The Rolex Explorer 1016 is the watch Ian Fleming himself wore, which makes it the closest thing to Bond’s wristwatch that exists. It is a 36mm steel Oyster Perpetual with a black dial, Mercedes hands and Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9, and it is believed to be the model that gave Bond his Rolex in the novels. Fleming never named it in the books, so the connection is a strong inference rather than a printed fact.
In the books
Bond wears a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in Fleming’s novels, using it as a knuckleduster in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and the books give few details of the model. Our sources say Fleming likely had Bond wear the same Rolex as his own. The watch itself has been exhibited at the Imperial War Museum and the National Watch & Clock Museum, and a 1962 manuscript that refers to it was to be displayed alongside.
The details
The case and bracelet. The 1016 is a 36mm watch in steel on a steel Oyster bracelet. A dealer’s listing gives its water resistance as 100m.
The dial. The dial is black, with Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 and Mercedes hands. It is a plain, legible face with nothing on it that does not need to be there.
Self-winding. It is an automatic, and eBay’s listings describe a 1965 example with the Calibre 1560. Examples vary: collectors point to unusual dial versions such as the so-called frog foot dial, and one collector’s site says the number of variations over the 1016’s long production run can daunt newcomers.
Wearing it now
This is a watch that suits the same clothes Fleming’s Bond would have recognised: a grey flannel suit, a navy blazer, an open-necked shirt and a plain knitted tie. At 36mm it sits flat under a cuff, and it looks right on a slim wrist as well as a large one. We would wear it with a worn leather strap as often as the steel bracelet, because the black dial takes either well.
Buying one. The 1016 is long out of production, so you are buying pre-owned. Ask for a clear history, and check the dial, hands and luminous material carefully, as originality is what the price rests on. At the time of writing, October 2026, asking prices we saw ranged from about US$12,300 to US$16,500.
In the same spirit
For a Bond watch you can buy new, one alternative is the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition, worn by Daniel Craig’s Bond in No Time To Die. It is a dive watch, not an explorer, and it is offered as an alternative, not as the watch of the novels.
Specifications
| Reference | 1016 |
|---|---|
| Maker | Rolex |
| Case and bracelet | 36mm, steel, Oyster bracelet |
| Dial | Black, Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9, Mercedes hands |
| Movement | Automatic; the Calibre 1560 appears in some listings |
| Water resistance | 100m (as listed by one dealer) |
| Status | Out of production; pre-owned only |
| Pre-owned prices | About US$12,300 to US$16,500, October 2026 |
Collectors keep a detailed reference at explorer1016.com.
Questions
Is the Explorer 1016 Bond’s watch?
It is believed to be the watch that inspired Bond’s Rolex. Fleming wore a Rolex Explorer 1016, and our sources say he likely gave Bond the same watch, but the books do not name the model.
Did Ian Fleming really wear a Rolex Explorer?
Yes. Our catalogue records that Fleming wore the Explorer reference 1016, and that the watch has been exhibited at the Imperial War Museum and the National Watch & Clock Museum.
How much is a Rolex Explorer 1016?
Asking prices we saw in October 2026 ran from roughly US$12,300 to US$16,500 for pre-owned examples, depending on condition and originality.
Is the Rolex Explorer 1016 still made?
No. The reference is long out of production, so it is bought second-hand. Rolex’s current Oyster Perpetual range is the nearest line it still sells.
More watches are in Watches; the Bonds are on their own page, with every film under Films.
