Review: Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition

Hands-on review of the Omega Seamaster 300M 007 "NoTime to Die". Ref. 210.92.42.20.01.001 has a price of €9,200. One of our favourite Bond editions

Although the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition was originally unveiled in December 2019, we are delighted to be returning to speak of it since only recently the new model could be seen on the wrist of James Bond in "No Time to Die", the latest installment in the film series.

We recently had the pleasure to wear this watch for a few days and we are now delighted to share our impressions and pictures.

We can immediately say that we enjoyed the watch a lot and that we found it very comfortable on the wrist thanks to its lightweight and perfectly executed mesh bracelet.

Daniel Craig and the "No Time to Die" filmmakers actively collaborated in defining the specifications of this Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition. In particular, the actor suggested some vintage touches and colours while also recommending to use titanium for case and bracelet as a lightweight watch would be a plus for a military man like 007.

Omega used Grade 2 titanium which is pure titanium differently from Grade 5 titanium which is an alloy  combining titanium, aluminium and vanadium. 

While Grade 5 titanium is ideal when you want to obtain polished surfaces, Grade 2 titanium is the natural choice for "brushed" finished pieces. The result is a timepiece whose surfaces have a dim grey colour and do not reflect light, another requirement for a "military" equipment.

As if it was not enough, Grade 2 titanium is also corrosion-resistant, biochemically inert and able to withstand extreme temperatures. 

The case is 42 mm in diameter and 13 mm thick, slightly slimmer than the standard Seamaster Diver 300M models thanks to a new doming of the scratch-resistant sapphire-crystal glass with anti‑reflective treatment inside.

The screw-down crown, protected by robust guards, and the helium valve positioned on the caseband at 10 o'clock, contribute to make the watch water-resistant up to a pressure of 30 bar (approximately 300 metres / 1,000 feet). Characterised by a conical shape, the helium valve makes uses of an Omega patented technology that allows it to be operated underwater. 

The unidirectional, counter-clockwise rotating bezel features an aluminium inlay which, thanks to an anodisation process, can replicate a beautiful aged brown hue often referred to as "tropical". Moreover, anodisation makes aluminium harder and more resistant to damages.

Aluminium is also used for the dial featuring the same colour shade of the bezel.

The large applied hour markers and the skeletonised hands, just like the bezel numerals and indexes, are generously treated with "vintage" Super-LumiNova for enhanced readability in poor light conditions. They all glow in blue except for the minute hand and the bezel dot marking the dive start time which stand out in green.

The warm tones of the dial are enriched by touches or red for the Seamaster logo and the tip of the central seconds hand.

The Broad Arrow that we find on the dial and on the caseback is the traditional symbol that was used to mark British  military properties.

On the solid caseback, we also find a series of numbers strictly following the format for military-issue watches. “0552” is a naval code-number, with “923 7697” being the number for a divers’ watch. The letter “A” signifies a watch with a screw-in crown, while “007” is James Bond’s agent number. Finally, the number “62” is a reference to the year of the very first James Bond film. All of the engravings are perfectly aligned thanks to Omega's patented NAIAD locking system (Naiad was a water nymph in Greek mythology).

The movement of choice is the automatic Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 beating at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour with an autonomy of 55 hours. It features a free sprung-balance with silicon balance spring and it can resist to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 Gauss.

Movement and watch are tested according to the Master Chronometer certification process approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) whose testing criteria include: the average daily precision of the whole watch, precision of the movement when it is not yet cased (like COSC), precision when the movement is fully wound or near to the end of the power reserve, water resistance, and anti-magnetic resistance of the movement alone as well as of the entire watch.

The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition can be matched to either a striped NATO strap in dark brown, grey and beige (ref. 210.92.42.20.01.001) or to a super light titanium mesh bracelet secured to the wrist by a double folding clasp with security push-pieces (ref. 210.90.42.20.01.001). 

One of our favourite Bond editions for appearance and specifications, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition "No Time to Die" is a non-limited edition and has a price of Euro 9,200 / US$ 9,200 with bracelet or Euro 8,100 / US$ 8,100 when matched to its NATO strap. omegawatches.com