A Complete Timeline Of James Bond Watches

The world of James Bond might be primarily focused on guns, girls, and getting the bad guy, but for over 60 years, watches have played pivotal roles in the 007 film franchise.

The early years were defined by Rolex, and in the modern era, 007’s wrist is prime real estate for Omega dive watches. Whatever the era, suffice it to say, our favourite MI6 operative with a licence to kill rarely accepts his mission without something that’s both reliable and statement-worthy.

Here, we’ll revisit every one of the watches worn by James Bond actors over the years – from the very first watch spotted in 1962’s Dr. No; to the latest Omega custom-designed alongside Daniel Craig himself; and plenty of oddball choices in between (it hasn’t always been the big Swiss players).

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Dr. No (1962)

Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538

In the original Ian Fleming novels, James Bond had a few brand affiliations early – he loved Bollinger champagne, Gordon’s gin, Aston Martin cars, and Rolex watches. As a result, director Terence Young arranged a Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 for Sean Connery’s wrist in Dr. No – interestingly worn on a leather strap instead of the stainless steel bracelet it left the factory with.

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From Russia with Love (1963)

Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538

A year later, Terence Young was once again behind the lens for From Russia with Love, and once again, he made sure Connery had a Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 to wear (also on a leather strap).

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Goldfinger (1964)

Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538

We didn’t need to wait long in the Guy Hamilton-directed Goldfinger to catch a glimpse of James Bond’s watch, with the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 revealed in the opening scene (nicely illuminated by the flame of a lighter).

Instead of the leather strap we’d seen in the two previous films, however, it was now paired with a multicoloured NATO-style strap; a noteworthy detail being that its width was too narrow for the watch. Today, you need only Google “James Bond NATO strap” and you’ll see countless iterations of the now-famous black, green, and red fabric strap to recreate the look yourself.

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Thunderball (1965)

Breitling Top Time

Thunderball is the first time we see James Bond issued a specially modified watch from the boffins at Q Branch, with actor Desmond Llewelyn (who played Q in no less than 17 Bond films) providing Sean Connery a special Breitling Top Time Chronograph that doubled as a Geiger counter.

Remarkably, the watch was found for sale in a car boot sale with a price of £25, before heading to Christie’s Bond-themed auction in 2013 and hammering for over £100,000.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538

In addition to the Breitling Top Time Chronograph, Bond once again wore his trusty Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538.

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You Only Live Twice (1967)

Gold Dress Watch

There’s plenty of speculation around the watch Sean Connery wore for You Only Live Twice, with a few publications claiming it may have been a Gruen Precision 510, while other internet sleuths disagree (without confirming an alternative). While there’s no consensus about exactly what the watch is, it’s generally agreed that the watch was personally owned by Connery, cased in gold, and had a sub-seconds dial at six o’clock.

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On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Rolex Submariner Ref. 6358 & Ref. 5513

For On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Aussie George Lazenby stepped into the shoes of James Bond, and during the film, he wore three different Rolex watches. He’s spotted with two different Submariner references, including a new ref. 5513 and the ref. 6358 we’ve already seen (visible in the clip above), and a relatively rare Rolex ref. 6238 “Pre-Daytona” chronograph (below).

Rolex Ref. 6238 “Pre-Daytona” Chronograph

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Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Gold Dress Watch

Another film where Bond’s watch isn’t clear is Diamonds Are Forever, where it’s clear our favourite spy is wearing something, but we’re never offered a good shot of exactly what. This has led several publications to speculate it’s the same Gruen Precision 510; however, that cannot be confirmed.

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Live and Let Die (1973)

Hamilton Pulsar P2

When it comes to James Bond watches used as gadgets, Live and Let Die is where they come into their own, and 007 is spotted early in the film wearing a Hamilton Pulsar P2.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513

Later, he’s given a Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 by Q Branch, which not only features a powerful magnet inside it, but also transforms into a circular saw later in the film.

Tissot PR 156

In a brief moment that lacks continuity in the film, Bond is also seen wearing a Tissot PR 156 during a boat chase scene (an ancestor of the modern Tissot PRX family) immediately after he uses his Rolex as a magnet. A small mistake as far as detail, but one that sees Tissot appear in a Bond film for the first and only time.

