We have seen him chase villains and perform some of the most gravity-defying stunts on the big screen while dressed in dapper suits and driving swanky cars. The iconic character James Bond, based on the spy novels by British author Ian Fleming, first made his on-screen debut on October 5, 1962, and has ever since completed 60 glorious years celebrating the adventures of secret agent 007. So far, there have been 25 action-packed films, produced by EON Productions that have seen various actors—including Sir Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig—essaying the role of James Bond, carrying forward the cinematic legacy. While Bond’s love for cars and gadgets is no secret; watches, too, have played an integral role in building up the screen legend, also in many instances helping him to execute his strategies or get out of trouble.
Omega’s association with the Bond series came about when Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming was entrusted with the task of styling actor Pierce Brosnan for GoldenEye (1995). She worked with Brosnan for all four of his Bond films and also dressed Daniel Craig for Casino Royale (2006). A huge fan of classic sartorial styles for men, Hemming was absolutely sure about her choice of the Seamaster and said, “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear this watch.” She was not wrong in picking an Omega watch as a reliable wrist companion for the secret agent since the brand has a legitimate association with the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), having delivered more than 1,10,000 watches to pilots, navigators, and soldiers during World War II, between 1940 and 1945.
A demand for a peacetime application of this robust technology led to the creation of the Seamaster in 1948—now Omega’s sought-after line of dive timers. However, the initial models had more of a dress watch character, suited for both casual and formal attire. The Seamaster 300 was launched subsequently in 1957 as part of a trio of ‘Professional’ watches—comprising the Seamaster, Speedmaster, and Railmaster—and it was the brand’s first dedicated diver’s watch with a rotating bezel. This has remained a favorite with most horology enthusiasts and has undergone several modifications over the last 60 years.
James Bond 60th Anniversary Watches
To celebrate the 60 glorious years of the James Bond franchise, Omega has released the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M and the Seamaster Diver 300M Canopus Gold. The first one is inspired by the Seamaster that 007 wore in GoldenEye and measures 42mm, crafted in stainless steel with an exhibition case back, with a replica of the famous 007 opening sequence—Bond’s silhouette and a spinning gun barrel design. This dynamic scene plays out beneath the sapphire, decorated with micro-structured metallization. The patent pending “moiré” effect animation is linked to the running of the lollipop central seconds hand, so the action never stops. It flaunts a striking deep-blue dial with a wave-like motif, topped by a bezel featuring a diving scale. The dive timer is driven by Omega’s co-axial master chronometer Calibre 8806 with a 55-hour power reserve and is presented on a mesh-style bracelet.
The second version comes in a 42mm Canopus gold case, featuring a dial made from natural grey silicone. A nod to the sands of 007’s Caribbean hideaway, circling the dial is a unidirectional rotating bezel, paved with shaded green and yellow treated diamonds, with two diamonds at the 12 o’clock mark. This timepiece, too, has an exhibition case back that showcases the iconic Bond scene and is presented on a mesh bracelet made entirely in 18K Canopus gold. It is powered by Omega’s co-axial master chronometer Calibre 8807—a more luxe version of the 8806, housed inside the classic Seamaster watches that provide a water resistance of up to 300m.
