Laser in the bezel pip. Hand grenade trap-setter from afar. Blinding light generator from the hour markers. Grappling hook from the crown. Explosive detonator in the guise of a helium escape valve. The Seamaster has been associated with the James Bond movie franchise since 1995, and has continued to be so through the most recent iteration – starring Daniel Craig – of Bond in “No Time to Die” in 2020. But let’s back up a bit.
Omega debuted the Seamaster family – like this near NOS and recently serviced Seamaster Professional 300 here, an all original 2007 example, aka the “Bond Seamaster”– in 1948 to celebrate the company’s Omega’s 100th anniversary loosely based upon designs made for the British Royal Navy near the end of World War II, and was, in essence, a “splash-proof” dress watch – it now holds the honor of the longest running model since Omega’s founding in 1848.
By the mid-1990s, Omega Seamaster had fallen slightly out of popularity; however the Seamaster received a major boon when it was selected as the James Bond watch. Although Bond’s author Ian Flemming had Bond with a Rolex watch in his novel (and Flemming wore a Rolex himself), Omega pushed Rolex out of the film as the costume designer noted Omega was more historically relevant to the British Royal Navy and, in turn, the James Bond character.
It was “Goldeneye” production designer Lindy Hemming who switched Bond to wearing a Seamaster. Her personal experience with British military men led her to believe the Seamaster was a logical choice of a more modern James Bond. The first Seamaster adorned by a James Bond was Pierce Brosnan, who wore the Ref. 2541.80, a quartz Seamaster Professional with a blue dial, in 1995’s Goldeneye.
Two years later he wore the Ref. 2531.80 – like the one here, the automatic chronometer version of the watch – in “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) and again in “The World is Not Enough” (1999) and “Die Another Day” (2002). Hemming noted, “I was convinced that Commander Bond — a naval man and a discreet gentleman of the world — would wear a watch to match. My father was an RAF man and I remember his naval colleagues visiting us when I was a child. I vividly recall the Omega he wore. On this basis, I fought for the Seamaster to be the timepiece for Pierce Brosnan”
This Omega comes with its original Omega Seamaster-signed bracelet, nylon strap, springbar tool, and Pelican travel case.
Near NOS 2007 Omega Seamaster Professional 300, Ref. 2531.80 “Bond” Auto Diver
DIAL: Original Omega and Seamaster-signed dial, with its signature “wave” pattern, with original skeleton hands – second hand maintains its bright red hue, with no fade. Excellently bright lumed indices and hands, which shine brilliantly when exposed to strong light.
CASE: Original hefty 42mm (w/o crown, 46mm with) x 47.5mm stainless steel case, with brushed sides and sharp caselines; original caseback.
CRYSTAL: Original crystal, no cracks or scratches.
BAND: Original stainless-steel Omega Seamaster-signed bracelet with no scratches nor “desk diver” rash; links are tight. Bracelet can fit either a six inch or up to an eight-inch wrist, depending on if the dive suit extension is used. This Seamaster also comes with a black and blue “Bond” nylon strap, with stainless-steel hardware.
MOVEMENT: Original 21-jeweled Omega Calibre 1109 automatic mechanical movement, serviced in May 2020.
CROWN: Original Omega-signed stainless-steel crown; separate original Omega-signed helium escape valve.