Now pay attention, watch fans ..
Swatch has (in)famously certainly been at the forefront of watch industry headlines over the last year or so, with the launch of the controversially ‘Marmite’ MoonSwatch (a very clever Omega x Swatch collaboration), yet prior to that, in anticipation of the last James Bond film ‘No Time To Die’, one of Swatch’s specials was quietly released and aptly flew in under the radar somewhat: introducing the Swatch ‘Q’, and more specifically here, it’s sequel, the ‘2Q’.
James Bond Swatch ‘2Q’ - Credit WatchGecko
Swatch is no newcomer when it comes to its association with the Bond franchise; in addition to Swatch owning (amongst numerous others) Omega, who have gifted numerous Seamasters to 007.com since the Pierce Brosnan era (1995 onwards), it has also produced a number of very successful runs of Bond-themed Swatches to commemorate each film, with each design demonstrating visual clues reminiscent of each of the film’s storylines. Following this success, Swatch, in 2008, introduced a further 22 more with each one depicting some of the most famous ‘villains’. All of these are highly collectable from Bond and/or Swatch fans alike.
So – to the Q (swatch reference SS07Z100) – this elegant skeleton-dial, ETA-driven quartz watch was launched quietly in Spring 2020, alongside six other Bond-poster themed releases, to coincide with Daniel Craig’s final outing as the UK’s most famous on-screen spy. The ‘Q’ was heralded as a design that Q, the man himself, would have made (it even says so on the inner side of the strap) for himself and/or standard issue for his nerdy colleagues in the tech basement of Q Branch at MI6 HQ. The initial offering, branded as simply ‘Q’, was actually designed by the film’s costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb. It was limited to just 7,007 pieces and sold our very fast – with many since having sold on the used markets for silly money above its original £264 RRP.
James Bond Swatch ‘2Q’ - Credit WatchGecko
Soon after, in the autumn of 2020, Swatch issued a slightly less expensive follow-up, simply named the ‘2Q’, albeit not being in a limited edition this time. On initial inspection it looks near identical to its predecessor – the main differences being a blue theme, for the successor: blue electronic coil (vice red), blue hands (vice red) yet it does retain the original, sloping, metallic red chapter ring and blue, triangular hour markers as seen on the limited-edition original. ‘Q’ is printed on the inner bezel at 6 o’clock (on both variants). It’s not known, unless you have eagle eyes, whether the one worn by Q (Ben Wishaw) himself, in the film (during the very humourous apartment scene), has the Q on it as it only appears on screen for a micro-second. When you next watch ‘No Time To Die’ have the pause button ready and let us know if you can see if he’s wearing the original or the ‘2Q’?
At 42mm and a mere 6.70mm thick (and as part of Swatch’s overall Skin Irony line), it’s a large watch, but its overall slimness makes it wear somewhat smaller on the wrist and such a slim design helps with the avoidance of bashes and scratches. The crystal is marketed as being mineral glass, but with a gentle tap it feels like acrylic (without having tested this myself to confirm). The casing has a silky-smooth, all satin/brushed finish and feels great to the touch, with an under-sized, discreet crown at the 3 o’clock position. This is a two-hander so no seconds hand is there, but on close inspection, every 10 seconds you can just make out a micro-movement of the minute hand – that’s 6x visual ticks per minute. And having Swatch’s own ETA quartz movement inside, it maintains time very accurately, as expected.
James Bond Swatch ‘2Q’ - Credit WatchGecko
As is usual for most Swatch quartz models, battery changing is swift and easy courtesy of Swatch’s -case-back ‘hatch’ system where, with the half twist of the pod/hatch, it can be removed and replaced quickly from the watch’s rear and with minimal fuss or tools: twist, open, remove, replace, close, twist, reset time, go. Both hour and minute hand are stick shaped with a trace of blue Superluminova lume. The watch is water resistance to just 30m, so no deep-sea diving applies here. There are no minute markings on the dial so, despite Q probably needing a timepiece for accurate mathematically-related aspects of his missions, this one won’t fit that requirement. Maybe Q is now working on a COSC-certified 3Q for the Double-O Sections’ next missions?
The standard strap for the ‘2Q’ is a red-lined, leather, dark brown/red tartan/plaid effect, alleged to be inspired by the tweed style attire that the original Q (Desmond Llewellyn) wore in the first half of the Bond series. It’s a smart design and the red lining (not seen on the original ‘Q’) is a smart and classy touch.
James Bond Swatch ‘2Q’ - Credit WatchGecko
The large, white presentation box is a fun, ‘laptop’ styled espionage-themed cardboard/plastic design; it resembles a ‘fingerprint enable’ standard QWERTY keyboard and the watch is presently nicely within. Unlike most of the previous Bond Swatch tie-ins, the ‘2Q’ has no distinguishing Bond trademarks annotated although the ‘laptop’ box itself caries the famous 007 gun-logo trademark to indicate to the owner it is an officially licensed product.
What makes the ‘2Q’ extra special for me personally is that it was generously gifted to me by my partner not too long after we first met. I had let on that I was a Bond and watch nerd (at risk of her running for the hills anyway!) and as this was nearing the end of the latter Covid lockdown she’d not yet had a chance to see what other watches I’d had in my collection – so her buying this as a gamble turned out to be a great choice; not only did I not own one, I shamefully wasn’t even up to date about the latest Bond/watch news so it was an even better surprise. It’s a superb watch for any Bond/Swatch fan.
James Bond Swatch ‘2Q’ - Credit WatchGecko
Both ‘Q’ may have ceased production now, but if you spot one on the used market, I’d definitely recommend to snap one up, and wear and enjoy it. Personally, the extra blue on the 2Q is I feel a visual improvement on the ‘Q’.
Specifications:
- Brand: Swatch
- Model: 2Q
- Price: No longer available
- Material: Stainless steel / leather
- Movement: ETA quartz
- Complications: Hours, minutes and any hidden gadgetry Q has embedded
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Dial: Round
- Size: 42mm
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: On any mission
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Bond... James Bond. He can borrow it providing it's returned in one piece!
- Best characteristics of the watch: The very slim and sleek profile
- The worst characteristics of the watch: Hard to fault
