The Top 5 Bond Watches Of All Time
Another Friday, another list! Following this week’s new Bond releases from Omega, we’re looking at the best watches worn by the world-famous spy. James Bond has worn plenty of watches on screen over the decades, but some have aged much better than others. A few played significant roles in the films, while others barely registered. We’ve chosen five favorites from 007’s cinematic history. Some are obvious picks, while others may spark debate. What unites them is our shared appreciation for Bond and his watches.
New Bond-related watch releases always generate discussion. The latest Omega Seamaster James Bond and Spectre models showed just how much there is to say about 007’s watches. Since Omega struck a commercial deal with the franchise, the brand has released special editions tied to films and other milestones celebrating Ian Fleming’s famous spy. Some have felt more like marketing exercises than stylish watches, making them better suited to collecting than everyday use. Still, the lineup includes plenty of excellent options for daily wear, including some of Omega’s more recent Bond models.
Image: Bulang & Sons
Rolex Submariner ref. 6538 “Big Crown”
It makes sense to start with the original Bond watch. The Rolex Submariner ref. 6538 “Big Crown” debuted on screen in 1962, when Sean Connery wore it in Dr. No. You probably know the story of Connery borrowing it from producer Cubby Broccoli. The watch is also famous for its colorful blue, green, and red nylon strap, which was too slim for the lugs. The combination became iconic, and that style is now known as a “Bond NATO” strap.
Image: Bulang & Sons
The Submariner ref. 6538 that Bond wore was a two-liner with a 38mm case and 200m water resistance. Its classic gilt dial featured radium lume beneath an acrylic crystal. The oversized 8mm Brevet-signed crown made it easy to operate with gloves or wet hands. Inside was the chronometer-certified caliber 1030, an automatic movement running at 18,000 vph with a 48-hour power reserve. In stock form, a riveted Oyster bracelet with a large-logo clasp completed the package. I particularly like the clasp’s classic shape and decorative details.
Image: Bulang & Sons
The Submariner ref. 6538 appeared in the first Bond film and returned on 007’s wrist in From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), and Thunderball (1965). So it wasn’t just the original Bond watch but also his choice across several films. That makes it one of the franchise’s most important watches and an easy pick for this list.
Rolex “Pre-Daytona” Chronograph ref. 6238
From Bond’s most famous watch, we move to a less obvious choice. George Lazenby played James Bond just once, in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The first few times I watched the film, I struggled to accept the Australian actor as 007. Lazenby felt far removed from Connery’s Scottish-gentleman demeanor and rougher around the edges. His Bond career ended after a single movie, which many enthusiasts regard as the franchise’s worst.
Image: Phillips
Over time, however, I’ve come to appreciate Lazenby’s portrayal. The storyline and the film’s distinctive style stand out in the long history of Bond movies. Lazenby wears both a Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 and the rare Rolex Chronograph ref. 6238 — a strong pair by any measure. I’d happily own both and wouldn’t need any other watches. The chronograph appears during Bond’s undercover mission as Sir Hilary Bray, when he infiltrates Blofeld’s research institute in the Swiss Alps. His watch was no ordinary ref. 6238: its red chronograph seconds hand was intended to function as a compass.
Image: Phillips
My favorite Bond watch ever
The ref. 6238 has become one of the most celebrated Bond watches among enthusiasts. It has changed hands several times, most recently at an Antiquorum auction in 2019. The Pre-Daytona is a connoisseur’s watch, and its association with Lazenby adds to its appeal. I’ve written more about my love for the ref. 6238 Pre-Daytona here on Fratello. It easily remains one of my favorite classic Rolex watches.
Image: Analog:Shift
The 36mm chronograph captures the transition from classic Rolex chronographs to the modern Daytona, making it an important model in the brand’s history. In On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the ref. 6238 and Bond’s wife in the film, played by the late Diana Rigg, are the real stars. That combination makes this my favorite Bond watch of all.
Image: Bulang & Sons
Rolex Submariner ref. 5513
No list of Bond watches would be complete without the Rolex Submariner ref. 5513. George Lazenby and Roger Moore wore this classic Sub in several films. Lazenby introduced it in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and Moore later wore it in Live and Let Die (1973) and The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). In Live and Let Die, the watch plays a pivotal role. Bond uses its magnetic properties to free himself while tied up. In an earlier scene, he tests the magnet in M’s lab by attracting his teaspoon. He also uses it to unzip Italian agent Caruso’s dress.
Image: Bulang & Sons
The film’s most memorable watch scene comes when the Submariner transforms into a circular saw, allowing Bond to cut through his restraints. It is arguably the most iconic watch moment in the franchise and one of its most famous action sequences. That scene alone would earn the ref. 5513 a place on this list.
