What watch would James Bond REALLY wear?

[Le Chef]

Originally Posted by How

Navy SEALs get issued with Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs don't they?

(but having said that are Navy SEALs public servants or are they a private entity?

They don;t equip them with JLC's. JLC paid a license fee to use the Navy Seals name.

[jake]

He would wear this...There ain't nothin' like the real thang...

[Hammer]

What I can never understand, why was Bond never issued with more than one watch?

A Sub for his day wear, rugged, no problem if he gets in a scrap, and a Patek for his evenings in the bar and casino.

[wuyeah]

Milgauss was def made for Bond. This is someone who in and out trying to figure out where is nuclear weapon of mass destruction. These places are highly magnetic.

[Lumberjact]

Hi folks,

Was recently reading "Licence Renewed" by John Gardner, which was the first non-Fleming book licenced by Fleming's Estate, so it's genuine Bond in as much as can be.

Anyhow, the watch referenced in that novel is described in the following extract:

"He slipped into comfortable soft leather sandals and was just clipping the old and valued gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual onto his wrist when the telephone rang."

Any thoughts as to what this might be? The book was published in 1981, and was set then too it seems. So, what constitutes an "old and valued gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual" at that time? Does the lack of reference to a date, (ie, the author did not say Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date") give an indication that there was no date on this model, or is that simply how one might describe any Oyster Perpetual?

And yes, I know it's not real, but it's a heck of a lot of fun!

[Hoppyjr]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

They don;t equip them with JLC's. JLC paid a license fee to use the Navy Seals name.

I read that JLC did provide at least some SEAL's with watches. Not issued by the Navy, but issued nonetheless.
Not correct?





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[Feras]

black Casio remote control watch

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Hoppyjr

I read that JLC did provide at least some SEAL's with watches. Not issued by the Navy, but issued nonetheless.
Not correct?





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Issued and comped are two different things. I've worked with Seals in the past and technically they aren't issued watches....but...the supply and logistics program manager has a huge budget to buy what the unit needs. They request an item and they put it in the budget and make a group purchase for the unit. During the Vietnam era they were "issued" Rolex GMTs, but in 2003-2005 time frame the ones I knew were getting G-Shocks.
Companies routinely send batches in to the units, ranging from clothing, outdoor equipment, tents and medical gear, etc, but this gear wouldn't be considered issued as a new member that wasn't there during that initial batch would not have it. However if it's something that is required gear like the watches, which they've chosen G-shocks, they would just buy more. They've also issued Suuntos in the past but Suuntos can go through batteries too fast and their straps suck.

[RC2]

G shock

[gofore59]

The Prince of Wales wears an Omega his mother gave him on almost every occasion so there is no reason Bond cannot wear a sports watch with a tux.

It has to be a diver because he is a Navy man (isn't he a Commander in the Royal Navy?).

I'm going with a blacked out (DLC) 16600 Seadweller that was his personal watch which he refused to give up so Q division modified it for the field - durable, wearable and stealthy.

Or a Sky Dweller because that is probably the name of the next Bond movie ;-)

[submariner66]

Originally Posted by karlrichard

As James Bond was portrayed as a Commander for the Royal Naval Reserve... And assuming that a Submariner WAS available when Bond was first around (all those years ago in 1953 with the Casino Royale)... I would personally have to say that he would probably go for a Rolex Submariner, as it would have served the function of more-than-competent all rounder timepiece for any active naval officer i.e. SCUBA diving, swimming, boating in rough weather, navigating submarines and naval vessels, etc...

Note: Did at one point think about the possibility that he might have worn a Deepsea (thinking of Moore in "The Spy Who Loved Me" or Brosnan in "The World Is Not Enough")... But realised that it would look way too cumbersome with any evening dress or black-tie on. Not Bond's style really.

So Submariner it is!

-

As a "sub" note... It's obvious why Ian Fleming was so impressed with Rolex watches and, as such, why he himself wore a Rolex Explorer...

Having been a Naval Intelligence Officer during World War II (as well as forming a crack commando unit of naval intelligence officers in 1942, known as No. 30 Commando) Fleming knew the importance of good time keeping... Not to mention he was noted as a good conversationalist and exceptional joke teller (where timing is of the utmost importance, pun intended)... Thus, I reckon he would have appreciated the fact that Rolex was the first brand of wristwatch to ever be awarded the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision!

