► Limited editions watches
► Limited prices as well
► This month’s watch section
The world is going Spectre-crazy and CAR’s watch column offers no resistance, particularly as James Bond’s watches are almost as integral to his identity as his cars. Fleming gave his hero a ‘heavy Rolex Oyster Perpetual on a metal bracelet,’ but for the last twenty years Omega has provided his wristwear. It pays for the privilege, but as a supplier to the British military since the Second World War and the maker of some of the world’s best diving watches, it’s the brand a Royal Navy Commander would actually wear.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Limited Edition: £4630
Subtle James Bond branding – one for the fans
This watch doesn’t appear in the film and is offered in a barely limited run of 15,007 pieces. The Aqua Terra design is slimmer than Omega’s other diving watches, and the Bond branding on this one is limited to a subtle dial pattern based on his coat of arms, and a very precise anti-magnetic rating of 15,007 gauss. The crystal caseback reveals an oscillating weight cut to look like the gun barrel from the film’s opening credits, and it winds a super-precise co-axial movement.
Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre Limited Edition: £4785
Retro look for Bond’s actual watch
This is the watch that Daniel Craig wears in Spectre, and it is being offered in a not-very limited edition run of 7007 pieces. Its styling echoes Omega’s legendary divers’ watches of the ’50s and ’60s, down to the ‘aged’ dial and hands. The front is pleasingly free of any Bond references, but the caseback carries the Spectre logo. The fabric NATO strap is the same pattern as the one worn (with a Rolex) by Sean Connery in Dr. No.
www.omega.ch
Omega Seamaster Professional 2531.80: £1800
Bond’s first Omega, and now a true classic
Pierce Brosnan wore this classic blue-dialled Seamaster for his four outings as Bond. He started with the quartz version in GoldenEye in 1995, but the automatic version used in the next three films is more collectible. Good-looking, tough and wearable, it now sells for around twice its asking price when new and is unlikely to lose you money. Buy from a reliable source such as Watchfinder (watchfinder.co.uk), and look for one with its original box and papers, and a recent service.