|
The event was opened by
OMEGA president Stephen Urquhart, who welcomed media and guests and talked
about his brand’s relationship with the film franchise. He said, “James
Bond is unmatched as a cultural icon and we are excited to be celebrating
half a century of great adventure films featuring the world’s favourite
spy. We are also happy to have the opportunity to display items from every
one of those films. I know that the showcase will bring back a lot of
cinematic memories.”
Stephen Urquhart was joined by OMEGA’s vice president and head of product
development, Jean-Claude Monachon, who introduced two
Seamaster Diver
watches that OMEGA has released to commemorate the milestone. Released in
two sizes, the new Seamaster Diver is distinguished by a red “50” on its
diving bezel, a reminder that it is celebrating a special anniversary.
Also at the press conference was Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning costume
designer who chose the OMEGA Seamaster as 007’s watch in GoldenEye
in 1995. Asked about her selection of the OMEGA Seamaster with the blue
dial, she said “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a Naval man, a diver,
and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear this watch as opposed to
the one everyone expected me to use”.
She added, “I had also
known contemporaries when I was in my twenties who were military and
naval, and some who worked in field of energy and electricity, who all
swore by their OMEGAs. Therefore, as one of the early tasks in designing
the new Bond, Pierce Brosnan, I went to a props and hand props meeting and
argued for the use of OMEGA, which I had of course first investigated to
make sure they would be interested in placing their watches on Bond!” |
|
Bond film props and
gadgets on display
The showcase which opened on Wednesday features props from all 22
previously released Bond films. The Parahawk from The World Is Not
Enough (1999) is displayed outside the boutique; it attracted
considerable attention from shoppers in the mall who were pleased to enter
the boutique to see a wide range of props that includes a Dom Perignon
champagne bottle from Dr. No (1962), a flask bomb used in
A View To A Kill (1985), super-villain Jaws’ teeth from The
Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Bond’s piton gun from GoldenEye
(1995). |
