Grand Teton National Park isn’t for the faint of heart. Jagged peaks consume the horizon, rising dramatically from the plains below. Even those unafraid of heights can feel the dizzying effects of looking up toward the cluster of summits, which feature prominently from any vantage point in the area.
Growing up in Colorado means that altitude, in particular, is low on my list of phobias. And this wasn’t my first time putting my faith in the laws of physics, a hardy tool watch (more importantly, the NATO keeping it secure), and a weather-beaten steel cable. Still, some butterflies made their way into my stomach as I ensured all zippers on my bag were closed tight. I stepped onto the platform of the aerial tram with a deep breath in, finding my way through the gaggle of fellow adrenaline seekers to one of the wide windows towards the front. Once the doors were secure, we pushed off the ground with a small sway back and forth as we became rapidly airborne. Our next stop was the top of the mountain: 4,000 vertical feet up. We’d be there in just under twelve minutes. I made note of the time – 4:30 PM.
This trip was my second time in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. My family went camping in the area when I was a kid and I remembered only snippets of the Old Faithful Lodge, the mountainous skyline, and the bison that roamed both the fields and the road with equal authority. Since moving into the last part of my twenties this year, I realized that I’ve had the good fortune recently to revisit a handful of my old childhood stomping grounds again with fresh eyes, and it’s been a meaningful way to close out this chapter. Places change, but not as much as I have since my last visit to America’s first National Park.
This journey was particularly special because I was able to bring along a watch that I’ve adored for years, knowing it was unique as soon as I put it on in a boutique about two years ago. But let’s start by getting something out of the way: I have no real affinity for James Bond, the fictional character played most recently by Daniel Craig, who famously wears this particular Omega Seamaster Diver 300m on screen in No Time to Die. When I’ve expressed interest in this watch at events in the past, the usual follow-up question references a niche piece of Bond trivia that makes me want to ask my counterpart – à la Casino Royale – “do I look like I give a damn?” In all seriousness, I appreciate the deep connection that many have to the Bondiverse and understand why this watch can be the linkage point between the masculine ideals that James Bond embodies and the everyday man. It just so happens I’m a Gen Z woman who can’t quite relate.
However, I’m a sucker for titanium and not thinking too hard about a watch once it’s on my wrist – the 007 Seamaster checks both of those boxes for me in an incredibly well-crafted way. Most 42mm cases don’t quite fit how I want them to. At 5.75 inches, my wrist circumference is the limiting factor on more than one watch. This Seamaster Diver 300m has a significant presence, but fits me spectacularly in ways the spec sheet alone wouldn’t support. The lugs are generously curved, with a lug to lug distance of 49.60mm. It’s 12.99mm thick, which includes the domed sapphire glass. While this is certified-chunky on paper, the on-wrist experience feels very different than the numbers might suggest. It’s also worth noting that this No Time to Die (NTTD) reference is thinner than its other Diver 300m counterparts (and weighs around 30% less than the stainless steel options too thanks to the Grade 2 Titanium construction).
The watch is powered by Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8806 which is the industry’s pinnacle of magnetic resistance and overall timekeeping precision. Just for added brownie points, each Diver 300m option comes equipped with a Helium Escape Valve (HEV) which is a mitigation system for compression that can be useful for those who work in underwater pressure chambers. Perhaps for that crowd and that crowd only, the water resistance rating of 300 meters, equivalent to 1,000 feet, is another helpful addition. The watch has a total power reserve of 55 hours.
After many weeks with this watch on wrist, I can genuinely say my only qualm lies in the bracelet, which I swapped for the NATO shortly before my trip started. Matching the case material, the watch comes with a Grade 2 Titanium adjustable mesh bracelet. Though I was able to find a setting that fit my wrist (not something I take for granted), the clasp was just a little too long, altogether. The effect was a noticeable bulge on one side of the bracelet where it couldn’t lay flush against my arm. This wasn’t a problem on larger-wristed (over 7.0 inch) people I used as guinea pigs for my research. The NATO strap was thick, durable, and performed exactly as I expected. It was definitely the better option for an outdoorsy trip of this sort.
Overall, an extended relationship with the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 007 Edition confirmed what I knew the minute I put it on my wrist: it’s adventure-ready, uber-light, and looks as badass in an underwater pressure chamber (I’m assuming) as it does on top of one of the highest peaks in the Teton Range (I’m speaking from experience). Normally, I’ll bring along a watch of my own in addition to a review piece, so I can build some of my own memories into a watch that I know I’ll keep forever. But I didn’t feel the same need to swap between the two this time around.
Perhaps part of my desire to keep the NTTD Seamaster on my wrist for the majority of the trip was that it was so light I forgot I was wearing it half the time – a possibility definitely up for discussion. However, I think the bulk of it was that I was constantly reminded while glancing down at it, or while photographing it against the vast Wyoming sky, that I’m living out a dream my younger self couldn’t have possibly imagined. And when I think back on this trip, the Omega will be woven inextricably into those memories.
Somewhere, in my future reflections, it’s 4:30 PM. I’m taking a breath, stepping onto a platform, and following a steel cable to the top of the world – or at least to the top of the timberline. Sometimes, in future reflections, they’re the same thing.
Interested in adding the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 007 to your own collection? It’s currently available for 7,449 USD on the Rocky Mountain Watches website.