The Definitive Ranking Of James Bond's Watches
From Casino Royale to, er... Casino Royale
Over the past fifty-seven years, James Bond's weapon-grade wrist has played host to the most memorable watches in film history. Whether they're crammed full of henchman-dispatching gadgets or just there to look good, 007 is never seen without an iconic timepiece.
Here are six of the very best...
Rolex Submariner
Seen in: Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball
The world-renowned OG of 007 timepieces, a 'Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner' graced Sean Connery’s bushy, Richard Keys-ian wrist for the franchise’s first four films.
Recently sold at auction for $60,000, the iconic watch’s starring moment came in Goldfinger, when Connery illuminated the dial with a lighter. Some fans believe that it was actually one of Connery's personal possessions.
Gruen Precision 510
Seen in: Dr No, You Only Live Twice
While the Rolex Submariner has become synonymous with Bond’s early adventures, the first timepiece he actually wore on-screen was the Gruen 'Precision'. Bet you feel like a fool now, eh? In fairness, it was barely visible as Bond dealt cards in this scene. It was the team at JamesBondWatches who managed to finally identify it.
The gold dress watch was a perfect low-key alternative to the sportier Submariner, with a black fabric strap and stripped-back design. Gruen, once one of the biggest watch manufacturers in America, went out of business in 1977.
Hamilton Pulsar P2/2900 “Astronaut”
Seen in: Live and Let Die
Ignore the fact that it looks like a Jetsons kitchen appliance. The Pulsar P2 was technically advanced for its time, and Roger Moore brought into the digital hype for 1973’s Live and Let Die.
LED technology soon fell out of favour once LCD screens arrived on the scene, and Bond sheepishly ditched the timepiece forever. You can pick one up for around a grand.
Breitling Top Time
Seen in: Thunderball
Lost for decades after its appearance in Thunderball, the Top Time surfaced in 2013 at a car boot sale and sold for an incredible $160,383 at auction. Why? Because it was the first watch specially modified and issued to Bond by ‘Q’ branch. He installed a handy Geiger counter that Bond uses to search for atomic bombs stolen by SPECTRE.
TAG Heuer Professional 200M
Seen in: The Living Daylights
While Bond usually opts for Rolex or Omega, few people know that he once donned a TAG Heuer in Timothy Dalton’s 1987 debut The Living Daylights.
The specific model was shrouded in mystery for decades until, once again, the team at JamesBondWatches scrutinised 10 seconds of fast-paced footage and discovered it to be the Professional 200M.
OMEGA Seamaster 300M
Seen in: Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Goldeneye
007 has pledged allegiance to OMEGA ever since 1995’s GoldenEye, when Pierce Brosnan donned his blue-bezel Seamaster Diver 300M for the first time. Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming was "convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear the Seamaster with the blue dial.”
During the Brosnan years, the Seamaster was kitted out with outlandish gadgets that proved crucial to the plot, including a laser, a grappling hook and a mine detonator, but Daniel Craig’s casting in Casino Royale triggered a return to tradition (albeit with a black bezel)
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