The Best James Bond Gadgets: 007’s Unforgettable Spy Tech

Image by Peter Wolf from Pixabay

Since Dr. No (1962), Bond’s arsenal of high-tech tools has played a pivotal role in the franchise, making him the world’s most resourceful spy. Supplied by MI6’s Q Branch, the best James Bond gadgets have ranged from customised cars to gadget-laden wristwatches which have saved Bond’s life on numerous occasions.

Mission essentials: James Bond guns and gadgets

Bond has wielded an impressive array of weapons and spy gadgets on his missions around the world. Each James Bond film features new and improved gadgets for 007 to use, supplied by Q Branch.

An exception is the iconic weapon that belonged to Bond’s adversary, Francisco Scaramanga. The golden gun could be dismantled into everyday objects, including a pen, cuff link, cigarette case, and lighter. It fired gold-plated bullets, making it one of Bond’s most unique enemy weapons.

Bond’s mission in Skyfall (2012) featured a significant innovation, the Walther PPK/S was biometrically locked, meaning only Bond could fire it. The fingerprint-activated gun prevented enemies from using his weapon against him.

Skyfall stood out in the James Bond franchise for its rare insight into the mysterious agent’s childhood. The defending Skyfall Lodge sequence is praised for being one of the best James Bond movie scenes. 007 teams up with none other than M herself in this action-packed, shocking finale as they work together to defend 007’s childhood home.

While some James Bond guns and gadgets are often in plain sight, plenty of James Bond gadgets are hidden in everyday items.

One of the most memorable and best gadgets is the exploding pen from GoldenEye (1995) which was disguised as a Parker pen. When clicked three times, it would arm an explosive device; a feature that led to a tense scene with Bond’s rival, Alec Trevelyan. In the same film, Bond’s rappelling belt was an ordinary belt which featured a repelling cord and piton, allowing him to escape dangerous situations with ease.

Bond used plenty of other iconic gadgets and vehicles supplied by Q-Branch, from ring cameras and explosive toothpaste.

Hidden in plain sight: James Bond watch gadgets

If there’s one accessory Bond never goes without, it’s his trusty wristwatch. Over the years, James Bond watch gadgets have evolved from simple timepieces to multi-functional espionage tools. He needs high-precision and durable watches to withstand the wear and tear of his regular missions.

Before Bond preferred Omega watches, his favourite was Rolex, starting with the Rolex Submariner 6538. Ian Fleming’s character wore a Rolex in the novels so it only seems fitting that film Bond wears them too. In Live and Let Die (1973), Bond wore a Rolex Submariner 5513 which featured a powerful electromagnet, capable of deflecting bullets and pulling objects toward it. Additionally, it had a built-in buzzsaw bezel, which Bond used to cut through ropes.

Bond’s transition to Omega introduced new high-tech James Bond watch gadgets. In GoldenEye (1995), the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M featured a laser cutter in the bezel and a remote detonator used to activate explosives.

Bond would later use an Omega Seamaster Diver 300 in Spectre (2015) which contained a miniature explosive device to escape Blofeld’s clutches. Paying homage to Bond’s history with Omega, the luxury watch brand released a limited edition Seamaster Diver 300 for the film.

Image by Mark Ess from Pixabay

007’s most iconic vehicles: James Bond car gadgets

Bond’s cars have always been a blend of luxury and danger, filled with hidden surprises to aid him in his missions. These vehicles are as much a part of Bond’s legacy as his martinis and Walther PPK.

One of the most outrageous yet beloved James Bond car gadgets is the Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) could transform into a fully functional submarine. Armed with torpedoes and underwater mines, this vehicle allowed Bond to evade his enemies on land and under the sea.

A technological marvel for its time, Bond’s BMW 750iL in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) was remotely controlled via his mobile phone. This allowed Bond to navigate through a parking garage while dodging enemy fire all while not even in the driver’s seat, or even in the car at all.

It was equipped with plenty of handy gadgets to use on the enemy including tear gas, cable cutter, caltrop dispenser and even a rocket launcher. The BMW was tough to damage with its superior protection including ultra-tough glass and bodywork, self-sealing and re-inflating tyres, and an electric shock security system.

The Lotus and BMW might be great gadget-laden but nothing compares to Bond’s favourite car brand: Aston Martin.

First appearing in Goldfinger (1964), the Aston Martin DB5 is Bond’s most iconic vehicle. Equipped with machine guns, a bulletproof rear shield, oil slick dispensers, revolving license plates, an ejector seat, and much more, the DB5 became an instant fan favourite. The car made a triumphant return in No Time to Die (2021), cementing its status as the ultimate James Bond car gadget to keep in his garage.

In Die Another Day (2002), Pierce Brosnan used the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. The car pushed Bond’s gadgetry to the limits with its stealthy adaptive camouflage, rendering it nearly invisible to the naked eye.

The car’s ice tyres, target-seeking mounted shotguns, and heat-seeking missiles made this one deadly vehicle to drive. Like other cars before it, the V12 Vanquish also featured a must-have Bond gadget; an ejector seat.

Reflecting Daniel Craig’s grittier, more grounded Bond, the Aston Martin DBS V12 was less reliant on futuristic gadgets. Featuring in Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008) it was still a key item in Bond’s arsenal with a concealed weapon compartment, reinforced chassis, and a much-needed field medical kit with an emergency defibrillator.

In Casino Royale, Bond totalled his DBS V12 in a car chase with Le Chiffre, by flipping his car multiple times. The stuntman who performed the spectacular crash scene set a Guinness World Record at the time for most cannon rolls in a car (seven cannon rolls).

007’s legacy is defined by some of the best James Bond gadgets

Over the decades, the franchise has balanced futuristic gadgets with real-world technology. From ejector seats and laser watches to exploding pens and remote-control cars, Bond’s gadgets have played an essential role in shaping the spy film genre. Whether it’s a high-tech Aston Martin, a multi-purpose wristwatch, or an ingenious spy weapon, the best James Bond gadgets will forever remain an integral part of his character and something he always needs on his missions.