The OMEGA Seamaster is an icon in its own right. But just like how a seductive Aston Martin will always turn heads on the road, when I spy a Seamaster on the wrist, I can’t help but default to James Bond.
The Swiss watchmaker’s enduring relationship with 007 has captured the hearts and minds of watch fans the world over since 1995’s GoldenEye. It seems fitting, then, that for the franchise’s 25th film and Daniel Craig’s swan song, the most handsome Seamaster of all finds itself onto his wrist.
No Time To Die has to be the most anticipated movie of the 21st-century, landing in Australian cinemas this week after a multi-year wait. So let’s give credit to where credit is due with a deep dive into the unspoken hero of this must-see blockbuster – OMEGA’s Seamaster Diver 300M ‘No Time To Die’ 007 Edition – with a look at our five favourite features of this near-perfect Bond watch.
Titanium on titanium
Never before has a Bond watch looked this unique, and it’s primarily thanks to a revolutionary double down of grade 2 titanium. Aesthetically, it’s subtle, muted, and confidently stands alone from the standard Seasmaster’s customarily polished finish.
On the wrist, however, and most importantly, it’s undeniably the lightest Seamaster ever made. The titanium case and bracelet (along with an aluminium bezel) are ultra-lightweight, corrosion-resistant, biochemically inert, and able to withstand extreme temperatures. The Milanese-style bracelet is finished to an exceptional quality – a hard thing to get right for a bracelet of this fashion – and is secured with a push-button clasp to keep everything locked down.
Thanks to the doming of the sapphire crystal, this 007 Edition sits slightly taller than usual, but is smaller than the standard Seamaster by 1mm, clocking in at a modest 42mm across.
A summer flex with flexibility
An all-titanium setup might not be to everyone’s tastes – and that’s completely fine, as the laid-back operator can easily swap out the suave titanium for a stripped-back NATO strap if he or she desires. Luckily, OMEGA does NATO straps very well.
This Seamaster can be acquired with its own polyamide dark brown, grey and beige strap that’s complete with 007 branding on the claps to make it the perfect companion for transitioning from the beach to the pub without feeling overdressed. If the striped NATO isn’t your pick, OMEGA has dozens of different woven and rubber straps for you to choose from at your leisure.
The gorgeous vintage treatment
This watch is an all-matte affair, making the ‘tropical bronze’ indices really pop against the flat dark brown/black dial. While faux-vintage treatments on watches can often be very hit or miss, one can’t deny that OMEGA has hit the bullseye with this piece. Rumour has it that Daniel Craig himself influenced this aspect of the watch’s design, with an eagerness to relax the colour palette and pay homage to the diver’s watches of Bond’s 1960’s heyday as inspiration for the final product.
Interestingly, both the dial and the bezel are still made from a factory-specific form of lightweight anodised aluminium designed to fade over time. So the wearer will still get the beauty of the past, today, and the beauty of today, tomorrow. The subtle pop of red on the seconds hand and the ‘Seamaster‘ inscription is also a lovely touch that contrasts beautifully with the tan, perhaps more so than on the standard model.
Cryptic caseback clues
Incredibly, this is the first official Bond watch to hide its overt affiliation with the 007 franchise. It’s an “if you know, you know” kind of operation with this Bond watch.
On the dial, at least, you won’t find any “007” branding anywhere. For someone to really understand the significance of what’s on the wrist, they’d have to flip it over to the closed caseback, which features a combination of seemingly random numbers.
The first, naturally, is “007.” The second you might recognise is the number “62”, which refers to the year the very first James Bond film, Dr. No, was released in cinemas. The remaining numerals and their order is a mirror image of the format genuine military-issue watches used to follow for their inscriptions during the post-war era. Speaking of, this is also the first Seamaster to wear the “broad arrow” insignia – both below the lower dial text and on the caseback – the symbol used to mark the issued property of the British government.
It might be a 007 edition, but it’s not limited
For 2015’s Spectre, OMEGA released the first official James Bond watch that was both commercially available and also worn on screen – the Seamaster 300 SPECTRE Limited Edition – with a rare lollipop seconds hand and paired with a black and grey nato strap. At the time, it was the hottest Bond watch available – but there was a catch. It was a limited edition.
While the ‘No Time To Die’ Seamaster might be an official “007 Edition”, it’s not a numbered release, meaning there’s more of a chance you’ll be able to get your hands on it at your local boutique.
And you can do so for $14,025 on the titanium bracelet or $12,375 on NATO.
Delivered in a waxed canvas travel case, this OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition is a fine match for all Bond enthusiasts with a penchant for horology. Not to mention it’s perhaps the most attractive Seamaster release of all time.
This article is proudly presented in partnership with OMEGA. Thank you for supporting the brands who support Boss Hunting.
