Omega Seamaster 300m 007 Edition
Released for No Time To Die
WRITTEN BY Justin Mastine-Frost
Imagery courtesy of OMEGA SA
OCTOBER 21, 2021
With Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond currently crushing the box office, it seems fitting to take a look back at Omega’s latest iteration of the Seamaster that was designed for 007’s wrist in No Time To Die. The watch was first unveiled in late 2019, ahead of the anticipated 2020 release of the movie and before we faced with the pandemic. While it’s been in the market for some time now, the watch remains every bit worthy of our attention, as well as yours.
Kicking things off, this is an up-to-date variant of the classic Seamaster that came to its James Bond fame during the Pierce Brosnan era. The model that this watch is based on was first released in 2018 (marking the 25-year anniversary of the model), which was the first time the modestly sized Seamaster moved up to a 42mm case. For this 007 Edition, Omega decided to keep things lightweight, crafting both the case and mesh bracelet from Grade 2 titanium. While Grade 2 isn’t quite as strong as Grade 5, the most common reason for using Grade 2 titanium is because allergies to the metal are far less common than with its harder counterpart. If you’re the type that is less fond of heavy watches, this is one of very few opportunities to acquire a lightweight Seamaster from Omega. Historically, the line has been made of either steel or precious metals. At present, this is one of only a half dozen or so titanium Omega dive watches in the market.
In terms of aesthetics, Omega went out of their way to give this Seamaster a much more “military issued” look than what we see in the standard collection offering. Both its dial and its aluminum bezel insert have a matte finish to them, and its indices have a faux-aged tropical brown finish to them. There is also a broad arrow hallmark on the dial, which historically has been used as insignia on all goods produced for British military issuance. The 007 Edition Seamaster comes fitted with a shark mesh style bracelet that is incredibly comfortable, all while contributing to a distinct look. For those less keen on metal bracelets, Omega also offers a version of this watch on a fabric NATO strap.
As with all Seamaster references, the 300m Diver 007 Edition is still very much a tool watch built for day-to-day use. Aside from its aforementioned water-resistance, the self-winding watch is powered by Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8806 movement, which offers a high level of accuracy and magnetic resistance to 15,000 gauss. This will sound like overkill to some, but magnetism in day-to-day living can still cause accuracy issues in mechanical watches from time to time, so there’s no harm in being well protected. The watch has also passed METAS Master Chronometer certification, which includes a litany of accuracy checks before delivering to authorized retailers.
Of the Omega Seamaster James Bond watch releases to come and go over the years, it’s safe to argue that this reference is designed in a manner that suits the world’s favorite super spy. In an odd change of pace, this watch isn’t covered in 007 logos or special film branding. Instead, it captures the essence of Bond in a way that suits both the tasks and the lifestyle. It can hold up to just about anything you can throw at it, and it looks subtle and subdued enough to not draw unwanted attention while sleuthing to uncover the motives of any villain. No, it doesn’t have a radio transponder or high frequency laser built into it, but the Seamaster 300m Diver 007 remains one of the best Bond watches Omega has ever released.
