Skyfall, Bond

[kmleffler]

Originally Posted by Muaitai

I don't think Rolex needs that kind of marketing, Rolex is well know worldwide and stands to a higher standard, its basically a life style brand IMHO.

I don't consider the fact that Tiger Wood's is under contract to Rolex a "higher standard".

[capote]

Originally Posted by kmleffler

I don't consider the fact that Tiger Wood's is under contract to Rolex a "higher standard".

+1. The Rolex marketing machine is usually a bit more subtle. As for Bond, he should obviously wear a Calatrava or a VC ultra thin with the suit.

[swiss ghost]

Originally Posted by Pghwatch

I sure wish Bond was wearing the Sky Dweller in the new Bond film.

Nothing against Omega but Bond should always wear a Rolex IMO.

sky dweller on a secret agent?

maybe on elton john

bottomline. like it or not. BOND works for OMEGA #'s wise. does this 'cheapen' the brand? no moreso than TIGER sporting a Rolex Deepsea. Bond? fictional? this is nothing new. see DOXA.

[slim4511]

I love the Bond movies, always have. That said, I don't care one bit if he is wearing a Rolex or not as I am still going to be a fan of both. On the other side, I would love for Rolex to have absolutely nothing to do with Tiger Woods.

[Chewbacca]

60 minutes had a good interview with barb broccoli and eon productions execs and it was said they don't take a dime for recent craig 007 placements, but rather the product placement license holder has to market the movie with their product in every country the movie is screened. how this $ amount is factored in is not known to the public but i assume the marketing dollars are better than the $500k - $5M they would be able to command as a traditional placement deal. advertising ain't cheap.

[Hairdude1]

I like the movies also. I could care less about what watch he is wearing.

[crowncollection]

i grew up on bond movies, my father loved them and so do i, much of the advanced technology they use to show is now reality, not all of course, the cold war helped. I don't care if he wears a rolex, but it certainly helped the sub in the old days, most men wanted to be bond, hot girls, money, exciting locations.

[MonBK]

[QUOTE=crowncollection;3668955]i grew up on bond movies, my father loved them and so do i, much of the advanced technology they use to show is now reality, not all of course, the cold war helped. I don't care if he wears a rolex, but it certainly helped the sub in the old days, most men wanted to be bond, hot girls, money, exciting locations.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately there's nothing of that in the latest Bond movie.

[gregvisser]

Originally Posted by Pghwatch

Nothing against Omega but Bond should always wear a Rolex IMO.

I wear Rolex - if that helps?

Rolex is just too expensive for the British government at the moment with the turndown in the economy etc. I'm sure it will bounce back and the might be able to issue him with a Rolex for the next mission.

Greg

[wristybusiness]

Originally Posted by gregvisser

I wear Rolex - if that helps?

Rolex is just too expensive for the British government at the moment with the turndown in the economy etc. I'm sure it will bounce back and the might be able to issue him with a Rolex for the next mission.

Greg

I'd be happy to lend him my ND Sub in the meantime

[bondtoys]

Who?

Sean Connery?

[Glasman19]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

Who?

Sean Connery?

No I think George Lazenby

[VICI]

Omega and Heineken!!!

It's all product placement and marketing.

I can't believe Bond will be ordering a Heineken instead of a Vesper martini!

Look, it's about money. How to get back on the initial investment. ROI.

[manuu]

I don't see how bond wearing omega cheapens the brand. Even if it does, I'd think a lying cheating golfer's association with Rolex cheapens that brand even more so.

[wokafu]

Originally Posted by Pghwatch

I sure wish Bond was wearing the Sky Dweller in the new Bond film.

Nothing against Omega but Bond should always wear a Rolex IMO.

that make two of us

[Robbie68]

Let's be honest here, Bond may be a fictional character but he is influential, anybody not know who he is? Sure it's about money but we are talking about one of if not the most well known fictional character ever. It's good to dream a little. People buy Bond, a bit of escapism is a good thing in my opinion.

[jshepard]

I think Bond should be wearing a Rolex, not for brand recognition or any marketing strategy, but purely because Fleming intended him to wear it. It's made clear from the multiple occasions the novels mentions Bond's "oyster". Maybe not a sky dweller... I think with respect for Fleming, character accuracy is more important than selling out.
Btw, seriously?! Heineken?! That's definitely NOT what Fleming had in mind.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by jshepard

I think Bond should be wearing a Rolex, not for brand recognition or any marketing strategy, but purely because Fleming intended him to wear it. It's made clear from the multiple occasions the novels mentions Bond's "oyster". Maybe not a sky dweller... I think with respect for Fleming, character accuracy is more important than selling out.
Btw, seriously?! Heineken?! That's definitely NOT what Fleming had in mind.

But I would argue that Rolex as a brand has changed significantly from when Fleming was writing the novels. Rolex was seen as a tough, sports brand, utilitarian without the need to be flashy - I don't think the same can be said about Rolex today, the brand and the perception is more important than the product (for most people, present company excepted). Is modern Omega more analogous to the Rolex of the 50s and 60s? Debatable, but I believe, if we're discussing diving watches as Bond has become to be associated with, Bond would prefer the more low key Planet Ocean to the flashy Submariner. Think about it - if on a covert mission, would you really want something highly reflective on your wrist?