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The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513

The same magnetic, circular saw-featuring Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 appears on the wrist of Roger Moore in The Man with the Golden Gun – one of the last times James Bond would wear one of the Crown’s famed watches.

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The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Seiko Ref. 0674-5009 LC

By the late ’70s, watchmaking technology was changing, and while Rolex still had the brand-name, it didn’t have the same kinds of cutting-edge watches offered by Japanese watchmakers like Seiko. As a result, The Spy Who Loved Me saw Bond wearing the Seiko ref. 0674-5009 LC, which, instead of hiding weapons, served as a communications device housing a ticker tape messaging system.

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Moonraker (1979)

Seiko M354 Memory Bank Calendar

The Spy Who Loved Me might have been the first time a Seiko was featured in a James Bond film, but it certainly wasn’t the last. Moonraker saw the Japanese watchmaker’s return with a Seiko M354 Memory Bank Calendar that came with a hidden explosive charge, along with a timed detonator that allowed 007 to escape the Moonraker’s launch pad.

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For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Seiko Ref. H357 Duo-Display

Seiko was well and truly the choice of James Bond by this point, and in For Your Eyes Only, the film ends with 007 wearing a Seiko Ref. H357 Duo-Display, which uses its digital display to transmit messages, as well as featuring a speaker and a microphone.

Seiko “Golden Tuna” Ref. 7459-7009

Earlier in the film, Roger Moore wears the Seiko “Golden Tuna” Ref. 7459-7009 during the submarine scene, which was a significant watch at the time, given it was the first quartz-powered dive watch and the first cased in titanium.

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Octopussy (1983)

Seiko Ref. G757 Sports 100

In the 1983 classic, Octopussy, several more Seiko watches are featured – James Bond is given the Seiko ref. G757 Sports 100 by Q Branch, which features a built-in tracking device.

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A View to a Kill (1985)

Seiko Ref. SPR007 7A28-7020

A View to a Kill is the final James Bond film that champions Seiko, and there are plenty of watches on display throughout – including the popular Seiko ref. SPR007 7A28-7020 chronograph with a silver dial.

Seiko Ref. H558-5000

Bond is also spotted with the Seiko ref. H558-5000 black dial dive watch during the chase scene through Paris, proving that even when you’re in black tie, a sports watch can sometimes be appropriate.

Seiko Ref. 6923-8080 & Rolex Datejust Ref. 16013

The final Seiko worn by James Bond in A View to a Kill is the Seiko ref. 6923-8080, which shares more than a passing resemblance with a Rolex Datejust thanks to its two-tone colour scheme and fluted bezel.

This is an important similarity because, briefly, while chasing down Zorin’s Rolls-Royce on horseback, we spot a glimpse of a Datejust ref. 16013 on a Jubilee bracelet. Was it a deliberate decision by the costume designer, or another lapse in continuity?

We’re unlikely to be able to confirm other than that Roger Moore definitely rocked both watches during the film.

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The Living Daylights (1987)

TAG Heuer Professional 1000 Ref. 980.031

For The Living Daylights, Timothy Dalton would inherit the role of James Bond along with a very sporty TAG Heuer Professional 1000 ref. 980.031 as his wrist-worn companion. Flaunting a fully black PVD-coated case and bracelet, it also arrived with a fully luminous dial – a sensible feature for anyone with a licence to kill.

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Licence to Kill (1989)

Rolex Submariner Ref. 16800

Dalton’s second and final appearance as James Bond was also the final time Rolex watches made an appearance in the franchise, with the British actor spotted wearing a Rolex Submariner ref. 16800.

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GoldenEye (1995)

Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2541.80 Quartz

GoldenEye represented a pivotal instalment in the James Bond screen canon, not only because it inspired one of the best Bond video games ever – it was also the first film to feature Omega watches. Since GoldenEye, Omega has been the exclusive watch brand of 007.

In 1995, it was all about the quartz-powered Omega Seamaster Professional 300M ref. 2541.80 that boasted 300 metres of water resistance, nearly four years of battery life, and a comfortable 41mm stainless steel case. A true modern classic of a watch.

