A Diamond Is Forever…

It is now official, the Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch, that is. To celebrate fifty years of James Bond films, OMEGA is releasing a special update of the incredibly popular Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond watch which has been worn by 007 in every adventure since GoldenEye.  The James Bond 007 50th Anniversary Collector’s Piece has been created in two sizes, 41 mm and 36 mm, and there are some particulars for each model — notably, the 41 mm version is being produced in a limited edition of 11’007 pieces and the 36.25 mm version in a limited edition of 3’007 pieces (a bit more reasonable for a “limited edition”).  As well, the 36mm case size has a diamond index at the 7 o’clock position.  Read on for more details and high resolution pics of the new James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch…

Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch (OFFICIAL)

41mm and 36.25mm stainless steel case options, OMEGA calibre 2507 self-winding movement (Co-axial, COSC), indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova with a blue emission, date window at 3 o’clock, lacquered black dial features a 007 monogram

“50″ Years of 007

diamond index at 7 o’clock (36mm version only)

The Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch has a ceramic bezel with diving scales in matt chromium nitride with the number “50″ in red as a reminder that the watch is celebrating a very special anniversary.

The Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch has a screw-in case back stamped with a gun-barrel design. There is a “bullet” decoration fixed on the rotor that can be viewed through a central sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside. The watch also has a unidirectional rotating bezel.  A helium escape valve allows helium atoms to escape during decompression, particularly necessary for professional divers operating from diving bells. As its name suggests, the watch is water resistant up to 300 metres.

Don’t forget — in 2012, EON Productions will release Skyfall, the 23rd film in the franchise, with Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond

Left to right:  Bérénice Marlohe (Sévérine), Daniel Craig (James Bond 007), Naomie Harris (Eve)

Well, well, well — looks like Omega will be releasing a “limited edition” Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch this year. For now the details are scant on this watch — credit to HODINKEE for scooping this release via an Omega dealer in the UK who looks to have gotten ahead of itself in posting the watch on its website (the watch has been taken down from the dealer’s site).  As you can see in the spy shots below, the Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary edition features a “007″ theme on dial with a red “50″ on the bezel (50th anniversary).  The coolest part of this watch is the back — you can see the signature “bullet in a gun barrel” view that is present in the opening sequence of every James Bond movie.  The bullet is further inscribed with “50 years of James Bond.”   Interestingly, as Hodinkee pointed out, 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series — though fifty years ago Bond was not wearing an Omega at all.

Omega Seamaster James Bond 50th Anniversary Watch

“Limited edition” of 11,007 pieces

Editor note:  given such high production volume, I do not consider this a true limited edition piece — why not make 12,007 pieces in recognition of the year of production (2012) instead?

41mm steel case, automatic mechanical Omega’s caliber 2507 co-axial movement

Here’s a first look at the newest Omega Seamaster, the Aqua Terra GMT, powered by Omega’s Co-Axial Caliber 8605/8615.  According to Omega, the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8605/8615 is the first of OMEGA’s proprietary movements to be equipped with a GMT complication.  Its GMT hand has a diamond-polished red arrow, making it easy to track time in a second time zone or GMT display.  And this certainly is an interesting execution of a GMT watch — the 24 hour ring is set in-line with the inner edge of the hour markers, with the combination of the 2 providing the marks required for GMT time.  I don’t think I have seen a GMT execution like this before; most often you see the GMT hours kept on the outer edge of the dial or even the bezel.  I think Omega’s attempt at moving the GMT time inward on the dial looks good!  It helps that the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra — with its teak wood-patterned dial — is a beautiful looking watch to begin with.  The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra price is TBD.

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT

43mm steel case (red gold, gold/steel combo cases also available), automatic mechanical Omega caliber 8605/8615 movement, GMT function, date window

closer look at the dial:

Did You Know?

The GMT hand can also be used for compass orientation: when the watch is held parallel to the ground with its hour hand pointed in the direction of the sun, the GMT hand, when it is adjusted to the same time on the 24-hour GMT display, will indicate north in the northern hemisphere.

If you have ever been in an Omega Boutique you will know that the brand sells a small selection of leather goods in addition to its watches.  I recall seeing small bags, briefcases, padfolios and similar items in the New York boutique.  No surprise then to see that Omega now offers an iPad cover.  I personally find the “Omega logo ” stamped outer to be a bit tacky, but if you are looking for a gift for an iPad owning, Omega-loving person, it may be worth a quick stop by your nearest Omega boutique!

Omega iPad Cover

black or brown, embossed with Omega logo

This one’s for you, golf fans.  Yes, Omega really did create this watch to celebrate its presence in the world of golf — a new “Green” Seamaster Aqua Terra, featuring a green Seamaster notation and minute markers around the edge of the dial.  OK, it’s a very fairly subtle modification change to a basic Seamaster Aqua Terra, but I must admit it looks pretty good.  Green can be a very vibrant color, so it is probably good that Omega used it in just a few places on the dial to achieve the desired visual effect.  Omega uses orange on its Seamaster Planet Ocean watches in a similar manner.  Nothing to jump up and down about, but I would say that the new Green Seamaster Aqua Terra gives watch fans a nice new choice in this stylish but otherwise understated collection from Omega.

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial (Golf Green)

41.5mm stainless steel case, automatic mechanical Omega Co-Axial Caliber 8500 (COSC), steel bracelet,

To commemorate the London 2012 Olympic Games, Omega recently introduced the Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial “London 2012″ Limited Edition.   Omega is also the Official Timekeeper the London 2012 Games, its 25th time as official timer for the Olympics.   Aside from its beauty and timeless style, this watch has some nice historical tie-ins — the very first Omega Seamaster was launched in 1948, the last time London hosted the Olympic Games and fittingly, Omega was also responsible for the timekeeping at the 1948 Games.  The Omega Seamaster 1948 “London 2012″ price is $6,800.

