Before the ice palace and the invisible car, Die Another Day opens with a man in a dark coat stepping off a helicopter, holding a metal case. The Samsonite Xylem Scion aluminium business case is the most useful prop in the sequence: plain, rectangular and heavy with consequence. It is out of production, but the Samsonite Xylem business case is still easy enough to find second-hand, and the idea behind it is worth borrowing.
In the film
Pierce Brosnan’s Bond arrives by helicopter in Korea carrying the case, which is filled with diamonds, to meet Zao. Zao’s men open it and check the contents. We believe it is the Scion model of the Xylem line, which is how the catalogue records it, though the research is firmer on the Xylem range than on the exact variant. Samsonite also took part in Harrods’ Bond event in London in November and December 2002.
The details
Aluminium throughout. Xylem was Samsonite’s first aluminium product, launched in 1998. A rigid metal shell does what a soft briefcase cannot: it keeps its shape, protects what is inside, and looks better with a few honest scuffs.
A quiet finish. Samsonite describes the later Xylem suitcase as anodised aluminium, and a metal-grey case like this one is about as discreet as a business case gets. Nothing about it asks to be looked at.
A case that lasted. Samsonite revamped the Xylem suitcase after twenty years, with a new generation announced in 2019. The business case is not part of that revival as far as the research shows, so the original remains a second-hand search.
Owning it now
Look for a case that opens and closes cleanly, with working catches and a firm hinge line. Cosmetic marks matter far less on aluminium than a bent shell or a failed lock. If a seller shows the interior, check that the lining is intact; that is the part that ages first.
We would carry it the way the film does: with nothing else on show. A metal case suits a dark overcoat and a plain suit, and it looks wrong with a logo-heavy backpack. Use it for documents, a laptop sleeve and little else, and let it sit on the floor beside a chair rather than on the table.
If you would rather buy new. In the spirit of the original, our Michael Kors Bancroft satchel from No Time To Die is a current briefcase-style alternative. It is an alternative, not the case from this film.
Specifications
| Model | Samsonite Xylem Scion business case (as recorded in our catalogue) |
|---|---|
| Material | Aluminium |
| Range | Xylem, Samsonite’s first aluminium line (1998) |
| Status | Out of production; found second-hand |
| Original price | Roughly US$600 to US$1,000 at release, according to the research; confirm before buying |
For the maker’s current range, see Samsonite’s company history.
Questions
What briefcase does Bond carry in Die Another Day?
It is a Samsonite Xylem aluminium business case. Bond carries it in the opening sequence in Korea, filled with diamonds.
Is the Samsonite Xylem business case still made?
The original business case is out of production, so it is found second-hand. Samsonite has revived the Xylem name for a newer suitcase, but that is a different product.
Which Xylem model is it?
Our catalogue records it as the Scion. Treat that as the closest identification we can give rather than a certainty.
Where should I look for one?
Search for the Samsonite Xylem aluminium business case on eBay and compare condition photographs of the shell, hinge and catches before bidding.
More from the film is on the Die Another Day page, and Brosnan’s wider wardrobe is in Pierce Brosnan’s Bond. Or browse bags and luggage.
