Two new timepieces from Omega celebrates its long partnership with the debonair British spy, and the 60th anniversary of the James Bond franchise.
What hasn’t James Bond’s gadget-laden watch been able to do over 60 years of international sleuthing? It has laser-cut an escape hatch (GoldenEye, 1995), remotely detonated grenades (Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997), fired high-tensile wires (The World Is Not Enough, 1999), and not least of all, emitted an electromagnetic pulse into a villain’s bionic eye, causing it to spark and explode (No Time to Die, 2021). Phew.
And the watch brand that has been Bond’s trusty partner since 1995 is none other than Omega. Says Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning costume designer, of her top choice of timepiece: “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear this watch.”
After all, the connection between Omega and the British Royal Navy goes all the way back to World War II, during which it supplied more than 110,000 watches to British pilots, navigators and soldiers. The Seamaster 300, originally released in 1957, was issued to military divers around the world and, in 1967, a famous batch of 2nd generation Seamaster 300s was delivered to the Ministry of Defence.
Celebrating 60 years of the silver screen’s favourite spy, Omega has issued two new limited edition timepieces, with a delightful new feature – a film-themed caseback which mechanically replicates the famous 007 opening sequence. This dynamic scene plays out beneath the sapphire using a patent-pending “moiré” effect animation, which is ingeniously linked to the running of the lollipop central seconds hand.
Seamaster Diver 300m 60 Years of James Bond Stainless Steel
The first timepiece is a 42mm Seamaster Diver 300m, which is a tribute to the very same Seamaster that 007 wore in GoldenEye. The bezel and dial are both made from blue oxalic anodized aluminium, with the dial featuring laser-engraved waves, and the bezel featuring a diving scale filled with white Super-LumiNova. Also spot the commemorative “60” which replaces the diving scale’s traditional inverted triangle, and a luminescent green dot which links to the minute hand.
The watch is driven by a precise Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 and is presented on a mesh-style bracelet – in the same style as James Bond’s Omega watch in No Time To Die.
For collectors of the steel version, there’s a blue wooden presentation box in the original Diver 300M wave pattern, with three dots inspired by the classic Bond opening title sequence, including a secret push button on the right.
Seamaster Diver 300m 60 Years of James Bond Canopus Gold
This second exclusive timepiece is crafted using a white gold alloy known for its brilliant shine, and is blinged out with a paving of green and yellow treated natural diamonds around the bezel in 10 different tropical shades from green to yellow, in tribute to the Jamaican flag – where James Bond creator Ian Fleming had a luxury home.
Two additional clear diamonds at 12 o’clock add some vibrant sparkle to the look and make reference to the 60th anniversary. The watch is powered by the luxury Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8807, and comes presented on a bracelet and buckle in 18K Canopus Gold.
Owners of this edition receive their watch in a mango tree box with mother-of-pearl marquetry and a 60 Years of Bond logo. The use of mango tree references a famous song from the first James Bond film, while the mother-of-pearl is a nod to the shells of Crab Key. This elegant box also includes the film-inspired dots.
Accompanying the film-themed timepieces are a collection of understated accessories – a sailing bracelet bracelet in brushed titanium, with multi-coloured nylon braiding, inspired by the NATO strap worn in No Time To Die; and a pair of round stainless steel cufflinks with plates inspired by Bond’s Omega in Quantum Of Solace.
Images courtesy of Omega, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related Links:
Omega: 007 Guns for Platinum Gold
Omega: No Time to Die gets a To-Die-For Seamaster 300M
6 Reasons why the New Omega Seamaster 300M is Making Waves
