Earlier this month Omega unveiled a new collection that has the watch world talking: the Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond and Spectre editions. One side celebrates 007 himself, the other his old adversaries. It's a fun idea, and for us it's also the perfect excuse to talk about the Seamasters that came before it, some of which are sitting in our vault right now.
What Omega Announced
The new collection launched on 6 October and is made up of six watches. Two steel models are available individually, while two boxed limited editions, each restricted to 77 sets, pair a steel watch with a matching platinum-gold version. Every piece uses a 42mm case, 300m water resistance and Omega's automatic Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806, with a 55-hour power reserve.
Bond Versus Spectre
The two steel watches take very different approaches to the same diver:
- James Bond edition: a blue aluminium dial with a laser-etched wave pattern, a Grade 5 titanium bezel ring, and Bond's famous gun-barrel motif on the movement's rotor.
- Spectre edition: a grained black dial, a textured black ceramic bezel ring, and the Spectre octopus emblem on the caseback.
Both steel models come on a steel mesh bracelet with a folding clasp, measure 42mm by 14.23mm, and are priced at CHF 6,700 each. The boxed platinum-gold sets sit at CHF 70,000, with 18k white gold dials carrying gradient gun-barrel or octopus patterns.
Why the Wave Dial Still Matters
What jumps out to us is that blue wave dial. Omega's wave pattern has been a Seamaster signature for decades, and it became world famous on the Seamaster Professional 300M that first appeared on Bond's wrist in the 1990s. This new release is proof that the design still has real pulling power, and it's a reminder of why the earlier Seamasters remain so loved by collectors.
The Vintage Route to a Seamaster
Not everyone wants to spend thousands of francs on a brand-new diver, and plenty of people simply prefer a watch that has already lived a little. The Seamaster name has been on Omega dials since 1948, which means there's a huge range of vintage pieces to choose from, from sporty divers to dressy 1970s automatics.
Here are three Seamasters currently in our vault:
- Vintage Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer 300m – Blue Wave Dial – Stainless Steel Bracelet, £1,250. If the new Bond watch caught your eye, this is the one to look at. It has the deep blue wave dial, scalloped diver's bezel, helium escape valve at 10 o'clock and a 300m/1000ft marking on the dial.
- Vintage Omega Seamaster 120m Quartz – Two-Tone Stainless Steel & Gold-Tone Watch – Champagne Dial, £650. Bold 1980s styling, with a champagne dial, a gold-tone bezel with screw-style detailing and an integrated two-tone bracelet.
- Vintage Omega Seamaster Automatic Date Watch | Gold Tone Cushion Case Swiss, £595. A 1970s-style cushion case with a silver/cream dial and date, for anyone who prefers the dressier side of the Seamaster story.
Like every watch we sell, each one has been checked by our in-house specialists. Want to see more? Browse the full In the Safe collection.
Final Thoughts
Omega's Bond and Spectre editions show that the Seamaster is as relevant today as ever. Whether you're on 007's side or Spectre's, the good news is that you don't need a new release to own a piece of Seamaster history.
Explore more vintage pieces at skylinesjewellery.co.uk, and catch us live on TILT every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 9pm.