If it’s good enough for Bond, it’s good enough for us…
Rolex produced the ref. 5513 for a remarkably long time. Introduced in 1962, it remained in production until 1989, when the ref. 14060 replaced it. It is one of the legendary references in the Submariner family. Rolex initially fitted it with caliber 1530, later switching to caliber 1520. Neither was chronometer-certified, which helped keep the watch’s cost down. Rolex reserved chronometer-certified calibers for the ref. 5512. But if these movements were good enough for Bond, they’re good enough for us, especially given the watch’s place in Bond history.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ref. 2531.80
Our next pick is what many consider the quintessential Bond watch. The blue Omega Seamaster Diver 300M cemented the brand’s enduring connection to the franchise. It debuted on Pierce Brosnan’s wrist in GoldenEye (1995), although that was the quartz Seamaster Professional 300M ref. 2541.80. The mechanical version arrived when Brosnan returned as Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Most enthusiasts prefer that version and regard it as the definitive Bond Seamaster.
Bond uses the watch to remotely trigger a grenade’s safety catch inside a glass jar, helping him escape a dangerous encounter with Elliot Carver, a war-bent media tycoon. The Seamaster also appeared in The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). Those appearances helped turn the ref. 2531.80 into an Omega icon. Looking back on three decades of Omega and Bond, Jean-Claude Biver’s decision to connect the brand with the franchise was a stroke of genius.
An affordable Bond watch
Owners often praise the Bond Seamaster as an excellent everyday watch. It has plenty of character, wears comfortably, and comes with a great story. The ref. 2531.80 has a 41mm case with an 11.5mm profile and a 47.5mm lug-to-lug. Its instantly recognizable look made it a 1990s icon. Every detail contributes to its appeal, from the lyre-lug case to the angular bezel and distinctive bracelet.
Omega initially equipped the watch with caliber 1109 before replacing it with caliber 1120. Both have proved reliable, so the ref. 2531.80 remains a practical choice today. Prices are also relatively accessible. Expect to pay just under €2,500 at the low end, with most examples reaching around €4,000. For that money, you get far more than an Omega dive watch — you get a piece of modern watchmaking and film history.
Image: The Watch Club
Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre ref. 233.32.41.21.01.001
Choosing our final watch was difficult. Daniel Craig wore several worthy candidates, from the Planet Ocean models featured in many of his Bond films to the titanium Seamaster Diver 300M “No Time to Die” edition from his final outing as 007. We settled on the Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre ref. 233.32.41.21.01.001 for several reasons. It marked the return of a Bond watch with an active role in the plot, after Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), and Skyfall (2012) featured watches without special functions.
Image: The Watch Club
In Spectre (2015), Bond escapes torture by turning the bezel to activate a timed explosive. The device helps Bond and Madeleine Swann flee and destroy Blofeld’s crater headquarters in the Moroccan desert. The watch also recalls the Submariner Sean Connery wore. The Seamaster 300 dates back to 1957, when Omega introduced the original CK2913, around the same time the Rolex ref. 6538 appeared. Omega supplied the limited edition with both a bracelet and a striped NATO strap reminiscent of Connery’s.
Image: The Watch Club
The perfect modern Bond watch with a vintage twist
When the 41mm Seamaster 300 Spectre arrived in 2015, all 7,007 examples sold out quickly. It’s easy to see why. The watch pays tribute to the original Seamaster 300 while standing apart from the regular-production models. Its bidirectional 12-hour bezel replaces the standard unidirectional 60-minute dive bezel. The sandwich dial is different, too. Omega repositioned its logo and the “Seamaster” wording to take the place of the Arabic numeral 12.
Image: The Watch Club
Turn the watch over, and you’ll find caliber 8400, an automatic Co-Axial movement with a 60-hour power reserve and resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. The finishing is attractive enough to admire when the watch is off the wrist. Still, a Bond watch is made to be worn. Omega paired it with a modern, fully brushed flat-link bracelet. Fans often prefer it to the standard bracelet’s polished center links, which attract fingerprints and make the watch look more conspicuous.
Image: The Watch Club
If you’re a die-hard Bond fan, though, you may prefer the gray-and-black NATO strap, complete with 007- and Omega-branded keepers. Omega also presented the watch in a special case with several gadgets that add to the story.
Image: The Watch Club
The Seamaster 300 Spectre sold out soon after its 2015 debut, when it cost €6,400. Today, prices start at around €9,000 and climb quickly for examples in excellent condition. That makes it a sought-after collector’s piece and one of the coolest Bond watches, earning it the final spot on our list.
Image: The Watch Club
Final thoughts on the top five Bond watches of all time
There you have it — our five favorite Bond watches. Choosing just five was difficult, but we think this list highlights five excellent timepieces worn by 007 on screen. Perhaps we’ve overlooked your favorite, though. Which Bond watches would you add? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll see you next week for another list!
