The Omega Seamaster is THE ONLY Bond Watch

[@monochromebluess]

Your best video in a long time. Very professionally put together. Well done Luke.

[@BondsApartment]

Thanks so much!!

[@CB-Phantom]

I concur!

[@kevinericsongs]

i'd love to see the new bond wearing an rolex explorer!

[@BondsApartment]

@@kevinericsongs same that would be awesome!

[@Harry-tb8yo]

Having the SMP 300 from Casino Royale and the Planet Ocean from Quantum of Solace I don't think there's just one brand or model that can be considered a "Bond watch". Bond is a very pragmatic guy and he would choose and make use of any watch that fulfills his requirements. He certainly wouldn't have any issues if his watch were a Breitling Superocean, a Tag Heuer Aquaracer or a JLC Master Compressor. I think a perfect match would also be the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Beautiful enough to wear it with a tux as well.

[@taylorshold7955]

Great video, Luke! Enjoyed this one a lot.

[@BondsApartment]

Thanks a ton!

[@BlahBlahYaga]

Another great video! Love talking watches, especially Omega!

[@robertp5123]

Thank you for this episode. Love when you do an Omega review. I’m a big Omega collector and watch enthusiast. Btw, the background with Bond props looks great.

[@BondsApartment]

Thanks so much, Robert!!

[@RighteousBrother]

New to this channel - great video, and you're not annoying!!

[@rzimmerman601]

Luke, you forgot to mention that Omega (Swatch Group) Pay Millions of dollars to be the "Only Bond Watch". A prudent investment for sure. What's your handicap these days?

[@BondsApartment]

Golf handicap? lol

[@pczTV]

I totally get that there may be division differences at the Swatch group, but with so many brands under their roof I don't understand why they didn't take advantage of the partnership to give some of the 'sidekicks" (sorry... Moneypenny and Felix both wear Omega) different products to highlight? Having everyone wear only Omega's is...weird. It's like everyone at work wearing a Rolex.

[@rzimmerman601]

@@pczTV Good point. Do you think we will ever see Bond wear a Speedmaster? I always thought that a chronograph would be a good tool watch for a MI6 agent, but I don't think Omega wants to cross that line.

[@menswearmusings]

I do love that the origin of the Seamaster being the Bond watch was a decision by the costume designer completely without monetary compensation from Omega. Yes, they locked that down with the financial partnership afterwards but the origin was all Lindy Hemming feeling that Rolex had become too posh and had negative connotations, while Omega had a working man’s vibe still, and her dad had served in the royal navy and been issued a Seamaster during his service.

[@patrickjean-philippe7679]

Oméga should cross that line I think.

[@keirraabdiaziz]

When it comes to fine imitation watches, nkuwan delivers. I've bought from them several times, and I've never been let down.

[@kevinrogers8779]

Fantastic job as usual! If never own another Bond watch, I have the best…the 2531.80! Keep up the great work!

[@GarethDix]

How is this video sitting at only 5.4k views it's a great summary of the bond watches

[@BondsApartment]

@@GarethDix thanks for the kind words, my friend!

[@LucasVieira-qe4yb]

Nice. But you forgot to mention the seamaster 2220.80 that appears in casino Royale. Daniel uses at the train, casino scenes but we can see more clearly at the boat in the end of the film. A beautiful upgrade from the brosnan era!

[@tonispark5626]

Wait a minute? He didnt mention the 2220.80 /

[@IrishScribbler]

Really enjoyed that, thanks. 👍

[@melvinabsalom8551]

Excellent video, thanks. Don’t think Moore wore a Rolex GMT in TSWLM though. I think that was only a publicity shot. Also (without weakening your case) Rolex supplied watches to the British Military (SBS) which is where the MILSUB comes from.

[@BondsApartment]

Yes you're right about the GMT

[@morganthau4448]

Rolex also supplied watches to Allied soldiers held in German POW camps during the war. They allowed them to pay for it when the war was over. Btw, Watches of Espionage website has tons of excellent articles about watches and real life espionage.

