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Reading that novel and references later made back to it by Ian Fleming in Goldfinger, we know that this was "on or after 15 June" in 1951. That "dates" the watch. But nothing more. Strap or bracelet? What sort of metal and finishing went into the piece? Context clues are withheld as well. The watch never has to be read in the dark, for example. Bond does no swimming, and we have no indication here that he wears his watch while bathing: Hence no need for water resistance.
Mr. Fleming makes no indication about 007 being brand loyal when it comes to his time pieces. Indeed, years later when James Bond contemplates replacing his broken watch in Chapter 20 of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the words read, "Another Rolex? Probably," but not "certainly."
When 007 is captured by La Chiffre, the thin henchman takes care to take not just Bond's Beretta, but also to empty Bond's pockets. Then binding his victim's wrists with flex, it's hard to argue that the wristwatch wouldn't have been seized as well, and even more so when he is stripped stark naked, his wrists bound to the torture chair. But not beyond a reasonable doubt, if you'd like to argue otherwise.
Chapter 22 of Casino Royale tells us that nothing "survived from his original wardrobe," although I agree that a wristwatch doesn't fall under a strict definition here.
What then did Ian Fleming have in mind when he wrote about this first James Bond wristwatch in 1952? Since it was clearly his habit to fill in the gaps in rich detail from his own experiences and choices, my guess is that it was whatever watch that he, himself, was wearing as he wrote this line.
In the end, however, I'd say it's almost any piece you'd like to think of from that period. That is, after all, the nature of reading a book.
Posted by Dell Deaton, March 29, 2008 at 10:47 PM
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