"007" James Bond's Watch [Roger Moore Edition] ~Actor's Watch #4~

*Source: https://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/10/50-years-of-james-bond-roger-moore-seven-times-007
"Actor's Watch" focuses on watches worn by actors in movies, television, etc.
The fourth installment will once again be the "007" series, this time featuring Roger Moore .

James Bond III

After Sean Connery stepped down from the role, Roger Moore was chosen to play the third James Bond, after two films: George Lazenby's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and Sean Connery's return in "Diamonds Are Forever."

Originally, Ian Fleming, the author of the original novel, had recommended Roger Moore for the role of Bond from the first film, but he was unable to accept the offer because he was already starring in another popular series. *Source: https://www.007.com/sir-roger-moore-1927-2017/

Roger Moore created an image of Bond that was intelligent, humorous, and elegant, in order to dispel the "tough and wild" image of Connery's Bond. He played Bond in seven films over a period of 13 years from 1973 to 1985, making him the Bond actor with the most appearances of all time.

The Quartz Shock Era

During the time when Roger Moore was playing Bond, there was a major turning point in the history of the watch industry. The release of the world's first quartz wristwatch, the Seiko Astron , in 1969 marked the rise of quartz watches and the decline of mechanical watches.

*Source: https://www.seikowatches.com/

As quartz technology became patentable, manufacturers around the world began releasing inexpensive, highly accurate quartz wristwatches one after another from the mid-1970s to the 1980s, forcing many mechanical watch manufacturers to suspend or close down. This was known as the "Quartz Shock."

Bond, who is likely to have an extraordinary preference for watches, could not resist this changing global trend, and from this time onwards he increasingly chose quartz watches from brands such as Seiko as his companions.

Roger Moore's Bond watch

Now let's take a look at some of the watches that adorned Roger Moore's Bond.

Live and Let Die (1973)

The film also features a theme song by Paul McCartney and Wings, and is the debut of Moore's Bond. The unusual villain, a drug lord of a black criminal organization, was likely influenced by the black movies that were popular at the time.

At the beginning of the film, Bond is seen wearing the world's first digital watch, Hamilton's Pulsar P2 . This choice of watch conveys a strong desire to create a new image of Bond, completely different from the Sean Connery era.

*Source: https://www.spotern.com/

Another watch worn in the film is the Rolex Submariner.
Judging from the crown guard, no date, no chronometer and two-line markings (feet first, lower sub-mark), it appears to be "Ref. 5513" .

*Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/JamesBond/comments/enkpts/the_rolex_submariner_5513_james_bond_uses_in_live/

Some may think, "So it's just a Submariner after all," but this Ref. 5513 is no ordinary Submariner. This modified Submariner, which even Artisans de Genève was amazed by, is a watch that fully demonstrates the charm of a spy gadget, emitting a strong magnetic force that can bend the trajectory of bullets, attract iron products, pull down zippers on dresses, and turn the bezel into a rotating saw that can cut ropes binding the wrist.

*Source: https://timeandtidewatches.com/the-complete-list-of-bond-watches/

I believe that both the Pulsar and the modified Submariner are worthy of marking a break from the Sean Connery era and the beginning of a new era.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

In the movie, the Rolex Submariner is shown in close-up when Bond checks the time. It appears to be a "Ref. 5513" just like in the previous film, judging from the crown guard, no date, and two-line markings (feet first, lower sub) without a chronometer.

*Source: http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~bwp/bond09.html

It's a shame that there are no scenes in which the watch plays an important role, but I personally think that this was done on purpose to emphasize the gadget-like quality of the "golden gun" carried by Scaramanga, the hitman played by the great actor Christopher Lee.

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The time has come when Britain's top intelligence agents are wearing Seiko digital watches. The Quartz LC 0674 is a commemorative model that marks the first time that a Seiko watch has been worn by Bond. It is said that the tie-up was initiated by Seiko UK.

*Source: https://the007world.com/seiko-lc-0674/

This is a fun watch with a gimmick where a message printed on a ribbon appears from the 12 o'clock side of the case (is it okay to use the 12 o'clock side for digital watches as well?).

"Moonraker" (1979)

The most controversial film in the 007 series. Made during the global sci-fi film boom following the success of Star Wars, this film finally sees Bond take to space.

*Source: https://www.timesticking.com/all-james-bond-watches-from-rolex-submariner-to-omega-seamaster/

In this film, Seiko's digital quartz watch "Memory Bank M354" saves Bond from a predicament trapped on the launch pad of the nuclear-powered rocket "Moonraker." Sorry for the spoiler, but this is probably the first "watch bomb" in the 007 series.

"For Your Eyes Only" (1981)

The film begins with a car chase in a Citroën 2CV, likely influenced by "The Castle of Cagliostro" (1979), and Susanna is seen wearing a Seiko "Professional Diver 7549-7009" (commonly known as "Tuna Can") and another Seiko digital-analog watch, the "Hybrid JET088," which has been modified to include a satellite phone function.

*Source: https://twitter.com/Bond_Lifestyle/status/1248633331736104960

*Source: http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~bwp/bond12.html

The quality of gadgets has changed from "things" to "information tools."

"Octopussy" (1983)

The LCD display of Seiko's Digiborg G757 5020 SPORTS 100 is used as a receiver to track the transmitters installed in the works of art, and another Seiko TV watch (the world's first wristwatch with a television function) is used to check the aerial footage.

*Source: https://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/seiko-g757-5020-sports-100

*Source: https://hightechies.com/gadgets/the-seiko-tv-watch.html

High-tech watches are now being used in earnest as "information sending and receiving tools," creating an exciting "futuristic feel."

A View to a Kill (1985)

The final Roger Moore Bond film. Unfortunately, there is no scene in which a watch plays an important role.

*Source: https://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/seiko-7a28-7020-quartz-chronograph

*Source: https://quillandpad.com/2017/11/27/rolex-cartier-stole-seikos-groove-james-bonds-view-kill/

Bond wears Seiko's Quartz Chronograph 7A28-7020 and the digital-analog Hybrid Diver H558-5000. Tuxedo and canned tuna! (laughs)

summary

The 1970s and 1980s, when Roger Moore played Bond, were the height of the Quartz Shock, which dealt a major blow to mechanical watch manufacturers in the watch industry, and it was also a time when Japanese manufacturing was sweeping the world. As a result, you can see that the "partner" that adorns Bond's wrist has undergone a major transformation.

However, around 1989, after Roger Moore left the role, Bond began to choose mechanical watches again. This coincided with the time at the end of the 1980s when luxury brands and investors began to reassess the value of mechanical watches. In this way, the 007 series serves as a valuable resource that allows us to look back on the history of modern wristwatches through film.

It might be interesting to look at the 007 series from the perspective of the decline and revival of mechanical watches .

In the next issue, we will be covering the revival of mechanical watches, focusing on the 007 series from the 1990s onwards. Look forward to it!