Omega Watches and James Bond

Omega has been associated with the famous James Bond movie franchise since 1995. That year, Pierce Brosnan took over the role of James Bond, and the producers wanted to update the image of the fictional "super-spy" to a more distinctly sophisticated "Euro" look.[4]

Another reason for the change from the Rolex Submariner watches that Bond previously used to wear is the change in the business environment that surrounds modern high-profile films. Omega was amenable to participating in high profile co-promotions and product placements in the movies (something that the conservative Rolex company avoids).[5]

Its Seamaster 300M Professional Chronometer is the current official James Bond watch, used by Pierce Brosnan in each of his Bond movies since, but not including, GoldenEye. In the GoldenEye film, the quartz Seamaster 300M Professional was featured.[6]

For the 40th Anniversary of James Bond (2002) a special commerative edition of the watch was made available where only 10,007 units were produced. The watch is identical to the model: 2531.80.00 except the blue watch face had a 007 logo inscribed across it. The band also had 007 inscribed on the clasp.[7]

Daniel Craig, the current James Bond of the film "Casino Royale" also wears the Omega Seamaster. In the film, he wears two different models, the Seamaster Planet Ocean in the first part of the film, and in the latter part (from travelling to Montenegro), he wears the "official" Bond-watch, the Seamaster Professional 300M. In connection with the launch of the film, Omega released a special 007-special of the Professional 300M, featuring the 007-gun logo on the second hand and the rifle pattern on the watch face. The face design being a stylized representation of the iconic gunbarrel sequence of Bond movies.[8]

Omega has also released another James Bond limited edition watch in 2006, a Seamaster Planet Ocean (limited production of 5007 units), similar to what Craig wears earlier on in the film, with a discrete 007-logo integrated on the second hand.[9]

First watch on the moon

The Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch on the Moon worn on the wrists of Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin. Unfortunately this historically notable watch is now considered lost. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin mentions in his book "Return to Earth" that when donating several items to the Smithsonian Institution, his Omega was one of the few things that was stolen from his personal effects.[1]


The Omega Speedmaster, the legendary Moonwatch, selected by NASA for all the Apollo missions

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Omega watches in space exploration

The Omega Speedmaster, the legendary Moonwatch, selected by NASA for all the Apollo missionsMain article: Omega Speedmaster Professional
The selection of the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph as the official watch worn by American astronauts was the subject of a famous space-race era rivalry between Omega and Bulova.

All subsequent manned NASA missions also utilized this hand wound movement wristwatch. NASA mistakenly feared that automatic-winding watches relied on gravity and so insisted that the "moon watch" be manually wound. In fact, automatic movements utilize momentum and could conceivably work better in a zero-gravity environment, since the moving parts would not be subject to gravity-induced friction.

However all the instrument panel clocks and time-keeping mechanisms in the spacecraft on those space missions were Bulova Accutrons with tuning fork movements, because at the time, NASA did not know how well a mechanical movement would work in zero gravity conditions.