- Posts
- 6,699
- Likes
- 12,313
SpeedyPhill
路almost 30 years ago... December 1995 #quartz 馃槈
James Bond GoldenEye - Omega Seamaster: Why Quartz?
- Posts
- 555
- Likes
- 1,316
Jakeys
路almost 30 years ago... December 1995 #quartz 馃槈
Looking forward to the surprise drop of a quartz reissue. Perhaps Omega already demo'd it on Brosnan's wrist but nobody noticed. 馃槣
- Posts
- 79
- Likes
- 140
G'c
路True, but Q Branch seemed to crack being able to power electronic components from mechanical movements by The World Is Not Enough, unless this is some type of unreleased Ultra-LumiNova?
To, ahem, derail this thread abit, it will be great if the "gadget" version of these watches with light-up features or play-features (perhaps not by Omega but by prop/collectible companies) can be made available.
Of course the ones used in movies involve a lot of camera/movie production tricks, but a "playable" one will be nice for the giggles.
- Posts
- 1,722
- Likes
- 6,555
- Posts
- 2,726
- Likes
- 8,017
hen
路Always loved these pictures of bond watches in "gadget" mode.
To, ahem, derail this thread abit, it will be great if the "gadget" version of these watches with light-up features or play-features (perhaps not by Omega but by prop/collectible companies) can be made available.
Of course the ones used in movies involve a lot of camera/movie production tricks, but a "playable" one will be nice for the giggles.
- Posts
- 71
- Likes
- 82
The Hack
路I鈥檓 a huge James Bond and Omega fan. I own four James Bond/Omega models. Three SMP鈥檚: 2541.80, 2531.80, 2220.80; and the 38.5mm blue dial Aqua Terra.
Today I was wearing my 2541.80 quartz SMP that was featured in the 1995 movie GoldenEye and wondered, why quartz? Bond used the automatic 2531.80 SMP in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2000).
I know the story of how Omega and James Bond became associated. Costume director Lindy Hemming thought the blue Omega Seamaster would pair nicely with Bond鈥檚 wardrobe and she thought an Omega would be appropriate for the former Royal Navy Commander turned MI6 agent. Prior to the making of GoldenEye negotiations with Jean-Claude Biver, then the marketing head of Omega, bore marketing fruit that continues to this day.
However, the watch chosen for Bond in GoldenEye was a curious one in hindsight. Why the quartz SMP? I know at the time Swiss watchmaking was still recovering from the 70鈥檚 and 80鈥檚 quartz crisis. At the time Omega was producing their flagship dive watch in both quartz and automatic versions. But what lead to Omega鈥檚 decision to outfit Bond with a quartz watch and not the more prestigious (and expensive) mechanical version? I assume it was Omega鈥檚 decision as I can鈥檛 believe the Bond producers would care whether Bond used a quartz or automatic watch. I previously thought perhaps the automatic version of the SMP had not been released until after GoldenEye came out, but further research shows that is not the case. Both quartz and automatic versions of the SMP were released simultaneously in 1993.
Does anyone have any insight on this? Was Omega intentionally pushing quartz watches over mechanical watches in 1995? I鈥檓 truly perplexed.
And just because no mention of GoldenEye should omit Izabella Scorupco:
- Posts
- 71
- Likes
- 82
The Hack
路I think we all know that the original 'James Bond' watch was the 'Rolex Oyster Perpetual' - later clarified by Ian Fleming to be the 'Explorer 1016' model. 馃榾
- Posts
- 2,726
- Likes
- 8,017
- Posts
- 555
- Likes
- 1,316
Jakeys
路I don't think Fleming ever explicitly clarified it, but the book refers to it as an OP and as having "big phosphorus numerals." I think that detail specifically confirms it had to be an Explorer, and given Fleming wore a 1016, it seems pretty clear Fleming just gave Bond his own watch.
- Posts
- 188
- Likes
- 266
DenisChalandier
路Why quartz in the movie, I guess no one could say. Could be just a random choice from some one in the production. But Omega didn't pushed quartz at all.
An ad from 1995. Picture of a 2531 and the text with "a self winding chronometer".
An ad from 1995. Picture of a 2531 and the text with "a self winding chronometer".
- Posts
- 555
- Likes
- 1,316
Jakeys
路Why quartz in the movie, I guess no one could say. Could be just a random choice from some one in the production. But Omega didn't pushed quartz at all.
An ad from 1995. Picture of a 2531 and the text with "a self winding chronometer".
This is a good point. I think any of the "Omega wanted to push the quartz at that time" arguments don't hold water when you consider they advertised the automatic even in the pre-release movie promotions. And as @502 to right previously pointed out, the auto was released in 1993 with the quartz so it did exist for use for filming, if they'd wanted to use it.
I think the answer is just a boring "it was logistically easier to supply quartz at the moment they were asked." The Omega of today would be meticulous about this, but I don't think they would have put anywhere near as much thought into it for the first one back in the 90s.
- Posts
- 188
- Likes
- 266
DenisChalandier
路About dates don't forget that if the movie was released in December 1995, it was first shoot in january 1995. The script is from early 1994. So the production picked accessories somewhere around mi/late 1994. Not before because watches in the movie have some Omega logos on the helium valve ; which appeared late 1994. With a quartz version released mostly in late 1993 and a mechanical version not before early 1994, it's not that a long shot to say it's was way simpler to get quartz's. But in late 1995 when the movies comes, mechanical watches are everywhere in Omega's stores.
I've never seen 4 lines mechanical in 1993. To me the first mechanical is the no-chronometer 3 lines that could maybe comes from 1993. And I never saw one with box and papers to back it up. But proofs to deny that are welcomed. Serial numbers are not really useful on those ones.
I've never seen 4 lines mechanical in 1993. To me the first mechanical is the no-chronometer 3 lines that could maybe comes from 1993. And I never saw one with box and papers to back it up. But proofs to deny that are welcomed. Serial numbers are not really useful on those ones.
Similar threads
- Posts
- 10
- Views
- 1K
- Posts
- 0
- Views
- 74
- Posts
- 0
- Views
- 246