APRIL 25, 1958: HANDWRITTEN LETTER FROM B.W. GOODDEN TO IAN FLEMING

25.4.58 [1]

Dear Mr Fleming,

On reading the report of the investigation by Agent 007 into the Strangways – Trublood case I was extremely surprised and perturbed to read on page 117 the words Bond glanced at his watch. It had stopped at 3 o’clock.’

This is a very serious matter which should at once be drawn to the attention of M. [A] reliable watch and 007’s failure to provide himself with one should be made the subject of an official inquiry.

A Rolex Oyster Perpetual, which is completely waterproof, and does not require winding, keeps if anything even better time after immersion in a marry grove pool.

007’s nerve has obviously been shattered by a few trivial mishaps in the course of this and his earlier investigations. Otherwise he could not possibly have neglected such a vital item of equipment.

Yours sincerely
B.W. Goodden

JUNE 5, 2958: TYPEWRITTEN RESPONSE FROM IAN FLEMING TO B.W. GOODDEN

5th June, 1958 [2].

I have just got back from abroad to find your sapient rebuke of 007’s time-keeping equipment.

I have discussed this with hima and he points out that the Rolex Oyster Perpetual weighs about six ounces and would appreciably slow up the use of his left hand in combat. His practice, in fact, is to use fairly cheap, expendable wristwatches on expanding metal bracelets which can be slipped forward over the thumb and used in the form of a knuckle-duster, either on the outside or the inside of the hand.

In passing on his comments to you, I would add that James Bond has trained himself to tell the time by the sun in either hemisphere within a few minutes.

Thank you, nevertheless, for raising the point and 007 wishes to assure you that when an appropriate time-piece is invented, he will wear it.

Ian Fleming [handwritten signature]

B.W. Goodden, Esq,
10, Old Broad Street,
London, E.C.2.

a By way of perspective, six ounces is equal to approximately 170 grams. By comparison, the Rolex 16610 Submariner Date model worn in Licence to Kill (1989) weighed 135 grams, with all links in its OEM bracelet included [3]. The titanium Omega Seamaster Diver 300m model on OEM mesh bracelet worn in No Time to Die (2021) weighed 94 grams.

— Dell Deaton
Latest update: March 23, 2024
Published: January 17, 2024

OFF-SITE REFERENCES
  1. Private collection, Ian Fleming family heirs.
  2. James Bond: The Man and His World – The Official Companion to Ian Fleming’s Creation
    2005 / Henry Chancellor, page 68 [image] (Ian Fleming Publications: London).
  3. “How Much Does the Rolex Submariner Weigh?”
    Millenary Watches (accessed March 23, 2024).