One of the most common questions that I was asked about the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” opening at the National Watch & Clock Museum in 2010 was about the wristwatch I had chosen to wear for the occasion that night [1].

It was a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Submariner reference worn by Timothy Dalton as James Bond in Licence to Kill.

Although I owned a 1016 Explorer, I felt like I’d appear to be either attempting to compete with or acting out some sort of Walter Mitty lifestyle if I’d have worn that. At the same time, I felt it was important to wear a piece from the same watchmaker as Ian Fleming had chosen for his personal James Bond watch, and which was the centerpiece display in our gallery.

For the next big event, a few months later [2], I wore my Seiko Diver’s 150m — which I know as part of the Roger Moore trinity from A View to a Kill. But most aficionados (and my own son) call it “The Arnie” [3]. This Museum showing of the Ian Fleming Rolex had been such a coup that it overshadowed other very significant firsts that accompanied it: Namely, the first-ever definitive identification of all screen-worn Seiko James Bond watches, along with physical displays of one correct model of each [4].

Fast forward to the last James Bond watch display to open at the National Watch & Clock Museum, which continues its run to this day: “James Bond Originals,” located within the dedicated Wristwatch Gallery in 2017 [5]. I not only had my own Planet Ocean reference 2500.50.91 positioned on-wrist, but enjoyed the privilege of the Omega Boutique at King of Prussia Mall having had my back as a sponsor for our launch presentation in the Museum auditorium [6].

I’ve decided to embrace what has come from my years as a broadly brand-experienced James Bond watch-wearer, coupled with the reach and reputation of this platform. That includes the unique ability to share perspectives based upon spans of a bit more time, geography, and dedicated 007 focus than is generally out there via new product release reviews.

HOW I TYPICALLY WEAR WRISTWATCHES

My bands are typically sized to 7.625 inches (19.368cm). This measure is the same for both generic NATO straps and early Omega “Bond” series (double blue trio) bracelets. Except in the case of something along the lines of a 47mm Panerai Radiomir, I prefer to wear my wristwatches forward of the ulnar wrist bone protrusion.

That’s a part of my frame of reference here.

Look for future content on this here under the “experience” Tag.

OFF-SITE REFERENCES
  1. “Which watch did I wear to the exhibit opening?” (July 16, 2010) Dell Deaton, James Bond Watches Blog (via Internet Archive, accessed January 2, 2024).
  2. “Newspaper preview of James Bond Enthusiasts Weekend” (September 13, 2010) Dell Deaton, James Bond Watches Blog (via Internet Archive, accessed January 2, 2024).
  3. “#TBT Seiko H558 – One Serious Diver” (September 13, 2018) Michael Stockton, Fratello (accessed January 2, 2024).
  4. “James Bond watch exhibit makes history with Seiko UK” (August 20, 2024) Dell Deaton, James Bond Watches Blog (via Internet Archive, accessed January 2, 2024).
  5. “Antiques Week covers James Bond watch collecting” (January 14, 2018) Dell Deaton, James Bond Watches Blog (accessed January 2, 2024).
  6. King of Prussia Omega Boutique (accessed January 2, 2024).