Watches, James Bond Watches…opening this month!

If you want to see some of the most in-depth and fascinating work done in the world of watches, I recommend you spend some time on JamesBondWatches.com, a site with a “Dedicated focus on all things related to the wristwatches of James Bond, Agent 007, created by Ian Fleming and brought to film by Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions.“  I also recommend the sister-site, JamesBondWatchBlog.com.  The inestimable Dell Deaton is the creator/curator of both sites and the definitive authority on the “James Bond Watch”:

Dell Deaton, the National Watch & Clock Museum’s guest curator for the exhibit, Watches, James Bond Watches

Lest you think this business of “007′s watch” (actually–watches) is just a sideshow hobby of Dell’s, I would also like to point you to the soon to be opening exhibit at The National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA where Deaton’s work will be on full and proper display.  The exhibit — Watches, James Bond Watches –will feature the watch that provided the inspiration for James Bond’s wristwatch:  Ian Fleming’s own Rolex Explorer.   This wristwatch was recently identified by Dell Deaton as the original, literary James Bond watch, the details of which were featured in a recent WatchTime magazine article.

Ian Fleming’s personal Rolex 1016 Explorer, which served as his basis for the personal James Bond wristwatch he described in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1963)

Credit:  Imperial War Museum

According to the NAWCC:

This is the first time that Ian Fleming’s watch has been exhibited in the United States. The watch was recently on display at the Imperial War Museum in London, featured in an exhibit on the life and work of Ian Fleming.   Fionn Morgan, Ian Fleming’s stepdaughter, states “Ian would have enjoyed the idea of displaying his own Oyster Perpetual as part of an exhibition of James Bond watches…It is wonderful to see the James Bond legacy presented through the watches that this character has worn. It is further most gratifying to see Ian’s Explorer number 1016 displayed as the origin of this long and continuous chronology. Collectors and the public will learn a lot through this exhibition.

Ian Fleming on the set of “Goldfinger,” 1964, wearing his Rolex 1016 Explorer wristwatch  Standing next to him are James Bond film producers Harry Saltzman (immediate right) and Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli (far right). Credit:  Imperial War Museum and Getty Images

Although a bit off the beaten path for some of you, I am quite confident that a visit will not disappoint.  I myself hope to make the trip sometime this summer to see the exhibit.

And my congratulations and commendations to you, Dell, on all your fine and ongoing work.  Truly amazing!