HANDS-ON: The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition is more grit than glamour
Nick KenyonThis year, Daniel Craig will star as James Bond for the final time in the upcoming No Time To Die film, a blockbuster that is sure to be action packed and offer a much needed reprieve from the dystopian movie that is our current reality. On his wrist for this film will be a watch that real-life Daniel Craig actually had a hand in designing, unlike any of the Bond watches that have come before it. It’s not just a PR line. Craig himself helped shape the watch we are taking a closer look at today, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition.
The story so far…
As a bit of background, Daniel Craig took the reins from Pierce Brosnan as 007, with his first appearance as the world’s most famous spy in the critically acclaimed Casino Royale in 2006. No Time To Die will be his fifth and final appearance as James Bond, making both this movie and this watch particularly special. In an interview with Teddy Baldassarre, Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann explained that Craig was “very much involved in giving us the vision, giving us also what he feels that James Bond today in the 21st century should wear as a watch”. For a part of the Omega collection that already has a legion of fans because of its connection to the James Bond franchise, having Daniel Craig help with the design of the watch is sure to excite collectors even more.
The case
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition finds its roots in one of the most popular sports watches of all time, the Diver 300M, however this reference features a number of differences to the standard version. Both the 42mm case and bracelet are made from Grade 2 Titanium, chosen for its lightweight quality and hardness, and the case is slightly slimmer at 13.15mm than the steel version, which measures 13.50mm. The caseback is also different to the regular version. Instead of the viewing window in sapphire crystal framing the Omega caliber 880X, it has a solid titanium caseback with a number of military codes and the British Ministry of Defence broad arrow symbol.
The broad arrow is also featured on the dial, and denotes an item that is the property of the British MoD and has been used in various official capacities for at least 500 years. It offers a subtle but equally powerful link to the Queen and Country that James Bond serves, and a reminder of his official position as a Commander in the British Royal Navy.
The dial
Turning the watch dial-side and we are greeted with a far more unreflective and low-key watch face than we are used to seeing in the regular Diver 300M. Gone is the laser-etched wave motif, the crisp white lume and the date window at 6 o’clock. Instead we are faced with a black/brown dial that is textured and granular, lume that is a baked terracotta tone, and the uninterrupted symmetry of no date window. While the colour of the lume in the hands, hour markers and bezel could be lumped in with the fauxtina trend we are currently seeing, there is a stronger argument for it being a colour decision in line with the not-quite-black dial and that darkened metal of the titanium case and bracelet. It does not look like a new watch that has off-white lume. Instead, the tonal choices throughout the watch are more homogenous, with each playing off the others to create a more consistent overall impression.
The movement
Powering the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition is the in-house automatic caliber 8806, with 55 hours of power reserve and Master Chronometer certification. The standard Diver 300M features the automatic caliber 8800, the difference being the date function, and a likely reason for its slightly thicker profile.
The bracelet and NATO
The Grade 2 Titanium mesh bracelet that the watch arrives on is another interesting feature that adds to the list of vintage-inspired cues. Combined with the straight end links, it is unlike any other Diver 300M bracelet currently available. It is secured with a folding clasp in the same material, that is easily adjustable with a fingernail if required. The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition is also available on a striped fabric NATO strap that comes with matching titanium hardware.
The verdict
While the relationship between Omega and James Bond has spanned two-and-a-half decades, never before has a Bond watch so accurately reflected the unglamorously robust and quietly hard-working character of the man whose wrist the watch is on. It doesn’t have the sheen of a brand new steel watch or the mod-con of a date window, instead it is engraved as the property of Bond’s government and is made in an unpretentious material known for its functionality. In their design choices, Omega have made a watch for the new era of James Bond, who spends less time at cocktail parties and more time in the thick of the action. A Bond who is known less for his smooth-talking womanising and more for his capacity for gritty violence in the name of the greater good.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition price and availability:
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition has an Australian RRP of $14,025 on titanium mesh bracelet, and $12,375 on NATO strap. It is not limited in its production numbers, and is available from Omega Boutiques. Find more details at Omega right here.
Made in partnership with Omega. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.