Cover Omega's Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition in the movie "No Time To Die" (Photo: Courtesy of Omega)

British superspy James Bond’s 25-year relationship with watchmaker Omega reaches an all-time high

The partnership between James Bond and Omega watches goes back 25 years, to Pierce Brosnan’s debut as 007 in 1995’s GoldenEye. Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming said she chose to adorn Bond’s wrist with an Omega because that struck her as the most authentic choice.

“My father had been in the Royal Air Force,” she explained, “but was friendly with navy men. I remember as a child one often visiting us and he always wore this Omega, which fascinated me, with its unusually sporty design, looking as though it was built for purpose. It’s the small details that really matter.”

Consequently, Hemming said, “I went to a props and hand props meeting and argued for the use of Omega... I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world, would wear this watch”. The particular timepiece Hemming chose was a Seamaster 300M Professional, a contemporary take on the Omega watches that were issued to Royal Navy divers in the late 1960s.

See also: Omega's 2020 Line-Up Is A Legacy Of Horological Quality And Innovation

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Photo 1 of 2 Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition (NATO Strap version) in the movie "No Time To Die" (Photo: Courtesy of Omega)
Photo 2 of 2 Seamaster Diver 300M for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the classic bond movie "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service" (1969) (Photo: Courtesy of Omega)

Brosnan continued to wear Seamaster 300M diver’s watches in Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day, before passing the baton to Daniel Craig, who wore one in Casino Royale. A beautiful new iteration of the model returns to Craig’s wrist in his final Bond outing, No Time To Die—with many commentators dubbing this the greatest Bond watch of all time.

Built for action in a super-strong and ultra-light Grade 2 titanium case measuring 42mm, the new Bond special edition is borne on a snappy sharkmesh strap of the same metal. While its overall shape differs little from the first 300M worn by Brosnan, the vintage aesthetic of the ‘tropical’ brown aluminium dial and bezel ring hark back to midcentury military watches, making for a perfect blend of classic and modern.

Daniel Craig was closely involved in the watch’s development. “When working with Omega, we decided that a lightweight watch would be key for a military man like 007,” he said. “I also suggested some vintage touches and colour to give the watch a unique edge. The final piece looks incredible,” Craig enthused. We could not agree more.

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Above Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Numbered Edition for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the classic bond movie "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service" (1969) (Photo: Courtesy of Omega)

If, however, you’re in the market for a Bond watch more tailored to the superspy’s tuxedo-clad escapades than his rugged adventures in the field, Omega can cater handsomely to those tastes, too. In addition to the titanium 300M, they’ve also produced a numbered, limited-edition iteration of the same model in an exclusive platinum-gold case. The watch’s sleek black enamel dial features 007’s spiralling gun-barrel motif in white gold, while other subtle 007 references include the Bond family coat of arms at 12 o’clock and laser-engraved with platinum fill on the sapphire crystal caseback.

The release of the latest Bond film, No Time To Die, unfortunately suffered a major delay due to the COVID-19 crisis. Originally due in cinemas in April 2020, it’s now slated for screening in April 2021. Fans can take heart that these outstanding collaborative timepieces have arrived punctually—appropriately enough, for a paragon of Swiss timekeeping such as Omega.

See also: From Q With Love: The Best Watches Worn By James Bond

Discover more at omegawatches.com

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