[@morganthau4448]

Former Omega CEO JC Biver explained how he made Omega Bond’s watch in IONs 007 movies. “They asked for $50,000, I gave them $2Million”. There you have it gents.

[@BRIANCOVER13]

Exactly 👍

[@bigriceburner]

😮

[@menswearmusings]

That was after Lindy Hemming had already picked Omega. It was an organic decision before any money was involved.

[@morganthau4448]

@@menswearmusings 🤭So, product placement in a billion dollar movie franchise is now organic. 🤣 Believe whatever you want buddy.

[@menswearmusings]

@@morganthau4448 if you think she’s a liar so be it but she has explicitly said there was no money involved whatsoever when she made that decision. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Obviously afterwards there became a huge amount of money involved to keep it that way.

[@markstewart5153]

I kind of see it as the newer era of Bond. From the earlier movies, he was a Rolex wearer, and then since 1995 he has been Omega exclusive. Omega definitely makes more sense with the Royal Navy/british military tie in. Great video!!

[@lonewolfemcquade8133]

Rolex will always be what James Bond wears. That's the way Ian Fleming intended. Anything that came after really doesn't count. Even though I know alot of Omega dudes can't stand that but facts are facts 💯

[@patrickjean-philippe7679]

Rolex is aspirational mass production for the masses, there are plenty everywhere one looks and they don’t make enough to satisfy the masses whereas Omega are more rare, exclusive as well as available ☝🏽

[@andycorso8498]

Read the Ian Fleming books….. JB wore Rolex……Omega tie in was just Movie business. The books were written when Rolex made tool watches rather Than the luxury that they make nowadays.

[@markstewart5153]

@ not disputing that the original bond (Fleming bond) wore the Rolex. I am just eluding that franchises/stories adapt and mold over time. Therefore the “newer” bond is sort of a new era, which he in turn wears an omega. No diss at all to the OG :)

[@EDC_Bond]

Rolex is the watch for the literary Bond, Omega is the cinematic Bond watch. And really, the Explorer is more appropriate than the Seamaster to claim the title of “OG Bond Watch.”

[@user-rz8fx3dp4h]

Also Rolex was Sean Connery's choice

[@morganthau4448]

@@user-rz8fx3dp4hRolex is Daniel Craig’s watch in real life.🥂

[@Madmanmarque]

The only reason Omega is the current Bond watch is because Swatch group paid EON. It could have easily been Breitling, JLC or any other high end marque. Rolex and Tudor has also had a connection with the Royal Navy.

[@chasekemp4982]

Bond did wear a vintage omega chronograph towards the end of Spectre that was not a seamaster. Hard to see but it was there.

[@BondsApartment]

Yes a friend of mine has it. @omegabondwatches

[@shotgunnsean]

To add to your case Sean Connery not only wore the Rolex, but also The Gruen dress watch in most of his James Bond films too. Also had a Breitling Top Time in Thuderball.

[@melvinabsalom8551]

Connery did wear an unidentified dress watch (May even be an Omega) but there is no evidence it was a Gruen and that is a most unlikely candidate.

[@BondsApartment]

Correct!!

[@PabloTBrave]

They envisaged bond only wearing a omega .... Is that before or after a huge bag of money traded hands

[@uncles2000]

There is no one quintessential Bond watch. The shear number of brands (Rolex, Gruen, Breitling, Tissot, Seiko, Pulsar, TAG Heuer, and Omega) featured in the movies back this up. What there is, is Fleming’s personal watch choice and book watches, Rolex, Bond watch. The Connery era, non gadget Bond watches. The Roger Moore, gadget era, Bond watches. The transitional actor era Bond watches. Finally, the paid for, product placement era, Omega Bond watches. There are two brands most associated with Bond and that is Rolex and Omega. The Submariner and Seamaster will forever be linked with Bond.