Not to mention, four years later, in 1914, Kew Observatory (that Great British institution also known as the King's Observatory, where time was able to be measured so accurately against the precise movement of the heavens above, and where naval timepieces were always calibrated) awarded a Rolex wrist watch with a class "A" precision certificate (something that, until that point, has been exclusively reserved for MARINE chronometers)... Now there's a fact he most definitely would have taken in to account during his time in the navy.

Also... As an added detail... While Hans Wilsdorf founded "Wilsdorf and Davis" in London in 1905, along with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis... Wilsdorf first registered the trademark "Rolex", again in London, three years later in 1908 (which was also Flemming's year of birth). Thus, in way, both the creator of James Bond and Rolex were born in the same year and in the same city!

To add to this... As Flemming had been born in 1908, I think he would have been impressed as a teenager by the fact that a woman - Mercedes Gleitze - who had already swum once across the English channel in 1927, did so for a second time (in even colder waters than before) with a Rolex watch on. During this gruelling ten hour ordeal, Gleitze suffered terribly with the cold and had to be pulled out the water after she became unconscious... However, the watch had remained perfectly watertight and in good excellent working order!

Now... Why does the present James Bond wear an Omega again?

Oh, naturally its because of the co-axial escapement blah, blah, blah haven't you heard everyone going on about it ?

[How]

With Bond all his travels across the globe, he really should wear a GMTIIc :D

[piper]

Its got to be a Skydweller!!

[zion_rasta]

GMT IIc here is why:

1. Bond travels like crazy
2. the GMT IIc would handle the shallow SCUBA/Snorkeling that he's done
3. Dressy enough to wear with a suit or Tux
4. The polished ceramic bezel works as mirror to see any bad guy coming

[jeffboehm]

I think if he had his choice Bond would wear a watch that on the outside looks like an omega but opens up and becomes a weapon. Like a really small gun or something.

[PunkJr]

Not sure about Bond but I've got a few friends who are/were secret agents and they swear by their Submariners, sans date.

Bond drove a Bentley so inconspicuous is hardly what he's all about. Plus he often checks into hotels under his own name!

[Icehockeyboy]

Originally Posted by jay1988

Flemming did specify which watch Bond wore and it was an Explorer.

I believe it fits perfectly with Bond and can't think of any other Rolex he would wear. Flemming grew up in London in the early 1900's and I highly doubt he was told it's ok to wear a sports watch with a tux but maybe the explorer was a little bit rebelious.

Although not a personal favourite, I believe the Explorer is the only all occasion Rolex. I know a lot on here think it's ok to wear a sub with a suit but my uncle is a tailor who would give me a clip round the ear for doing that. Flemming grew up in Mayfair which is pretty posh and his family were extremely rich. He would of been attending high society parties all the time and a dress watch would of been manditory.

Call me Pedantic, and I appreciate my reply has nothing to do with any JB watch, but a member of TRF using the wrong word in a reply...I’m talking about that awful teen habit of using the word ‘of’ when they mean ‘have’!!!

Would you go into a Rolex dealership and say ‘Of you got a GMT’ or whatever ?
Have course you wouldn’t.
Hope you spotted the deliberate mistake!


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[BisonHead]

^^^^ Wow 7 year revival for that English lesson. Sweet, maybe you need to get out a bit more. Although very glad you did post as i have enjoyed reading the thread.

My choice for Mr Bond:
Sub for the day
YG DD for the night

[Icehockeyboy]

Originally Posted by BisonHead

^^^^ Wow 7 year revival for that English lesson. Sweet, maybe you need to get out a bit more. Although very glad you did post as i have enjoyed reading the thread.

My choice for Mr Bond:
Sub for the day
YG DD for the night

Thank you.
I ‘get out’ everyday, but the incorrect use have words really grinds my gears.
See what I did there?
Makes no sense at all when the wrong word is used does it.


