Dining: Kahani; Indian cuisine in Belgravia
21 October 2024Driving: Ferrari’s ballerina, the 488 Spider
23 October 2024A Time to Buy
Celebrating its enduring partnership with James Bond, Omega has created the Seamaster Diver 300M Numbered Edition timepiece presented in its own Globe-Trotter™ suitcase
W hen reviewing products it can be easy to get sucked into stereotypes. For example, just recently I reviewed an Aston Martin DB11 and, within just a single paragraph, I had managed to annoy myself by reverting to stereotype and referring to James Bond.
It’s difficult to avoid sometimes though when an item is so synonymous with a circumstance. Yes, I know Ian Fleming’s creation has driven other cars, most notably and memorably, probably the underwater Lotus Esprit piloted by Roger Moore in The Spy who Loved Me.
‘Wet Nellie’, as that vehicle is genuinely and affectionately named, is now owned by Elon Musk, a man whose name could easily be purloined for a Bond villain. This uber-industrialist has declared his intention to convert the car to an electric drive train and then turn it into a functional car-submarine. We reported on this back in 2018.
The same is true for other brands that have a clear association. For this piece I’m looking at his wristwatch. All the way back in 2015 we took a closer look at Bond’s timepieces and, somewhat surprisingly, discovered that not only Omega but Rolex and, strangely, Seiko had adorned his arm over the years.
I say surprisingly because it really does seem that Omega has been his ever-present watch. The marketing around this has been something to behold.
Somewhat surprisingly not only Omega but Rolex and, strangely, Seiko had adorned his arm over the years
It’s difficult to comprehend that Omega’s messaging about being the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932 hasn’t been more successful and they are less well-known for this than for their association with a fictional character. Or that their Speedmaster watch has been worn on every one of NASA’s manned missions since 1965, including all six moon landings. But such are the vagaries of brands.
So this review is of Omega’s Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond numbered edition, brought out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Housed in a 42mm robust stainless steel case case, a platinum-gold plate, engraved with the model’s unique case number, is affixed to the side to leave you in no doubt as to the watch’s providence. Other highlights include a black ceramic bezel inlay with platinum diving scale and a black enamel dial featuring the rifling-style motif synonymous with 007.
To underline the link to its most famous wearer Bond’s family coat of arms is at the 12 o’clock while the ‘7’ of the date is picked out in the James Bond font. As a nice nod to the cognoscenti the diameter of the centre is exactly 9mm reflecting the calibre of the bullet fired from a Walther PPK, Bond’s handgun de choix.
Turning the watch over reveals a second Bond family coat of arms, which has been laser-engraved and filled with platinum on the sapphire crystal caseback. Its captivating final effect is completed with hand-engraved finishing in the finest detail. Through the glass, you can spy the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8807 – certified at the highest standards of precision, chronometric performance and magnetic resistance.
Finally, for fans who are able to obtain this Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Numbered Edition, it comes presented in its own Globe-Trotter™ suitcase, bound by NATO-inspired straps.
As a nice nod to the cognoscenti the diameter of the centre is exactly 9mm reflecting the calibre of the bullet fired from a Walther PPK
It sits on the wrist beautifully although personally I would like a 44mm option. A 2mm increase doesn’t sound like a lot (and it isn’t) but human beings are getting larger and the 42mm feels a fraction small despite the weight being perfectly balanced.
Omega’s co-axial master chronometer 42mm watches come in a number of variations. The James Bond Numbered Edition Set prices are as follows:
Yellow gold on rubber strap: £38,610
Steel on rubber strap: £38,610
Platinum on leather strap: £46,450