[@lonewolfemcquade8133]

The quintessential James Bond watch is a Rolex. That's the way Ian Fleming intended and that's the way it is. It's just seems alot of Omega dudes just can't stand this anything after the books don't count

[@steveb4012]

I own the Goldeneye and Casino Planet Ocean, both great watches and have found it hard to justify buying another newer model of either.

[@Paul_Whaley]

It's a hot take Luke, but one that I generally agree with. I could have bought any watch, but to scratch the Bond itch (a little itch, down there), I had to go with the classic SMP 300 2531.80. Either the Quantum Planet Ocean, or the Skyfall PO will be next, but the SMP 300 was my grail, and now that I have it, it's made it quite hard to want to buy something else. Love the video! Was looking forward to it after seeing the teaser on Insta!

[@anthonydry5265]

I've got the Seamaster from Goldeneye and the Planet Ocean from Solace. Top, top watches.

[@martinoconnor923]

I think all the watches Bond has worn on screen should be appreciated…. It’s like the films we all have our favourites but let’s not banish one to the corner ….. I have a soft spot for the Hamilton PSR …. Having said that as a child of the 70’s it’s my decade! Fab video!

[@BondsApartment]

Well said! Couldn't agree more. Thanks for watching!

[@patrickjean-philippe7679]

Excellent 👌🏽

[@imadhartleben]

My dady bought one #nkuwan and he loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when he went out with it.

[@KevinnGomez]

In the early 90s omega was nothing. And Jean Claude Bever was in charge of omega and was able to get the rights and have the watch shown for 20 seconds in the film

[@skyemoviesF89]

A nicely put together video but the central argument behind it is completely down to your own subjective preference towards Omega. The Rolex Submariner seen in the first 4 Connery Bond films is the ultimate Bond watch. It was Terence Young’s own personal watch loaned to Connery and those watches, both by Rolex and sister company Tudor, would have been issued to special forces at the time. And given that Goldfinger is seen by many as the pinnacle of the Bond franchise, he one that solidified the template and perfected the formula, featuring more iconic moments, lines, villains, Bond girls than any other Bond film as well as THAT DB5, then the watch he’s wearing surely gains an iconic status to match. The implementation of Rolex into the films happened naturally through Young as opposed to the more recent marketing move with Omega paying for the exclusivity.

[@matthewhelm3035]

“He could not just wear a watch. It had to be a Rolex.” Casino Royale 🥂Ian Fleming.

[@morganthau4448]

Maybe Luke never read Fleming’s books 😮

[@BondsApartment]

@@morganthau4448 I've read them.

[@shinyhappyshibas1385]

While true, the Rolex of Fleming's era is really the Omega of today's Bond, an excellent high quality tool watch. I doubt Fleming, if alive today, would have chosen Rolex. Always a fun argument either way.

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

While you are correct that Bond wore a Rolex in the novels, that quote is fake - it does not appear anywhere in Casino Royale, or indeed any of the other Fleming novels. I have read it before on some website (which is where I assume you found it) but it appears to be fabricated by the owner of the website.

[@TeaandTickers]

Hi, I need to correct you. Planet Ocean in Casino Royale was on a rubber strap, not a leather strap.

[@BondsApartment]

Sorry I misspoke.

[@faustopadilla3226]

Best. Episode. Ever.

[@BondsApartment]

Thanks so much!

[@johnprosser5035]

I have the Rolex Explorer because it's the watch always worn by Ian Fleming as he wrote the Bond books.... And why he wrote that James Bond wore a Rolex. As others have mentioned he now wears Omega because they paid to do so.

[@BondsApartment]

Yes that's correct

[@TheBondExperience]

Fantastic defense and evidential discussion. Hard to argue with your thinking!

[@BondsApartment]

Thanks David!!!

[@DrJRaven]

I have an Omega Seamaster that I was given to me by beautiful wife back in the late 1990’s. It’s a fantastic watch let down by their absolutely incompetent service division.

[@williamcoolidge9884]

You misspelled Seamaster in the title. 🙂

[@BondsApartment]

Oh no! Thank you!

[@williamcoolidge9884]

@@BondsApartment All good!

