meeting to discuss just how many James Bond watches there could be, I came to consider both not just invaluable collaborators, but friends. They have my continued well wishes as their careers continue to take them upward and onward from Columbia, Pennsylvania.

And for those who have and continue to enjoy our James Bond-centered materials through the National Watch & Clock Museum: None of that would have been possible without the commitment of Abby and Noel to all of you.

RELATED PAGES
  • Processing (blog) category: “National Watch & Clock Museum”

— Dell Deaton
Last updated: February 27, 2024
Published: November 21, 2017

OFF-SITE REFERENCES
  1. National Watch & Clock Museum
    (accessed January 8, 2024).
  2. “Discovered: James Bond’s Rolex”
    February 2009 / Dell Deaton / WatchTime magazine; Ebner Publishing (via Internet Archive, “James Bond Watches Blog,” accessed January 8, 2024).
  3. “Breitling for Bentley James Bond Chronograph / Carte Blanche 2011”
    December 10, 2013 / Dell Deaton (via Vimeo, accessed January 23, 2024).
  4. “James Bond’s watch: Breitling for Bentley, in Carte Blanche”
    March 15, 2012 / jamesbondwatches (via YouTube, accessed January 23, 2024).
  5. “Gruen James Bond dress watch / Dr No 1962”
    August 27, 2014 / Dell Deaton (via Vimeo, accessed January 23, 2024).
  6. “Antiques Week covers James Bond watch collecting”
    January 14, 2018 / Dell Deaton / James Bond Watches Blog (via Internet Archive, accessed January 2, 2024).
  7. King of Prussia Omega Boutique (accessed January 2, 2024).
  8. “About Me”
    Noel B. Poirier / The Lazy Family Historian (accessed February 3, 2024).
  9. “The Importance of Gift Shops”
    February 24, 2023 / Museum of African American History (accessed March 24, 2023).