With the newest James Bond movie and the last one with Daniel Craig hitting the screens, we decided to take a look back through the classic ‘Bond watches’ and pick some of our favourites.
Thunderball – Sean Connery – Modified Breitling Top Time
In the fourth instalment of the James Bond movie series, Thunderball, James Bond wears a modified Breitling Top Time with a Geiger counter. Bond, portrayed by Sean Connery, is given the Breitling by Q, with a seconds hand that measures the radioactivity, as Bond is tracking two stolen atomic bombs in the film. It is the only Breitling ‘Bond watch’ and the only watch worn by Sean Connery to be sold publicly. The watch is a Breitling Top Time ref. 2002, made in 1962 for the 1965 movie and modified to be 47 mm in diameter by the Valley Tool Company.
Modified Breitling Top Time ref. 2002 / Credit: Christie’s
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – George Lazenby – Rolex ref. 6238 Chronograph
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was the only Bond film to feature Australian actor George Lazenby, who wore a stunning Rolex ref. 6238 Chronograph in the film. This was the sixth James Bond film and was released in 1969. In the film, Bond, with the help of his companion ‘Tracy Bond’, the daughter of a fictional mob boss who he marries, goes after the head of Spectre, Ernst Stravro Blofeld.
Rolex ref. 6238 Chronograph / Credit: Hodinkee
The Rolex ref. 6238 Chronograph in question dates back to 1968 and features the Rolex Caliber 722/Valjoux 72. The classic pre-Daytona reference was first released circa 1961, pre-dating the more popular ref. 6239.
For Your Eyes Only – Roger Moore – Seiko ‘Golden Tuna’ 7549-7009
James Bond wearing the Seiko ‘Golden Tuna’ 7549-7009 in For Your Eyes Only / Credit: Tuna Danjaq LLC/MGM/United Artists
The last and final watch on our list is the Seiko ‘Golden Tuna’ 7549-7009, worn by Roger Moore in the 1981 James Bond movies, For Your Eyes Only. In this film, James Bond must recover a communications device before the Russians get it, retrieving it from a sunken submarine. Bond notably is shown wearing this Seiko ‘Golden Tuna’ when he himself descends in a submarine to meet the sunken one.
Seiko ‘ Golden Tuna’ 7549-7009 / Credit: Hodinkee
While the Seiko ‘Golden Tuna’ is famous for appearing in the Bond film, for Seiko collectors it is famous for it’s unique ‘tuna can’ shape and the years of research and development that went into producing a 600-meter water resistant dive watch with no helium escape valve.
The Rolex Submariner and Omega Seamaster may be the most popular, iconic ‘Bond watches’, but the diversity of the watches James Bond has worn since 1962 is impressive. From Gruen to Rolex and digital Seikos, James Bond was quite the watch lover.
By: Andres Ibarguen
Read more:
“Thunderball, 1965.” Christie’s, https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5697283?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=5697283&from=salessummary&lid=1.
“ROLEX Pre-Daytona, ref. 6238, n° 1206513, circa 1968.” Artcurial, https://www.artcurial.com/en/lot-rolex-pre-daytona-ref-6238-ndeg-1206513-circa-1968-m1010-400.