Living out our childhood dreams through watches
When I was growing up, Roger Moore was James Bond. And when the films would rerun on KTLA Channel 5, I’d sit for the marathons (along with Kung Fu Theater and Monster Madness, which was all Godzilla movies). The cool-headedness under fire... The confidence with which he conducted himself in the presence of such beautiful women… for a kid who’s only athletic prowess lay in ping pong, and whose game with the fairer sex was rivaled only by the character below until very recently… well, no, if I’m being honest, still rivaled by the character below...
You can imagine how eye-opening it was to see this refined gentleman, driving Aston Martins, punching bad guys in the face, all while never even suffering a single wrinkle in his perfectly tailored suits.
Then, one day, I happened to be visiting my now-wife in Manhattan. We were walking through Times Square, and this is the billboard I saw:
And I remember thinking, “Wow! Omega must be THE watch brand!” I knew nothing whatsoever about the Quartz Crisis. No idea that Omega had been on the brink since. I had never heard the name, Rolex. All I knew was that if James Bond were wearing an Omega, Omega must be THE watch brand. I had just graduated college, and hadn’t a dime to my name, but lots and lots and lots of student loan debt, thus it was inconceivable to me that I could ever own something like an Omega.
Many, many years later, I was walking through the local mall, and saw this in the boutique window.
James Bond wore one of these in Skyfall! Not this model, but still, an Aqua Terra nonetheless! Next thing I knew, I had purchased it. I was James Bond… if James Bond were short, fat, and asthmatic. Regardless, every time I put on an Omega, I feel just a little bit less like a Long Duck Dong, and a little bit more like a 007.
And now this!!!
It's the gun barrel sequence from the opening of the films!
I can’t thank @Christo1963 enough. It is beautiful. Just look at it! Don’t those Omegas look 3x better just sitting on that watch stand???
The Artist formerly known as @HotWatchChick69 and formerly-formerly @Omeganut
More from Mr.Dee.Bater
An then came "No time to die" .. What watch brand will be next :)
Do you have a "Dr. No" Gruen?
Not going to lie, I have a soft spot for Omega. I've been a fan for a long time and like yourself, never could afford one until a few years ago. Even then, the two Omegas I have are old, and my wife's Omegas are vintage as well. The Aqua Terra is the modern piece I would pick, but I'm a sucker for their older models and want to get my hands on a Seamaster Polaris and a Constellation.
Everything from the story, to the custom stand, to your collection is great!
It's not necessarily living out a dream but I have always been a fan of Snoopy in what I think is a similar way to you being a Bond fan. I remember my parents having a Snoopy pancake maker, I had movies, books, one of my first stuffed animals, etc. Snoopy and Woodstock specifically and are so nostalgic and fun for me. If I get the chance to get a Snoopy Speedmaster (lol), I would be over the moon (I'll see myself out after that one.). Even if I can't get the Speedmaster, I will definitely end up with some sort of Snoopy watch in the collection at some point because of how it brings back fun memories.
That stand is utter class! I am amazed by @Christo1963s abilities and very jealous of your Omega set up 👌
I think if I was to get a stand I would go for one for my Seiko Arnie. Bet it would look cool with neon green predator blood paint splattered about 😁
I can totally relate. The first movie I remember seeing multiple times when I was a kid was "Live and Let Die" with Roger Moore. He wore a Rolex throughout the movie, but there was a five second scene where he wore a Hamilton Digital PSR Classic when he was getting out of bed with a beautiful woman. I'm not a digital fan, but loved that watch. I didn't want to spend what the Hamilton cost, so I bought the Armitron Griffy (the "Poor Man's Version"). Although I don't own an Omega, in my mind, I could also see Roger Moore wearing the Timex Marlin Handwind watch Here it is draped on a commemorative collectible Coin featuring Roger Moore from Live and Let Die.
