The N64 GoldenEye game, history’s best first-person shooter, made me the man I am. I credit it for my love of watches (and excellent marksmanship). My favorite level was the “Train” mission where I, as Bond, got to use a wristwatch laser to escape a trap. To 8-year-old me, this made it the coolest watch in the world—even in its blocky, ’90s graphics glory. When I saw the real, non-pixelated thing in the GoldenEye film, I simply had to have that Omega Seamaster.
My father gave me my first real timepiece, a Rolex Explorer II, on my 14th birthday. Yet, I dreamed of a quartz model half that watch’s price. Today, the GoldenEye Omega is my everyday watch, my gift to my inner N64-loving child.
Luxury watches are like toys for grown-ups. They’re gadgets to play with, display, and show off. They can represent who we are and, perhaps more importantly, who we strive to be. Is that so different from a kid wearing a toy utility belt because he strives to be like Batman? Yes, luxury watches are about style, investment, and tech. But they’re also about fun. These watches remind us of that.
Rolex Cheat Codes: Vintage Models Well Under $5k
The crown connotes a rarified tier of luxury—but the barrier to entry is actually lower than you’d imagine. There are two surprisingly approachable ways to discover the brand.
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph
When you were younger, did you secretly prefer the Discovery Channel Store over KB Toys? Well, the Navitimer B01 flaunts all of the science-forward aesthetics of any good chronograph. However, it’s that slide rule calculator that makes it truly special. Its logarithmic scales can multiply, divide, and even convert units, among others. A more practical use that’ll also impress your friends? Calculating restaurant tips. It’s like those children’s abacus sets at the dentist’s office, but way more engaging. Size-wise, I prefer the ladies’ versions. Most of them are perfectly unisex. They just have pearled bezels instead of coined ones, which I think adds visual balance to the overall design anyway.
Victorinox Swiss Army Night Vision
Victorinox Swiss Army Night Vision
Fortunately, the Victorinox Night Vision isn’t high luxury when it comes to price. Like most Victorinox gear, it’s spec-forward and highly practical, with impeccable applications. There’s just something very superhero about the light that shoots out from the top. It’s no metal-cutting laser, but it’s one heck of a party trick. Sure, overusing the light is a real power drain, but you can still expect fewer battery changes with this watch compared to your childhood Power Wheels or Talkboy voice recorder.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duoface
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duoface
I’ve always referred to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Duoface Reversos as Transformers action figures for well-adjusted adults. Naturally, these timepieces are far more elegant than some toy, but the engagement factor is there. The signature design includes a two-faced, two-sided square dial. This means you can have two time zones on your wrist, or just two styles to switch back and forth from. Plus, sliding one dial out, reversing it, and then clicking it back in really is nostalgic—whether you were into Transformers, Voltron, or Power Rangers Megazords.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Black Ceramic
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Black Ceramic
Some things never change. Where I grew up, all of the cool elementary school boys sported brawny G-Shock watches. I recently found out that my 11-year-old nephew begged my sister-in-law for a Carbon Core GA-2100-1AER from the Octagon Series. I wouldn’t call this Bulgari Octo Finissimo a G-Shock for grown-ups per se. G-Shocks are perfectly respectable watches for all ages. But, there are many luxury watch collectors whose interest was sparked by an all-black resin Casio. From the hard tactical lines and athletically integrated bracelet, to the matte black palette, Bulgari serves up what seems to be an analog G-Shock that went to finishing school. Still bullet-proof, but much classier. The ceramic construction provides a non-murky onyx hue that’ll stay vivid forever, while the platinum micro-rotor can be admired through the exhibition caseback.
What’s That Watch? Mystery Movie Watches, From Bogart to Sinatra
I hunted down the most fascinating—and formerly unidentifiable—timepieces in Hollywood history.
Omega Speedmaster Snoopy Award
Omega Speedmaster Snoopy Award
The Snoopy motif on this Omega Speedmaster serves a purpose beyond youthful charm. The famous beagle has been a NASA mascot since the ‘60s when the agency tapped Peanuts creator Charles Schulz to help spread spaceflight awareness to the future astronauts of America. In 1970, Omega received NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award, recognizing their contributions to space travel and the Speedy’s role during the harrowing Apollo 13 emergency. This watch commemorates 50 years of that award. On the front, an embossed Snoopy sits on the nine subdial. On the back, he sits in a spacecraft that flies to the far side of the moon when the chronograph is operated. The message “Eyes on the Stars” reminds its wearer of how Snoopy inspired a generation of children to dream big.
Accutron Spaceview Evolution
Accutron Spaceview Evolution
The dial on this Accutron Spaceview is like a sophisticated, high-budget mini-spaceship playset (I was partial to Mighty Max, though he’d sadly never become as iconic as Polly Pocket). It’s a watch for you sci-fi fans, both visually and operationally. Like no caliber before it, the Spaceview runs on an electrostatic movement via a miniature Wimshurst machine. This means that the bottom two spinning discs create opposing charges, literally generating lightning in a bottle. The larger disc drives the buttery smooth sweep of the second hand. It’s a conversation piece, as well as a showcase. The spinning turbines, layers, and dynamic topography are utterly watchable. You’ll never be bored by yourself again.
URWERK UR-105
URWERK UR-105
If the Chris Nolan Batmobile were a watch, it would be the UR-15. It’s sleek, stout, and features different finishing throughout its variegated body. There’s even a little topside door that you can open and close, which is part of the fun. Every UR-105 variation tells time the same way. There’s a moving carousel, carrying satellites that represent the hour. These bronze satellites move past the minute indicator representing that passing hour. It’s an optical feast of systems and robotics, coming together to form a commanding, stylistically urban, vehicle-like timepiece.
Ciga U Blue Planet
Ciga U Blue Planet
A piece of concept art that would make Captain Planet proud, the Ciga U Blue Planet is a collaboration with The Earth Day Organization and is built with recycled titanium. The planet Earth engraving is flawless, managing to fit detailed topology in such a small space. Just look at how high and crisp the Himalayas are. To tell time, you’ll follow the compass, which points to outer concentric rings representing the hours and minutes.
Omega Seamaster 300M
Omega Seamaster 300M
Even without the James Bond reference, this classic Seamaster is remarkable. Its scalloped bezel and wave dial are almost playful. And yet, it managed to make it into the classics club with all of the more by-the-book diver watches. It created a new standard of classic. Even as abstracted as it looks in the N64 GoldenEye game (the bracelet doesn’t even connect to the case), there were enough design cues to inspire a generation of kids to seek out watches. These days, you can get this very design with more updated movements, including ones with Co-Axial escapements. Personally, I have an unwavering loyalty to the original quartz 2541.80.
