Sun, Aug 16, 2015
British actor Daniel Craig made a special visit to the heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry for the inauguration of Omega’s factory in Villeret, Switzerland.
The actor, who reprises his role as James Bond in Spectre, the 24th Bond adventure, was given a guided tour as well as access to the factory’s assembly line.
During the visit he was also shown production of the new Omega Seamaster 300 “Spectre” limited edition, which goes on sale next month.
For Omega, Daniel Craig’s visit to Villeret was a momentous occasion. Together with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek, and Omega President Stephen Urquhart, Craig was shown exactly what goes into making Omega watches such as the one he wears in the latest movie.
As an avid collector himself, Craig was fascinated by the engineering and expertise on show.
“I think what was so impressive was the fact that these watches are made from the ground up. You start with nothing, and then there’s suddenly a working watch. That’s the beauty of it. To see the engineering that goes into it and the legacy that goes into it, that’s what fascinated me,” he says.
The Seamaster has been James Bond's watch since the 155 movie Golden Eye and with its naval history and classic style, the watch perfectly reflects Bond’s character.
Now, in celebration of the new movie, fans and watch collectors will be able to buy the model worn by ‘007’ in Spectre, as the Seamaster 300 will go on sale as a limited edition.
The release marks a first for the partnership; until now, only commemorative editions have been used to celebrate Omega’s link with the franchise.
The watch features a bi-directional, rotating diving bezel, made from black, polished ceramic, combined with a LiquidMetal 12-hour scale, so that time can be kept with any country in the world.
Other unique features include the "lollipop" central seconds hands, as well as the five-stripe black and grey Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) strap. On the bracelet's strap holder, the 007 gun logo has been engraved.
Each watch has its own unique serial number engraved on the back along with the Spectre film logo, celebrating the latest on-screen adventure. Inside, the watch is driven by the highly innovative Omega Master Co-Axial calibre 8400, described as “a revolutionary movement in its own right”.
Limited to just 7,007 pieces, the special timepiece will be available in selected boutiques from September.
Omega is part of the Swatch Group, the largest manufacturer and distributor of watches and jewellery in the world.