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
Rolex. What have you been smoking?
Real life Bond would not be a one watch type of guy. He carried a small Walther PPK .32 ACP pistol with the confidence of having a very large penis and didn’t need to compensate for insecurities tied to expensive watches. He’d wear his MoD issued broad arrow watch ↑ like a CWC SBS or G10, Hamilton W10, or maybe even an MOD issued milsub, a MI5 Bremont unit watch, an Aqualand, and a Cris Ward.
In the books, he wore his old service watch as a retired Royal Navy commander. A rolex submariner as a retired wartime commander when such things were quality tools not luxury items. In the movies he wears what the sponsor pays for. The character is not a watch snob, nor enthusiast, even if a snob regarding booze and food.
He’d wear whatever a retired Royal Navy commander would wear today unless there was a compelling reason for MI6 to issue something for the task at hand.
Roger Moore solved it many years ago in his movies: use what is fitting for the job, use everything.
And please: no insane/mad Bond, no ugly women, no cgi etc. In other words forget Danny Craig and make good Bond movies again.
18 comments
Rolex. What have you been smoking?
Real life Bond would not be a one watch type of guy. He carried a small Walther PPK .32 ACP pistol with the confidence of having a very large penis and didn’t need to compensate for insecurities tied to expensive watches. He’d wear his MoD issued broad arrow watch ↑ like a CWC SBS or G10, Hamilton W10, or maybe even an MOD issued milsub, a MI5 Bremont unit watch, an Aqualand, and a Cris Ward.
In the books, he wore his old service watch as a retired Royal Navy commander. A rolex submariner as a retired wartime commander when such things were quality tools not luxury items. In the movies he wears what the sponsor pays for. The character is not a watch snob, nor enthusiast, even if a snob regarding booze and food.
He’d wear whatever a retired Royal Navy commander would wear today unless there was a compelling reason for MI6 to issue something for the task at hand.
Roger Moore solved it many years ago in his movies: use what is fitting for the job, use everything.
And please: no insane/mad Bond, no ugly women, no cgi etc. In other words forget Danny Craig and make good Bond movies again.