Ursula Andress Dr. No bikini expected to fetch $500.000 on auction

The bikini that Ursula Andress wore in the first James Bond film Dr. No (1962) will be auctioned on November 12/13 2020 at the Profiles in History auction in Los Angeles. And read all the way to the end of this article for more James Bond items in the same auction.

The ivory colored bikini worn by Ursula Andress in the 1962 James Bond movie Dr. No is seen in an undated photo before going up for auction in Los Angeles.
Courtesy Profiles in History/Handout via REUTERS

Ursula Andress wears the swim suit in the famous scene where she, as Honey Ryder in Jamaica, walks out of the sea onto the beach.

This bikini is cited as the most famous bikini of all time and an iconic moment in cinematic and fashion history, and sales of the two-piece bikini rocketed after the appearance of Andress in Dr. No.

The bikini was offered for sale at Christie's in 2001 by Ursula Andress herself, and the bikini sold for £41,125.

The description of the Christie's auction gives us more details about the bikini. The two-piece costume consists of a top, constructed from Andress' own under-wired brassière, covered in ivory cotton, the cups decorated with a dart detail, gathered at the centre and decorated with a bow detail, the bikini briefs, cut across the grain, gathered at the hips and embellished with decorative straps, fastening at the left-hand side and lined in cotton.

The bikini was designed by Ursula Andress herself together with the film's director, Terence Young and made in Jamaica by a West-Indian dressmaker known to Andress and Young; it was the only one made for and worn by Andress as Honey Ryder and had been designed to be a practical working 'action' garment suitable to withstand the rigours Andress' role imposed on it.

In 2018, it was revealed by retired Royal Navy officer Gordon Joslin that the webbing belt famously worn by Ursula Andress in Dr. No was his Navy belt.

Retired Royal Navy officer Gordon Joslin with a different, but similar model Royal Navy belt
Photo © SWNS.com

According to Gordon Joslin, 83, he came to Ms Andress’s rescue when she was filming the scene. The Swiss-born actress thought her costume ‘was missing something’, so a member of the film crew was despatched to ask sailors from the frigate HMS Troubridge who were on the beach to help out.

Retired Royal Navy officer Gordon Joslin with a different, but similar model Royal Navy belt
Photo © SWNS.com

Mr Joslin - then a 28-year-old acting sick-berth petty officer - recalled: ‘The petty officer looked at me and said, ‘Let’s have your webbing belt.’ He grabbed it off me and it was wrapped around Ursula Andress’s hips. I didn’t get it back."

Ursula Andress then filmed the scene again, rising from the sea, shells in hand, discarding her facemask, singing Under The Mango Tree, walking up the sugar-white beach.

These two photos of Ursula Andress wearing the belt in Dr No were part of the bikini lot at the 2001 Christie's James Bond Auction

Ursula Andress has recalled her memories of working on the first Bond film and has said: "This bikini made me into a success. As a result of starring in 'Dr.No' as the first Bond girl, I was given the freedom to take my pick of future roles, and to become financially independent... My entrance in the film wearing the bikini on that beautiful beach seems to now be regarded as a classical moment in cinema, and made me world famous as 'The Bond Girl'.

2001 Christie's Auction
The belt and the bikini set worn by Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in Dr. No were auctioned in the Christie's James Bond auction on 14 February 2001.

The original bikini and belt were sold at the 2001 Christie's James Bond auction
Photo © Christie's

The bikini outfit was sold by Andress herself, who said she found the outfit in her attic. It was purchased for £41,125 by Robert Earl, owner of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, to display at his outlet in Times Square, New York and later in London. The set has also been displayed at the Designing 007 Fifty Years Of Bond exhibition.

The bikini, Lot 253 in the Profiles In History auction, is now expected to fetch $500,000.

Other Bond related items

There are several other interesting James Bond items in the same November 12/13 2020 Profiles In History auction that the bikini will be offered.

Lot 249. Claudine Auger "Domino" mod bathing suit worn in publicity material for Thunderball - auction estimate $6,000 - $8,000.

Lot 250. Miniature Flare Gun from Thunderball ($8,000 - $12,000)

Lot 251. 4 prop Gold bards from Goldfinger ($1,500 - $2,500)

Lot 252. Browning machine gun prop from You Only Live Twice ($3,000 - $5,000)

Lot 254. SIG 510 battle rifle prop ($3,000 - $5,000)

Lot 255. Charles Gray Blofeld signature jacket from Diamonds Are Forever ($20,000 - $30,000)

Lot 256. Roger Moore James Bond monogrammed pyjamas Live And Let Die ($10,000 - $15,000)

Roger Moore’s monogrammed pajama ensemble, or dressing gown, seen in the opening sequence of Live and Let Die (1973). Moore, in his first scene as James Bond, wears the pyjamas together with the Pulsar P2 watch and makes coffee with a La Pavoni Europiccola espresso machine. 

The pyjamas are mentioned in the lot description to be made by Washington Tremlette. The pyjamas come with bespoke burgundy velvet slip-on dressing shoes also monogrammed "JB".

According to Bond Suits, these pyjamas were sold at the 2001 Christies auction for £7,050.

Lot 257. Wallis Autogyros Lt. "Little Nellie" commissioned WA-116 exhibition aircraft from You Only Live Twice ($100,000 - $150,000).

Lot 258. Jane Seymour’s emerald psychic cape and headdress from Live and Let Die (1973), estimated at $60,000 - $80,000.

Lot 259. Roger Moore James Bond Royal Navy uniform jacket from The Spy Who Loved Me ($15,000 - $25,000). Last sold at Bonhams, on 16 November 2005 for $ 12,360 (£ 9,600).

Lot 260. Drax and US Marine astronaut laser rifle from Moonraker ($10,000 - $15,000)

Lot 261. Lois Chiles Holly Goodhead poison pen and accessories from Moonraker ($3,000 - $5,000)

Lot 262. Submarine crew uniform from The Spy Who Loved Me, ($2,000 - $3,000)

Lot 263. Lynn-Holly Johnson "Bibi Dahl" Bogner ski sit from For Your Eyes Only ($6,000 - $8,000)

Lot 264. Casino Monaco chips and cards from baccarat game in GoldenEye ($8,000 - $12,000)

Lot 265. Sean Connery James Bond Walther P5 pistol from Never Say Never Again ($8,000 - $12,000)

Lot 266. Cruise Missile warhead prop from Never Say Never Again ($40,000 - $60,000)

Lot 267. Willoughby Gray "Carl Mortner" prop revolver from A View To A Kill ($1,500 - $2,500)

Lot 268. Casino de Isthmus poker chips from Licence to Kill ($800 - $1,200)

Lot 269. Jonathan Pryce "Elliot Carver" suit ensemble from Tomorrow Never Dies ($4,000 - $6,000)

Lot 270. Julius Harris "Tee Hee" jacket from Live and Let Die ($2,000 - $3,000)

“Things from the Bond franchise are relatively rare especially the further you go back in time,” said Chanes, saying he expected bidders to come from around the world. “With Bond especially it’s very much an international crowd.”

The auction will take place online and in Los Angeles on November 12-13, read more at Profiles In History.