Spy novels and their watches

Rather than having the usual, Rolex debate, which watch, or SOTC.

Just some light posting for something that I've noticed recently. I generally like to read 1 or 2 books a month on my kindle, switching from fiction to non, although been addicted to some old & modern Bond novels recently. I do have a liking for spy/ adventure novels which take up 50% of fiction collection.

As being a watch fan, and often noticing other peoples watches, and various watches in the media, the choice of watches in novels got my attention.

Heres a few books I've read and watches noted.

Casino Royale - Ian Fleming, First outing for Bond, and Rolex mention for the first time, although no note of which model.
Solo: A James Bond Novel - William Boyd - 60s Bond in Africa, Rolex mentioned a few times again no note of the mode.
Devil May Care - Sebastian Faulks - 60s Bond in the Middle East, Rolex Oyster 36mm worn as it's understated and classic - Like Bond!
Nomad - James Swallow - English Computer Ops pushed into saving the world. Cabot (CWC) noted in the trilogy, nice usage of someone in the British Military,
The Freelancers - Pierre Goblet - French police, retires, takes up diving, involved in murder mystery (Great Read) -kampfschwimmer watch mentioned, although I don't think it's a Panerai.
Norwegian by Night - Derek B Miller - not a spy novel, but an intriguing book about a grandfather missing his youth and remembering the past - JS Watch Co noted.
Ian Fleming Files - Damian Stevenson - fiction based on Ian Flemings time in the Navy, almost biographical, then goes more pre bond. Italian Diver worn by Fleming (Panerai) which he picked up when trained by the Italian Navy.

I'm sure there's some I missed, Carte Blanch another Bond novel by Jeffrey Deaver - can't remember the watch. But certain it wasn't Rolex.

I'm sure there will be more, but thought interesting when I've read them. Be interested to hear other peoples readings and if they've noticed anything.

In Colonel Sun, the first non-Fleming Bond penned by Kingsley Amis, the eponymous and villainous Colonel wears a Longines -

'... he halted, stood quite still for a moment, and glanced at his watch, a steel-cased Longines W.D. pattern which he had had for nearly 15 years. Its former owner, a captain in the Gloucestershire Regiment, had died under interrogation as bravely as anyone Sun had ever met.'

Later in the book Bond's watch gets a mention, which I imagine is a nod to a similar line in Live and Let Die:

'Bond peered at the luminous dial of the Rolex Oyster Chronometer on his wrist'.

‘Berlin Noir’ Trilogy by Philip Kerr


Not quite a spy series, but just finished the excellent first three novels featuring Bernie Gunther, a German Private / Police Detective, spanning before & after WW2.


Unsurprisingly, Rolex gets a mention in all three, including a high-level SS officer flaunting a solid gold model, but also the occupying Red Army’s predilection for relieving citizens of their wristwatches, with Gunther later killing one and taking his collection of a Rolex (which he keeps to wear), a Patek Philipe & a ‘Doxas’ (used in the singular, which seems wrong to me but I’m not familiar with the brand), the latter two sold in the market of the ruined Reichstag.


Interested enough by these specific mentions to want to know what the author (who sadly passed away in March this year) himself wore, I investigated his Instagram, where is sporting a Rolex Submariner 14060 ‘No Date’.

Not sure it’s quite what you had in mind, since it’s not really a spy novel, but Andy McNab’s fictional character Nick Stone wears a Casio Baby G.

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Originally Posted by Stringer

‘Berlin Noir’ Trilogy by Philip Kerr


Not quite a spy series, but just finished the excellent first three novels featuring Bernie Gunther, a German Private / Police Detective, spanning before & after WW2.
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Hadn't heard of these, however now ordered,:eagerness:

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Originally Posted by number2

Hadn't heard of these, however now ordered,:eagerness:

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Great, I hope you enjoy them!


Kerr obviously took more than a little bit of inspiration from Chandler’s hard-boiled Marlowe, but I think he does a better job of commentating on the wider political landscape and locales, plus the books have a very dark tone at times.

They are more adventure stories but Clive Cussler's hero Dirk Pitt always wears an orange dial Doxa dive watch, mimicking Cussler's normal wear.

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Originally Posted by Stringer

Great, I hope you enjoy them!


Kerr obviously took more than a little bit of inspiration from Chandler’s hard-boiled Marlowe, but I think he does a better job of commentating on the wider political landscape and locales, plus the books have a very dark tone at times.

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I love these, read them all, very sad to hear of his death. Always thought it was very impressive how he kept the chronology straight across the series of novels and I imagined a wall with a huge chronology of times, dates and places connected by string on pins.

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Originally Posted by number2

Hadn't heard of these, however now ordered,:eagerness:

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They are excellent, you'll love them.

In From Russia With Love Red Grant has a Girrard Perregaux full calendar and in Moonraker Hugo Drax has a Patek.

Currently 80% through 'Trigger Mortis' by Anthony Horowitz, apparently he used some unused/ unfinished Fleming stores, Bond wears a Rolex Submariner which is only 2yrs old.

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Originally Posted by Speedy2254

They are excellent, you'll love them.

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About half way through the first book of the trilogy, really enjoying them ,,:eagerness:

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Originally Posted by number2

About half way through the first book of the trilogy, really enjoying them ,,:eagerness:

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Just read the last while on holiday. Sad we will never find out where Bernie ends up...

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Originally Posted by Neil.C

They are more adventure stories but Clive Cussler's hero Dirk Pitt always wears an orange dial Doxa dive watch, mimicking Cussler's normal wear.

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I used to love reading those novels. The house/hangar always sounded amazing, proper man cave. I've always admired Doxas from afar, too, likely because of said books. That said, they're a bit too 'out there' for me to own one, though!

Ian Flemming had a Rolex Explorer, I think that makes it the best candidate for the "James Bond Watch" in the novels.

In the Young Bond books by Charlie Higson, Bond wears a Mido Multifort.