James Bond Watches: The Complete Timeline in the Films

He is the world's most famous secret agent, and the selection of watches on his wrist is at least as varied as the parade of "Bond girls" by his side.

Each watch reflects its era: from robust mechanical timepieces to ultramodern chronometers, as well as digital watches. We present our timeline of watches worn by the most famous secret agent over the years.

1962 - Dr. No

James Bond first appeared on the big screen in 1962 and has remained there since, but the Bond character was born 10 years before 007's cinematic debut. Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale, his first novel about the adventures of the charming MI6 agent, during his honeymoon in 1952. Although Bond immediately showed extraordinary taste in cars and clothes, his wristwatch was not identified until Fleming's second novel, Live and Let Die (1954).

In this book, Bond wears a Rolex, which is not surprising, as Fleming himself wore a Rolex Explorer, reference 1016, on an expandable Oyster riveted bracelet. Fleming's affection for Rolex is evident in the first James Bond film, where Bond, played by Sean Connery, casually wears a Rolex Submariner without a date display while chasing the infamous Dr. No. The reference 6358 here features a leather strap. Movie buffs believe that this model was one of Sean Connery's personal possessions. Today, these automatic Rolex calibers require a winder adapted to their specific TPD to preserve their original accuracy.

1963/1964 - From Russia with Love / Goldfinger

James Bond remains loyal to Rolex in his second cinematic adventure, From Russia with Love. In this film, Connery wears a Rolex Submariner, reference 6538, which only tells the time because Q, the famous master of innovative weapons, has not yet endowed 007's watch with other special functions.

Connery again wears the 6538 reference in Goldfinger, where it is attached to a much too narrow textile strap.

Pussy Galore, the politically incorrectly named aviatrix, relies on a classic pilot's watch: the Rolex GMT Master, reference 6542.

1965 - Thunderball

James Bond wears two watches in Thunderball. He uses his Rolex Submariner to tell the time, but he relies on a modified Breitling Navitimer when he needs a Geiger counter. The Breitling Navitimer is one of the most iconic watches in the aeronautical world, and its automatic caliber now requires an adapted Breitling winder to remain operational.

This watch was rediscovered in 2013 at an English flea market, where the authentic accessory from the classic film changed hands for a paltry £25 - and was auctioned shortly after for a five-figure sum.

1967 - You Only Live Twice

The phrase "You only live twice" is perhaps more appropriate for James Bond than for anyone else. In the film of the same name, the dapper agent battles his arch-nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

No one knows exactly which watch accompanied 007, but some aficionados suspect it was a golden Gruen, which likely came from Connery's private collection.

1969 - On Her Majesty's Secret Service

On Her Majesty's Secret Service featured a new lead character, but this film would be Australian actor George Lazenby's only turn as James Bond.

As if to compensate him for this short stint, he has the good fortune to marry actress Diana Rigg. In this film, Bond wears a Rolex Submariner (Ref. 5513) and a Rolex Chronograph that appears to be the pre-Daytona (Ref. 6238).

1971 - Diamonds Are Forever

A familiar face returns to the big screen in Diamonds Are Forever, where Sean Connery, returning as Bond, is interested not only in girls, but also in girls' best friends.

Bond fights the good fight almost watchless, although a watch appears in one scene. Connoisseurs believe it could be the same golden Gruen worn in You Only Live Twice.

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1973/1974 - Live and Let Die / The Man with the Golden Gun

Roger Moore's debut as James Bond in Live and Let Die, and its sequel, The Man with the Golden Gun, ushered in a new era spiced not only with more humor, but also with a Rolex Submariner 5513 equipped with practical additional functions. This iconic reference remains a prized collector's item today, and its automatic movement benefits from being preserved on a quality Rolex winder.

For the first time, the agent's watch hosted gadgets added by Q. The watch could be triggered to act as a circular saw, which is handy when you need to remove handcuffs. It also featured a built-in magnet to deflect bullets or, if necessary, help elegantly undress a woman.

In Live and Let Die, Bond wears another watch in the opening sequence, one of Hamilton's very power-hungry Pulsar LED digital watches, which contributed to the quartz revolution.

1977 - The Spy Who Loved Me

East meets West with a bang in The Spy Who Loved Me, where sparks fly between Bond and Major Anya Amasova. A Rolex GMT Master ensures precise timekeeping, while a Seiko 0674 LC acts as a messenger.

A label printer inside the watch ejects paper strips containing important messages from M's spymaster.

1979 - Moonraker

Moonraker propels 007 into space, where he is assisted by a Seiko M354 Memory Bank Calendar.

It hides an explosive secret that paves the way for the agent and his seductive flight companion.

1981 - For Your Eyes Only

Moore plunges into the Aegean Sea for his fifth Bond adventure, For Your Eyes Only.

Two Seiko watches join him: the Seiko 7549-7009 Professional Divers and the Seiko H357 Duo Display, offering both analog and digital functionalities.

