The James Bond thing...

I'm new on this forum and new to Omega. I was wondering for those of you who are die hard loyal Omega fans, was the passing of the baton, so to say, from Rolex to Omega on James Bonds wrist a good thing, a bad thing, or just a thing that's there not good or bad? I've seen some of the Seamasters with 007 on them and personally I would never wear one but there are some Seamaster models attributed to Bond that don't have 007 or Bond or anything like that on them that I do like. If this is a sensitive issue around here than please take it easy on me, I've been primarily a Rolex wearer all my adult life but am sick of the years long wait lists to get watches that 5 years ago you could get for 10-20% off before you started to negotiate. So I'm considering switching things up and picking up a Speedmaster Hesalite Man on the Moon to start. Anyway, I just thought I'd test the waters about this issue and thought this might be ( fingers crossed ) a good conversation starter.

Hello and welcome,

I don't care either way but I have two seamaster that are associated with the Bond thing. A pre bond seamaster and the SM master coaxial. Both bought because I like the design rather than any association with Bond. I suppose it must be quite a significant marketing tool winner but I am not sure how much of an impact it has on watch collectors as opposed to Bond fans.

Most round here would say you need a speedmaster. It took quite a few years for me to warm to them but now I have three. I would like a few more but the wife wants a new house so I am saving for that right now. Oh well, happy wife happy life.

Remember that after Rolex, Bond - played by Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton - wore a Pulsar Time Computer LED, then Seiko LCD watches and quartz analogs, then a Tag Heuer quartz diver. Those are not popular watches for collectors (though I love them). His adoption of Omega, on the wrist of Pierce Brosnan, was a big upgrade if you're not quartz-inclined, and the quartz era was longer than the Rolex era.
Personally, I think the 90s "Bond" Seamasters are the best value in vintage watches, though mine's a chronograph, which was not actually a Bond watch.

Welcome!

Great choice on the hesalite speedy, it’s a fantastic piece. I purchased one back in October and pulling trigger on FOIS tomorrow. The bug hits hard.

As for Bond, personally I don’t like the extra branding. I own the Spectre 300MC and love the simplicity of the dial.

.. It has to be said that wayyy before product placement in films.. Ian Fleming (A Rolex wearer himself) put a “Rolex Oyster” watch on his character because it was tough enough to use as a “knuckle duster”.. Sorry Seiko, Pulsar, Heuer and Omega.. You are all product placements!

I didn't used to like the limited edition branding, but since I acquired one a couple of years ago, I love it. This is the 2226.80.00 from 2006 (Casino Royale tie-in).

I must say, this forum is much better than the Rolex one, I ounce started a thread titled the best 3 sport models and went on to say that I had a Sub, a GMT, and was looking for a Daytona and finished by stating that that would be the best 3 sport watch collection in the world. While some got the thread others did not and actually criticized my choices. One guy was stuck on the "best in the world" part and was like "I don't know about best in the world, Rolex is a mid Tier watch..." I was like isn't this the Rolex forum? Why would go on a forum just to scold others for their mid tier $10k watches? You guys all understood I was introducing myself and thought that a discussion based on something significant in the past 20+ years ( geez I'm getting old ) would be a fun conversation starter. Omega 1 Rolex 0 .

Since the advent of online spaces people are far more confident to be outspoken when, face to face, they'd hardly ever say the same things. Everything, including personal taste, is subjective, not just watches. I laugh at the comments that say you must match your strap to your belt or shoes, or how you can't wear a dive watch with a suit etc. Utter nonsense. Do and wear what you like if it makes you happy. In the whole scheme of things, especially 2020, watches don't even matter, let's face it. They're ultimately a tool, for one purpose but we, as fans, have grown to love them and the variety of designs to realise that for us, they aren't just a tool to tell the time after all.

If people don't like my Bond watch, that's totally fine. I may not like the look of your wife, but I'd probably keep that to myself (and pity you having to wake up next to that each morning). Glasshouses and stones come to mind. The Internet is a weird (and often not always a wonderful) place.

The original Brosnan Bond Seamaster that started this craze was quartz. He still has it 👍

I guess I have a mild preference for sticking with the watch that Fleming wrote, but it doesn't make a huge difference. Yes, I don't think real MI6 agents wear watches with their Secret Number on them.

I love the Bond connection. I’m a new member but have owned Omega for around 5 years. I always wanted one - because of Goldeneye. It’s what made me want Omega. I’m not THAT fussed about watches, I just loved Omega. Similar with cars, I’m not bothered about them - except BMW, which I always loved growing up (though no specific reason for that, just thought they looked ace)

Bond-branded watches aren’t quite for me (though the Spectre is stunning, I went for the standard 300MC because I love it and it’s still mostly the watch from the film) and I’d never rule it out.

But yes, I love Bond and because of Bond, I love Omega. A really powerful partnership between the two in my opinion, just as if not more important than ever 😀

Love my Brosnan Bond, I do not like 007 brandings



Not that expensive and a real beauty

You're right I do, I was at an Omega AD and was ( because I knew I would never get an SS Daytona ) and was holding it and putting it on and holding it again, and the saleswoman behind the counter kept lowering the price the longer I held it. First it was $4800 then $4500, she got down to $4100 out the door, and I almost got it, she even starting counting down "three, two, ONE!, no joke. I don't know why but I passed it up. The next day my Rolex guy called and I came in to a surprise which was the new ( at the time ) Batman on jubilee. So I was really glad I didn't buy the speedy because I would have had to gone into too much credit dept to get both. Two days ago my Rolex guy, I swear I was planning on buying a speedy that week. He had me come in did a whole thing where he put a watch he knew I didn't want on my wrist and I was like, wow ( but I didn't feel wow ) so I told him I couldn't afford it, then he said "there are some nice watches behind you" so I looked at what was a sea of Lady DateJusts and was about to turn around when I saw these 3 little subdials amidst the sea of Dj's, I moved closer to get a better look and almost lost it when I realized it was as SS white dial Daytona. I looked back at him and he was wearing a mask so I couldn't read him, so idiotically I started jumping up and down screaming "NO WAY!" like an 8 year old girl, he didn't say no, and he went over and took it out of the case and placed it in my hand and I was literally shaking. More because of the gesture and the how they totally got me, it was a great experience. So I'm going to have to put my Speedmaster on hold. It's still in my sites. I'm still exited two days after as you can probably tell by this long story. And didn't Sean Connery kill someone with a Submariner? I've heard the story about the costume designer and that she thought that an Omega Seamaster was something that a sophisticated man of the world who was probably trained as some type of naval or other water trained army special force would wear. I'd say that the Submariner and the Seamaster fit that description very well.

That was actually a thing up till the mid 50's. I remember seeing it done in a crime drama and in a crime story style comic book. Saw it tried in real life as well , though in that case the band was an expanding type that failed. A bracelet with links could do some damage but could not protect the hand at the same time.
I guess it fell out of favor when men's watches became larger and did not nest in the grip very well.

I have always appreciated both brands, and like you, became more interested in Omega due to Rolex fatigue. I may be in the minority but the Bond connection did nothing for me, watch-wise. I cannot say I’m immune to media influence as I once contemplated a seamaster due to Ray Donovan 😀

Everyone has their particular taste but with me I felt the original Bond-Omega connection by Pierce Brosnan seemed natural, not at all contrived. Of course later on Omega played it up with subsequent watches but that isn't a bad thing. After all business is business 👍