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No one really told me when I was swooning over the chiseled jawline of Pierce Brosnan in Golden Eye that one day I would have to shift my gaze towards his wrist. That too, not to measure how manly they looked beneath those immaculately tailored white shirts and tuxedos but to focus on the timepiece adorning the left wrist. Yes, this time the jewel takes precedence over the smooth sleuth but I guess the discussion is happening because of how the man and the machine perfectly complement each other.

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Sean Connery, the first Bond, in Dr. No (1962)

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James Bond may be fictitious, but the sharp, suave British secret service agent feels more real than his creator, Ian Fleming, could have imagined. Ever since his debut on the silver screen — with the legendary Sean Connery playing Bond in Dr. No — the spy has been the definition of perfection and precision. It was only a matter of time before a luxury watch brand stepped up to associate with 007.

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It took 33 years (Dr. No released in 1962 while Golden Eye hit the screens in 1995) but Bond did get his favourite time bijouterie after all!

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Do you believe that if something is truly meant to be yours, it’ll find its way to you sooner or later? I’ll explain another day why I say this — especially about how the respective actors were chosen to play James Bond over the years — but for now, it’s time to unravel the story behind the British Secret Service Agent’s collaboration with Omega.

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Pierce Brosnan, in Golden Eye (1995), Omega Seamaster Quartz Professional, Reference 2541.80

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It all began in 1995 with the release of Golden Eye featuring a 42-year-old Pierce Brosnan. Lindy Hemming, who had yet not won the Academy Award then (the costume designer won an Oscar for Costume Design for her work in the 1999 movie Topsy-Turvy) had just taken up the project of designing costumes for the James Bond films that would introduce Brosnan as 007. While scouting for looks for the main man, she chose the Omega Seamaster 300M to sit on his wrist as Hemming believed it was the best choice for Bond's British naval background. While she went on to design what the spy wore in every film till Casino Royale (2006), the association with Omega was cemented with Golden Eye itself. 

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Timothy Dalton, in Licence to Kill (1989), Rolex Submariner

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Interestingly, after Rolex ended its association with Bond with the completion of Licence to Kill (1989) starring Timothy Dalton (the spy then wore the Rolex Submariner), Omega seized the opportunity to sign up for this prestigious partnership. The union has been rock solid ever since.

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So, the saying about finding your way to something if it is truly meant to be yours has definitely worked wonderfully with Omega so far! There are real life ambassadors for luxury brands and then there is James Bond for Omega! This is probably one of the finest instances of real and reel coming together to celebrate fashion, flair, adventure and reliability. Because not only is the Omega Seamaster a strikingly handsome watch, it is also incredibly capable, just like the super spy himself!

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It was of course a win-win situation for Omega following the partnership. The luxury watch brand courted worldwide recognition and exposure through the super successful films. However, with the heritage the brand carried ever since it was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, it commemorated the partnership amply by creating special tribute timepieces to honour Bond and his legacy. 

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After the Omega Seamaster Quartz Professional (Reference 2541.80.) was worn in Golden Eye, Brosnan went on to sport Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer (Reference 2531.80.) in all his later Bond films beginning with Tomorrow Never Dies. This model came with the same specifications as the one worn in Golden Eye except that this time the watch was not quartz but mechanically powered by a self-winding calibre with chronometric precision. 

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Well, for the uninitiated, it would suffice to learn that for a spy of James's stature, Omega was creating timepieces that would seamlessly suit his persona while ticking the right boxes for fighting the whimsical baddies! As for me, it's enough that I understand how the mean machine adorning his able wrists while he was effortlessly saving the world might not sound as simple as his 'shaken not stirred' martinis but they clearly were instances of fabulous and faultless watchmaking from the house of Omega. It was as if the jewel was taking on a well scripted supporting role in the Bond movies given the spy's penchant for style and need for error free equipment. 

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Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer, Reference 2531.80, worn in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002)

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The Seamaster soon became a natural choice as the British secret service agent embarked on one action packed mission after another.

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For instance, in Tomorrow Never Dies when 007 battles the machinations of an evil media mogul who plans to trigger a conflict between China and the UK, our hero relies on his Seamaster Diver 300 MM automatic chronometer (the blue dial almost matching Brosnan's beautiful blue pupils) to salvage many situations. The superb dive watch was retrofitted with a detonator by a friendly Chinese spy and the fun part was that the watch was also featured in the opening credits. 

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In The World is not Enough (1999) Bond prevents an ex KGB man turned terrorist from detonating a nuclear device intended to blow up a vital oil pipeline. In Q's (played by Desmond Llewelyn) laboratory, 007's Seamaster Diver 300 M is shown to be equipped with a strong light and a miniature grappling hook attached to a 50-foot (15 metres) microfilament strong enough to support 800 pounds (362 kg). These were options that never quite made it to the Omega catalogue. Obviously! Other Omega watches worn by Bond were the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition and the Seamaster Aqua Terra. They were clearly sought-after jewels post the association!

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Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Reference 2220.80.00 and Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial Reference 2900.50.91, worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006)

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After Brosnan exited the franchise, it was Daniel Craig's moment to create cinema history playing the famous spy in a reboot of the 007 franchise, Casino Royale (2006). Craig wears the luxury watches (in the film he sports the Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Reference 2220.80.00 and the Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial Reference 2900.50.91) while playing poker in Montenegro. Avid Bond fans would tell you excitedly how the timepieces help Bond to detect that Le Chiffre is cheating at cards. He then uses the watches to defeat Le Chiffre and win back his money. Collectors of Omega would explain how these creations are considered one of the most iconic timepieces in the Bond franchise. 

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Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 2201.50.00, worn in Quantum of Solace (2008)

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In the 2008 film, Quantum of Solace, Craig, who reprised his role as James Bond wore an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M watch that had a black dial and bezel. In the film, the spy seeks revenge for Vesper Lynd against Dominic Greene, who is exploiting a water shortage, and the watch is part of all the action taking place in the narrative. 

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Omega Seamaster 300 Reference 233.32.41.21.01.001, worn in Spectre (2015)

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Following that, in 2015, Craig was seen sporting an Omega Seamaster 300 and an Omega Aqua Terra 150m in Spectre, that were part of a special edition collection released for the film. 

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Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Reference 231.10.39.21.03.001 and Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Reference 232.30.42.21.01.001, worn in Skyfall (2012)

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In Skyfall before that (2012), Craig wears two Omega Seamaster watches. The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Reference 232.30.42.21.01.001, a 42 mm watch with a black dial and bezel that's water resistant to 600 meters and the Seamaster Aqua Terra Reference 231.10.39.21.03.001, a dressier watch with a blue dial.

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Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Titanium Reference 210.90.42.20.01.001, worn in No Time to Die (2021)

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In his ninth film with Omega, James Bond was on a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist. However as No Time to Die unraveled, the adventure turned out to be way more treacherous than it sounded. But, Craig did have his faithful Seamaster to ease things out! That was in 2021. 

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It's been close to four years and the Bond metre is ticking away to know who will step into the shoes of 007 after Daniel Craig. With all kinds of exciting names and stories filling up the Bond universe, I am sure Omega too is intrigued about whose wrists it will bejewel next! As for me, I am taking a moment to time travel and imagine how the lithe and agile Timothy Dalton would have looked flaunting an Omega Seamaster. Or for that matter, what would the luxury watch brand create especially for the OG James Bond, Sean Connery! Dashing images of those good-looking men showing off their Omega watches fill my mind!