It's a fun toy...a link to a film character who has become a literary and cinematic and cultural icon. It happens to be a very specific link to the upcoming film, which will clearly echo the 1960s Bond, judging from the striped pattern on the NATO strap (an homage to "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball") and the promotional poster of Daniel Craig wearing a white dinner jacket, narrow black tie and boutonnière nearly identical to those worn by Connery in "Goldfinger". The concept of the Craig films was to take the character back. Bond, in the film "Casino Royale" is a brand new "Double O". With each film, his character, stylistically, has incorporated elements from earlier films. "Skyfall" ends with Bond meeting the new M...a man, after almost twenty years of the great Dame Judi Dench as M. Even the new M's office, with its double leather doors, references the M of "Dr. No": Bernard Lee, who was THE M for so very long.
In other words, Daniel Craig's Bond is coming full circle. Of course, if this continues, he may wind up, in a few years' time, with a Seiko!
Back to the watch:
Apart from being a fun toy, it is a very cool and practical watch. Yes, practical.
You know what it does, and really well?
Tells time! Accurately! Every day. Provided you wear it, maintain a pulse and move enough.
Who knew?
As to its bezel...
If I take up diving, I'll wear my Submariner, or maybe my old Seamaster 300m, with the blue wave dial. If I travel, and need to track different time zones, I've got a Rolex GMT Master II. Great travel watch. I probably won't be reaching for the Spectre Omega for diving or international time zone hopping. (Of course, if I did travel across time zones with it, it does have the ability to change the hour hand independent of the minute and second hand).
So, this one does have a rather peculiar bezel. Maybe the movie will divulge the reason for its "what the hell is this for?" design.
Ok. The bezel makes it...different. That's all right with me, too. I'm very fortunate to own several watches, under the very useful cover of being a "collector". So, if the bezel is different from a true dive or GMT watch...good! We collectors love variety--as well as every excuse to rationalize why we own multiple versions of what to most people are the same, or nearly the same, item.
I will find some use for this strange bezel...in fact, I did, tonight. I set the "0" on the minute hand then told my 8 year old daughter she could watch a TV show for another five minutes. As soon as the minute hand was aligned with the "5" on the bezel, I told her: "Time's up!"
Now, admit, that IS useful!
For a life long fan of the Bond novels and films, and a life long watch aficionado, this Omega is one I had to have. Thankfully, the special "Spectre" markings on its caseback are subtle. I can tolerate the 007 logo on one of the metal pieces of the NATO. I prefer the all brushed stainless look of its bracelet to the standard Seamster 300---no polished center links for 007! If I were to use the bracelet, I would probably buy a standard clasp/buckle. The engraved 007 logo on the buckle is a little too pronounced for my taste. However, I'm really enjoying the NATO, and the knowledge that the NATO is married up to spring bars designed just for it.
Up until a few days ago, I hadn't given a thought to this watch. Hadn't read this thread. Read an article two days ago and was intriugued. Called my local Omega boutique, where I'd bought the JFK re-issue/limited edition ( a lovely time piece, I must say). They had one!
Damned if I didn't buy it.
It's comfortable, handsome...and, you know what?
The damn thing tells time!