There is a big difference between the Bond of the novels and the Bond of the films, however, and whilst I think the Planet Ocean is suitable for the film Bond, I doubt the Bond of the books would bother with it. If Bond was being written for the first time today, he would probably rely on a G-Shock. Tough, waterproof, accurate, reliable - all the traits that Fleming wanted in a watch, the only viable product then was the Rolex.

As for the product placement issue, all major watch brands promote their watches through others for the most part - if you criticise one for doing it, you have to criticise them all. Watches are escapism, after all, why shouldn't the watch companies play to our desires?

Chris

[MrLee]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

As for the product placement issue, all major watch brands promote their watches through others for the most part - if you criticise one for doing it, you have to criticise them all. Watches are escapism, after all, why shouldn't the watch companies play to our desires?

Chris

True but other brands don't have dials covered in the characters name, which no offence to anyone with a bond omega, is very tacky and cheapens the brand for me

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

... but I believe, if we're discussing diving watches as Bond has become to be associated with, Bond would prefer the more low key Planet Ocean to the flashy Submariner...

Wrong. Bond would clearly prefer the Deep Sea so that, in case he were to lose a fight, he could bludgeon his foe with the oversized slab of metal strapped to his wrist.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

Wrong. Bond would clearly prefer the Deep Sea so that, in case he were to lose a fight, he could bludgeon his foe with the oversized slab of metal strapped to his wrist.

[Rashid.bk]

Daniel Craig is my 2nd favorite Bond after SC. While Bond can where a Rolex, a Skydweller does not seem to fit his profile. The PO seems more like it especially on rubber strap like he had in the first one. Imagine that whole chase, jumping, shooting and fight scene done with a Skydweller. Nope, don't think so.
I won't get a chance to see the new Sky Fall in theaters since I work overseas and deploy this month. Reeeeally sucks.

[Joey_V]

I would like it if Bond wore a Rolex.

[treble777]

With regards to fictional characters wearing brands, I remember a few years ago I saw an advert in GQ for Armani, and it showed Christian Bale wearing an Armani suit. The tag line read 'Giorgio Armani - For Bruce Wayne'. Personally, I thought it was a great idea, blending the real-world with a 'movie-world', but I can understand why some feel it cheapens the brand.

[cross]

in the 23rd James Bond Novel, 'Carte Blanche' ..Bond actually wears a Rolex.

you can google it

[VICI]

Originally Posted by jshepard

I think Bond should be wearing a Rolex, not for brand recognition or any marketing strategy, but purely because Fleming intended him to wear it. It's made clear from the multiple occasions the novels mentions Bond's "oyster". Maybe not a sky dweller... I think with respect for Fleming, character accuracy is more important than selling out.
Btw, seriously?! Heineken?! That's definitely NOT what Fleming had in mind.

Agreed!

Although making movies is a business, at this point it should be about continuity and evolution of the character.

No disrespect to omega or Heineken, but where is "evolution" in that?

The man goes from ordering a martini (expensive drink) that is drank by "sophisticated" men to ordering a "beer" (cheap drink) that is drank by even the poorest drunks!

SELL-OUT!

[The Joker]

I think all this product placement cheapens the film more than the brand. I just read that the entire $100 budget for Die another Day was covered by product placement. It's big business.

It's the way it's done, Having a big Virgin sign right behind Bond for a few minutes, or Richard Branson at the airport It's gotta be subtle, wonder whether Sam Mendes will influece this at all.

Bond having a Rolex on his wrist in the early days certainly didn't cheapen the brand, it enhanced it, does it matter if it paid for or not. It's the way it done in the film. I don't think Aston Martins brand has been cheapened lately either.

[Toivonen]

Originally Posted by Pghwatch

I sure wish Bond was wearing the Sky Dweller in the new Bond film.

Nothing against Omega but Bond should always wear a Rolex IMO.

i wish that (a different) Bond wears a Rolex submariner no date too!!!!

[jshepard]

I doubt Fleming would have Bond wear a Gshock if Fleming was still writing Bond novels today. Bond's adversaries tend to be upper class folks so he tends to attend a lot of formal events and a dude wearing a Gshock in a tux would stick out more than a dude wearing a Rolex. Next thing you know he's caught and tortured all because of bad taste. He needs something where he can go from dinner party to the underwater nuclear silo without changing wardrobe.

It doesnt need to be Sub, he's probably not gonna go more than 100m in a tux without scuba gear. Nor did Fleming ever give out specific models. It seems he wore different kinds of "oysters" in the books. He could have a regular oyster perpetual if you want discrete. He doesn't have to have the new ceramic sub either, the could have an older model. PO's have polished bracelets and IMO tend to be more blingy than brushed bracelets of a sub.

I get it though, it's just a movie! Even Roger Moore wore a Casio though im not sure if Casio paid for that or was just cause it looked high tech at the time. I guess my thing is that movies in general tend to sacrifice accuracy for $$$! Who knows what's next, a reboot of Back to the Future with a Mini Cooper as the time machine.

[Rolex Freak]

Originally Posted by Speed

Man.

I must be the only Rolex owner who could not give a Monkey's Bum about "Bond"

Me too Bill. I could care less.