Ever since February 2020 it has been possible to buy identical best US Omega replica watches to that worn by Daniel Craig in his swansong role as James Bond in No Time to Die – and it’s not even a limited edition.
But while the 42mm, titanium-cased Swiss made fake Omega Seamaster Diver 300m ‘007’ watches undeniably looks the part with its ‘tropical’ dial markings and choice of mesh bracelet or ‘NATO’-style nylon strap, how much cooler would it be to own the real thing – ie the ACTUAL watch worn in the film?
If the thought appeals, start saving now – because 007’s own perfect replica Omega Seamaster watches is set to cross the block as one of the star lots in a Christie’s charity auction being held in conjunction with EON Productions to mark the 60th anniversary of the Bond movie franchise.
But while the commercial model of the 1:1 copy watches can be bought for £7,260, the movie-worn version is estimated to fetch up to £20,000 for gender equality group Time’s Up UK – although that might prove decidedly conservative, not least since the Seamaster Planet Ocean worn by Craig for his 007 debut in ‘Casino Royale’ realised Sfr 250,250 at auction 15 years ago.
The AAA replica Omega Diver 300M 007 Edition watches was designed with Craig’s input and is seen on several occasions in No Time to Die, most prominently in the so-called ‘third act’ when 007 gadget man Q (Ben Wishaw) and Agent Nomi ( Lashana Lynch) are heading towards the island lair of villain Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek) ‘somewhere in the sea of Japan’ in a Boeing Globemaster transport plane.
During the flight, Q presents Bond with the new luxury fake watches, explaining that he has fitted it with a coiled device capable of emitting a ‘limited radius electro-magnetic pulse’ that will ‘short any circuit in a hard-wired network – if you get close enough.’
When Bond asks Q “How strong is it?” Q replies: “Fairly strong….we haven’t had the time to test it properly, just be careful….”
Inevitably Bond uses the EMP to get out of trouble, notably by using it to explode the electronic eye worn by Safin henchman Primo (Dali Benssalam) during a dramatic fight scene in Safin’s chemical works, killing Primo in the process.
Afterwards, Bond says to Q via radio link: “I just showed someone your Swiss movements super clone watches. It really blew their mind…”
The high quality replica Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M watches that Craig wears in No Time to Die will also be up for grabs and carries the same £15,000 – £20,000 estimate.
It appears during the film’s dramatic opening sequences in Matera, Italy, where the shock resistant capabilities of the fake watches for sale are put to the test through fights, explosions, bridge jumps, motorcycle stunts and a bullet-heavy car chase. Proceeds from the sale will go to eye charity Orbis.
A third and final top replica watches lot included in the sale takes the form of a limited edition set of two Seamasters in a Globe Trotter presentation case.
Number 229 from an edition of 227 sets made to mark 50 years since the release of the Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, it contains one steel watch and one gold one and is estimated to fetch £40,000 – 60,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes research Foundation.
In total the sale will feature 60 lots, one to mark each year since the release of the original Bond film, Dr No, in 1962.
The auction will comprise a 25-lot live, invitation-only event taking place in London on September 28 and a further, online-only sale of 35 lots that will run from September 15 until ‘James Bond Day’ on October 5.
Highlights include 10 vehicles used in various Bond films, including the Aston Martin DB5 stunt car seen in the opening scenes of No Time to Die.
Estimated to raise up to £2m for the Prince’s Trust and Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund, it is the most valuable item in the sale which is expected to raise in excess of £3m overall.