As a British bloke born in 64 I was of course brought up on Bond. As soon as I was old enough my Dad took me to the cinema and then it was me and my mates going. I had the model Aston Martin with the ejector seat and the bullet proof screen etc. Bond was and remains the epitome of cool (even in death?)
I knew little of watches but I did know he wore an Omega so that must be the coolest brand right?
For that reason to my mind Omega sits at the top of desirability ( sorry Rolex).I don't yet own one but I will.
Your display is, like Bond himself , cool as cool can get!
Not quite the same vein but I thought this spoke to my childhood geek, he would've thought it was so cool.
An then came "No time to die" .. What watch brand will be next :)
Yeah, it worries me. I mean, if the Bond franchise switches to Hublot, this is going to be my collection going forward:
Do you have a "Dr. No" Gruen?
Nah, man! Sean Connery was before my time. Aren't you two contemporaries?
Not going to lie, I have a soft spot for Omega. I've been a fan for a long time and like yourself, never could afford one until a few years ago. Even then, the two Omegas I have are old, and my wife's Omegas are vintage as well. The Aqua Terra is the modern piece I would pick, but I'm a sucker for their older models and want to get my hands on a Seamaster Polaris and a Constellation.
Wow! I didn't even know this watch existed! Googled it just now, and that's definitely an integrated bracelet sports watch I can get behind!
Everything from the story, to the custom stand, to your collection is great!
It's not necessarily living out a dream but I have always been a fan of Snoopy in what I think is a similar way to you being a Bond fan. I remember my parents having a Snoopy pancake maker, I had movies, books, one of my first stuffed animals, etc. Snoopy and Woodstock specifically and are so nostalgic and fun for me. If I get the chance to get a Snoopy Speedmaster (lol), I would be over the moon (I'll see myself out after that one.). Even if I can't get the Speedmaster, I will definitely end up with some sort of Snoopy watch in the collection at some point because of how it brings back fun memories.
You might consider something like this:
Bamford seem to do a lot of collabs with Snoopy!
That stand is utter class! I am amazed by @Christo1963s abilities and very jealous of your Omega set up 👌
I think if I was to get a stand I would go for one for my Seiko Arnie. Bet it would look cool with neon green predator blood paint splattered about 😁
Here's what I get when I google "predator watch stand":
https://www.facebook.com/Predator-Final-Stand-178662759135213/
Now, there's some folks really living out their childhood dreams!
I can totally relate. The first movie I remember seeing multiple times when I was a kid was "Live and Let Die" with Roger Moore. He wore a Rolex throughout the movie, but there was a five second scene where he wore a Hamilton Digital PSR Classic when he was getting out of bed with a beautiful woman. I'm not a digital fan, but loved that watch. I didn't want to spend what the Hamilton cost, so I bought the Armitron Griffy (the "Poor Man's Version"). Although I don't own an Omega, in my mind, I could also see Roger Moore wearing the Timex Marlin Handwind watch Here it is draped on a commemorative collectible Coin featuring Roger Moore from Live and Let Die.
Yeah! I think Live and Let Die was the first Bond movie I ever saw! Incredible that Jane Seymour went on to such a great career and an OBE!
As a British bloke born in 64 I was of course brought up on Bond. As soon as I was old enough my Dad took me to the cinema and then it was me and my mates going. I had the model Aston Martin with the ejector seat and the bullet proof screen etc. Bond was and remains the epitome of cool (even in death?)
I knew little of watches but I did know he wore an Omega so that must be the coolest brand right?
For that reason to my mind Omega sits at the top of desirability ( sorry Rolex).I don't yet own one but I will.
Your display is, like Bond himself , cool as cool can get!
Crazy how much of an influence a film series can have on people throughout their lives, right?
I wonder if Bond will have any impact on younger folks, or if the franchise only has salience for us oldsters. Maybe people under the age of 30 associate Bond with Metamucil and prune juice?
In the novels, Bond wore a Rolex. I think it was my Dad told me he wished he could get a Rolex because Bond wore one. Apparently, Ian Fleming was a Rolex guy, Explorer as I recall.
