James Bond And His Omega Seamaster Watches — An Overview

In the original James Bond books by Ian Fleming, the secret agent wore the same watch as the author himself, a Rolex Explorer ref. 1016. In the James Bond movies, however, he wore a variety of watches from different brands. Interestingly enough, it was never an Explorer. And as you know, Bond has worn Omega Seamaster watches for over 30 years.

Daniel Craig wearing the Seamaster Diver 300M as James Bond in Casino Royale — Image: Omega

What Omega Seamaster models did James Bond wear?

When Pierce Brosnan succeeded Timothy Dalton as the new James Bond, the filmmakers selected the Omega Seamaster 300M as his watch. Having debuted in 1993, the 41mm Seamaster 300M was still relatively new, and the quartz version, reference 2541.80, made its appearance in the 1995 Bond movie GoldenEye. Besides telling Bond the time very accurately, it also functioned as a laser and detonator.

Seamaster 300M 2531.80

Just two years after the first of the Pierce Brosnan-era movies, United Artists (the studio behind the franchise) was ready to amaze us with yet another picture. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) showed us the power of the media and how it can influence governments for better or worse. Bond switched from his quartz Omega Seamaster 300M to the automatic reference 2531.80. It lost its laser function in the movie, but it still functioned as a detonator.

This classic Seamaster 300M remained on Bond’s wrist in The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). In 1999, the watch also had a special function for the movie, serving as both a light and a hook. In 2002, it received the same Q-function as in 1995. It’s worth noting that the filmmakers used the same James Bond watch throughout those movies. Today, each movie features a different watch.

Planet Ocean 600M 2900.50

In 2006, Daniel Craig was honored to play the famous 007 agent with a license to kill. We could see a young Craig wearing two Omega watches in Casino Royale that year. The Seamaster 300M showed up again, but this time, it was a slightly updated version (reference 2220.80) with a Co-Axial self-winding (2500) movement. Optically, the dial features red “Seamaster” text positioned below the brand’s logo at 12 o’clock. The second watch was Omega’s Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M (reference 2900.50), a 45.5mm watch on a black rubber strap.

Planet Ocean 600M 232.30.42.21.01.001

Even for Daniel Craig, this watch was slightly too large. In the 2008 Bond movie Quantum of Solace, he exchanged it for the 42mm Planet Ocean reference 2201.50. It was rumored that Craig wasn’t a fan of the 300M that Brosnan had worn. He wanted to have a different signature watch, hence the Planet Ocean. Then, in 2012, we saw a more modern Planet Ocean on the wrist of 007 in Skyfall. This time, it was the 42mm reference 232.30.42.21.01.001 featuring a ceramic bezel insert and the in-house-developed caliber 8500. But there’s also another Omega Seamaster in Skyfall. Watching the film, you’ll also see an elegant 38.5mm Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M (reference 231.10.39.21.03.001) with the same caliber 8500 as in the Planet Ocean.

Seamaster 300 Spectre 233.32.41.21.01.001

Another Seamaster Aqua Terra (reference 231.10.42.21.03.003) appears on James Bond’s wrist in the Spectre (2015) movie. It is a 41.5mm version with a blue dial and an 8500 movement. However, the best-known watch from this movie is Bond’s Omega Seamaster 300. Omega developed this watch specifically for the movie, limited it to 7,007 pieces, and equipped it with a special 12-hour scale bezel that displays a “0” instead of a triangle at 12 o’clock. Powered by Omega’s caliber 8400, it was not yet a Master Chronometer, but it was resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. This reference, 233.32.41.21.01.001, also had a special feature from the Q-Branch: it functioned as a timer and a bomb (“The alarm is rather loud, if you know what I mean,” says Q to James Bond when giving him the watch).

Seamaster 300M NTTD 210.90.42.20.01.001

The filmmakers originally planned to release the last No Time To Die movie in 2019, but they postponed it to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Omega had already introduced the watch in 2019, so many Bond fans could have the same watch on their wrists when the movie finally debuted two years later. Omega designed the Seamaster 300M “No Time To Die” (reference 210.90.42.20.01.001) with a titanium case and bracelet, drawing inspiration from military watches through details such as the Broad Arrow symbol on the dial and the reference code engraved on the case back. For the movie, this watch had a special feature called EMP (electromagnetic pulse). In No Time To Die, James Bond activated it through the helium escape valve and used it to disable electronic devices. This Seamaster 300M NTTD, powered by the caliber 8806, is still in the current Omega catalog.

Seamaster 300M Chronograph 210.32.44.51.01.002

Although no new James Bond movie is scheduled for 2026 yet, IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios introduced the action-adventure game 007 First Light. As the gaming industry is (in terms of revenue) much bigger than the film industry, we thought it would be interesting to mention it here. The game officially launches on May 27th and follows a young James Bond. In it, we’ll see an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph (reference 210.32.44.51.01.002) on his wrist, specially designed in close collaboration with the game’s creators.

Now Omega has also added this watch to its collection. It’s a 44mm stainless steel Seamaster 300M Chronograph with a polished black ceramic bezel insert, as well as a Bronze Gold sub-dial ring and chronograph-seconds hand. It’s powered by Omega’s in-house caliber 9900. On the case back, you’ll find a sapphire crystal with the 007 First Light logo in black metallization.

Who and what will be next?

Daniel Craig retired after No Time To Die, and fans and media outlets (including us) have floated many names as his successor. As for the next Bond watch, would it make sense for him to wear one of the new Planet Ocean models introduced last year? Let us know in the comments below.