Omega watches have been an official part of the James Bond 007 franchise since the early 1990s - spanning nine Bond 007 films. The film No Time To Die was especially emotional for everyone involved because it is the last 007 film in which actor Daniel Craig played the role of James Bond 007. If you haven't seen the film yet, I want to warn you that I will mention some spoilers, as it's really hard to discuss this reference 210.90.42.20.01.001 Seamaster 300M 007 watch without mentioning key plot elements of the film. This is the first thing you need to know about these watches.
This is not just another limited edition Omega 007 watch, but the exact piece worn by Daniel Craig in the film as James Bond. This is not the first time Omega has released consumer watches worn by Mr. Craig in a film, but this is obviously the first watch to which Daniel Craig himself contributed. Thus, besides being the last James Bond 007 watch, it was developed with very specific feedback and recommendations from Craig. For this reason, I personally call the Seamaster 300M No Time To Die the "Daniel Craig Edition."
Omega invited us to watch No Time To Die with them in Los Angeles, and as a special treat, Daniel Craig appeared alongside Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann. It was revealed that when it was time to develop new watches for the next 007 film, which was known at the time to be the last featuring Daniel Craig, Omega clearly wanted to make the James Bond watch as Daniel Craig thought it should be. Craig became a watch enthusiast as part of his relationship with 007, and he wanted the watch to evoke the feel of classic military watches similar to what Ian Fleming (the creator of James Bond) might have imagined for James Bond. Fleming served in the Royal Navy, so the product focused on modern watches that would look like vintage British military watches. Ironically, Craig recently became an honorary member of the British Navy thanks to his portrayal of James Bond. The Omega Seamaster 300M No Time To Die was conceived as something worn by someone serving in the British Navy (i.e., James Bond), and then the actor playing the character who wears these watches becomes "part" of the British Navy. So it turned out to be quite beneficial for everyone involved.
Along with the desire for the No Time To Die watch to look elegant, Craig was very interested in enhancing the wearability of the watch. He was right in stating that James Bond needed something lightweight and reliable, given all the combat scenes. Omega managed to really reduce the weight of the watch by making it out of grade 2 titanium (the first fully titanium pieces for this generation of Seamaster 300M), and also made the watch thinner by changing the bezel and sapphire crystal to a more vintage domed effect reminiscent of acrylic crystals (but of course in sapphire - this is not the Speedmaster). Note that "standard" Seamaster 300M models have flatter sapphire crystals. The curved glass does increase glare and thus makes the watch more challenging to photograph, but in real life, this effect helps give the watch a more vintage look.
While not everyone loves "fauxtina" lume (coloring the lume to make it appear aged), I adore the brown/tan lume as opposed to white or green. The combination of natural gray titanium, tan-colored luminous material, and slightly brown matte black color of the dial and bezel creates a very retro style that is nonetheless very fashionable. The colors are also very vibrant. The 42mm wide case wears broadly, and the tones of the watch are so well visible on Daniel Craig's wrist in the latest 007 film, even when the watch is not quite in focus. Moreover, these are the very watches worn by James Bond as played by Craig when he dies (to ensure he is not brought back as 007, I suppose)! While you don't have to watch the film to enjoy this product, watching the film indeed adds a new dimension of enjoyment to wearing or owning the watch.
The Seamaster 300M is a diver-style sports watch with a water resistance of 300 meters and a characteristic manual helium release valve at the "10 o'clock" position on the case. In this model, Omega removes the ceramic bezel insert and replaces it with an older aluminum bezel insert. Nevertheless, Omega did not simply decide to throw technology back in time. Omega explained that in or after the anodizing process, a special crystal coating is used, which colors the aluminum. Essentially, it does not make the aluminum bezel as scratch-resistant as ceramic or sapphire, but it should noticeably improve the basic scratch resistance of anodized aluminum.
As for the mechanism, Omega uses the in-house caliber 8806 with an automatic Master Chronometer co-axial movement, operating at a frequency of 4 Hz with a power reserve of 55 hours and equipped with a silicon balance spring. The mechanism is also METAS certified, which, among other things, means its high resistance to magnetic fields. Unlike most modern Seamaster 300M watches with an open case back, the No Time To Die Edition model has a closed case back with text meant to look like on real military-style wristwatches or gear. Returning to the watch dial, we see a clean, symmetrical dial without a date and with highly contrasting elements. What I really like about this dial (besides the eye-pleasing colors) is how it combines the appeal of vintage watches with relatively modern Seamaster 300M dial elements that date back to the early 1990s.
In the film, Daniel Craig not only looks good in his Seamaster 300M No Time To Die but, of course, it plays a certain role, like his other gadgets. It can also be argued that the 007 No Time To Die film overall feels like one long wristwatch and Omega commercial. The combination of all the shots with the watch in the film, along with many key dialogue lines, makes the movie engaging, which largely confirms the practice of fascination and wearing watches as emotional objects.
The most amusing play with mechanical watches in the film is how Q equips James Bond's watch with a small EMP (electromagnetic pulse) device. The idea is that it emits a magnetic shockwave so powerful that it can disable electronics within a certain range. It's amusing because watchmakers like the idea of old mechanical wristwatch technology defeating quartz watches or someone making themselves particularly relevant. Therefore, you can imagine how a watchmaker would be delighted to see James Bond wearing a mechanical watch capable of disabling modern technology. Just try not to pay attention to some of the plot holes that this particular gadget introduces into the story - the use of the 007 wristwatch.
The watch, conceived by actor 007 Daniel Craig as his final testament to the James Bond character he played for several years, and which features prominently in his last James Bond film, is itself a remarkable story. Even better, the final product is very well made. It would not be as interesting as ordinary Seamaster 300M with different colors. Omega changed the case and dial and added many meaningful details, from case markings to packaging, designed to connect this product with the film No Time To Die and that version of James Bond embodied by Daniel Craig.
It's hard not to love these watches dedicated to James Bond 007, and it's impossible to deny how popular they are for Omega as a brand, given the business offering a connection with Bond. Accordingly, Omega takes this product very seriously and does an excellent job of creating a product that can appeal to both an enthusiast and a layperson (with a budget) who truly admires the James Bond universe.
Omega offers two versions of the Seamaster 300M No Time To Die Edition model, differing only in whether they come with a NATO-style strap (inspired by the one worn by Sean Connery's James Bond) or with a matching (and highly recommended) Milanese titanium bracelet (mesh metal). Although, to be honest, I do not understand why they sell the watch only with the titanium bracelet and include the strap additionally. In any case, both models have the same article number 210.90.42.20.01.001 and cost $8,100 USD for the strap and $9,200 USD for the Milanese titanium bracelet. More detailed information can be found on the Omega watches website.