I'll always be a Connery Bond guy. He wore a Submariner.
So this was my first good watch. Paid $300 back in the day.
I also got a kick out of Honor Blackman/Pussy Galore wearing a GMT-Master, a 6542 with a bakelite bezel.
That is INCREDIBLE!!! Tell me you still have that watch!!!
My absolute favorite scenes from every single Connery Bond movie is when he's being cheeky with Bernard Lee's "M." Absolutely hilarious how good Connery was at making sly, mischievous grins behind M's back!
Sadly, that sub is long gone. Sold in '91 for $900 just before they really started to go crazy price-wise. I've consoled myself with several different Tudor subs accumulated since about 2007 when I started seriously collecting.
7016/0
Yeah, it worries me. I mean, if the Bond franchise switches to Hublot, this is going to be my collection going forward:
Please let’s have Bond in a Hublot. The absolute meltdown that would ensue would make it so worthwhile.
WOW!!! That is amazing!!!
Dude... I am sooooooo jealous! I mean, the younger, unmarried me is so jealous. Like, if when I were single I could tell gals that I was a stuntman??? I can't even begin to imagine!
@Omeganut LMAO 🤣 We're only small fries Brotha LOL! Living the Dream humbly and always Stay Thirsty my friend 🍻🍺🍻🍺
Sadly, that sub is long gone. Sold in '91 for $900 just before they really started to go crazy price-wise. I've consoled myself with several different Tudor subs accumulated since about 2007 when I started seriously collecting.
7016/0
Wow!!! Those are gorgeous!
Maybe this is gonna sound insane, but I would take any one of your Tudor Subs over any modern day Rolex Sub, 8 days a week. They're unique. They're totally different. They can't be had today. And, it's one of those things where if anybody were to ever say, "Hey, nice Rolex," you can then show off your geek credentials, if you so choose!
Please let’s have Bond in a Hublot. The absolute meltdown that would ensue would make it so worthwhile.
The moment Djokovic signed on as a brand ambassador for Hublot, r/watchescirclejerk had an absolute field day. Here's one of the memes that had my laughing out loud.
[When you finally realize you have to wear a Hublot for the rest of your career]
Yeah, if the studio signed up Hublot... not sure I could do it, man.
The moment Djokovic signed on as a brand ambassador for Hublot, r/watchescirclejerk had an absolute field day. Here's one of the memes that had my laughing out loud.
[When you finally realize you have to wear a Hublot for the rest of your career]
Yeah, if the studio signed up Hublot... not sure I could do it, man.
I would - I mean I wear a Bubble without shame, what’s a Hublot to me? Too shiny, too garish? Please…
I have my Rolex, I have a VC - so it’s not like I can’t f*** about with this whole watch malarkey. I think people get a little bit too carried away at the end of the day.
Bond in a Hublot Big Bang, and it’s a smart bomb - come on, it’s written in the stars.
Q: Bond, we have to issue you with this, you keep smashing up your watches and the budget just doesn’t stretch.
@Omeganut LMAO 🤣 We're only small fries Brotha LOL! Living the Dream humbly and always Stay Thirsty my friend 🍻🍺🍻🍺
Dude, I love your style, my man.
You know what that makes me think of? So, we all know that phrase from this:
But, I recently found out that "thirsty" is young people slang for... well, here's urban dictionary:
That puts a whole different spin on the phrase, doesn't it???
I would - I mean I wear a Bubble without shame, what’s a Hublot to me? Too shiny, too garish? Please…
I have my Rolex, I have a VC - so it’s not like I can’t f*** about with this whole watch malarkey. I think people get a little bit too carried away at the end of the day.
Bond in a Hublot Big Bang, and it’s a smart bomb - come on, it’s written in the stars.
Q: Bond, we have to issue you with this, you keep smashing up your watches and the budget just doesn’t stretch.
You know what? Okay, you've convinced me. I am committing publicly to this right now!