[@RelojesYRelojes]

Aaa love it! ❤ yes all the way

[@remingtonsteele3581]

I bodyguarded alot of celebrities, especially actors, and I spent a lot of time hanging around directors, producers, agents and managers. Product placement in movies from manufacturers has to fit with characters, and are welcomed as they cover million of production costs up front. Some brands give free products like clothes, vehicles and watches to actors to use ( they even cover the insurance and registration costs) as it becomes part of their advertising budget to have a star be seen by paparazzi driving their vehicles that they give/ loan to them at manufacturers cost price. Some brands don’t give free cars such as Range Rover in USA, as they believe their brand is already out there and luxurious. I have a Rolex Submariner and a NTTD Omega myself, but perhaps Rolex didn’t want to pay EON production and any product placement money, so they had to find another alternative- Omega; who’s worldwide status was well behind Rolex’s at the time. Just thoughts my fellow agents… just thoughts…

[@sharkgrayc7z06corvette9]

I really want the no time to die watch. I tried it on the other day and really like it. That being said, I think it’s overpriced at 10k… not sure I wanna spend 10k on it vs other watches

[@patrickjean-philippe7679]

It is much cheaper on the secondary market.

[@pczTV]

The Omega placement is a marketing coup for the brand. Just like seiko before them… or AMC … they paid their way in. And, to be fair, they have marketed the shit out of it! From that perspective, well done omega marketing team! Rolex, on the other hand, did not need the improvement to its brand cache by the Bond association. I suspect they couldn’t be bothered to provide product, much less PAY the production company for the rights to include their product in the Bond franchise. Omega is sort of like Buick. A near luxury brand that can’t really compete with BMW or Mercedes. Omega vs Rolex. Not in the same league image wise. I can buy an omega, but I choose not to. I can buy a Rolex and…. I have done so. GMT and a Daytona. Why? Image. Another thing to note is that back when Fleming was writing these novels, Rolex was in a much different place brand wise. Still, if omega floats your boat…then good on ya’. What they really need to do is retire the PPK. ….

[@matthewhelm3035]

Excellent points. PPK was the Glock in its day. But it’s a sub par weapon for self defense. No police or government agencies ever really used it. Fleming admittedly was not a weapons expert. But he loved his Rolex Explorer 1016.

[@williamcoolidge9884]

Don't fool yourself. Rolex pays millions of dollars to market their products. I can't watch a sporting event without seeing Rolex "ambassadors" hoisting a trophy of some type with a Rolex on their wrist. Omega is every bit the equal of Rolex in quality. I know as I've owned several of both. But I will admit that Rolex has won the marketing and image game.

[@matthewhelm3035]

@@williamcoolidge9884 let’s stay on topic. We’re talking about Omega and Bond. Former CEO of Omega JC Biver on how he got EON to put Omega watches in their 007 films, “They wanted $50K. I gave them $2 million.” Google it. Thats classic product placement. Rolex advertises. That is much different than product placement in films. 🥂

[@pczTV]

@@williamcoolidge9884 Oh Please! Let me google this and..... holy cow.... you are totally correct. I'm having a hard time finding the companies current advertising budgets, the closest I could come was 2014 (ten years ago) where Rolex was the largest advertiser in the industry in the U.S. since 2000. $56 million at the time vs $35M for Omega. Note this is not global numbers, I can't find those. - Rolex seems to focus on premium sports (e.g. Racing, Tennis Grand Slams, Yachting) , and key influencers. - Omega has shifted their focus somewhat with the intro of the Swatch/Omega (still part of the overall swatch group, of course), looking to target a younger demo? Frankly, anything more expensive than a G-shock is really just someone buying into image. I admit to this... same reason I buy custom shop guitars from Fender and Gibson when the standard versions are just as good. And (sorry for the long reply) now I'm totally curious about the whole marketing angle. Did Rolex demur and Omega sweep in? If so, good for the Omega marketing team. Or did they want a different image to separate out Pierce? Hmmm. Interesting.

