Long before I picked up the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition, I have always had a fascination with wristwatches. My first memory of a watch was an Omega, probably a Seamaster, a simple 3 hander in Gold. Growing up, for me, Omega was the watch brand. There was some vague knowledge of their watches going to the moon or something, but I was always more interested in the Ocean, Waterproof, diver, Seamaster!

So, I purchased my first “real” luxury watch in 1997 (There had been a Tag Heuer Quartz before that but that’s another story…), I had a particular specification in mind, it had to be an automatic movement, chronograph, made out of Titanium and of course, it had to be a diver. After some research and the advice of a knowledgeable salesperson, I purchased an Omega Seamaster Chronograph in Titanium (2298.80.00). it was based on the model that the new, Omega clad, James Bond wore in the guise of Pierce Brosnan.

His was a quartz non-chronograph version. It was a beautiful design, with a gorgeous bracelet. The salesperson also showed me a Rolex Sea-Dweller but to my mind at the time, it felt less substantial and the bracelet felt a bit cheap (Especially given that it was more expensive than the Seamaster). I loved my Seamaster Chrono and still do despite the fact that it had to be replaced by Omega after 6 months due to it losing minutes a day and them not being able to fix it. A subsequent visit back to the Omega Service department due to a pusher popping out of the watch put me off Omega quality for years. This was the last Omega I purchased, I moved on to Panerai and then discovered Rolex and have never looked back…….

Until early in 2020 when I saw the new No Time to Die (NTTD) Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition (210.90.42.20.01.001) Omega have been the Bond watch since 1995 with the release of Goldeneye. They have given James (as he is known to his friends) a number of different watches since then. Some have been brilliant (the blue wave dial Seamaster 300 mentioned above) and some have been well…… Big and Ugly. Cough, Cough, Planet Ocean, Cough…

In 2020, to coincide with the release of the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die, Omega released something special, a totally new Omega Seamaster, all Titanium including a neat and very comfortable Titanium milenese strap/bracelet. I purchased this, my second Omega in December of 2020. I purchased the strap version and managed to get them to throw in the “Bond” NATO. The subdued colours of the NATO perfectly match the grey and brown colouring of the watch.

The NTTD Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition to me is an evolution of the Brosnan Seamaster. Gone is the glitz of the alternate polished/brushed link bracelet and beautiful 3 dimensional wave dial. This watch is low-key at 42mm. It disappears on the wrist, it’s very legible but does not attract the eye. There are no shiny surfaces and the domed crystal and overall colouring almost give it an older watch look. The Titanium is brushed and dull. The dial is a flat brown colour, and the markers have a tanned lume that again adds to its old/used look. The overall look is subdued. This watch complements the gritty no-nonsense Daniel Craig Bond of today, no more classy Brioni suits, replaced now by Tom Ford low key suave.

This is a tool watch, albeit a very expensive one. You may not necessarily wear it on your next adventure or even when you are mowing the lawn but rest assured, if you did, it could handle it. It wears very comfortably and looks great on the unique milenese strap/bracelet. Changing over to the specific NATO strap gives it an even more casual look. Both strap and NATO are of extremely high quality. The finish on both is excellent. The Lume on this watch is brilliant. Everything glows, the hands and markers on the face and bezel, something more dive watches need to have. The hands are skeletonized, like its 1995 predecessor, which for me is just right.

As a bonus the minute hand and 12 o’clock bezel lume are Green, easily differentiating it from the hour hand in the dark. This comes in handy when diving or getting up to go to the loo at 3am.

Fit on the wrist with the titanium strap is good but I have a larger wrist (7”). My son has a slightly smaller wrist and finds the strap a little hard to get comfortable. If you have a smaller wrist it may be best to stick with the NATO or at least try it on before committing to the Titanium strap.

Given its price point is a lot higher than the standard Seamaster, this watch is not for everyone. I would recommend this watch for Seamaster enthusiasts and for Bond watch enthusiasts or to anyone after a modern Omega that is a little different from their main offering. I think this watch will age well and will become a bit of a niche classic.