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Did Connery's Bond wear his Sub on a Brown (not Black) strap in Dr. No & From Russia with Love?

Mspeedster
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Popular belief states that Connery wore his ref. 6538 Submariner on a black alligator or croc strap in his first two movies. But after scrutinizing scenes from Dr. No and From Russia with Love, I'm convinced it's actually a very dark brown strap.

Here are some screen caps. What do others think?

Dr. No
Dr No 2.jpg Dr No 2 crop.jpg Dr No.jpg Dr No crop.jpg Sean-Connery-Rolex.jpg


From Russia with Love
FromRussiaWithLovecrop.jpg
 
flw
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Based on the screencaps, that's what it looks like. I find it interesting that the crown appears to be pulled out in the bottom picture; I've read elsewhere that directors and prop masters on film sets prefer to use watches that don't actually work, so they can show the same time during repeated takes.
 
Mspeedster
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flw flw
Based on the screencaps, that's what it looks like. I find it interesting that the crown appears to be pulled out in the bottom picture; I've read elsewhere that directors and prop masters on film sets prefer to use watches that don't actually work, so they can show the same time during repeated takes.
Yes, that last pic was from the scene where Bond needs his watch to be in sync at 3 o'clock, asking the Russian Consulate guy if their clock is correct. Hence, they likely pulled the crown out purposely to keep the time at 3 pm.
 
Dan S
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Not a hacking movement. Roughly 10 years too early IIRC.
 
flw
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Dan S Dan S
Not a hacking movement. Roughly 10 years too early IIRC.
I learn something new every time I'm on here. Good excuse to watch the movie again and see if the second hand is moving in that scene.
 
ALEJANDRO BOVONE
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looks like a brown cow leather band. bezel gives parameter of the black color in the image, and band does look brown. how cool is to see such watch in mint condition close to its production date.
 
Mspeedster
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Dan S Dan S
Not a hacking movement. Roughly 10 years too early IIRC.
Good point! But the crown was still probably pulled out so they could set the time to 3pm easily if they needed to shoot multiple takes.
flw flw
I learn something new every time I'm on here. Good excuse to watch the movie again and see if the second hand is moving in that scene.
In the youtube clip I posted above, at the 29 sec mark, you can see the second hand is moving in that shot. So @Dan S is correct. 👍
 
ALEJANDRO BOVONE
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no hash mark bezel and lollipop seconds hand, not white second hand apparently. long minute hand. and lume was already yellow at the time. fascinating as catalogues back then were drawings not pics
 
johnireland
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I agree with dark brown croc. Never saw a Rolex yet that doesn't look great on them.
 
SpeedyPhill
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Don't be distracted, but between takes Sean Connery's Rolex Submariner crown is clearly pulled out for continuity purposes.
Did You know Ian Fleming visited the Laughing Waters beach filming set of Dr No in January 1962. In May 1963, Fleming also visited the filming set of From Russia With Love in Istanbul - Turkey.
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1000002032.jpg
 
Vinz Clortho
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
Yes, that last pic was from the scene where Bond needs his watch to be in sync at 3 o'clock, asking the Russian Consulate guy if their clock is correct. Hence, they likely pulled the crown out purposely to keep the time at 3 pm.
Really need to re-watch the movies (like I need an excuse) but was on a Mediterranean cruise about ten years ago and touring around the city, was in the exact underground cistern they filmed the scene in. Just realized it after watching this clip and going "I'll be damned, I know that staircase."

PSA, travel while you can, get out of your comfort zone, the experiences along will last a lifetime. Also makes you appreciate home a little more.
 
skipcress
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A couple of unique observations about Connery’s straps:

1. If you look closely at the pictures of the brown leather strap, it definitely looks like it’s 19mm.

2. While it’s often asserted, the nylon strap from “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball” was most definitely NOT a NATO strap:

A. The specification for the NATO strap wasn’t published until August of 1968 (DefStan 66-4 Issue 1).

B. Other than being a one piece nylon strap, it didn’t share anything in common with the NATO strap. It didn’t have metal keepers (it had a single fixed nylon keeper of the same diameter and pattern as the rest of the strap), it had a horseshoe buckle (probably nickel plated brass rather than chrome plated brass), was 16mm, and had no extension under the watch.

C. My dad has a strap that looks IDENTICAL to Connery’s, only the stripes are blue and red with green piping, and the buckle is brushed brass (but of the same shape). It’s a cheap commercial strap he picked up at an antique shop because of its resemblance to the Connery strap.

Here’s my best guess at the story:

1. It was likely originally Cubby Broccoli’s personal watch, probably on an Oyster bracelet

2. During “Dr. No” the production replaced the bracelet with the largest dress strap they could get their hands on, which happened to be 19mm

3. When principal photography began for “Goldfinger,” the leather strap finally failed and they scrounged up the cheapest nylon strap they could find

I’ll get a photo of my dad’s nylon strap when I can manage it

IMG_0473.webp IMG_0474.webp
 
SpeedyPhill
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For wrist watch fans, the 1965 "Thunderball" stood out because of irregularities in chronology... especially when Connery was swimming, no wrist watch, 10 seconds later coming out the water he wore a wrist watch... Rolex, Breitling...
 
skipcress
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skipcress skipcress
A couple of unique observations about Connery’s straps:

1. If you look closely at the pictures of the brown leather strap, it definitely looks like it’s 19mm.

2. While it’s often asserted, the nylon strap from “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball” was most definitely NOT a NATO strap:

A. The specification for the NATO strap wasn’t published until August of 1968 (DefStan 66-4 Issue 1).

B. Other than being a one piece nylon strap, it didn’t share anything in common with the NATO strap. It didn’t have metal keepers (it had a single fixed nylon keeper of the same diameter and pattern as the rest of the strap), it had a horseshoe buckle (probably nickel plated brass rather than chrome plated brass), was 16mm, and had no extension under the watch.

C. My dad has a strap that looks IDENTICAL to Connery’s, only the stripes are blue and red with green piping, and the buckle is brushed brass (but of the same shape). It’s a cheap commercial strap he picked up at an antique shop because of its resemblance to the Connery strap.

Here’s my best guess at the story:

1. It was likely originally Cubby Broccoli’s personal watch, probably on an Oyster bracelet

2. During “Dr. No” the production replaced the bracelet with the largest dress strap they could get their hands on, which happened to be 19mm

3. When principal photography began for “Goldfinger,” the leather strap finally failed and they scrounged up the cheapest nylon strap they could find

I’ll get a photo of my dad’s nylon strap when I can manage it

IMG_0473.webp IMG_0474.webp
https://www.reddit.com/r/007Watches/s/S9aSuv4J5W
 
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