Quantum Rolex James Bond Mystery
There really is a strange mystery that has built up around Daniel Craig wearing and talking in the media about his Sean Connery Rolex "6358." In part 1, I explored the different possibilities and I am just as confused as I write this as I was before, but I have many more fascinating and bizarre clues to share with you.
Let's start with Ian Fleming who is pictured below. In all the James Bond books he wrote he only ever mentioned that James Bond wore a Rolex. The article I show later in this story says the first mention of James Bond wearing a Rolex was in Casino Royal which Fleming wrote in 1953. The article quotes the following from Casino Royale:
"He could not just wear a watch. It had to be a Rolex. –Ian Fleming (Casino Royale) 1953
Sean Connery wore a Submariner in the first James Bond movie which was Dr. No that was released in 1962. Apparently Ian Fleming could not have been referring to a Submariner because the Submariner had not been released to the public in in 1953.
Pictured above is Ian Fleming wearing what appears to be a Rolex Datejust on an Oyster bracelet. It could be a Rolex-Day Date or a Rolex Explorer 1 as well. Pictured below is a close up.
There is a book named James Bond: The Legacy that was written by John Cork and Bruce Scivally that suggests the late Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli who co-founded EON Productions was on the set of Dr. No and noticed that Sean Connery did not have a watch on his wrist so he took off his Rolex and gave it to Sean to wear.
Cubby Broccoli is pictured above with Roger Moore and Cubby is holding the script for Live and Let Die in his hands. Also he appears to be wearing a Rolex Submariner on his wrist on what appears to be a Jubilee Bracelet. I included a close-up shot below so you can see for yourself.
In my investigations, I have come across a different explanation for what really happened but that is part of a different story I will share with you in the future. The photo below is from Thunderball staring Sean Connery as James Bond. Sean is wearing what appears to be the exact same watch he wore in Goldfinger.
If you examine the photo below you notice that it appears that Sean Connery is wearing the exact same watch and 16mm Regimental Striped band he wore in Dr. No.
Here is where is starts getting weird. I was checking out the latest issue of Men's Vouge and noticed this photo of Daniel Craig wearing a suit and of course I looked to see which watch Omega brand watch he was wearing and I noticed he was wearing what appears to be a two-tone Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet. I was almost shocked to say the least. You can see for yourself by clicking on the image below.
I recently came across a great blog dedicated to James Bond Watches published by Dell Deaton. You can visit James Bond Watches by clicking here. I first noticed this article on the James Bond Watches Blog that talks about how the UK magazine named Empire published an article about the upcoming James Bond movie named Quantum of Solace. The following 6 images are from Dell Deaton's James Bond Watches Blog:
Dell Deaton pointed out that it is really weird that in the story that Daniel Craig suddenly goes off on this tangent about how he wears the same Rolex Sean Connery wore in Goldfinger and Craig mistakingly refers to it as a Submariner 6358. The only challenge is that there has never been a Rolex model 6358. Either Craig or the magazine got it wrong. I think they meant he wears a Rolex 6538 which is a real Rolex Submariner typically referred to by Rolex collecting aficionados as The James Bond.
Dell Deaton goes on to point out is his article titled "What's behind Daniel Craig's choice?" he thinks it is really weird that Daniel Craig starts talking about his Rolex. You can read Dell Deaton's great blog post by clicking here.
On October 30, Dell Deaton wrote another fascinating article where he found evidence that suggests that Daniel Craig received his Rolex 6538 Submariner for Cubby Broccoli's daughter and he shows the advertisement that reads at the bottom of it "Did you know that Daniel Craig was recently given a 6538 by Barbara Broccoli (producer of recent bond films) as a gift." You can read Dell Deaton's article on this subject by clicking here.
On October 12, 2008 Dell Deaton ran another story named "Curious reference to Daniel Craig in GQ Magazine." You can read Dell's article by clicking here.
Dell points out that the GQ article says that Daniel Craig is wearing a Rolex but upon close inspection you see that he appears to be wearing an Omega Planet Ocean on a rubber strap. I think there is something funny going on here. This is the second unrelated magazine article that blunders the detail. The first article makes a mistake on the Rolex reference number and this one refers to an Omega as a Rolex!?!
I went to the Omega website where it has James Bond listed as an Omega Ambassador. This is curious because some people suggest that Daniel Craig is not an Omega Ambassador and that is why he wears Rolex watches personally. Again, more mystery and confusion if you ask me.
The reason there is a huge black gap on Daniel Craig's forehead is because the Omega website uses a split graphic for Daniel Craig. On all Macs running Safari and Firefox this huge error appears this way which I find to be weird!?! Doesn't Omega test their web page to make sure it is working properly?
Omega made a special limited edition Quantum of Solace watch which is pictured below. This watch is based on the Omega Planet Ocean.
Pictured below is a full shot os the Planet Ocean James Bond Quantum of Solace limited edition.
Here is another new James Bond Omega watch with a black bezel and dial. Historically in the past the James Bond watches had a blue bezel and dial.
I must say I wish I could conclude and give you all the facts, but as I mentioned before I am terribly confused. My best guess is it is all part of a lame attempt for Omega to try and play off the rich Rolex James Bond history and pedigree by suggesting that the Omega is on par with the Rolex. Don't get me wrong. I like Omega and think it is a fine watch. If I was Omega I would not make special edition James Bond watches. Could you imagine a Rolex Special Edition, Quantum of Solace model!? I rest my case.
Dell Deaton has another great article on his James Bond Watches Blog titled "Marketing Week questions product placement ROI (Return On Investment) for Omega watches in James Bond films" which you can view by clicking here.
I hate to say it, but I think Omega is actually paying to advertise for Rolex. If you look at the photo above, the Omega looks so similar to a Submariner it is weird. If I were Omega, I would have Bond wear a uniquely shaped watch like that Tag Hauer Steve McQueen used to wear that they brought back as a retro piece.
I seriously question the logic & wisdom of Omega marketing a watch that looks so similar to Rolex' most iconic watch.
