TIMEPIECES/BECOMING BOND: Would James Bond really wear an Omega Seamaster?
If you were James Bond, would you wear the Omega Seamaster? Image from http://www.omegawatches.com/ambassadors/james-bond.
There’s something that doesn’t sit right with us when we think about James Bond.
It’s his timepiece.
Don’t get us wrong, the Omega Seamaster is a beautiful watch that can be worn for casual occassions, formal settings and during the occassional night time free dive to access your enemy’s multi-million dollar yacht.
But given all the options out there, would the OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Chronometer with a black dial be the number one pick?
From Omega alone, there are a bevvy of options, such as the Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-axial Chronograph:
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-axial Chronograph is a classic design worthy of the 007 moniker. Image from http://www.omegawatches.com.
The Speedmaster Broad Arrow GMT:
The Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow GMT with a brown leather strap. Wouldn't kick this watch out of bed.
Or even the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono:
This would look good with a tux AND a wetsuit. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono image from http://www.omegawatches.com.
Then there’s the tried and true Rolex line of watches (we’d go with a Rolex Deepsea for Mr. Bond):
Could you picture James Bond wearing a Rolex? Would it be the same? Image from www.rolex.com.
Or our personal favorite, Panerai (we would go with a PAM 328):
The Panerai PAM 328. Is this considered sacrilege?
Or even an Audemars Piguet, like the Royal Oak Offshore:
The 57th Street Limited Edition Royal Oak Offshore by Audemars Piguet. Not very James Bond, but a nice timepiece nonetheless.
If you were James Bond, which timepiece would you choose to take with you on every adventure?
As we did more thinking, we came to a realization about who James Bond is as a person:
- Didn’t grow up with a lot of money
- Blue collar upbringing but is exposed to high-end luxuries
- Is a commander in the British Royal Navy
- No nonsense attitude
Based on those four bulletpoints alone, maybe it does make sense he would select the Omega Seamaster as his watch of choice.
It’s a no-nonsense, classic watch that works in all kinds of situations – from the deserts of Afghanistan to the casino in Monte Carlo. The design is subtle, very masculine and built to endure the harshest conditions.
So in retrospect, we changed our mind. It’s the perfect choice (if you were actually James Bond).
What makes it even better? Within the realm of fine timepieces, the Omega Seamaster satisfies those with a penchant for horology who exist on the lower end of the pay scale.
For more information about James Bond and his Omega Seamaster, you can check out Omega’s official website at http://www.omegawatches.com/ambassadors/james-bond.
To create Essential Style for Men, mix 2 parts petrol, 1 part secret agent, 1 part rock and roll, 1 part hip-hop and a shot of tequila in a shaker with ice and vigorously shake for 20 seconds. Pour into a martini glass rimmed with explosives and have a supermodel serve for all your friends to enjoy.
Hublot 365.SX.1170.LR
It’s a Hublot and it looks tough as all hell. Fits Bond to the proverbial “t.”
Love Hublots. In case anyone was interested: http://www.prestigetime.com/item/Hublot/Big-Bang-Automatic-Steel-38mm/365.sx.1170.lr.html?utm_source=GBase&utm_medium=fpc&utm_campaign=GBase.
Limiting ourselves to diver’s watches here is, well: Unnecessarily limiting.
Experts concur that “James Bond” was more commando than seaman, notwithstanding the military branch with which he’d been attached before becoming a Double-O. Yes, he needed a watch that would equally serve him in casino or combat; but he’d hardly have worn his resume on his wrist, as current timekeeping choices suggest.
Further to this point, James Bond creator Ian Fleming himself wore a modest 36mm Rolex Explorer and specified this model as personal choice of Agent 007 in his books. This was the subject of a feature article 3 years ago this month in WatchTime:
http://jamesbondwatchesblog.com/2009/12/watchtime-feature-article-discovered-james-bonds-rolex-part-1-of-9/
The original visionaries at Eon Productions knew this as well. For Sean Connery’s very first, character-establishing introduction as James Bond at the casino table in Dr No, they had him wear a Rolex Precision: Gold case, white dial, dress watch.
Also see Mr Fleming in this linked photo, wearing his Rolex Explorer wristwatch, on the set of the movie Goldfinger, with Mr Connery:
http://jamesbondwatchesblog.com/2010/12/the-rolex-watch-worn-by-james-bond-ian-fleming-and-me/
Thanks for considering these thoughts. And: Nice call on the Panerai timekeeper.
Dell – if we actually had an ESM Lab, you would be one of our head people. Your site is amazing and it sounds like the breadth of your knowledge on the topic is vast.
Makes us want to sit down with you, drink some single malt scotch and discuss this topic for hours on end.
Folks, please make sure to check Dell’s website out at http://jamesbondwatchesblog.com/ and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/bondwatches.
He’s made us big fans.
Thanks for the kind words and call out, guys. Most generous.
And thus having ventured out onto the ice here, I’d like to offer that we consider things even thinner. Watch-wise, that is.
Now entering the 60th year of “James Bond” (the first decade having been carried solo by Ian Fleming and his books, laying the solid groundwork from which the Eon Productions movies gained tremendously when they got involved), I think the real “50th Anniversary” opportunity for Omega is in the support it could provide in putting the “gentleman” back into “Gentleman Agent.”
We haven’t seen that 1960s “cool” on-screen in at least a decade. Suave. Sophisticated.
I’ve argued previously that Omega could easily provide this today with something from its De Ville line. Tie in to actor Daniel Craig’s personal interest in the line via his charity interests. But thinner; and gold.
http://jamesbondwatchesblog.com/2011/02/omega-de-ville-hour-vision-and-the-james-bond-23-watch-choice/
Like this:
http://jamesbondwatchesblog.com/2011/02/discussion-of-omega-de-ville-models-for-background-only/
Or, if he must stay with Seamaster, how ’bout an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra?
Ooooh. We love the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. That would be the one.
Vintage styling, classic. We would do the black face with either a black leather or steel strap.
http://www.omegawatches.com/gents/product-presentations/seamaster-aqua-terra
A Rolex Sea Dweller for me if I was ‘Bond’, the Deep Sea Sea Dweller (DSSD) is too big. The new Omegas are a bit too blingy (Planet Ocean etc), the Speedmaster Pro is a beauty but not properly water proof for someone who ends up in water a lot! AP/Hublot too blingy for an all rounder and not as bomb proof as the Sea Dweller.
Rolex ND Submariner with NATO
No bullshit, tough as nails and military heritage styling.
Everything else after that was bollocks.