If the Bond franchise should ever adopt Hublot as the official watch of James Bond, I shall purchase said watch and wear it with pride!
You know what? Okay, you've convinced me. I am committing publicly to this right now!
If the Bond franchise should ever adopt Hublot as the official watch of James Bond, I shall purchase said watch and wear it with pride!
and they all said I was mad… mad I tell you
Wow!!! Those are gorgeous!
Maybe this is gonna sound insane, but I would take any one of your Tudor Subs over any modern day Rolex Sub, 8 days a week. They're unique. They're totally different. They can't be had today. And, it's one of those things where if anybody were to ever say, "Hey, nice Rolex," you can then show off your geek credentials, if you so choose!
You got that 100% right O-nut.
One of the main reasons I unloaded the first Rolex Sub was that they'd quit being a tool watch and become a status symbol. Too many nouveau-rich guys wearing them - I didn't want to run with that pretentious gang. When I discovered the blue Snowflakes and the Marine Nationale legacy I really got hooked on the Tudor Submariners - a high-spec case (by Rolex) with a true workhorse movement, with none of the overblown brand hype. So due to my collecting OCD the rest of 'em just kind of showed up in my watch box - Lol.
Thanks for recognizing their integrity.
You got that 100% right O-nut.
One of the main reasons I unloaded the first Rolex Sub was that they'd quit being a tool watch and become a status symbol. Too many nouveau-rich guys wearing them - I didn't want to run with that pretentious gang. When I discovered the blue Snowflakes and the Marine Nationale legacy I really got hooked on the Tudor Submariners - a high-spec case (by Rolex) with a true workhorse movement, with none of the overblown brand hype. So due to my collecting OCD the rest of 'em just kind of showed up in my watch box - Lol.
Thanks for recognizing their integrity.
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
"Workhorse movement" is the highest compliment you could give a movement! I love it! Reliable with decades of proven performance, and easy and cheap to service and maintain.
Bravo, sir!
My childhood dreams through watches didn't come from Mr. Bond but from another dude. This gentleman here:
Please notice one prominent sponsor on the arm of Mr. Senna, it will be relevant for this story.
I will keep this post short so I will just say that he was a huge deal for me back in the 90s. Back then the coolest Tag a kid could have were these:
I know that is just a different version of a Swatch but, considering the financial situation of my parents, these watches were unobtainable. But thanks to they I got my Engineer degree.... you know... priorities (thanks mom and dad!!).
So, before even I started to collect watches I saw this piece here in a jewelry store:
IMHO, the similarities were indisputable. I remember sharing a tear when I realized that I spend my childhood craving for that token of my idol believing that I could never have one and then when I grew up I simply went to the store and bought one, just like that.
My childhood dreams through watches didn't come from Mr. Bond but from another dude. This gentleman here:
Please notice one prominent sponsor on the arm of Mr. Senna, it will be relevant for this story.
I will keep this post short so I will just say that he was a huge deal for me back in the 90s. Back then the coolest Tag a kid could have were these:
I know that is just a different version of a Swatch but, considering the financial situation of my parents, these watches were unobtainable. But thanks to they I got my Engineer degree.... you know... priorities (thanks mom and dad!!).
So, before even I started to collect watches I saw this piece here in a jewelry store:
IMHO, the similarities were indisputable. I remember sharing a tear when I realized that I spend my childhood craving for that token of my idol believing that I could never have one and then when I grew up I simply went to the store and bought one, just like that.
AWESOME! Congratulations!
Got any wrist shots???
And are you going to buy one of these one day?
AWESOME! Congratulations!
Got any wrist shots???
And are you going to buy one of these one day?
lol, Nahh that watch lived and left years ago, way before I started to collect watches. Back there I never imagined that people take photos of their watches in random/public places...
Weird people we are.
That Tag was a sizable chunk of metal and I passed the watch to my younger brother (1.90 m younger brother, just to put it in perspective).