Leiter…Felix Leiter

[JoeyB]

Most everyone knows that the iconic British Secret Service Agent James Bond, 007 wore a Rolex Submariner 6538 ‘big crown’. There are a few stories about how that came to be, but like most of the early Rolex sport models, nothing can be verified.

I got this story straight from the man who was there, Felix Leiter, Central Intelligence Agency.

 

 

 

At the time, the MI6 agents were flamboyant, while the CIA agents were, by company policy, in the shadows. It was in the movie ‘Dr. No’ that we found the very first hint of just how influential the CIA had become to MI6. 007 is summoned to M’s office for assignment, and is ordered to surrender his Beretta. 007 had been hospitalized for months when it failed. M ordered 007 to use the Walther PPK, just as the CIA used. Yes fellow RWG fans, that was Felix who made the recommendation.

 

 

 

Upon arriving in Jamaica Bond meets his CIA contact. This is where 007 was tutored by Leiter to go on to become the Bond we have come to know.  

 

 

 

Felix returns his weapon, introduces him to Quarrel, and they have a good laugh at Bond’s graduation party.

 

 

 

 

 

The CIA stayed in the shadows.

007 had the fancy car, the CIA was more discreet.

 

 

 

 

While James got the girl, Leiter could only watch…

 

 

 

 

Speaking of watch, Felix also was the one who recommended that James get a Rolex Submariner. Having been a founding member of the Underwater Demolition Teams, ‘UDT’ during World War 2, naturally Rolex came to Felix for advice when Jacques Cousteau asked them for a diver’s watch. The CIA agent aware of Bond’s clumsy, big hands, suggested the ‘big crown’ 6538. The rest is, of course, history.

 

Oh, you want to know what watch the legendary CIA Agent Felix Leiter wore? The very first diver’s watch, of course. The Rolex Submariner 6204.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[droptopman]

Awesome post and love the 6204.

Sent from my droptop using telepathy ️

[freddy333]

Interesting, but how did you conclude that Leiter wore a Sub?

 

In the Connery films, I only ever recall catching the briefest glimpses of Leiter wearing something that looked to be on a black strap. In fact, it was Leiter who, in I believe Thunderball, commented to Bond that, "I see you're still wearing that old wristwatch of yours with the big phosphorous numerals". Had Leiter been wearing a Sub, I would expect a comment citing the similarity between his & Bond's watch. No?

[highoeyazmuhudee]

the omega marine, and panerai predate the rolex sub as the first dive. and technically the fifty fathoms too.

 

fun post though

[alligoat]

Jack Lord played the first Leiter, but by Goldfinger, someone else was playing the part, as I recall. Maybe Jack was tied up on Hawaii Five-O by that time.

 

Beautiful 6204 Joey! Sure would be nice if you could find an all acrylic pearl to fit that insert.

[JoeyB]

Freddy, It's the spook world, and I've already divulged too much. I can neither confirm nor deny the related story.

 

alligoat, yep, the picture of the guy with the binoculars (and metal watch band) is Goldfinger's Leiter, along with the Thunderbird at an early KFC.

 

 

The pearl actually looks great in person, matching the lume color. I use a dab of lume and a tiny drop of epoxy. For some reason it picks up the light in photos and looks much lighter than it is. 

 

Thanks! This is the redone 6204. I re-cased it using a Tiger 2 case modified, a Clark's crystal, a new homemade dial, homemade bezel. The 6mm Brevet crown is from Rafflestime, the 13mm minute hand from Helenarou, the hour and second hands are modded, all 3 bare brass. Power provided by ETA 2846. 

The case engraving is really nice, done lightly as per the old days, and done by our very own JMB.    

[dbane883]

Joey. That's a nice theory, but I believe your intel is flawed.

Major Boothroyd, referred to as "The Armourer" by M, was the man behind James Bond switching from his Berreta to the more svelt Walther PPK. As the "armourer", and understanding that accurate time keeping was essential for the top MI6 agents, he also equipped 007 with the Submariner prior to his departure to the Caribbean and subsequent encounter with Dr. No. All the credit goes to the man who would eventually be referred to as "Q".

In typical American bravado, Felix would naturally spread the tale at seaside bars, that he was the the person responsible for 007's heroics.

