Not every watch in a Bond film is on Bond’s wrist. In Skyfall, M’s chief of staff, Bill Tanner, wears a plain, well-judged dress watch: the Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar, reference 431.33.41.22.02.001. It has a silver dial, a steel case and a black leather strap, and it asks nothing of the shirt cuff above it. For a man who wants a calendar watch without the clutter, the Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar is a sensible place to look.
In the film
Rory Kinnear’s Tanner wears it in Skyfall (2012), where it is seen briefly as he protects M during Silva’s attack at the public inquiry. Tanner is again seen with the same De Ville in later films, though in No Time To Die (2021) our sources say only that he probably wears the same watch.
The details of the Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar
A case that stays quiet. The case is 41mm stainless steel, brushed and polished, with the edges of the sapphire crystal meeting the case in an integrated line. The flat silvered dial has a silver chapter ring, applied polished hour markers, polished hands and a blue steel seconds hand, which is the one splash of colour.
An annual calendar. The calendar adjusts for the different lengths of the months, so it needs correcting only once a year, at the end of February. For a watch you take off and put on most days, that is a real convenience.
The movement. Inside is Omega’s calibre 8601, an automatic Co-Axial movement with a silicon balance spring. It runs at 25,200 vibrations an hour and holds about 55 hours of power reserve, enough to leave it on the dresser from Friday evening to Monday morning. A transparent caseback shows it.
Water resistance. It is rated to 100m, which comfortably covers rain, washing hands and the odd swim.
Wearing it now
This is a watch for work, and for the kind of work that involves a suit. We would wear it on the black leather strap, as Tanner does, with grey or navy tailoring and black shoes. The silver dial reads clearly and does not shout, and the 41mm case sits easily under a cuff. Its restraint is the point: nobody will remark on it, and you will know the time and the date without looking twice.
New or pre-owned? We found this reference at a retailer and in the pre-owned market. Pre-owned examples in good order are worth considering, and you should ask for a full set, with the strap and buckle intact.
Specifications
| Reference | 431.33.41.22.02.001 |
|---|---|
| Case | 41mm stainless steel, sapphire crystal, transparent caseback |
| Dial | Silver, applied hour markers, blue steel seconds hand |
| Movement | Omega calibre 8601, automatic Co-Axial, annual calendar, about 55-hour power reserve |
| Water resistance | 100m |
| Strap | Black leather |
| RRP | Check the retailer for current availability and price |
Details of the model are on The Watch Company’s listing.
Questions
Who wears the Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar in Skyfall?
Bill Tanner, played by Rory Kinnear. The watch is seen briefly in the public inquiry scene.
Is it the same watch as the one in Spectre?
Our sources say Tanner wears the same De Ville again in Spectre (2015).
What does an annual calendar do?
It shows the date and allows for months of different lengths, so it needs resetting only once a year, at the end of February.
See more from Skyfall, the watches collection and Daniel Craig’s Bond.
