The fictional character of James Bong has been a symbolic figure for decades – representing a British cultural vision of masculinity and dignity. Known for his love of adventure, martinis and gadgets, Bond is also known for his luxury watches. So what watches does James Bond wear?
Throughout the years, from Pierce Brosnan to Roger Moore, the 007 agent has been known to sport a variety of high-end timepieces. We take a closer look at our favorite and most iconic James Bond watches over the years.
- The history of James Bonds' watches
- Top 6 James Bond watches
- What is my watch worth?
- How to sell my watch
The History Of James Bonds' Watches
One of the key components of James Bond’s image is his style and its evolution throughout time and across different movies. The watches that Bond wore on each Bond film are crucial to his representation, especially as the author of the books specifies that the secret agent wears a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Chronometer. Interestingly, this allegiance only remained up until a certain point.
For the first few decades of films, the James Bond character was strongly linked to Rolex watches until he began to stray. Renowned author Ian Fleming famously stated that: “He could not just wear a watch. It had to be a Rolex… a gentleman’s choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Savile Row suit”. Now, the James Bond franchise is more often linked to the Omega brand.
What Watches Does James Bond Wear?
- Rolex Submariner
- Gruen Precision 510
- Omega Seamaster
- Breitling Top Time
- Tag Heuer Professional Night-Dive
- Rolex Chronograph
1. Rolex Submariner
- Movies: Dr. No, Goldfinger, From Russia with Love
- Approximate Rolex Submariner retail cost: $9,000
Worn by actor Sean Connery in the 1964 movie, the Rolex is made visible when Bond flicks his lighter on to check the time. The Submariner makes for a great James Bond watch as it is a diver’s watch and functions as well under water as it does on land.
2. Gruen Precision 510
- Movies: Dr. No
- Approximate Gruen Precision retail cost: $750
In the 1962 movie, Dr. No, the first watch we ever see James Bond wear is the Gruen Precision 510, which was worn during pre-production and on the very first day of shooting. Due to what is believed to be an error in the filming continuity, Bond’s watch then shifts to a Rolex Submariner in a different scene.
3. Omega Seamaster
- Movies: Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre
- Approximate Omega Seamaster 300M retail cost: $3,500
James Bond has sported Omega Seamaster’s in every movie since 1995, which marks the beginning of the relationship between the character and Omega watches. In the 2006 movie Casino Royale, the following dialogue famously took place: “Nice watch. Is that a Rolex?” “Omega”.
4. Breitling Top Time
- Movies: Thunderball
- Approximate Breitling Top Time retail cost: $3,000
The Breitling Top Time worn by Sean Connery in Thunderball is believed have been bought for a mere £25 ($33 USD). However, it sold at auction in 2013 for a staggering £103,875 ($136,824 USD). The watch is addressed in Thunderball, when this conversation takes place between Q and James Bond:
Q: “Here we have a Geiger counter, useful and unobtrusive. The sweep hand takes the radioactivity count. It’s waterproof, of course”.
Bond: “Of course”.
5. Tag Heuer Professional Night-Dive
- Movies: The Living Daylights
- Approximate Tag Heuer divers cost: $2,000
Sported by actor Timothy Dalton in the 1987 movie The Living Daylights, it was not clear what model this watch was until recent years when it was identified as being a Tag Heuer Professional Night-Dive.
6. Rolex Chronograph
- Movies: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
- Approximate Rolex Chronograph retail cost: $4,000
James Bond wears the Rolex Chronograph during the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The scene in which he wears the watch, Bond goes undercover as genealogist Sir Hilary Bray to infiltrate a research institute.
What Do The James Bond’s Watch Choices Say?
The watches that the James Bond character wears is reflective of how style evolves and what is considered technologically advanced and stylish at the time. Looking back at the movies, we can see how Bond’s style has evolved over the last few decades and what type of watch is considered to be desirable.
What Is My Watch Worth?
When it comes to selling your watch, the resale value will depend on a number of factors. The luxury brand of your watch will have an impact on the price, for example Rolex watches tend to retain greater value than many other brands.
It also depends heavily on the condition of the watch, whether it still has its box and papers and the price will change depending on which model you own. The rarity or iconic status of a watch will increase its resale value, as opposed to another model which may be more easily attainable.
How To Sell Your Watch
Selling your watch can be a daunting process, especially in the digital age when there are so many different routes to take. Although selling on online auctions sites is a tempting option, when it comes to luxury watches these websites often lack the ability to ensure that items are authentic, which makes buyers more skeptical and less willing to pay higher prices for them. Selling in this way can take weeks, months or even years so it is ultimately not a quick or efficient way of selling.
Should you be thinking of selling a luxury watch for cash or in order to upgrade, myGemma offers a quick and easy selling process.
The process is simple:
- Complete our online form to get a price quote then schedule an appointment OR use our free and insured overnight mailing service to get a final price.
- Our expert team of horologists will evaluate your timepiece and make you the best possible offer.
- You then have the option to accept our offer and get paid or refuse our offer. There is no obligation to sell however, so if you refuse your offer we return your watch free of charge.
About myGemma
Founded in 2010, we have an A+ BBB rating and over a thousand online reviews. As the modern and secure alternative to pawnbrokers and auction sites, we pride ourselves on offering a free service that can take as little as 24 hours from start to finish. We specialize in buying luxury pieces: watches, jewelry and handbags.
With offices in NYC, the UK, Hong Kong and Tokyo, contact us today to schedule your appointment or get a price quote. Our team of experts are on hand to answer any of your questions.