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Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2531.80

In his sophomore outing as James Bond, Pierce Brosnan wore the automatic chronometer-rated version of Omega’s Seamaster Professional 300M, which Q Branch modified to allow remote grenade detonation. The actual watch worn by Brosnan was eventually auctioned in Antiquorum’s 2007 “Omegamania” sale, hammering for CHF70,000 (AU$71,000).

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The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2531.80

For The World Is Not Enough, the same automatic chronometer Omega Seamaster Professional 300M ref. 2531.80 returned, this time with a few different gadgets courtesy of Q Branch: a torch and one of my favourite Bond gadgets of all time – a grappling hook.

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Die Another Day (2002)

Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2531.80

Pierce Brosnan’s final stint as James Bond involved the same Omega Seamaster Professional 300M. Instead of a grappling hook, however, it came with an explosive detonator in the helium escape valve and the same laser we saw in GoldenEye.

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Casino Royale (2006)

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ref. 2900.50.91

One of the most famous modern Bond scenes is the opening of Casino Royale, where Daniel Craig performs that epic parkour chase. On his wrist was a black-dial Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean on a black rubber strap. The Planet Ocean Craig worn during the scene was sold at Antiquorum’s 2007 “Omegamania” sale for an impressive price of CHF215,000 (AU$218,000).

Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2220.80.00

Throughout the rest of the film, Craig wears the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M with a co-axial escapement, and while it wasn’t fitted with any gadgets to match the gritty realism of this latest era of Bond, it did result in one of the most memorable watch-related scenes in 007 history. This watch was also auctioned in Antiquorum’s 2007 “Omegamania” sale for a comparatively low price of CHF60,000 (AU$61,000).

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Quantum of Solace (2008)

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ref. 2201.50.00

Quantum of Solace might have been the most forgettable of Craig’s performances as James Bond, but that doesn’t mean he was lacking in the horological department – sporting another black dial Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean throughout the film. In line with Casino Royale, the watch was the same that you or I could buy from a boutique (without Q Branch gadgets).

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Skyfall (2012)

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ref. 232.30.42.21.01.001

The first watch spotted on Craig’s wrist during Skyfall is the hard-wearing Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean ref. 232.30.42.21.01.001, which we get an excellent view of during the train scene before he gets capped.

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ref. 231.10.39.21.03.003

The second watch Craig wears in Skyfall is an Omega Aqua Terra, which we don’t get a perfect view of from the dial side, though during his first meeting with Ben Whishaw’s Q, we get a long shot of its unmistakable bracelet.

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Spectre (2015)

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ref. 231.10.42.221.03.001

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra resurfaces for Spectre during the opening scenes, in a slightly different configuration than Skyfall, as it now features a fully brushed bracelet.

Omega Seamaster 300 Ref. 233.32.31.41.21.01.001

The horological star of Spectre, however, was the first film-faithful special edition from the watchmaker: a vintage-inspired Omega Seamaster 300 paired with a striped NATO strap in a nod to Goldfinger, and featuring a dial with aged lume hour markers. It’s also the first time since Die Another Day that James Bond’s watch is equipped with a Q Branch gadget, doubling as an explosive device that he uses to devastating effect.

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No Time to Die (2021)

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition

Most watch collectors would agree that No Time to Die has the best timepiece tie-in: the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition. What’s extra cool about this watch is – as previously mentioned – it was designed in collaboration with Daniel Craig.

Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann even confirmed in an interview that Craig was “very much involved in giving us the vision, giving us also what he feels that James Bond today in the 21st century should wear as a watch.” 

The exact watch that Daniel Craig wore during his swan song was sold at auction by Christie’s, fetching a very impressive price of £226,800 (AU$378,000).

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Ref. 220.10.41.21.03.004

Craig also briefly wore another blue dial Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m, which was sold at the same Christie’s auction for £119,700 (AU$200,000).

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If you enjoyed this deep dive into the James Bond watches worn throughout the entire franchise, you might enjoy Boss Hunting’s other James Bond-related content below:

• The Latest Rumours About Denis Villeneuve’s James Bond Movie Sound Extremely Promising
• Daniel Craig’s Secret Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Is Finally Here
• The 25 Best James Bond Cars From Every 007 Film
• No Time To Die Filming Locations: A James Bond Travel Guide
• 5 Things We Love About OMEGA’s ‘No Time To Die’ Seamaster 300M Diver