Roger Moore’s Collection of James Bond Watches and Collectibles Sells for Over $1 Million

When it comes to some of the most iconic watches in pop culture, those of James Bond surely top the list. This year marked the 50^th anniversary of one special actor’s first appearance as 007. Sir Roger Moore was the third actor to portray the famed secret agent in the iconic film series; his first Bond film Live and Let Die debuted in 1973. In celebration of this acclaimed actor and his legacy as 007, Bonhams hosted a special auction in his honor, selling his personal collection of important Bond memorabilia, collectibles, and other ephemera. The top three lots included a collection of twenty Swatch 007 wristwatches and two Omega timepieces.

Of course, you couldn’t have an auction in honor of one of the legendary James Bond actors without a few watches being involved. Omega didn’t become the official watch of 007 until 1995, many years after Sir Roger Moore’s run as Bond. However, the brand has since become synonymous with the secret agent, so it comes as no surprise the actor had a few in his personal collection.

More from Robb Report

• David Beckham Wore a No-Nonsense Tudor Black Bay Watch at Qatar's F1 Grand Prix

• Grand Seiko Just Opened Its Watchmaking Studio to the Public. Here's a Look Inside.

• Two Rare Watches by Revered Horologist George Daniels Are Heading to Auction

The first was a limited edition Seamaster James Bond 50^th Anniversary watch, which sold for nearly double its high estimate at just over $70,000 (£57,550). The second model was a stainless steel Speedmaster with a triple calendar and moonphase with a personal engraving to Sir Roger Moore. This truly one-of-a-kind model sold for more than eight times its high estimate for nearly $75,000 (£61,400).

Still, the top lot of Moore’s entire collection of ephemera was a series of twenty Swatch 007 wristwatches presented in a stealthy 007 case dedicated to Sir Roger Moore to commemorate the 40th anniversary of James Bond on film. This truly unique collection ultimately sold for more than three times its high estimate at over $92,000 (£76,000), marking the highest sale of the auction.

Altogether, the 224-lot archive of Sir Roger Moore’s personal collection brought in well over $1 million (£1,117,300) against a pre-sale high estimate of roughly $500,000 (£415,300). Moore was also a passionate UNICEF ambassador, and therefore his family decided to donate a percentage of the sale proceeds to the charity.

Best of Robb Report

• The 10 Most Expensive Watches Sold at Auction in the 21st Century (So Far)

• 11 Stunning Jewelry Moments From the 2020 Oscars

• The New Suit: A Buyer’s Guide

Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.