The Omega That Bond Built

For 30 years, Omega has been 007's watch of choice. Now, with a new Seamaster, the Swiss maker is letting some of that superspy allure spill over to its main line.

- By CAM WOLF

I WASN’T NOT like James Bond. In January, after I solemnly swore to protect Omega’s classified information (ie, signing an NDA), the storied watchmaker issued me a precious piece of equipment in order to complete an operation of the utmost importance. The gadget in question? A new, top-secret Omega Seamaster Diver 300m in bronze gold—the brand’s proprietary blend of nine-karat gold, silver and palladium—with a burgundy bezel. My mission? Simple, really: test-drive the sickest wristwear not yet on the market.

I bring up 007 for a couple of reasons. The first is that my orders were similar to those of former Bond and current Omega ambassador Daniel Craig, whom the brand routinely tasks with wearing unreleased watches at high-profile events—like the Governors Awards and the Olympics—to whet the public’s appetite. Unfortunately for Omega, I’m not papped quite as frequently as Craig, so the watch largely remained my little secret over the weeks I spent wearing it.