Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Chronometer Chronograph America’s Cup – 44mm
How Omega Won The America’s Cup
As Official Timekeeper and sponsor of the winning team, Omega was a clear winner at the 36th Edition of the America’s Cup.
By Hyla Bauer
Contributor
Earlier this month, Emirates Team New Zealand sailed to victory at the 36th Edition of the America’s Cup tournament. Held on the crystal blue waters of Waitematā Harbor in Auckland, New Zealand, this year, the regatta drew top sailing teams from all over the world. The race took place over several days, with the first team to win seven races proclaimed the victor. And as the Official Timekeeper of the race, Omega was very much on the scene.
It was the brand’s third stint as the Official Timekeeper. And teams from all over the world competed earlier this year for a spot to spar with the previous winner.
In Preparation for the Starting Gun, Seconds Count
In sailing regattas, timing is critical, especially at the start of the race when captains maneuver their boats as close as they can to the starting line when the gun goes off. The teams are given a 15-minute warning to navigate as close as possible to the line. And in these crucial minutes, every second counts.
A Seamaster Special Edition
Speaking of precise timing, Omega decided that a commemorative watch was in order, which is great news for collectors and sailing buffs alike. Given the critical role that timing has for the sailors, a chronograph with a high level of water resistance is de rigueur. So before the race, Omega released a chronograph – the Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup Chronograph Edition – to address all of the sailors’ timing needs while also looking great in the process.
The watch. Unlike a “standard” chronograph, the watch, which features the Seamaster’s signature wave motif on its blue dial, has a 15-minute countdown sub-dial in bright red that is easy to read at a glance. Large hour and minute hands and prominent round hour markers are also easy to read in a flash.
The watch also features a new chronograph lock system, ergonomic soft-touch water grip pushers, and a quick-change strap. Additional red elements on the watch are the central seconds hand, which features a small trophy as its counterweight, and a red pusher at 10 o’clock.
Engraved Caseback
The 44mm timepiece’s caseback has, “like all great commemorative watches, the event and year clearly marked and highlighted in bold,” the brand said in a statement. “On the caseback, engravings filled with blue lacquer spell out “36th America’s Cup” and “Auckland 2021.”
A Win-Win for Omega
Not only was Omega the Official Timekeeper, but the brand was once again a sponsor of the victorious Emirates Team New Zealand, as it has been since 1995. The team has won the cup four times, including in 1995.
The first America’s Cup race happened back in 1851 and was an international competition from the get-go. An American team aboard the aptly named America racing yacht sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the World’s Fair in England. The boat competed in a race around the Isle of Wight against British yachts and won the contest.
Their prize was a silver cup trophy, which cost about 100 pounds. The team subsequently donated the cup to the New York Yacht Club with the stipulation that the trophy would be “a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations.”
And as evidenced by Emirates Team New Zealand's recent win, the America’s Cup is still going as strong as ever.
Congratulations Omega and Emirates Team New Zealand!
(Images © OMEGA Watches)
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