1983 - Octopussy / Never Say Never Again

The daring name of the next Bond film, Octopussy, caused an uproar in England. In this film, Moore's Bond, with a Seiko TV watch on his wrist, takes an interest in a young woman who works as Q's assistant.

The same year, Connery gave his last performance as Bond in Never Say Never Again. The identity of his watch in this film remains a mystery.

1985 - A View to a Kill

In A View to a Kill, Bond finds himself on the Golden Gate Bridge, where he and his arch-enemy Zorin wear Rolexes (Bond's is a Datejust). The Datejust is one of the most collected automatic models in the world, and a configurable Rolex winder ensures its specific TPD is maintained to preserve its full accuracy.

In other scenes, Bond wears three Seiko watches, including a Seiko Diver's 150m.

1987 - The Living Daylights

After Timothy Dalton's debut as James Bond in The Living Daylights, critics nicknamed this actor "Rambond." In this film, Agent 007 wears a TAG Heuer Professional Night-Dive Reference 980.031.

1989 - Licence to Kill

In Dalton's second and final adventure as James Bond, Licence to Kill, Bond wears a Rolex Submariner.

1995 - GoldenEye (The Switch to Omega)

Pierce Brosnan wears a quartz version of the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M (reference 2541.80) when he takes over the role of James Bond in GoldenEye. This marks the beginning of the Omega era for 007, which continues to this day.

1997/1999/2002 - Tomorrow Never Dies / The World Is Not Enough / Die Another Day

An Omega Seamaster Professional (reference 2531.80) is once again ticking on the secret agent's wrist in Tomorrow Never Dies. Automatic Seamasters operate at 28,800 beats per hour and benefit from an Omega winder adapted to their caliber to keep them constantly in motion between uses.

The world is not enough for this secret agent, so he escapes it aboard a rocket bound for space. In his fight against Elektra King and her henchmen, Bond uses reference 2561.80 as a radiant light source and a grappling hook lifeline.

Pierce Brosnan remains faithful to the Omega Seamaster in his fourth adventure. This chronometer saves 007's life in Die Another Day thanks to an explosive charge in its helium valve that can be detonated via the bezel. A powerful laser located in the watch's crown assists Bond in his fight against the villain Gustav Graves.

2006 - Casino Royale

James Bond likes variety, which is why when Daniel Craig first portrays everyone's favorite secret agent in the big-screen adaptation of Casino Royale, he alternately wears an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (Ref. 2220.80) and a Seamaster Planet Ocean (Ref. 2900.50.91).

2008 - Quantum of Solace

It seems Bond needs an extremely waterproof watch in Quantum of Solace. His Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M (Reference 2201.50) reliably withstands pressure at great depths.

2012 - Skyfall

James Bond wears several watches in Skyfall, including one specially made for the film and sold at auction by Christie's for nearly €200,000 in 2012.

Bond's Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M has a titanium case, unlike the mass-produced version, which is stainless steel. Both are equipped with the caliber 8500.

2015 - Spectre

In the 2015 film Spectre, Daniel Craig returned to the screen, this time wearing an Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre, which hints at a 1960s predecessor. He also wore an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra in the opening sequence.

2021 - No Time to Die

In his final outing as Bond, No Time to Die in 2021, Craig wore the Omega Seamaster Diver 007 Edition, a military-look dive watch designed by the actor himself and featuring a robust yet lightweight titanium case, a tropical brown dial with vintage illumination, and a scalloped rotating bezel with an aluminum insert. For collectors who own this limited edition, a bi-directional Omega winder is recommended to respect the specific winding direction of the Master Chronometer 8806 caliber.

Preserving a Collector's Watch like James Bond

Whether you own a Sean Connery-style Rolex Submariner, a Daniel Craig-style Omega Seamaster, or a Breitling Navitimer from Thunderball, your mechanical watch shares an essential characteristic with those of Agent 007: its automatic movement requires to be kept active. An unworn automatic watch stops in 38 to 50 hours depending on the power reserve of the caliber, and beyond that, the oil in the movement gradually stiffens.

This is precisely why an automatic watch winder is the most relevant investment for any collector. It reproduces the movement of the wrist and keeps the rotor rotating. Each manufacturer imposes its own technical requirements:

• TPD (turns per day): Rolex (650-800), Omega (650-800), Breitling (800-950), Tag Heuer (650-800), Seiko (650-800)…
• Winding direction: clockwise, counter-clockwise or bidirectional depending on the caliber
• Capacity: 1, 2, 4 or up to 24 watches for true Bond collections

Choosing a watch winder that suits your watch ensures your timepiece is always ready to wear, just like Agent 007's watches before every mission.

Conclusion

From the Rolex Submariners of the Connery years to the Omega Seamasters of the Craig era, including the Breitling, Seiko, and TAG Heuer experiments, James Bond's watches tell the modern history of watchmaking. Each reference has become a collector's item, and each deserves to be preserved with the care that 007 reserves for his equipment.

Dear Reader, tell us in the comments which model or brand captivated you the most in Agent 007's adventures.