Words: Jonathan Wells
We’ve lost count of the number of times the Omega Seamaster has saved James Bond’s life. In Goldeneye, his wristwatch of choice came equipped with a built-in laser cutter and a remote detonator. In The World Is Not Enough, it contained a grappling hook with 50 feet of high-tensile micro-filament — perfect for abseiling down the side of a Swiss bank, don’t you know? And, in Spectre, it blew off half of Christoph Waltz’s face. Poor guy; great watch. The thing is one multitalented timepiece.
In No Time To Die, Bond will once again buckle up a Seamaster. What secrets will it be hiding within its handsome little case? Anyone’s guess. But, if Omega’s previous appearances in the franchise are anything to go by, it’ll be incredibly, explosively exciting.
Not that it needs to be. For those of us who didn’t scrape through MI6 basic training, Bond’s newest watch — the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition — is available to buy already. And, as long as you’ve got deep enough pockets on your dinner jacket to dig out £6,520, you can own this sophisticated slice of the spy life before you see the film.
And no wonder it looks good. With this watch, Daniel Craig is actually the first Bond actor to actively collaborate with Omega on a 007 watch. And the practicality shows. The latest timepiece to tick its way through Q branch is equipped for anything a villain, henchman or errant femme fatale might throw at it — and is available on either a NATO strap or mesh bracelet (the latter can be seen worn by Craig in the trailer).
The case measures 42mm, and this particular Seamaster has been crafted from strong-yet-lightweight Grade 2 Titanium — the first time a Bond watch has been made from the precious metal. It also sports a brown tropical aluminium bezel ring and dial and, engraved on its caseback, you’ll find a series of numbers that follow the format of those found on genuine military-issue watches. And one of those numbers is 62 — a slyly knowing reference to the year in which the very first James Bond film, Dr. No, was made.
The 007 Edition Diver is powered by Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8806 movement, which has achieved the industry’s highest standards of precision, chronometric performance — and, of course, magnetic resistance.
So, come November, when Bond finally straps on his latest Seamaster, you could be wearing yours already. But, unlike 007’s watch, yours is unlikely to be hiding any dangerous tricks up your sleeves. Which is probably a good thing. As for Bond, we’re expecting either a Geiger counter, mini circular saw or portable laser beam. It is Craig’s big finish, after all…
Want more Bond lifestyle? We followed 007’s grooming regime for a week…
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