Swatch Introduces the ²Q for ‘No Time to Die’

The affordable James Bond watch.

Earlier this year Swatch released the Swatch x 007 collection made up of six watches, each inspired by a James Bond movie from 1962 to 2006, in the lead-up to the premiere of the latest Bond flick, No Time to Die. Then the watchmaker worked with the movie’s design team to imagine a watch suitable for Q, the MI6 gadget chief who outfits Bond in every film, resulting in the ²Q.

It was originally launched in March 2020 as a limited edition with red accents – Ben Whishaw as Q in the film will be wearing one – but now the blue version has been unveiled to coincide with the film’s release. But because No Time to Die has been delayed yet again, to April 2021, the watch is going it alone.

Initial thoughts

Unlike Swatch x 007 watches from earlier in the year that were elaborate in style and colour, the ²Q is pared-back and slightly mechanical in style, but avoids being boring thanks to an open dial and red accents. It is surprisingly interesting to see the insides of a quartz watch, which is not often revealed since mechanical movements are more commonly exposed.

The design is simple but executed well. For instance, the red flange slopes downwards to the brushed chapter ring for the hours, adding some depth to the face.

At 42 mm in diameter, the ²Q is larger than earlier 007 editions. That also holds true for the price, which at US$220 is also steeper than usual, but still eminently affordable compared to Omega’s 007 Seamaster.

Q details

Based on the Skin Irony model – which means an extra-thin steel case – the overall look of the watch is quite solemn and mechanical, consisting mainly of silver and blue, along with a splash of red and the exposed quartz movement – all in all rather fitting for Q, and conceived with the help of Suttirat Anne Larlarb, the costume designer for No Time To Die.

The special packaging

Several details are specific to the character, most obviously “Q” for the six o’clock marker. And the coil around the stepper motor at 10 o’clock is also coated blue, instead of its usual natural-copper colour. In the original edition, the coil was copper and the hands were red.