Our top picks for a more realistic 007, taking into account Bond’s fictional background in special operations and salary as a civil servant
When it comes to Watches of Espionage, James Bond is the elephant in the room. There is a significant gap between the realities of intelligence collection and Hollywood's depiction, but 007 has had an indelible impact on watch culture within the Intelligence Community, and we know several real-world practitioners whose watch choices were influenced by the Omega and Rolex watches worn by Bond, James Bond.
However, we would argue that there’s a good chance a real “secret agent" using their license to kill on MI6’s behalf wouldn’t wear a luxury watch at all. In this video on the W.O.E. YouTube Channel, we’ll provide some of our top timepiece selections for a slightly more realistic 007.
Enjoy episode forty-three of W.O.E. TV.
Happy Hunting,
-W.O.E.
18 comments
Connery made Rolex 6538 popular
Moore made Casio watches fun
Dalton wore a Rolex & Tag Heuer
Brosnan wore a Omega
Craig wore a Omega
Sean Connery was given the watch on set by chance and made in popular because of him.
Danny Craig was forced to wear the Omega and tried to be a salesperson for Omega (not acting like Bond).
Fleming was asked in the 50’s what watch James Bond wore and he said that it would be something cheap and disposable, but does the job. He only gave Bond a Rolex because at the time they were not that expensive to buy and were standard issue. James Bond first wore a Rolex in the novels in Live and Let Die and it’s possible that it was issued with the rest of his dive equipment supplied by Q Branch minus the new anti-shark repellent that he couldn’t get.
He next wears a Rolex because Fleming had specifically been given an Explorer in the early 60’s by his mistress in Jamaica, so wrote it into the novel along with Ursula Andress.
Bond today would wear a G-Shock like most para military types do as he cared nothing for them unless they worked and you could see the time in the dark. When he wins at cards against Drax and is told to spend the Money quickly, he buys Henry Cotton golf clubs and diamond cuff links, not a new Rolex.
Buy my book The Whiskey and the Beer, or a Casio knock off that a I am also selling
Philip Lazar, author of The Tiger and the Bear – Tom Clancy copy. In a way like Omega wanting to be Rolex.
18 comments
Connery made Rolex 6538 popular
Moore made Casio watches fun
Dalton wore a Rolex & Tag Heuer
Brosnan wore a Omega
Craig wore a Omega
Sean Connery was given the watch on set by chance and made in popular because of him.
Danny Craig was forced to wear the Omega and tried to be a salesperson for Omega (not acting like Bond).
Fleming was asked in the 50’s what watch James Bond wore and he said that it would be something cheap and disposable, but does the job. He only gave Bond a Rolex because at the time they were not that expensive to buy and were standard issue. James Bond first wore a Rolex in the novels in Live and Let Die and it’s possible that it was issued with the rest of his dive equipment supplied by Q Branch minus the new anti-shark repellent that he couldn’t get.
He next wears a Rolex because Fleming had specifically been given an Explorer in the early 60’s by his mistress in Jamaica, so wrote it into the novel along with Ursula Andress.
Bond today would wear a G-Shock like most para military types do as he cared nothing for them unless they worked and you could see the time in the dark. When he wins at cards against Drax and is told to spend the Money quickly, he buys Henry Cotton golf clubs and diamond cuff links, not a new Rolex.
Buy my book The Whiskey and the Beer, or a Casio knock off that a I am also selling
Philip Lazar, author of The Tiger and the Bear – Tom Clancy copy. In a way like Omega wanting to be Rolex.