James Bond + Rolex = Together Again: But what's in it for each?

[Idle Swede]

[QUOTE=Jimbits76;946850]Didn't old C Brocci give old S Conny his own Sub when Rolex refused to stump up a freeb for Dr No? QUOTE]


Who told you that??

[Jimbits76]

[QUOTE=Idle Swede;946880]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

Didn't old C Brocci give old S Conny his own Sub when Rolex refused to stump up a freeb for Dr No? QUOTE]


Who told you that??

I thought it was the common tale of the Bond Sub!!!!!!!!!!

J

[Gedanken]

Actually I believe it was a loan and not a gift.

[delldeaton]

Originally Posted by Gedanken

With all due respect, Dell, you need to be mindful of Nietzsche's advice, namely that the abyss gazes into you as much as you gaze into it.

There is an argument in this thread that Rolex's pattern is to use endorsements featuring real people's achievements. For example, if Daniel Craig were to be a Rolex ambassador, it would be for his accomplishments as an actor, not as James Bond.

By introducing your views on why people put forward the "fictional character" argument, you are in fact minimising the above discussion about Rolex's approach to endorsements, if not derailing it. I'd hate to think that this was the end for your means.

I always assume folks here Reply w/ respect; so no problem there.

That said, I don't get your point. Other than the guy in A Fish Called Wanda who quotes Nietzche quite a bit, I'm not familiar w/ your reference to that. However, I did go back a page on this Thread to check out the context of what I'd written and I'm not sure what you'd like me to see that you feel I'm missing. The conclusion I've drawn is based on what I've seen. If you've read something in that to mean that I am somehow minimizing a Rolex approach to endorsements based on individuals' achievements, all I can say is that that was absolutely not my intent.

Maybe it's something to think about, however. What are the differences between associating a brand w/ an achiever whose accomplishments have nothing to do w/ horology versus associating a brand w/ an icon?

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

Didn't old C Brocci give old S Conny his own Sub when Rolex refused to stump up a freeb for Dr No?

... PS Wasn't Goldeneye the highest grossing Bond movie ever? What watch did he have on again?

Just to sorta weigh in beyond what I suspect is a rhetorical question here, GoldenEye was released on or about November 13, 1995. The film it immediately followed was Licence to Kill, June 13, 1989. In 1989, James Bond was played by Timothy Dalton and the watch was a Rolex Submariner Date, if that's relevant.

There were a variety of reasons for this record-long absense, not the least of which was litigation. Notwithstanding, there was a lot of speculation that the 007 franchise had run its course, that GoldenEye would be its swansong. The anti-Craig sentiments that led up to Casino Royale were nothing compared to what Pierce Brosnan faced going into his first film. Yet Omega stepped up, with its 2541.80 Seamaster model, and demonstrated an admirable commitment.

Originally Posted by JohnEaton

Hey Dell Deaton,

Congrats on making WatchTime Magazine

I'll bet your website gets much more traffic

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

Who told you that??

The story comes from a book by John Cork and Bruce Scivally titled, James Bond: The Legacy. In subsequent communication w/ Mr. Cork, he's told me that the story is solely sourced to Ron Quelch, production buyer for EON Productions on Dr. No. I wrote extensively about this on December 12, but here are the key passages at length.

"They were looking for everything that Bond might or might not have been wearing. Whether he would have cuff links or whether he wouldn't. Whether he would have a tie pin, whether he'd have an identity chain, what watch he was wearing, what sort of wallet he would carry, whether it would be an inside pocket job or a hip wallet. Everything that went to create the character of Bond was discussed at that meeting, and it took a long time, believe you me."

Then the following, which seems to create a bit of a stir, because the watch model is not identified.

Terence Young provided the essentials for Bond's wardrobe. He took Sean Connery to famed shirt-maker Turnbull & Asser for custom-designed shirts with turnback cuffs (ones with buttons so that Bond could undress more quickly). Young had his tailor Anthony Sinclair cut Connery's suits. Sinclair's suits, which look traditional by today's standards, were considered somewhat rakish and fancy at the time. Bond needed to be "well turned-out," a fashion plate for the modern British man.

Style was key to quickly communicating the character of Bond. If he was to represent the best the Western powers had to offer, he had to be surrounded by the best. 007 could not just drink vodka, it needed to be Smirnoff's; he could not just wear a watch, it needed to be a Rolex. The champagne would be Dom Perignon.

When Rolex declined to provided a timepiece for the filmmakers and the budget precluded the producers from purchasing one, Cubby Broccoli pulled the one off his wrist and tossed it to a member of the art department.

There is a scan of the page on my website for reference, if that's of interest. LINK