James Bond's geiger-counter Thunderball wristwatch turns up at car boot sale

Breitling was picked up for £25 but now has estimated price of up to £60,000

James Bond's specially modified Breitling Top Time wristwatch used in Thunderball, 1965, the watch composed of a stainless steel chronograph timepiece, by Breitling, Ref. 2002, case no. 984343, manufactured in 1962 and then modified, the black dial with a (CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD 2013)

James Bond's geiger-counter wristwatch from hit movie Thunderball has turned up following years of mystery about its whereabouts after it was found at a car boot sale.

The prop - one of the many gadgets used by 007 during his half century on-screen - was key to the plot of the film as it helped the agent locate stolen atomic weapons during underwater scenes in the 1965 film.

The Breitling watch was picked up for £25 but is now to be sold by Christie's in London with an estimated price range of £40,000 to £60,000.

The Top Time model by the luxury Swiss watch firm was the first watch which Bond movie-goers had seen being adapted by Q's team of boffins in the film series.

It is one of a number of items given to Bond by Q - played by Desmond Llewelyn - when he heads over to Nassau to give him extra equipment. One of the hands of the watch shows the strength of radioactivity.

Sean Connery, who played the agent, uses it during the film's famous aquatic scenes on a mission to find two Nato bombs stolen by Spectre.

The basic watch was originally made by Breitling in 1962, then adapted by the James Bond art department, and was the only one produced for the movie.

It is thought that it had been passed on by someone who worked at Pinewood Studios, where much of the movie was made.

The auction house - which will offer the watch at its South Kensington saleroom in a Pop Culture sale on 26 June - had little further detail about the car boot sale.

Christie's said of the find: "This is a great opportunity for collectors to acquire a unique piece of James Bond memorabilia."