14 replies to this topic

[Johnboy007]

In Moonraker, after Bond defeats Drax in bridge and wins 15,000 pounds, he lists how he plans to use his money:

1. Rolls-Bentley Convertible, say 5000 pounds
2. Three diamond clips aft 250 pounds each, 750 pounds.

What does James Bond need three diamond clips for? He doesn't seem to be one to sport diamonds, and is not usually that generous to his girls.

Any thoughts?

[Qwerty]

Buying them for Tiffany Case?

[Johnboy007]

No, it's just in the beginning of Moonraker, so it couldn't be for Tiffany.

[Qwerty]

Just kidding JB.

Don't rightly know, maybe he did have some sort of fancy for it.

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]I took it to be that Bond was thinking

[Jim]

There is that; but this idea reappears when he promises Lisl Baum a diamond clip (or the like) in For Your Eyes Only.

[Bill Tanner]

More importantly - could someone tell exactly what a diamond clip is?

The options I've always considered are:

a. A tie clip - seems unlikely, and why three?
b. A money clip - again, doubtful.
c. Studs for an evening shirt. This is my best guess.
d, Cufflinks - as he uses the word cufflinks elsewhere this doesn't seem right.

Can anyone shed any light here? Is this a 1950's term or an Americanism? I seem to remember reading the term in relation to one of the women (Tiffany?) - is it possible, as someone suggested above, that this is a womans item and he intends them as a gift?

[superado]

I've always assumed that they were tie clips, but that's a good question, why three? Perhaps they differ in style and appearance? And the opening question for this thread is also valid (assuming they are tie clips); has Bond become outwardly vain all of a sudden? Bill Tanner elsewhere brought up "inverted snobbery" on Fleming's part, which I agree on, but maybe a hidden flamboyant streak in the form of Fleming's wish fulfillment is revealed here.

[Trident]

The impression I got from reading was that he planned to buy them on the assumption that their value would become higher with time. I understood the clips as a kind of conservative investment in order to secure part of his money. I never got the idea he might wear them himself or give them away as a gift for a girl. I believe at that time the British Pound didn't stand to well against the Dollar. So I find it quite natural for him to try and save a bit of his benefits. His thoughts then trail away to buying shares and making a fortune, as I seem to remember.

Edited by Trident, 17 November 2004 - 06:14 PM.

[stromberg]

The impression I got from reading was that he planned to buy them on the assumption that their value would become higher with time. I understood the clips as a kind of conservative investment in order to secure part of his money. I never got the idea he might wear them himself or give them away as a gift for a girl. I believe at that time the British Pound didn't stand to well against the Dollar. So I find it quite natural for him to try and save a bit of his benefits. His thoughts then trail away to buying shares and making a fortune, as I seem to remember.

Yes, that was always my take on this as well., but I'm not too sure about this: 750 Pounds doesn't sound that much as an investment for a reserve fund, and wouldn't it be safer to buy just the diamonds and not those clips.
And another thing speaks against this: din't Bond expect not to get older than forty-something and didn't want to have a single penny left when he dies? In this case, it is highly unlikely that he makes such an investment to supplement his annuity .

[Bill Tanner]

The impression I got from reading was that he planned to buy them on the assumption that their value would become higher with time. I understood the clips as a kind of conservative investment in order to secure part of his money. I never got the idea he might wear them himself or give them away as a gift for a girl. I believe at that time the British Pound didn't stand to well against the Dollar. So I find it quite natural for him to try and save a bit of his benefits. His thoughts then trail away to buying shares and making a fortune, as I seem to remember.

Sorry, but that makes no sense at all. There's no evidence for this in the novel and as Stromberg says, why not just buy the diamonds? And he already mentions investing the remainder in gold shares.

The Diamond Clips are the second most important (and frivolous?) items he thinks of, after a new Bentley and before some new clothes, painting his flat, golf clubs and champagne. They must be an item he has always wanted, surely?

So what on earth were they?

[Roebuck]

I've only heard the term used in reference to pre-war women's jewellery. Essentially small broaches. At a guess, Bond might be considering buying them as tokens of a affection for three of his regular ladyfriends.

[Bryan Harris]

I've only heard the term used in reference to pre-war women's jewellery. Essentially small broaches. At a guess, Bond might be considering buying them as tokens of a affection for three of his regular ladyfriends.

Come to think of it, Chapter One does contain a mention of Bond having regular assignations with three different married women...

[Johnboy007]

Yep!

"evenings spent playing cards in the company of a few close friends, or at Crockford's; or making love, with rather cold passion, to one of three similarly disposed married women..."

[superado]

Putting it into context, that makes some sense. If indeed the diamond clips were intended for Bond's three married lady friends, I wonder why Fleming was vague about it; was this vagueness intentional? Also, it would turn out that Bond does not end the MR episode "loveless" afterall. Maybe this is what Fleming is hinting at, that life goes on, but with some enhancements; a new Bentley to replace the one that featured prominently in the novel, and baubles to treat his "squeezes" with what will surely pay back dividends in pleasure.