Omega Seamaster and James Bond 007 – A 20-year love story

The name is Seamaster, Omega Seamaster. And while this one doesn’t need to be shaken nor stirred, the love story between Omega and James Bond 007 is a long one, and they’re celebrating two decades of loyal service. Spectre, mr. Bond’s latest adventure will be released on Monday 26th of October – and stay tuned, because on this exact day, we’ll have a very special feature on Monochrome, for your eyes only, with the brand new Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre Edition and a very specific Aston Martin DB5! For now, let’s have a look back in the past to re-discover all the Omega Seamaster models that James Bond used in the 007 movies.

1995 – Goldeneye

James Bond has worn watches by Omega since 1995’s Goldeneye. In that film, Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, wears a watch with a remote detonator for bombs and a laser beam to help him escape from an armored train. This Omega Seamaster Professional featured a blue dial and quartz caliber – Ref. 2541.80. The watch was launched by the Swatch Group in 1993 as a professional diving watch that was water-resistant up to 300 meters.

1997 – Tomorrow Never Dies

In Tomorrow Never Dies, Bond opts for a Seamaster Professional with an automatic caliber. The watch actually saves his life with an integrated detonator. Design-wise, it’s the exact same watch as the previous one, with a blue dial with wave pattern, a blue dive bezel with aluminum insert and the helium valve at 10. The movement is now an automatic Calibre 1120. Watch ref. 2531.80, with a chronometer COSC certification.

1999 – The World Is Not Enough

The watch itself doesn’t change in the 1999 movie, The World Is Not Enough. James Bond is still using the Omega Seamaster 300 Ref. 2531.80 with automatic movement. But as always, the watch features gadgets. In the bezel hides a wire with a grappling hook. Bond takes aim for a secure target. With the press of a button the hook flies from the crown and the bezel whirls at lightning speed. Once the grappling hook is firmly anchored, the bezel begins turning in the opposite direction, lifting 007 out of the avalanche.

2002 – Die Another Day

In this movie from 2002, we found back the Omega Seamaster 300 Ref. 2531.80 with automatic movement. Not technical nor visual updates. Gadget-wise, of course the work of Q is different. Bond must face off against industrial giant Gustav Graves, a villain working on a satellite weapon. Bond’s watch features a remote detonator in place of the helium valve, which is operated by turning the bezel. The British secret agent could also activate a laser from the crown of the watch.

Omega also introduced a limited edition of the Seamaster 300 prior the movie (a watch that is not worn by Bond). It became regular to have a watch before the movie and an another one for the movies. Thus, to mark the 40th anniversary of agent 007’s first appearance on the screen and the release of Die Another Day, we have this special watch with a dial sporting the 007 gun logo. The watch is technically the same, with the chronometer automatic movement.

2006 – Casino Royale

New actor, new style, no more gadget, different watch but still an Omega Seamaster. The honor is safe. For Casino Royale, Daniel Craig (the new 007) uses 2 different watches. The first one is the upgraded edition of the Omega Seamaster 300 seen previously but now with a co-axial movement – watch ref. 222.80.00. However, besides this new engine, the look is the same, with the blue waves dial, the same bracelet, same case, same bezel.

However, Daniel Craig also relies on the brand new (at that time) Seamaster Planet Ocean measuring 45.5 mm in diameter. It also contains an Omega Caliber 2500 with co-axial escapement. Water-resistant to 600 meters, it allows Bond to get into even more dangerous situations — including underwater — and get back out again. It can be seen in the first part of the movie before making way for the Seamaster 300.

2008 – Quantum of Solace

Bond ceased wearing a blue Omega Seamaster Professional in 2008, when Craig’s next Bond film, Quantum of Solace, hit theaters. Britain’s most famous secret agent wore a Seamaster Planet Ocean in that film instead. This 42-mm watch is somewhat smaller than the Planet Ocean seen in Casino Royale. The watch’s design is reminiscent of the Seamaster watches from the 1960s.

Omega introduced another model prior to the release of the film, a limited edition with a honeycomb pattern on the dial. It featured this special dial, a different caseback and the film title on the dial.

2012 – Skyfall

Omega released a limited-edition Planet Ocean just in time for 2012′s Skyfall. It is water-resistant to 600 meters and features a helium outlet valve and a unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel. The 007 logo sits atop the dial at the 7 o’clock position and on the stainless steel clasp. This Bond watch is powered by Caliber 8507 with a co-axial escapement, silicon spirals and a certified chronometer. A sapphire glass caseback offers a view of both the movement and the rotor, which features a “Skyfall 007” engraving.

2015 – Spectre

For the latest installment of James Bond, 2015’s Spectre, Omega decided to have 2 watches. The first one is a limited edition released prior to the launch of the movie. It is based on the Omega Seamaster AquaTerra 150m and it features the new antimagnetic movement and a specific dial and set of hands. The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Master Co-Axial Limited Edition James Bond 007 Spectre won’t appear in the movie, as we know know that the secret agent will wear something even cooler.

For Spectre, James Bond somehow goes back to its roots. A few month ago, we spotted Daniel Craig wearing an Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial on a black and grey NATO strap – and as it was during shootings of the latest James Bond 007 movie, there was no doubt to have: the official Spectre watch had to be a SM300. So we have a proper diver watch, with vintage-inspired style and a NATO strap – kind of reminiscent of the early Submariners worn in the first movies. It is detailed here.