If James Bond Wore a Rolex... Again

 By Capt. DANNY CRIVELLO
           

It's 2020 and I want to start the year with a fun post. Please indulge me: You've been hired as the new wardrobe supervisor for the 007 franchise, and Daniel Craig needs a new watch for his last portrayal of the famed British spy. We are in a parallel universe, and Omega no longer has the exclusivity.

The movie director agrees to Rolex, but there is a caveat: You can't use the obvious, safe choice, which is the Submariner, the model that has adorned the wrists of the very first and very last Rolex-wearing 007, Sean Connery and Timothy Dalton. So here are my top-three Rolex picks.

FAST CARS 

It doesn't have to be a diver. After all, Ian Fleming, you are reminded, wore an Explorer. And Daniel Craig in recent 007 movies wore an Aqua Terra, which feels more Datejust than Sub. Besides, James Bond has spent more time behind the wheel of a high-performance car than under water. 

Whether at the casino or at an embassy party while wearing Bond's signature white tuxedo, the Cosmograph Daytona on the wrist of 007 is a class of its own—waterproof to 100 meters for an easy transition from wet suit to tuxedo. The Daytona remains an icon 50 years after its creation and should be a strong contender for this iconic, fast-driving spy.

TACTICAL

The Yachtmaster 42 in white gold brings class and sport in one watch—James Bond in a nutshell. The broad hands and hour markers are filled with a luminescent material emitting a long-lasting glow, offering exceptional legibility for those low-light tactical operations, thanks to its Chromalight display. The watch is waterproof to 100 meters / 330 feet, and its bi-directional bezel could help the secret agent time a detonation, for example, while the black Oysterflex with Glidelock clasp is robust and comfortable both under the cuff and above the wet suit.

RUGGED

Whether on a trip home to Skyfall in the highlands of Scotland, or skiing down the slopes of Tyrol, Austria, the Explorer II with its GMT complication is the perfect fit for this tough-living, globe-trotting spy. Besides its dual-time zone, the watch's movement is fitted with Paraflex shock absorbers, offering greater resistance to shocks and extreme conditions. A cosmopolitan, resistant luxury watch for a traveling action-packed spy.

Did I miss the mark? What modern Rolex would you see on James Bond's wrist? Let me know via Twitter or Instagram.