Rolex Watches Worn in James Bond

Between 1962 and 2021, a series of James Bond movies were created and showcased. They were loved by many and are still popular today.

A total of 26 movies were created during this timeframe - and they all had one thing in common… luxury watches!

Rolex was featured in Bond films until 1995, when Pierce Brosnan took the role of Bond and Omega became the watch of choice in the James Bond series.

Rolex was a common watch worn in the James Bond films, but what models were worn? In today's blog, we will take a look back at the Rolex watches worn in the James Bond movies throughout the years, and where you can get yourself a Rolex similar to the ones worn in the James Bond films.

The Evolution of James Bond

The series of James Bond films are British spy films based on a secret agent character James Bond ‘007’ These movies made cinematic history and are known and loved by millions of people across the globe.

The first film created in 1962 ‘Dr. No’ where Bond was seen wearing a Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538. This iconic watch is highly collectable and was auctioned in 2018 and sold for a grand total of 567,000 USD - which is approximately £444,958.92!

In the same film, he was seen wearing a Rolex Submariner 6538. This watch then became Bond's signature watch. The price of the auction just shows how high demand this watch was due to being shown in the Iconic James Bond films.

Why Rolex?

Bond had a sophisticated image and Rolex watches matched the character. Rolex watches are known for their durability and quality, which was needed in the James Bond films to suit the thrill-seeking and adventurous lifestyle portrayed.

The Rolex Submariner is known for its association with diving, perfect for the James Bond secret agent lifestyle.

Top 3 Rolex Watches Worn in James Bond

James Bond was always seen wearing a luxury watch of some kind, but what Rolex models did he wear in his films? Let's take a look:

Rolex GMT-Master 6542

This watch is known as the ‘pussy galore’ due to the appearance it made in the 1964 James Bond film. This film featured the first and only woman to be seen wearing a Rolex.

This watch is currently discontinued and was only manufactured for 6 years between 1954 and 1959. This is an iconic Rolex model and any watch collectors dream to get their hands on one. This watch currently markets at £22,014.97 to £27,898.84!

Rolex Submariner 5513

This watch was featured in the 1973 film 'Live and Let Die' and the 1974 'The Man With The Golden Gun'. There is also speculation as to whether it was worn in the 1969 release of 'On Her Majesty’s Secret Service'.

The submariner model is still a popular choice today and older styles are still in circulation. Rolex still releases new styles and colourways of the Submariner, and it is still a very iconic watch to this day.

Rolex Submariner 16610

This was the last Rolex featured throughout all of the Bond films and was worn by Timothy Dalton in the 1989 release of ‘Licence to Kill’ - before Omega became the exclusive watch brand of choice for Bond. This was the end of an era of almost three decades of bond-wearing Rolex!

Most Iconic James Bond Movie Scenes That Feature Rolex

There are hundreds of iconic and memorable movie scenes in James Bond, but which ones featured Rolex? Let's reflect back on the most iconic scenes which feature a Rolex watch.

Dr. No (1962)

The first-ever appearance of a Rolex in a James Bond movie. The chosen watch was the Rolex Submariner 6538, which established the Bond and Rolex connection.

To set the tone of Bond's personal style, he was featured wearing an easily recognisable Submariner with distinctive elements that include an oversized crown and a lack of crown guards.

Goldfinger (1964)

One of the most iconic Bond watch moments was in Goldfinger when a close-up shot of Sean Conney's wrist wearing a Rolex Submariner 6538 and a white suit.

This scene boosted the popularity of the Submariner and proved that the dive watch can be worn formally. This scene quickly became one of the most iconic watch moments in cinematic history.

Live and Let Die (1973)

This movie featured a modified Rolex Submariner 5513 worn by Roger Moores. The modified watch included a ‘magnetic field generator’ and a ‘buzzsaw bezel’.

These modifications were specifically designed for the film by Syd Cain the movie's art director and gadget designer.

There is a specific scene where Bond uses the ‘buzzsaw bezel’ to cut through robes to escape Kananga's shark-infested lair.

The ‘magnetic field generator’ was supposed to be used to deflect bullets aimed at Bond, however, Bond had other ideas and famously used it to unzip a woman's dress in the film.

This watch was the most famous and valuable James Bond props ever sold, and it sold for £282,048.27 in 2015!

Looking for a Rolex?

Here at Miltons Diamonds, we have a wide variety of Rolex watches, whilst we don't have any specific models featured in James Bond, we have similar models in stock.

Why not step out in style in a Submariner and prove to everyone that the watch isn't just for diving, just like Bond did?!

We have a selection of Submariners dated between 1996 and 2022 all in perfect condition! So whether you prefer an older more vintage model or a modern-day Rolex the choice is yours.

Or why not view our selection of GMT Master Rolex watches? All of the watches stocked have been hand-selected by our team with quality in mind.

If you are looking for a new Rolex but can't quite decide which one then please don't hesitate to reach out and a member of our experienced and knowledgeable team will be happy to help!