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[grimps]

No Date Sub

[grimps]

Originally Posted by gofore59

The Prince of Wales wears an Omega his mother gave him on almost every occasion so there is no reason Bond cannot wear a sports watch with a tux.

It has to be a diver because he is a Navy man (isn't he a Commander in the Royal Navy?).

I'm going with a blacked out (DLC) 16600 Seadweller that was his personal watch which he refused to give up so Q division modified it for the field - durable, wearable and stealthy.

Or a Sky Dweller because that is probably the name of the next Bond movie ;-)

Prince Harry wears an Explorer and he's done two tours of Afghanistan and banged strippers in Vegas , it really is a go anywhere Watch

[Kenny Powers]

He’d wear a “limited” edition James Bond (one of 100007) Omega seamaster: it would have 007 in flashing neon lights on the dial, and would play the Bond theme tune at 100 decibels on a constant never ending loop.

This means he would no longer need to loudly announce his name when entering a hotel/health spa/casino/brothel in an enemy’s territory.

[Icehockeyboy]

Originally Posted by Kenny Powers

He’d wear a “limited” edition James Bond (one of 100007) Omega seamaster: it would have 007 in flashing neon lights on the dial, and would play the Bond theme tune at 100 decibels on a constant never ending loop.

This means he would no longer need to loudly announce his name when entering a hotel/health spa/casino/brothel in an enemy’s territory.

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[ma2045]

Mil Sub.

Obviously.

[Chrislec]

Originally Posted by Lumberjact

Hi folks,

Was recently reading "Licence Renewed" by John Gardner, which was the first non-Fleming book licenced by Fleming's Estate, so it's genuine Bond in as much as can be.

Anyhow, the watch referenced in that novel is described in the following extract:

"He slipped into comfortable soft leather sandals and was just clipping the old and valued gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual onto his wrist when the telephone rang."

Any thoughts as to what this might be? The book was published in 1981, and was set then too it seems. So, what constitutes an "old and valued gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual" at that time? Does the lack of reference to a date, (ie, the author did not say Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date") give an indication that there was no date on this model, or is that simply how one might describe any Oyster Perpetual?

And yes, I know it's not real, but it's a heck of a lot of fun!

I read that one too, and I confirm the mention to the gold Rolex....
It looks like John Gardner made him wear a gold DD or DJ. Not the least flashy for a spy....
I should also mention that in the same book, Bond is driving a Q-modified Saab from the early eighties...... A gold DD and a Saab...omg..!!!.

So let's forget about this fashion faux-pas.

[Rolexatlast]

I would look back to Dr No for inspiration. In the first scene, where Bond is playing cards in his club in a dinner jacket, he wears a dress watch - Greun Precision 510. Once out on a mission in the Caribbean, we wears a divers tool watch - the Submariner. So he wears what is appropriate.

He is a field agent, who infiltrates the rich and powerful, and needs to look like he belongs - hence the best clothes, hotels and Aston Martin. Perks he enjoys enormously.

In his own time, he will wear what he can afford. A Rolex would not be out of his salary range, and he would appreciate the toughness. Maybe a Sub to fit his navy background, or GMT for his travel.

When on active service, he would be kitted out by Q: on an operation, I reckon some form of G-Shock; when mixing with the baddies in a social scene, I reckon a Patek; when mooching around, apparently on holiday, maybe his Rolex.

[challer]

All Rolex are sports watches. Bond would wear a Patek Travel Time

Originally Posted by rmfnla

Since 007 is most often portrayed in a tuxedo I think a sports watch is a bit off the mark.

I like the platinum DD suggestion...

[Chrislec]

Originally Posted by rmfnla

I like the platinum DD suggestion...

I like this suggestion too! I can really picture Bond wrapping the Platinum DD on his hand as brass knuckles. Knocking out with style!

[Greg Bell]

Bremont supermarine. Classy and British.


But probably something low profile like an OP or Explorer that wouldn't get in his way or be too heavy.

[Case61]

In the for what it's worth department, Connery himself wore a lovely Gruen Precision on a strap, which made a brief, accidental appearance in Goldfinger (the Odd Job fight scene), as well as in Dr. No and You Only Live Twice.

{This is a long thread and I've only skimmed it. Apologies if this has been noted before.}