The character of James Bond has been a symbolic figure for years, representing style, power, and dignity. Bond is known for his iconic Vesper martini, suave suits, gadgets, adventure, and a fantastic choice of luxury watches.
Over the course of nearly six decades and 25 films, the 007 agent has worn a slew of timepieces from iconic watchmakers, including Rolex, Omega, Seiko, and others. Bond embraces a unique charm, and each of his timepieces has its own signature style.
Here, we rank the 7 most iconic watches the legendary secret agent wore in different films.
Top 7 James Bond Watches Of All Time
1. ROLEX SUBMARINER
Worn By: Sean Connery in “Dr. No” (1962)
Sean Connery most possibly wore the most iconic Bond watch of all time – the Rolex Submariner. Rolex was popular not only with the Bond character but also with the actor who played the role. Sean Connery was a big fan of the Crown and was often spotted wearing one.
Connery wore the Rolex Submariner 6538, commonly referred to as the ‘James Bond Submariner’ or the ‘Bond Sub’. It’s easy to see why this was the chosen model for one of the most well-dressed spies in cinema history. It has a big Brevet crown of 8mm, a red triangle on the bezel, and a gilt dial. What’s more famous is that the superspy wore this Big Crown Submariner not on an Oyster bracelet but on a stripped NATO-style strap that appeared quite skinny for the piece.
The Submariner was largely considered a diver’s watch before Connery changed the narration. Today, it is one of the most popular Rolex models of all time.
2. PRE-DAYTONA ROLEX CHRONOGRAPH
Worn by: George Lazenby in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969)
George Lazenby took over the role of Bond for ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ and wore two Rolex watches in one film – one a Submariner Ref. 5513 while the other is the Oyster Perpetual ‘Pre-Daytona’ chronograph Ref. 6238. The latter is the overwhelming one, most loved by fans.
The Pre-Daytona Rolex chronograph in the film has a red second hand, which Bond uses as a compass. This 36mm stainless steel model featured a silver dial with a tachymeter scale ring and luminous minute and hour hands in black. The Ref. 6238 established the foundation for the modern-day Rolex Daytona design. The red hand did not come originally with the watch but was made after the producer requested it, making this Lazenby-worn Rolex Pre-Daytona chronograph model particularly rare.
Just like Connery, Lazenby was a fan of Rolex pieces and has been spotted wearing premium models from the brand over the years.
3. SEIKO
Worn by: Roger Moore in “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977)
While Roger Moore’s Bond wore watches from other brands like the Tissot Seastar and Rolex Submariner, Seiko watches became a staple in the character’s style after Moore’s portrayal.
The Seiko 0674 LC worked as a pager, fusing a label-making printer into high-tech gadget duty. Crafted from stainless steel, this iconic 40mm x 34mm rectangular model stands out for its unique ticker-tape feature, printing out tiny messages from fellow super spies. This notable feature made the watch appear futuristic to viewers. Many used them as nifty gadgets, too. Moore wore various other Seiko models, but the Seiko 0674 was the most memorable.
Digital watches were on the rise from the mid to late 1970s, and their connection to the Bond franchise only amplified their popularity.
4. OMEGA SEAMASTER
Worn by: Pierce Brosnan in “Goldeneye” (1995)
Pierce Brosnan’s iteration of James Bond marked the beginning of something new – the fact we all have known for quite some time now – James Bond’s love for OMEGA. It wasn’t before Pierce Brosnan that Omega became an indispensable part of the Bond character. However, he wore only two watches from the Swiss watchmaker during his stay.
Things started with the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Quartz Ref. 2541.80, a 41mm stainless steel model featuring a blue dial, blue bezel and stainless steel bracelet. Staying true to the Bond legacy of gadget-laden watches, this Omega Seamaster came equipped with two special features: a laser beam and an integrated remote detonator. The laser shoots out of the 12 o’clock lume on the bezel, and the remote detonator function is activated by pressing the helium valve crown.
Thanks to its sharp looks and performance, the Seamaster 2541.80 was the right choice for Brosnan’s lead role.
5. TAG HEUER
Worn by: Timothy Dalton in “The Living Daylights” (1987)
Timothy Dalton landed the role of James Bond in 1987, bringing a less humourous edge to the character. Surprisingly, watches weren’t a big feature of Dalton’s Bond, and the Tag Heuer Professional Night-Drive shared screen presence for less than 10 seconds in The Living Daylights.
This Tag Heuer Professional Night-Drive Ref. 980.031 comes in a 36mm black PVD case with a luminous dial and a black PVD jubilee bracelet. Unfortunately, as the dial was never seen clearly on the big screen, it is hard to ascertain whether it was a ‘Heuer’ or ‘Tag Heuer’ logo on the dial. As the company changed its name in the late 1980s, while the film was shooting, both models (with/without) were available at retail. Overall, the sturdy and stylish watch fits Bond’s character quite well in this movie.
However, Dalton returned to sporting the iconic Rolex Submariner in his next 1989 movie, License to Kill. This movie is unforgettable mainly because of two very prominent reasons—the compelling storyline and the iconic Submariner Date Ref. 16610 that Dalton wears. Additionally, it was the last time Bond wore a Rolex, which made it even more special.
6. BREITLING
Worn by: Sean Connery in “Thunderball” (1965)
Besides the Rolex Submariner, Sean Connery only wore the Breitling Top Time. This vintage watch is commonly referred to as the Thunderball model among collectors because of its association with the James Bond movie.
The custom 36mm Breitling Top Time Chronograph Ref. 2002 worn in the film featured an integrated Geiger counter and was issued to 007 by Q. It has a stark black dial with two silver sub-dials, applied baton hour markers and a tachymeter scale surrounding it. The contemporary and simple design of the Top Time appealed to the trailblazing spirit of the 60s youth.
Fun fact: This Breitling Top Time with a Geiger counter used in the movie ended up in the flea market after the film ended, where it was purchased for a mere £25. In 2013, it went on to fetch over £ 1, 00,000 at an auction, making it one of the most expensive Breitling watches ever sold.
7. OMEGA SEAMASTER
Worn by: Daniel Craig in “No Time to Die: (2021)
We saved the best for last. The ultimate James Bond watch award goes to Omega, the one Daniel Craig most recently wore in his movie No Time to Die. This 007-edition model is packed with style and innovation and is arguably the best-designed and best-received Bond watch.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Master Chronometer ‘007 Edition’ Ref. 210.90.42.20.01.001 has achieved the industry’s highest precision, chronometric performance and magnetic resistance standards with its high-quality features and functions. The watch is crafted in a 42mm Grade 2 Titanium case and has a matching mesh bracelet. The flat brown tropical aluminium bezel surrounds a brown ‘tropical’ dial with vintage-style lume markers and British-armed forces inspired ‘Broad Arrow’ marking over the 6 o’clock. The watch can be fitted to a utilitarian vintage-style mesh bracelet or a grey and black NATO strap.
This Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ‘007 Edition’ was designed exclusively for this movie and was also the first watch worn by Daniel Craig’s iteration of Bond. In fact, Craig took so much special interest in what would be his final Bond watch that he was even involved in the watch design process.
WHAT NEXT?
With speculation running on who will take over Craig’s iconic role in the coming days, one thing remains constant – Omega now celebrates 25 years as the official watch of James Bond and will most certainly be seen in the upcoming 007’s wrist.
Looking back at how Bond’s style has evolved over the years, it is safe to say that the next James Bond character will sport a timepiece that is technologically advanced and stylish at the time.
