While watching some of the events of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, I was amazed that in so many cases the winner was determined as the result of a photo finish. And furthermore, the gold, silver and bronze finishers were separated by a mere 1/100th of a second.
That got me to thinking about the timekeeping responsibility – like in nobody better screw up cause it can’t be re-done. I was certain that there would be tons of redundancy, but got curious about something really unusual happening like a mass power outage – surely they had battery backups as well.
Well a little digging under the covers showed all is well. Omega is once again the official winter games timekeeper for Vancouver 2010 continuing a 74 year legacy of being entrusted with this tremendous responsibility.
It is said that on their first assignment for the 1936 winter games in Germany, there was a lone Omega technician who brought 27 stopwatches that were used to time each event.
Fast forward to today and we have the largest timekeeping contingent in the history of winter sports. We’re told that OMEGA deployed 220 timekeeping professionals and engineers supported by 290 local volunteers. Also, they are bringing some 250 tons of equipment for timekeeping, on-venue results and TV services.
That is incredible, but certainly reduces the possibility of mistakes to something less than negligible. Omega claims to be the worlds most successful sports timekeepers and they seem to be taking every precaution to ensure they can retain the claim.
For one of your own check out this model from the Omega Olympic Collection
. An Omega Seamaster self-winding chronometer with a rhodium-plated finish and 2 day power reserve, it’s tough under an anti-reflective, domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
Made for diving, it’s water-resistant down to depths of 1000 feet or 300 meters, and features a helium escape valve along with a screw-in crown and unidirectional rotating bezel. Sized for gents, it has a diameter of 41mm.
Category: Omega Watches
As James Bond in Casino Royale, Daniel Craig wore this bold, black Seamaster Planet Ocean during the beginning of the movie.
Later in the second of the film half he switches back to the official Bond watch, the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Chronometer.
Movement
- Caliber: Omega 2500
- Self-winding chronometer
- Co-Axial Escapement movement with rhodium-plated finish
Case & Crystal
- Stainless steel case with rubber strap
- Domed anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Helium relief valve
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
Water Resistance
- Down to 600 meters or 2000 feet
Features
- Chronometer certified by the COSC
- High precision Co-Axial Escapement utilizing a low-friction energy transmission system
- Power reserve: 48 hours
- Date function
- Black dial
- Sized for men: 45.5 mm diameter
Other Planet Ocean Styles
Aside from James Bond, George Clooney is another of many ambassadors for Seamaster Planet Ocean Watches.
Planet Ocean models are available with black or orange bezels, stainless or red gold cases and bracelets, and black rubber or leather straps of tan, brown or black. A couple variations are shown below.
Related articles: James Bonds Seamaster – view the limited edition.
Related products: Omega Planet Ocean watches – select from several styles.
Category: Omega Watches
This is the Seamaster Professional Diver 300 M, the watch worn by James Bond in the last five Bond movies.
Shown with a blue dial and bezel, stainless steel case and bracelet, it’s also available with black dial, silver bezel, and rubber strap.
MOVEMENT
Caliber: Omega 2500
Self-winding chronometer, Co-Axial Escapement movement with rhodium-plated finish
CASE & CRYSTAL
Stainless steel case and bracelet
Domed anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
Helium relief valve
Unidirectional rotating bezel
WATER RESISTANCE
Down to 300 meters or 1000 feet
FEATURES
Chronometer certified by the COSC
High precision Co-Axial Escapement
utilizing a low-friction energy transmission system
Power reserve: 48 hours
Date function
Blue dial
Sized for men: 41mm
Related articles: James Bonds Seamaster – see the limited edition.
Related products: Omega Seamaster watches – several styles to choose from.
Category: Omega Watches · Sport Watches
In 1995 Goldeneye was released with Pierce Brosnan taking over as James Bond. There were of course several subtle changes, not least of which was 007’s choice of wrist watch.
Up until this time it had been a Rolex Submariner, but Brosnan débuted wearing an Omega Seamaster, and continued to do so in later films. The reason given was that the producers wanted to upgrade Bonds image to a ‘more distinctly sophisticated “Euro” look’.
They point out that in the early ‘60’s, Rolex was about the only choice for a reliable, rugged, waterproof watch, and it was a practical fit for Bond. But since then there are other watches doing more for less and Rolex has become something of a luxury status symbol, which is not what Bond is about.
However, according to the following excerpt from Wikipedia, the real motives sound much more monetary in nature:
“Another possible reason for the change from the Rolex Submariner that Bond had previously worn was a change in the business environment surrounding modern high-profile films and product placement. Omega was eager to participate in high profile co-promotions/product placement opportunities, especially the James Bond franchise, to further its brand image/awareness. It accomplished this by supplying products and finance, something that the conservative Rolex company avoids, presumably because it sees no benefit for itself.”
The first Bond commemorative edition made by Omega was in 2002 for the 40th anniversary of James Bond. It’s a Seamaster 300M with the 007-gun logo on the face and etched on the clasp. The silver logo at the six o’clock position is easy enough to see, but you need to look closer to notice that the entire face is covered as well.
Daniel Craig, in his role as the new James Bond, continues to wear an Omega Seamaster, and in 2006 for Casino Royale, he actually wore two different models.
During the second half, he wore the Seamaster Professional 300M which is now the official Bond watch. But at the beginning he showed off a black, super sharp-looking Seamaster Planet Ocean.
In connection with the launch of the film, Omega released a special edition Seamaster that features the 007-gun logo on the second hand and the rifle pattern on the watch face. This latter is a stylized representation of the gun-barrel sequence shown at the start of every Bond movie.
They later released a limited edition (only around 5000 units) “James Bond Seamaster”, which is an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean model similar to what Daniel Craig wears at the beginning of Casino Royale . 
It has a small orange colored 007 logo on the second hand, an engraved case-back, and 007 engraved 007 on the clasp.
It’s interesting that in all the years Bond wore a Rolex, the company doesn’t seem to have been motivated to create any special edition Submariner watches to commemorate the fabled British spy. Too bad.
Check out the Omega Seamaster, James Bond Seamaster, and Omega Planet Ocean styles, all at great prices.
Category: Omega Watches
