Omega inaugurated its role as official timekeeper of the 36th America’s Cup last year with the launch of a special edition from its Seamaster Planet Ocean collection. As the start of the world’s most prestigious sailing race (and the awarding of sports’ oldest international trophy) draws closer, Omega has released another special timepiece, this one based on the rugged, sporty Seamaster Diver 300M family of models, which boasts an array of “race ready” features. Here’s a closer look at the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup Chronograph.
The watch’s 44-mm-diameter case is in stainless steel, while both its wave-pattern dial and dive-scale bezel ring are in blue ceramic, the latter element using white enamel for the scale’s numerals and markers. The unidirectional bezel has an easy-to-grip scalloped edge. The chronograph pushers that flank the screw-down crown are made of soft-touch rubber and ergonomically designed for easier handling in the wet conditions that one would encounter while sailing; the pushers’ red and blue colors reflect those of the America’s Cup competition and are echoed throughout the watch.
At 3 o’clock on the laser-engraved dial is a specially designed subdial that allows the wearer to use the built-in stopwatch as a regatta countdown indicator. Inside an outer ring made of red anodized aluminum is an hour disk underneath the subdial and a red anodized aluminum minute hand and rhodium-plated small seconds hand, whose shapes resembles that of a boat hull. The central chronograph hand, also in red anodized aluminum, uses the silhouette of the America’s Cup trophy as its counterweight.
The 300-meter water-resistant case is also equipped with Omega’s exclusive Chrono Lock system, which locks and unlocks the chronograph pushers, preventing inadvertent adjustments while the stopwatch functions are being used, i.e., while in the final stretches of a high-stakes sailing race. The watch comes on a metal bracelet and also attaches to an additional rubber strap, both of which incorporate Omega’s new “Quick Change” system. To change bracelets, the wearer simply presses a button to release the pins from the watch-head, with no additional tools necessary.
The Alveol shaped caseback is graced with blue lacquer-filled engravings indicating “36th America’s Cup” and “Auckland 2021.” Through its sapphire window the wearer can glimpse Omega’s co-axial Master Chronometer Caliber 9900, an automatic movement with a column-wheel-driven chronograph and a power reserve of 60 hours stored in twin barrels. Like all Master Chronometer calibers, it features a silicon balance spring and a co-axial escapement and is antimagnetic to 15,000 Gauss. Its surfaces are embellished with Omega’s hallmark Geneva waves “in Arabesque” motif.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup Chronograph is presented, with its additional rubber strap, in a specially designed box with America’s Cup colors and branding. Available now, it is priced at $10,700. The 36th America’s Cup, presented by Prada, will begin on March 6, pitting Prada Cup winner Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli against Emirates Team New Zealand — a rematch of the finalists’ first duel in 2000, which as it turns out was the first America’s Cup for which Omega served as timekeeper.
Interesting watch, however, since I don’t compete with the yachting class of American Cup snobs, I am unable to make the connection, besides the watch is to large.