New Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond

Text: Britta Rossander

James Bond may be a made-up character but his watches are in the highest degree real. Omega is releasing two new Seamasters to celebrate 60 years of Bond films.

60 years of Bond

Bond's history goes back to the 1950s. The first moving pictures shown with James Bond were when Casino Royale was made as a 50-minute TV programme on CBS in 1954. The actor Barry Nelson who played Bond then was thus the first out as a secret agent with a licence to kill.

In the first cinema film the agent wears producer Broccoli's own Rolex watch since the Swiss did not understand why they should supply a watch to a character who was allowed to kill, even if the whole thing took place on film. 

Since 007 has been active for so long there have been watches from many brands that have been worn by him. The author Ian Flemming was one of the first to argue that the choice of brand often shows who we are. He was fond of luxury brands and Bond's watches on the big screen have come to play a big role and several have been one-of-a-kind when it comes to technology.  

Since 1995 it is Omega that helps Bond keep the time. Lindy Hemming, the Bond character's costume designer, said ahead of Golden Eye: 

-I am convinced that agent 007 would suit a Seamaster with a blue dial, blue bezel and steel bracelet, being the worldly gentleman and diver he is.

When the latest and long-awaited No Time to Die finally hit the cinema screens, after a delay of more than a year because of covid, Daniel Craig played the world's most famous secret agent for the last time. Whether we will get to see a woman in that role in next time we do not know but many are on that track.

Two new models

It is this year 60 years since the first ”real” Bond film Agent 007 med rätt att döda premiered and Omega has in connection with this gone for a special variant inspired by the Seamaster that Pierce Brosnan's Bond wore in Golden Eye (1995), with a case of 42 mm in steel, blue dial with patterned finish. On the bezel (which is in aluminium just like the first Bond Omega) the triangle is replaced with the number ”60” on account of the anniversary, seconds hand in ”lollipop” execution, a nod to Omega's military heritage and Commander Bond's naval background.  

But it is on the caseback that it happens – an animation, where you can see the opening scenes of the Bond films from the last six decades play out for all eternity. The caseback's ring is moreover screwed with seven screws – a hint at Bond's agent number. 

Omega's CEO and group president Raynald Aeschlimann says: 

-We had the opportunity to celebrate 60 years of the Bond films' 60th anniversary and want with this watch to say that we are the James Bond character's watch. We wanted to create a link between the past and today so that is why we made a callback to both our first Bond watch and the last one. We have played with the technology in a way that has never previously been used within the watch industry.

In addition to the model in steel there is also a version in Canopus, a white gold alloy known for its brilliant lustre with a long-lasting effect. The dial is in silicon and the bezel has a ring of yellow and green diamonds in ten shades that is meant to recall Jamaica's flag where Ian Flemming had his home Golden Eye and where sea created his famous agent's character. 

-When it comes to James Bond's future we currently only know that Daniel Craig will not continue as Bond, says Aeschlimann.

He also says: 

-He is a commander in the Royal Navy. He is a gentleman, diver and spy. So he must have a solid, very precise antimagnetic watch. He is also a style icon and needs only one watch. Can you imagine him using anything other than an Omega?

This remains, as said, to be seen. Whether it will be an Omega depends of course on whether the Broccoli family (who own the rights to the films) and Omega renew the agreement. IF it will be a man or woman is also an open question.

Technical specifications

Brand: Omega
Model: Seamaster Diver 300M
Reference number: 210.30.42.20.03.002 (steel) 210.55.42.20.99.001 (Canopus gold)

Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 14,3mm (steel) 15,3mm (Canopus gold)
Case material: Stainless steel or Canopus gold
Water resistance: 300m

Dial: Blue with wave pattern for the version in steel and a dial made of silicon for the Canopus gold.
Bracelet: Bracelet of mesh type in steel or gold
Clasp: Folding clasp

Movement: Calibre 8806 in-house (steel), 8807 (canopus gold)
Complications: –
Power reserve: 55h
Winding: Automatic

Price: 91,900 kr in steel and price on request for the variant in Canopus gold

Read more about the watches at Omega