Correct. The switch from Rolex to Omega in Goldeneye was not product placement, but the decision of the costume designer. There is certainly a product placement arrangement now, but that was not the case at the time that the change was made.
Correct. The switch from Rolex to Omega in Goldeneye was not product placement, but the decision of the costume designer. There is certainly a product placement arrangement now, but that was not the case at the time that the change was made.
There is definitely a product placement thing going on now. I am certain of it. But you are right, it started from the costume designer.
I love Omega's (have bought and sold many, own some now too) -- but let's be honest with ourselves! Omega was a corporate sponsor in the Pierce Brosnan era.
Behind the OMEGA x Bond connection is Lindy Hemming, an Oscar-winning costume designer. She was responsible for casting 007’s watch in GoldenEye. She said, “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear the Seamaster with the blue dial.” This is how 007 will be seen for the first time, in 1995 Goldeneye, wearing the famous OMEGA Seamaster 300M Professional. It is also important to note that commercial considerations were not part of the initial choice. “There was no product placement incentive in 1995 whatsoever,” she said. Behind this choice for OMEGA were of course reasons such as the military background of Bond, but also the wish of Hemming to rethink the 007 character, making him “more modern and European.“
An interesting fact, also part of this initial decision, concerns Lindy herself. She remembered friends of her father who were former Navy men and most of them were wearing OMEGA watches, as part of their military equipment… And this is how Commander Bond will follow the tradition of OMEGA delivering watches to British field agents.
I would disagree with that. The casting of the Seamaster in the Goldeneye was pure good luck for Omega, undoubtedly it later turned into the corporate sponsorship it is today. You can bet your arse on it that if Rolex (or any other manufacturer) was chosen they would also be milking the association for all its worth.
https://monochrome-watches.com/retr...ond-007-movies-including-2021-no-time-to-die/
The best Bond Seamaters are the 2431.80 & 2531.80, without them Omega might not exist today.
I do not believe this is entirely true. Whether or not the costume designer had some input, Omega most definitely paid for product placement for Brosnan's first Bond movie Goldeneye and has done so ever since.
In this interview, Jean Claude Biver (who led Omega at the time) retells the story of how Omega became the James Bond watch for Brosnan's first outing as 007 and the movies that followed.
Have you read the other posts below which are highlighting the costume designer’ say ? It may well be that for the first movie with Omega there was no commercial implications and product placement but that on the second movie this was in place exactly as Jean-Claude Biver said it. We should be able to verify if there was an Omega product placement for the first movie by researching the advertising materials from it which should pre-date the movie release… as Jean-Claude Biver said… I very much doubt that the first movie with Omega had a product placement, it should be verified. On the second one, sure this was done.
… as Jean-Claude Biver said… I very much doubt that the first movie with Omega had a product placement, it should be verified. On the second one, sure this was done.
Yes I have read those articles, but again I don't believe it's entirely correct.
I don't doubt that the costume designer had some influence and was likely the reason Eon productions approached Omega. However, there also are many articles covering Jean-Claude Biver's account of how it happened for Goldeneye.
E.g.
https://www.luxuo.com/style/watches...s-most-influential-man-jean-claude-biver.html
"After a six-year gap, James Bond would be returning to the big screen in Goldeneye, and the producers approached Biver with a product placement proposal. “For $10,000, you get your watch onto James Bond’s wrist.” Biver countered, “How much would I get for a million dollars?” (Editor’s note: That wasn’t the eventual amount paid, but it conveyed the seriousness of Biver’s intentions). The producers returned with a plethora of options including things never-before-done in the industry – access to actual movie sets (during filming) to do advertising photoshoots, the making of brand-oriented short films with the movie’s actors and actresses for 15, 30, and 45 seconds, and the rights to advertise the actor with his Omega for six months before and after the movie’s release.
Additionally, Omega would get to participate in film launch events with all the actors around the world. The public would get to learn of “Bond’s choice”, a Seamaster 007 even before they saw Q issue the diver’s watch to Bond on-screen. This wasn’t even the kicker. Biver had forgotten all about the deal until producers came knocking because they were about to begin principal photography.
At the time, the Seamaster 300m wasn’t exactly the best-seller. By the time Goldeneye debuted on screens, with grappling hook and laser beam functionality no less, it was selling for four times more, to the tune of 40,000 pieces per year. One year after, that number doubled again, but James Bond was not the only coup."
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/jean-claude-biver-making-the-modern-watch-industry
"It was Biver's idea to turn James Bond into, in effect, an Omega ambassador. Omega heavily promoted its placement of the Seamaster Professional Divers' watch on Pierce Brosnan in the 1995 movie "GoldenEye." "In the past, James Bond wore a Rolex and a Seiko in the movies," Biver told me. "We were the first to promote the fact that Bond was wearing our watch. It changed the image of the brand, especially among young people." Nearly a quarter-century later, Omega is still the big-screen Bond's official watch."
More evidence, this old Goldeneye x Omega TV commercial.
Also, an old advertisement.
I heard on YouTube that 30% discounts were available in Singapore. Is that correct ? Such discounts are definitely not available within the EU and UK…
Better judge yourself, my amazing AD called today...
I am impressed:
So light&easy to wear, true Bond-watch without yelling it. Technical qualities of the 8806 are stunning, dial is soooo stylish—you have to see this piece yourself! Photos&videos don’t do any justice. Even though I am a huge Rolex fan, this Seamaster beats the Rolex Sub in every way. Yeah, sub was the original Bond watch, but Seamaster is the Modern era Bond watch. IMO: Best Bond Watch Ever.
I think this is one of the first Bond Seamasters in Europe!
Better judge yourself, my amazing AD called today...
I am impressed:
So light&easy to wear, true Bond-watch without yelling it. Technical qualities of the 8806 are stunning, dial is soooo stylish—you have to see this piece yourself! Photos&videos don’t do any justice. Even though I am a huge Rolex fan, this Seamaster beats the Rolex Sub in every way. Yeah, sub was the original Bond watch, but Seamaster is the Modern era Bond watch. IMO: Best Bond Watch Ever.
I think this is one of the first Bond Seamasters in Europe!
