Let’s be clear if James Bond was to wear a Casio or Sekonda watch on his wrist – he’d still manage to make it look good. Somehow, the 007 agent can’t look bad even if he tried. His classic style transcends time and for a man with the finest taste in luxury – he would choose no other than the finest names in the watch industry. Expect to see just that in this complete guide to James Bond watches. Meticulously styled on his wrist are watch brands no other than Breitling, Rolex, Seiko, and Omega as we round up the ultimate guide to James Bond watches here.

The links between James Bond and Rolex are inextricable. They span right back to Ian Fleming’s original novel, “Casino Royale,” in fact. Sean Connery was the first to style a Rolex on his wrist when he played the role of the famous secret agent in the Dr No’s film back in 1962, alongside a Gruen Precision 510 watch. The Rolex watch is believed to come straight out of Connery’s own collection. The Submariner ref 6538 marked the iconic relationship between Rolex watches and James Bond, portraying the agent as a man of impeccable taste.

The Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 featured in the film, From Russia With Love in 1963. The watch was spotted on Bond’s wrist throughout the film at a time where his watches were yet to double up as clever weapons. Instead, the stylish Rolex Submariner 6538 returned with its simple three-handed dial featuring a lollipop second hand, a black bezel, and a classic stainless steel bracelet.

Breitling debuted in the Thunderball movie of 1965 on the wrist of Sean Connery. The Top Time Chronograph is used as a gauge counter and featured the bicompax chronograph dial, which has since been reiterated by the brand. The brushed steel case of the Breitling Top Time watch, complete with its matching bracelet and stick markers is a look that is still echoed in vintage-style chronograph watches today.

The Rolex GMT-Master watch can be spotted on the wrist of David Niven in the Casino Royale movie of 1967 and featured the archetypal blue and red bezel surrounding a crisp black dial with luminous hour markers and hands. Today the 24-hour scale on the bezel of the GMT-Master watch can be used for keeping track of a time zone whilst travelling and preceded the improved and updated GMT-Master II that followed.

Although not confirmed for sure, it is thought that the watch strapped to James Bond’s wrist in the movie You Only Live Twice, released in 1967, is that of a Gruen Precision 510 watch. Styled on the wrist of Sean Connery, the watch was manufactured by the Gruen Watch Company which disappeared in 1977 only to resurface again in the year 2000. The watch offers very classic styling with a white/silver display, gold Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, and a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock.

Worn by Australia’s George Lazenby, the Rolex Cosmograph watch ref 6238 can be seen in the 1969 movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It first features on top of a copy machine, only to be seen later on in the film on Bond’s wrist, with its trio of chronograph dials placed at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock offering 30 minutes, 12 hours, and small second functions respectively. It's also known as "pre-Daytona" as the last Cosmograph without the Daytona marking on the dial.

The Gruen Precision 510 watch is back on the wrist of Sean Connery for the franchise’s seventh instalment, Diamonds Are Forever, released in 1971. Although impossible to make out the exact model, it can be spotted very briefly and appears to be the original that features in the Dr No’s film.

The Submariner returns in the 1973 film, Live and Let Die – this time styled on the wrist of Roger Moore. It functions additionally in this movie as a circular saw and magnet, getting Bond out of trouble on more than one occasion. During the same film, the Pulsar LED digital watch from Hamilton Watch Company can also be spotted.

Roger Moore styles his trusty Rolex Submariner ref 5513 on the wrist during the 1974 film, The Man with the Golden Gun. Although not used for its extra functions in this film, it does feature as a stylish statement throughout the movie

In 1977, the Seiko 0674 LC is seen on James Bond’s wrist, played by Roger Moore in the film, The Spy Who Loved Me. It is used to print out small messages whilst Bond communicates with a fellow spy and stars alongside a Rolex GMT Master watch once again, which Bond uses for standard timekeeping.

The Spy Who Loved Me was not the only Bond film to showcase one of Seiko’s technical-looking timepieces during the 1970s. In 1979, the Seiko M354 Memory Bank Calendar was used for the filming of Moonraker, starring Roger Moore. The timepiece played a huge role in the finale of the movie.

Seiko steps in again to save the day in the 1981 film, For Your Eyes Only, starring Roger Moore. Alongside this model is the Seiko H357 Duo Display which, similar to the Seiko watch on Bond’s wrist in 1977, is used to deliver text-like messages to his co-spies.

In 1983, Octopussy features the Seiko G757 Sports 100 watch as a functional digital chronograph that, in the film starring Roger Moore, tracks a device by way of a digital red dot on its screen.

The Seiko 6923-8080 SPD09 watch features in the 1985 James Bond film, A View to a Kill. It is the final appearance of Roger Moore in the series of famous films and makes a few appearances alongside the Seiko H558-500 SPW001 dive watch. In addition to this, Bond also wears a Rolex Datejust in this film.

The Living Daylights James Bond movie created in 1987 showcases the TAG Heuer Professional Night-Dive Reference 980.031 on the wrist of actor, Timothy Dalton. It marks the end of the Seiko in the films and welcomes a new, fresh vibe to the wrist of the 007 agent who wears the quartz-powered dive watch throughout the film – its cream dial contrasting against a sleek and stealthy black case and bracelet.

The Licence to Kill movie released in 1989 features the famous and highly popular Rolex 16610 watch, which brought Rolex back to the fold one last time. Timothy Dalton equips the Rolex watch to his wrist before not only he but also Rolex kiss goodbye to their roles in the James Bond franchise for good.

The Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2541.80 stars on the 1995 Goldeye film featuring Pierce Brosnan. The Irish actor took the lead role with a reliable choice in a watch. The quartz-powered dive watch was worn in the film for its ability to project a laser from its bezel and its ability to house a built-in detonator.

The Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2531.80 features in the 1997 instalment of James Bond in the Tomorrow Never Dies film. The automatic chronometer version features a matching stainless steel bracelet, luminous hour markers and hands, and a legible date window at 3 o’clock. In the film, it could remotely detonate a hand grenade.

Returning once again, this James Bond watch found itself back on the wrist of Pierce Brosnan in the 1999 film, The World is not Enough. Whilst still performing as it did in the previous film, it offered a new additional feature – the ability to project an ultra-strong light, as well as a quick action hook feature.

A few years later, the film, Die Another Day was released and to mark this occasion the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2531.80 made a comeback. Full of gadgets, the Omega James Bond watch features a built-in detonator and laser for this 2002 film.

The Casino Royale 2006 film starring Daniel Craig showed James Bond wearing the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2220.80.00. In addition to this, the actor also sported the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ref. 2900.50.91 – both of which resumed the 007 agent’s influential and iconic style.

Lastly, brief glimpses of the 600-meter water-resistant Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ref. 2201.50.00 can be seen throughout the 2015 James Bond film, Spectre, starring Daniel Craig. It secured to the wrist with a NATO-style strap designed especially for the film, alongside the Omega Aqua Terra 231.10.42.221.03.001.

For the last installment with Daniel Craig, Omega released this 42mm watch made of Grade 2 Titanium, sporting a brown tropical aluminium bezel ring and dial is slighly slimmer than their predecessor, making it an iconic watch honouring the actor taking the mighty franchise to new level during his tenure.

For more information about Omega you can read our guides covering which Omega will hold value in the pre-owned market and our deep dive in Vintage Speedmaster and the Omega Snoopy line up.