OMEGA Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial “London 2012″

Limited Edition of 1,948 pieces (Individually Numbered)

39mm stainless steel case, automatic mechanical Omega caliber 2202 (rhodium plated, COSC, co-axial escapement), Small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, Water-resistance is 120 meters; fitted on a black leather strap with matching polished buckle

The caseback is solid with yellow gold and engraved with the London 2012 Olympic logo

Let’s hear it for the Red, White and Blue…

Get a look at this beautiful new Omega Speedmaster Apollo 15 watch which pays tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 15 mission.  Apollo 15 officially landed on the moon on July 30, 1971.  This is the second watch Omega has done in tribute to the Apollo 15 mission (see FLASHBACK below).  Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the American Apollo space program, the fourth to land on the Moon and the eighth successful manned mission.  It was also the first mission where the Lunar Roving Vehicle was used.  This watch is highly symbolic and also very tastefully designed.  The red, white and blue elements on the dial are the same used for the mission insignia (see Apollo 15 mission patch below).  The case back has a stamped rendition of the Lunar Lander (see below).  The limited edition Speedmaster Apollo 15 watch will be hitting stores soon with a price of about $7,000.

Omega Speedmaster Apollo 15 40th Anniversary Watch

Limited Edition 1,971 pieces

Apollo 15 40th Official Insignia

Commander: David Scott  |  Command Module Pilot: Alfred Worden   | Lundar Module Pilot: James Irwin

caseback:

FLASHBACK: The Omega Speedmaster Ref 3366.51, itself also a limited-edition (though less attractive) tribute to the Apollo 15 mission was issued 5 years ago to market the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 15 mission.  See also the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 40th Anniversary edition and the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz 35th anniversary watch introduced in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Omega Speedmaster Apollo 15 35th Anniversary Watch

issued 2006

Did you Know?

Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV)

The LRV allowed Apollo 15, 16 and 17 astronauts to venture further from the Lunar Module than in previous missions. Total surface traverses increased from hundreds of meters during earlier missions to tens of kilometers during Apollo 15 and 16 and just over 100 kilometers during Apollo 17.

The new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronographs are among the best new watches to be announced for 2011.  Like the 2011 Omega Speedmaster I wrote about earlier, the new Omega Seamster Planet Ocean features Omega’s new Co-Axial Caliber 9300 movement (itself the first in-house Omega Caliber to feature a chronograph function).  I like the 45.5mm case size (smaller wrists can often wear this watch) and the orange “PloProf” (diver-style) mini-chronograph hand on the 3′oclock sub-dial is really a great touch.  As well, the watch boasts the usual Planet Ocean diver features including 600 meter water resistance rating, unidrectional rotating bezel, helium escape valve — all of the high quality divers we have come to expect from Omega.  The new Caliber 9300 chronos are available in the variations shown below, black ceramic or orange bezel insert.  Available Fall 2011.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono Cal.9300/9301

black bezel

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono Cal.9300/9301

orange bezel

“Theme Shot”

While I most appreciate the new Seamaster Planet Ocean Titanium Liquidmetal that Omega unveiled at Baselworld 2011, Omega’s new Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph is also worth a look.  If you are wondering what is so special about this particular Speedmaster, I’ll tell you:  it is the first Speedy to have an in-house Omega Caliber with co-axial escapement, the new Omega Caliber 9300 (or Caliber 9301).  Lest you forget this important development, Omega has included a “Co-Axial Chronometer” notation on the dial at 6 o’clock, which I think is a nice touch.  The Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph price is approx. $7,800.  Deep pockets might prefer the platinum cased model, priced around $35,000, or the 18K red gold version somewhere in between these price points.

Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph

44.25mm steel case, Omega Caliber 9300 / Omega Caliber 9301, 100m water resistance, on black leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet

Note the somewhat modified dial layout – just two subdials instead of the classic 3-6-9 o’clock layout.  The right-side subdial has two hands in it (chronograph minutes and hours).

For a live look at the new Speedmaster Co-Axial you can turn to my watch friend RJ and his friendly blog FratelloWatches:

you can click through to Fratello for a couple more pics if interested.

For a little bit of background on the new Caliber 9300/9301, I want to turn to my fellow watch blogger and Omega expert Desmond who runs New Omega Watch Reviews (the man knows his Omega stuff!):  “Despite rumours to the contrary, the new 9300 series has been built from the bottom plate up. It is a 14 lignes column wheel movement, measuring 31.581 mm in width, and while superficially similar in appearance to the calibre 8500 series it has not been piggy-backed off this 29mm diameter movement. It does, however, feature a double barrel power system providing a reserve of sixty hours and is equipped with a tri-level co-axial escapement. The movement has a column wheel transfer and a vertical clutch which Omega developed especially for this series.”

Omega Caliber 9301

vs. the Caliber 9300, the Cal. 9301 is enhanced with a red gold bridge + decorative red gold rotor (pictured).  column wheel chronograph with silicon balance spring

Look for the new Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph with Caliber 9300/9301 to become a mainstay in the Omega watch collection.

The new Omega Planet Ocean Titanium & Liquidmetal – 45.5mm titanium case with Liquidmetal bezel.  Movement is Omega’s Co-Axial Calibre 8500.   Rubber strap.  An absolute beauty.   Look’s like Omega is not going to let Rolex entirely steal the show this year!

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Titanium Liquidmetal

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