I do wonder though, why Major Boothroyd chose the undersized strap...?

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[alligoat]

I do wonder though, why Major Boothroyd chose the undersized strap...?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually, in Dr. No, Bond wore the sub on a croc strap- either black or dark brown.

Wasn't it later in Goldfinger when he was wearing the Nato strap- by then Q was around as I recall.

[dbane883]

Actually, in Dr. No, Bond wore the sub on a croc strap- either black or dark brown.

Wasn't it later in Goldfinger when he was wearing the Nato strap- by then Q was around as I recall.

Right.

But I don't think it was a NATO. It was closer to a Zulu I believe.

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[Mendota Explorer]

The famous scene with Bond wearing the watch while checking the time with his lighter (in a white dinner jacket while his bomb detonates) was in "From Russia with Love."

Edited June 13, 2015 by Mendota Explorer

[freddy333]

The famous scene with Bond wearing the watch while checking the time with his lighter (in a white dinner jacket while his bomb detonates) was in "From Russia with Love."

Goldfinger.

[freddy333]

Wasn't it later in Goldfinger when he was wearing the Nato strap- by then Q was around as I recall.

I believe it was called an RAF strap, which is a straight piece of nylon strapping that slides through 1 of the springbars, runs behind the watch & comes up through the space between the case & other springbar.

[Mendota Explorer]

Goldfinger.

You are correct, sir! I had my movies mixed up.

[djulink]

Hi Gents !

Nice to read so much debate about 007.

The first picture used to introduce the subject is from Goldfinger, not from Dr No (Bond would have been wearing a "black tie" as he was returning from Le Cercle before departing for Jamaica to find out about Strangways).

I'll go with Dbane theory, as I don't see British Intelligence Service taking advice from CIA and because we know the importance of Q - and in fact the "armourer" was the first one of them.

As some of you know, NATO strap only came out in the early 70's, therefore the one from Goldfinger/Thunderball is often qualified as RAF strap to differenciate.

[Nightwatch]

Great and well done story with the pics interlaced. This was very enjoyable:) thanks

[Seanpnichols]

Nice thread. 

 

And to add my two cents, the very first time we see Sean Connery as 007 in "Dr. No," while he plays a round of chemin de fer, or baccarat against Sylvia Trench at the Le Cercle at Les Ambassadeurs, he is wearing a Gruen Precision 510.  Later in the same movie he wears the Rolex 6538 on a dark brown crocodile strap as clearly seen in the Geiger counter scene and Crab Cay beach scene.

 

He wears the same 6538 on the dark brown croc strap in "From Russia With Love" as clearly seen in the Russian Embassy scene when he checks the time, and we see his gas mask, before the bomb explodes.

 

Its not until the opening scene of "Goldfinger" that we see the 6538 on the regimental NATO strap.

[JoeyB]

Nice thread. 

 

And to add my two cents, the very first time we see Sean Connery as 007 in "Dr. No," while he plays a round of chemin de fer, or baccarat against Sylvia Trench at the Le Cercle at Les Ambassadeurs, he is wearing a Gruen Precision 510.  Later in the same movie he wears the Rolex 6538 on a dark brown crocodile strap as clearly seen in the Geiger counter scene and Crab Cay beach scene.

 

And it is after his card game that Bond reports to M. This is the conversation in M's office"

 

M: The American CIA sent a man down to work with Strangways.  A fellow called Leiter. Do you know him? 

007: I've heard of him. Never met him. Has he found out anything important?

M: Better ask "him". You're booked on the 7 o'clock plane to Kingston. That gives you exactly three hours, 22 minutes. You'll get a set of background paper at the airport, in a self-destructor bag. You can study them during the flight. I want to know what's happened to Strangways.

007: Sir.

M: Take off your jacket. Give me your gun. Yes, I thought so. This damn Beretta again. I've told you about this before. You tell him - for the last time.

Armourer: Nice and light - in a lady's handbag. No stopping power.

M: Any comments, 007?

007: I disagree, sir. I've used a Beretta for ten years. I've never missed with it yet.