[@patrickjean-philippe7679]

Both Rolex and Omega are machine mass produced watches but one is produced in so much larger quantities than the other whilst not having enough to sell to the aspirational masses whereas the other one is more elusive, exclusive, rarer yet available and destined to the more discreet connoisseurs gentlemen of the world. 😉

[@Mostirrelevant]

You may have the facts, but movies and books say otherwise.

[@BondsApartment]

@@Mostirrelevant books sure, movies...not quite

[@jsadowski5]

This video was a great "watch"!

[@dtuk22]

Its the only Bond watch for the duration of the companies sponsorship to the franchise. Omega Yeah! Great watches but why always a Seamaster of some sort? Surely there's other styled watches in their portfolio????

[@arthurlongshanks]

Upvoting because I like you bro but I cannot agree with your premise. The Rolex submariner was the original and the best - just like Sean Connery himself. I do have a soft-spot for Pierce Brosnan and his watch was cool - but it was quartz so I don't think its as cool as the Rolex sub. But mainly what kills the Omega for me is its association with Daniel Craig's Bond. After NTTD I would like to disassociate myself from all aspects of Daniel Craig's portrayal of Bond as much as possible - and lean into the icons of the Classic-era of Connery|Moore|Dalton|Brosnan more. So - for me at least - I actually consider Seiko to be more "Bondian" than Omega. That's just me - but yes I hate Daniel Craig's Bond that much that I just don't want to wear or own anything associated to it. Daniel Craig's Bond wasn't Bond in my eyes - it was some alternate universe Red Grant pretending to be Bond.

[@Dakota-d4n]

Book bond wear pre Rolex oyster speed king

[@scottfisher661]

Non date sub

[@briteppr62]

Bullshit!

[@ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛΧΑΤΖΗΔΑΚΗΣ-ρ5σ]

The Rolex Submariner is THE ONLY real Bond watch.

[@evh4611]

Hahahahaha

[@danielpowers2413]

The Rolex Explorer is the only real Bond watch. Fact check that.

[@matthewhelm3035]

@@danielpowers2413the two references to Bonds watch in the novels fits the description of the Rolex Explorer 1016. The same Watch Fleming wore. There’s been tons written about this by horological folks. Cheers

[@danielpowers2413]

@@matthewhelm3035 exactly. I’ve had the pleasure of handling a 1016 and it’s such a cool watch. I can see why Fleming chose that.

[@ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛΧΑΤΖΗΔΑΚΗΣ-ρ5σ]

@@danielpowers2413 My dear friend: 1) Ian Fleming wrote just that Bond is wearing a Rolex. He did not identify what kind of Rolex. People are assuming he meant the Explorer just because Fleming had a ref. 1016 Explorer. 2) The Submariner was the first dive watch in the world that superceeded 100 meters of depth (1953). The Seamaster diver was released 4 yesrs later (1957) 3) The Submariner was the official watch provided from the british Ministry of efence to Naval Officers and members of the SBS/SAS. First the ref. 6538 was provided from 1956 to 1959. Then the ref. 5512/13 was provided from 1960 to 1967. Fnally the ref. 5513 was provided from 1972 to 1978! 4) The Seamaster was tested also in the years 1968-1971 but failed because of problems of the naiad system in shallow waters. So they returned to the trusty Submariner. 4) As you see, as a Naval Officer and ex SBS/SAS, 007 historically could not wear anytrhing else than a Submariner. So,¨accorning to the author, the histoty of military watches an the tradition of classic Bond the ONLY REAL Bond watch is the Submariner. My best regards

[@MovieGuy666]

The costume lady had nothing to do with what watch they used... Omega paid them to use their watch. It's nothing more than who's willing to pay the most money to have their brand featured in the movies.

[@morganthau4448]

Then Omega CEO JC Biver explained his deal with ION. “They wanted $50,000, I gave them $2M. “. That’s how Omega became 007s watch. 🥂

[@steveb4012]

I own the Goldeneye and Casino Planet Ocean, both great watches and have found it hard to justify buying another newer model of either.