The unveiling of a new Omega watch is always sensational, but the launch of an Omega watch carrying the 007 insignia is even more spectacular and as exciting as those ones introduced to celebrate the fifty years since the first moon landing.
The most glamorous and daring secret agent in history officially partners with the Swiss brand since 1995, when the film Goldeneye first appeared on the big screen; since 2006, when the Casino Royale was launched, Daniel Craig plays the character of 007 instead.
What a surprise!
On November 18, I received an email from Omega, including a “Save The Date” message regarding a not so further specified (yet) “Omega James Bond Event” to take place in New York beginning of December. I was equally flattered and excited, given we were talking of not any watch nor any Omega, but an Omega Bond watch. When Daniel Craig began playing as James Bond, I never lost a chapter of the 007 film series ever since.
James Bond‘s films, starring Daniel Craig, are a league of their own. He embodies a more realistic and harsh but less sarcastic secret agent than ever before. He dares more than his predecessors in an attempt to save humanity against the most dangerous criminal organizations. From a watch geek perspective, instead, all the latest timepieces named after 007 so far were product variations over standard collections.
By taking a quick look at the teaser sent by Omega, paired with such an outstanding location for the global launch event, I presumed we were about to attend the presentation of something special.
At first glance, there’s something you notice straight away: the silhouette of the watch unquestionably mimics an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, but the side view reveals a never-seen-before detail: the glass is not flat, unlike any ordinary Seamaster diving watch.
The project saw the direct involvement of Daniel Craig, who’s first and foremost a watch aficionado, not solely a brand ambassador, and starts a new chapter for Omega watch and the James Bond‘s saga as well. “No Time to Die,” the fifth outing of Daniel as the MI6 agent, is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga in replacement of Sam Mendes.
Interestingly, the trailer of the film that will hit cinemas across Europe beginning of April reveals some scenes were filmed in Italy, across the narrow streets of Matera, Southern Italy.
Product Launch.
Omega‘s CEO and President Raynald Aeschlimann hosted on stage Daniel Craig, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael J. Wilson (the two producers) for an interview before the party eventually took place on the Standard Line hotel’s rooftop, on December 4.
The session was moderated by the brand’s Heritage division Director, who’s also in charge of the recently renovated museum. During the interview, Daniel and Raynald disclosed some behind-the-scenes details regarding the development of the so-called Omega Bond Watch.
The Italian team, including the undersigned and starring Fabio Attanasio, founder of The Bespoke Dudes and “friend of the brand,” was led by Malik Bey, Brand Manager of Omega Italy.
The interview session followed the new product launch that took place during a morning session, where we were allowed to “touch and feel” the new timepiece while listening to Jean–Claude Monachon, Omega Vice–President and Head Of Product Development. The partnership has introduced an array of new technical features.
From a technical standpoint, the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition shares the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M‘s architecture, but the concept is slightly different and offers a pretty distinctive personality.
Please welcome the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition.
The watch comes in Grade 2 Titanium. Aesthetically, it pays tribute to Omega‘s legacy in supplying the British Ministry of Defense with wristwatches compliant to the most severe military specification. Most importantly, Daniel Craig was eager to wear a light watch. Omega boasts a long experience in crafting titanium watches; all in all, the new Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition steps up the whole collection.
The signature 42mm case, across, is mated to a mesh bracelet whose build quality is exquisite. Not only is this bracelet lighter than its steel sibling, but it also guarantees the watch such a right weight once wrapped around the wrist, that the piece is not too heavy nor too light.
Also, it has been designed to be easily and quickly adjusted and with another goal: no wrist pinching at all. The case is thinner than a standard Seamaster Diver 300M‘s, thanks to a re-engineered and “skin diver” looking rotating bezel.
Thus the dial, that features raised indexes, is so flat and close to the glass, it seems you can virtually touch the hour and minutes hands with your fingertips. Omega‘s product designers added that vintage military touch, on top, by applying a domed sapphire glass while removing any date window.
The triangular mark printed at six is a tribute to the watches once supplied by Omega to the MOD. If you then turn the watch on its back, you’ll discover a long string of numerals: they reveal how is a military watch’s proper coding, as Jean–Claude Monachon himself explained to us.
The number “9237697” is the one assigned by the MOD to diving watches, preceded by the “0552”, that certifies those watches assigned to the Royal Navy. The letter “A” indicates it comes equipped with a screwed-in crown, whereas the “007” marking states the total products supplied.
Finally, the last numeral states in which year the Ministry ordered that batch: the brand chose number “62” to reaffirm James Bond‘s first-ever appearance on screen.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition also comes available with a specific Omega NATO strap. Yet, I believe the “mesh bracelet” is the way to go as it allows you to wear the watch on any occasion: it is lighter than any other Seamaster Diver 300M, shares with the latter the same technical specification, but has that unmistakable “007” factor.
I think Omega Watches did a great job, and listened, in the making, to vintage military Omega watches die-hard fans, those who surf the Internet in search of any Omega belonging to the so-called “Dirty Dozen”, or are eager to get their hands-on a proper successor to the highly sought after “Hurricane” watch, while boasting the Master Chronometer certification.
New Omega 007 pricing
See you soon, New York. It was great to get back here after so long (ten years or so), and on such a remarkable occasion: to mark a new chapter in Omega‘s history, like the launch of not just a watch but, that’s me guessing, a new collection geared towards the fans of 007.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition will not be limited in production and will hit stores next February, retailing at an € 8,800 sticker price.
With the new Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition, Omega has finally turned a co-branding project into a closer partnership. And I am curious to find out what to expect next, considering how prolific and innovative has the brand been recently, in terms of both styles, and product innovation.
(Photo credit: Omega Watches)
Gaetano C @Horbiter®