M: Maybe not, but it jammed on your last job and you spent six months in hospital. A double-O number means you're licensed to kill, not get killed. And another thing. Since I've been head of Ml6, there's been a 40% drop in double-O casualties. I want it to stay that way. You'll carry the Walther. Unless you'd prefer to go back to standard intelligence duties?

007: No, sir. I would not.

M: Then from now on you carry a different gun. Show him.

Armourer: Walther PPK. 7.65mm with a delivery like a brick through a plate-glass window. Takes a Brausch silencer, with little reduction in muzzle velocity.

M: The American CIA swear by them. Thank you, Major Boothroyd.

Armourer: Thank you, sir.

M:  Any questions, 007?

007: No, sir.

M: All right, then. Best of luck.

007: Thank you, sir.  Sir?

M: Just leave the Beretta.

 

So, Bond was wearing the Gruen and carrying the Beretta before he reported to M.

Bond left M's office to meet CIA agent Felix Leiter in Kingston, with a CIA recommended Walther PPK.

After meeting Leiter and Quarrel, we see 007 wearing a Rolex 6538 on a dark brown crocodile strap in the Geiger counter scene and Crab Cay beach scene. 

 

Based on these facts, I can only surmise that the initial story is accurate. I'd think Bond and MI6 owe the CIA's Felix Leiter some gratitude. 

[asiparks]

Great post...re-enfocing the notion that I'd much rather be Bond....

The RAF strap lacks the extra piece of webbing that goes under the watch, so it's less bulky than the Nato. Here's a great source for very high quality straps, including variations on the Bond theme...

http://www.timefactors.com/natostraps.htm

Edited June 15, 2015 by asiparks

[dbane883]

 

Based on these facts, I can only surmise that the initial story is accurate. I'd think Bond and MI6 owe the CIA's Felix Leiter some gratitude. 

 

 

Or.. the Gruen stopped ticking and Bond ended up buying a new watch from the Duty-Free catalogue on the flight over the Atlantic.

[JoeyB]

Or.. the Gruen stopped ticking and Bond ended up buying a new watch from the Duty-Free catalogue on the flight over the Atlantic.

Well, we do know for certain that Bond did not buy a rep 6538. Back then replicas had quartz movements.   

 

[Seanpnichols]

Because Bond wears the Gruen again in "From Russia with Love," and in "Goldfinger," one can only surmise that he wears it when he's off-duty, or wants to wear a dressier watch until he needs the Rolex "knuckle-buster." 

[HaydenM]

Because Bond wears the Gruen again in "From Russia with Love," and in "Goldfinger," one can only surmise that he wears it when he's off-duty, or wants to wear a dressier watch until he needs the Rolex "knuckle-buster." 

The knuckle dusting is from the books though and then we open a whole new kettle of fish with which watch it's referring to. To my knowledge the books just refer to a rolex oyster, my best guess being that it would be a 1016 as that was Ian Fleming's personal watch.

[Mendota Explorer]

The knuckle dusting is from the books though and then we open a whole new kettle of fish with which watch it's referring to. To my knowledge the books just refer to a rolex oyster, my best guess being that it would be a 1016 as that was Ian Fleming's personal watch.

Agreed. All signs point to his personal watch.

[Seanpnichols]

Of course.  But the point I was making was that 007 wore at least two different watches in several movies, the Gruen and the Rolex, regardless of which model the Rolex was in the movies as compared to the books.

 

And I'm sure the term "Knuckle-buster" could equally be used while referring to either Rolex model, the 6538 or the 1016, because of their sturdiness.

[HaydenM]

Of course.  But the point I was making was that 007 wore at least two different watches in several movies, the Gruen and the Rolex, regardless of which model the Rolex was in the movies as compared to the books.

 

And I'm sure the term "Knuckle-buster" could equally be used while referring to either Rolex model, the 6538 or the 1016, because of their sturdiness.

I'm unsure as to whether or not he uses any rolex as a knuckle duster in the films but in On Her Majesty's Secret Service there is"

 

"He softly retrieved his gloves from the bathroom, put on the goggles so that they rested in his hair above the forehead, tied the dark-red handkerchief tightly across his nose, schnapps into hip pocket and, finally, Gillette through the fingers on the lest hand and the Rolex transferred to his right, the bracelet clasped in the palm of his hand the round the fingers so that the face of the watch lay across his middle knuckles."