Watch Guru: James Bond 2Q Review
Bond. James Bond.
It’s 1979, and the now cult classic James Bond movie Moonraker was just released in cinemas. What watch does Bond don for one of his missions? A Seiko that contains explosives and a remote detonator, which he uses to escape from the Moonraker launch platform, in true James Bond style.
Fast forward to 1995 to the release of Goldeneye. James Bond has stepped it up, choosing to accessorise with an OMEGA Seamaster. But it’s no ordinary Seamaster, of course; this one shoots lasers out of the pip at 12 on the bezel, allowing Bond to cut through the floor of a train carriage rigged with explosives.
There is no doubt that watches play a huge part in the James Bond film series, and the Seiko and OMEGA hold up well as two unique examples of this phenomenon.
The Swatch 2Q SS07Z102
Now to focus on the star of the show: the brand new Swatch 2Q SS07Z102. A new 2020 addition to the SWATCH x 007 collaboration, the 2Q sits alongside 6 watches that are each inspired by a James Bond film. Joining timepieces inspired by cult classics such as License To Kill and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the Swatch 2Q has been exclusively designed for the upcoming 2021 Bond film No Time To Die.
Inspiration
The 2Q watch takes inspiration from the No Time To Die character Q, short for Quartermaster. Q heads up Q Branch, the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service, which is later renamed Q Division in the new 007 film.
Unboxing
An unboxing experience worth remembering, the 2Q SS07Z102 sits inside a box which mimics a Q laptop in exceptional detail. The watch comes complete with both a guarantee card and an instruction manual.
Details
Crafted in stainless steel, the unisex 2Q watch boasts a 41.5mm diameter and 45mm lug to lug length, which is large enough to make a statement but thanks to a 5.9mm depth, slender enough to comfortably slip under a cuff. Thanks to it being water-resistant to 30m, the 2Q boasts the benefit of being suitable for a variety of water activities, from snorkelling and swimming.
Framing the dial beautifully as well as adding a splash of colour, the red rehaut is smartly complemented by blue hands and hour markers. The use of colour on the 2Q is exceptional; nothing too complex, but enough for a perfectly pleasing design.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a die-hard James Bond fan then really, it’s a no brainer. It looks fantastic design-wise, is easy to wear, and in addition, is remarkably well made. Important to many, it has the quintessential Swiss Made label quartz movement by ETA, synonymous with quality. When you take into account the reasonable RRP of £186, the Swatch 2Q SS07Z102 makes a truly fine timepiece.
