CommanderBond.net

Now that I've finally finished Blood Fever (yes, I'm a little bit behind with my reading, amongst other things ), I have a feeling that Higson's books really are taking off. And from some of the comments on Double Or Die I gather that the Young Bond series is truly arriving in serious Fleming-country, including weapons and "gadgets".

One thing I noticed during reading Blood Fever is that James is on serveral occasions wondering what time it is. As I haven't read Higson's third book up to now, I don't know if he already gave Bond his (first?) wristwatch. If not, here is my personal suggestion for a proper watch for 1930's Bond.

It's a Mido Multifort, introduced in 1934, the first automatic, anti-magnetic, water-proof (up to 30 metres; perfectly sufficient back in those days), and shock resistant watch of its time. Check it out here:

http://www.mido.ch/en/about/history/1934.htm

Between WWI and WWII Midos used to be among the most exclusive, innovative and in-demand brands of that time.
During the 1930's the company created a range of watches styled after the car-coolers of Bugatti, Buick, Excelsior, Peugeot, and Chevrolet. These vintage models are extremely rare nowadays and score remarkable prices among collectors.

Mido uses the unique Aquadura-system to water-proof their watches. This system is remarkable for its adoption of special cork crown-sealings which are made nearly service free by use of a chemical treatment and can keep the watch sealed up to thirty years and sometimes more.

A nice nod to Bond: In 1959 Mido introduced the Ocean Star Commander, a piece of timeless elegance, typically for the design of the late fifties and still produced nearly 50 years later with hardly any changes.

Granted, Midos today are not in the league of Omega, much less the league of Rolex. But back in Bond's teenage years they were certainly a league of their own. And I think, some of the above mentioned facts would have appealed to Fleming too.

If you want to know more about Mido watches, their history and their present range, check out these links:

http://www.mido.ch/de/home
http://www.swisswatchesusa.com/page/130
http://www.articles43.com/article/History-...ches-19117.html

Hey, this is a pretty cool idea, Trident. Good choice of watch as well.

To tell the truth, I'm a little bit partial as I own a Commander model myself (which was the first single shell watch of its time).

Mido was also the first company to introduce unbreakable spings, the world's first Center Chronograph in 1945(i.e. all hands arranged in the center), the world's most powerful winding mechanism (1954), and the world's smallest automatic ladies watch (1967). Although it's hard to imagine today, the brand was for many years known as the "King of Waterproof Watches" and during the 1930's at least on par with Rolex.

I've no idea if and when Mr. Higson intends to give Bond a wristwatch. But if he ever considers to do so, a Mido Multifort would certainly be a top choice. Considering that young Bond is a dedicated athlete having excelled (amongst other sports) in cross country running, diving and snorkling and the physical strenous nature of his adventures, I really think he deserves a proper timepiece to keep him company. The Mido would be up to the tasks ahead, at least until Bond joins the Navy.

Most impressive. I had no idea such an advanced watch was available back then.

It seems that many, if not even most of the advancements made in the field of wristwatches originated from the development of modern day aqualung diving and warfare that occured during WWII.

The Italian Navy was the first to successfully employ "frogmen", divers that used compressed air regulators to infiltrate enemy naval bases and ships and deliver their explosives. When they severely demolished both the Valiant and the Queen Elizabeth in Alexandria, the Royal Navy, as well as most other nations at war, decided to adopt the concept and incorporate divers into their own commando tactics. This step called for reliable and rugged divers watches that could (by use of screwed crowns, back and front of case) be worn and reliably function in extremely demanding circumstances.

The Italian company Panerai (that up to then only manufactured fuses for mines and torpedos, compasses and altimetres and other such instruments) designed divers watches of their own, largely using Rolex components. A few of these watches, although unsigned, may have found their way to the commando divers of the Nazi-Kriegsmarine.

About the same time the Royal Navy obtained a small number of Rolex Oysters to equip its own divers. The british secretary Mercedes Gleitze has worn an Oyster model when she crossed the channel in 1927. The Oyster model had since then been further developed and now sported an automatic rotor self-winding mechanism, a screwed crown, better sealed back and glass as well as large luminious dials.

Mind you, most of these watches are superior to the Multifort model of 1934. But they were regarded as highly developed instruments for the very small number of professional divers of that time rather than as ordinary watches being worn by the casual swimmer. Most watch manufacturers didn't expect the market for divers instruments to expand the way it did. And only few of those firms went to the pains to invest into the further development of their water resistant watches for use during deep-sea diving conditions. Into that niché Rolex expanded and the success the brand experienced since then was vastly due to the (at that time) courageous decision to keep its products at the very top of its field. Mido on the other hand unfortunatly failed to see that potential and its fame of yesterday dwindled away during the decades.

Actually, I think Hamilton was the maker of the first anti-magnetic watch. Perhaps Dell Deaton can track down the correct history for us.

Good topic.

4A

Good info, will have to track that down. I think "the first automatic, anti-magnetic, water-proof and shock resistant watch of its time" refers to all of these specifics in one single watch. But I may be wrong there. Expect to hear about it again.

Okay, but in any case, I guess we all know that whatever Bond's watch is, it should be a "tool" watch that is highly reliable. This is why I believe Fleming chose Rolex. And since Bond's mother was Swiss...

Sorry for not weighing in on this one sooner guys. (And thanks for keeping my name out here while I was away! )

Altho a bit outside my area of study, it's been my understanding that Tissot was "the first" anti-magnetic watch, dating to the late 1920s, early 1930s. If true, certainly in time (no pun intended) for Fleming's James Bond, if desired.

Like so many other manufacturers that have been consolidated, Tissot utilizes movements common to a number of brands and makes. In this case, as supplied by ETA. And today, Tissot, ETA, and current 007 watchmaker Omega are all owned by the Swatch Group. Beyond this, I know that the Omega "Railmaster" brand enjoyed a strong and well earned reputation as an anti-magnetic watch. But, again, today I think the Railmaster name is more of a name harkening nastalgia than an indication of performance.

Ball Watches has an interesting technical brief on this, if that's of further interest (LINK).

Rolex introduced its "Milgauss" model in ~1954 and offered the line in various configurations until ~1986. This targeted sort of a niche market among electrical plants. Early versions shared components w/ the Submariner and the two models could easily be confused by casual glance.

Although there's no "final answer" in arguing "should" among James Bond watch choices, I have nonetheless often felt that the Milgauss might have better served 007 as a tool watch. I mean, if you think about it, how often does he press the limits of water depth resistance for performance, versus the number of places where electromagnetic hoopla posed a threat to proper time keeping?

That said-- since we are on the subject of "magnetism = bad" for mechanical watches, am I the only one struck by the irony that, in Live and Let Die, the quartz-electronic Hamilton Pulsar with which Bond starts out in that film would certainly have been a better candidate for a Q-watch magnet gadget than the Rolex Sub? And on the other hand, wouldn't his mechanical Rolex Submariner Date from Licence to Kill have been better held over in the face of the EMP threat in GoldenEye than was his quartz Omega Seamaster 2541.80 (which would have been compromised by the blast?

Not criticizing, mind you; just entertaining!

Terrific idea Trident. I would welcome this, give Young Bond some additional tools to accompany his pen knife.

We only have Hurricane Gold and Book 5 left for it.

Lovely - yes! Fantastic idea. Calling chiggie007!

Thanks for your very informative links and contribution, Dell Deaton! I never even knew a "Milgauss" Rolex existed.