The word “legendary” is much overused in cinema, but it certainly applies when it comes to Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Seven secret agents have come and gone, but it’s Craig’s hard-drinking, often fallible 007 who has brought a much-needed human touch to the role.
It’s said that Bond characters reflect the times, and not all tend to mature with grace (see Connery’s problematic Thunderball and Goldfinger movies from the mid-’60s). It’s hard to envisage a similar issue ever arising where Craig is concerned. Dark, gritty, and real, his brooding anti-hero feels in tune with the modern age where it often seems like everything is on the verge of falling apart.
Time is also a very literal part of the Bond legend. Even if the actor changes, one aspect remains consistent: his exceptional taste in watches. Brands from Rolex and Seiko to Breitling and Pulsar have featured in the franchise throughout the years — helping it become a marketing tour de force in the process — with Omega taking over as the weapon of choice, courtesy of Pierce Brosnan in 1995. The product placement isn’t always slick — we all remember this skin-crawling scene — yet that doesn’t harm its reputation much.
Ahead of the release of Craig’s final Bond movie, No Time to Die, we take a look back on some of the Omega wrist candy the British actor has worn during his time as 007.
Fifteen years ago, Craig announced his arrival by wearing two Omega watches in the critically-acclaimed Casino Royale. The first was a Seamaster 300M Co-Axial, featuring a bold blue dial surrounded by a full stainless steel case and bracelet. It’s a beautiful, subtle piece, more than steezy enough for the wrist of any super spy.
The second watch Craig dons in the movie is an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial. Slightly smaller with a dressy black dial and rubber strap, consider it the ideal option for the socialite Bond.
Quantum of Solace might not have won as many plaudits as its predecessor, but if one thing remained consistent, it was Craig’s awesome watch game. In this, he is seen sporting an Omega Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial with a black dial and bezel. This variation of the Planet Ocean is a more sporty model when compared to its counterpart in Casino Royale, with the stainless steel bracelet adding a touch of class.
Skyfall became the highest-grossing Bond film ever, which we think might have had something to do with Bond’s watch of choice. Okay, maybe not, but his effort didn’t disappoint. Taking it back to basics, Craig wears a 42mm Steel on Steel Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M. No frills, easily legible, and simple, the dressy watch was perhaps the only thing that could be considered tame about this gritty film.
Spectre debuted with a limited edition Omega release. Past Bond films had commemorative limited runs of the watches seen on screen — this movie, however, was the first where Bond actually wore the limited edition in the film. The commemorative effort features a gray NATO strap contrasting nicely with a faux-patina dial. Combining utility and simplicity, it has transcended the Bond universe to become a hot wishlist item among general collector
Modeled after Bond creator Ian Fleming's very own watch, this all-titanium masterpiece elegantly combines taste, style, and utility with an ample sprinkle of bad-assery. Rather than going for the more flashy Bond motifs on the watch, a small arrowhead, representing the British Special Forces, is the only indication of a James Bond reference. Extremely light, easy to wear, and timeless, this watch is the perfect bookend to a phenomenal run of movies.
