Last year, Omega launched a special edition of the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection, officially serving as the Official Timekeeper of the 36th America's Cup. With the world's most prestigious sailing competition (and the awarding of the oldest international trophy in sport), OMEGA has released another special timepiece, based on the rugged and sporty Seamaster Diver 300M collection, with a series of "race ready" functions. Here's a close-up look at the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America's Cup Chronograph.
The watch's 44mm diameter case is made of stainless steel, while the wavy dial and diver's scale bezel are made of blue ceramic, with the latter having white enamel for the scale numerals and hour markers. The unidirectional bezel has scalloped edges that are easy to grip. The chronograph pushers on the side of the screw-down crown are made of soft-touch rubber and are ergonomically designed to facilitate manoeuvring in the wet conditions encountered while sailing; The red and blue colors of the buttons reflect the colors of the America's Cup matches and echo throughout the watch.
The laser-engraved dial at 3 o'clock is a specially designed subdial that allows the wearer to use the built-in stopwatch as a regatta countdown indicator. Inside the bezel made of red anodized aluminium are the hour counters below the subdials and the red anodized aluminium minute and rhodium-plated small seconds hands, which are shaped like the hull of a ship. The central chronograph hand, also in red anodized aluminium, is counterweighted by the silhouette of the America's Cup trophy.
The 300-meter water-resistant case is also equipped with OMEGA's exclusive Chrono Lock system, which locks and unlocks the chronograph pushers, preventing unintentional adjustments when using the stopwatch function, i.e. during the final stages of high-risk voyages. The watch comes with a metal bracelet and an additional rubber strap, both of which feature OMEGA's new "Quick Change" system. To change the bracelet, the wearer simply presses a button to release the pin from the watch head, without the need for additional tools.
The honeycomb caseback is decorated with a blue lacquer engraving that reads "36th America's Cup" and "Auckland 2021". Through the sapphire glass window, the wearer can get a glimpse of the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9900, an automatic movement with a column-wheel-driven chronograph and a dual barrel offering a power reserve of 60 hours. Like all Co-Axial Master Chronometer movements, it features a silicon balance spring and a coaxial escapement with a magnetic resistance of up to 15,000 gauss. Its surface is adorned with OMEGA's signature "arabesque" Côtes de Genève pattern.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America's Cup Chronograph, along with an additional rubber strap, comes in a specially designed box with America's Cup colors and branding. Available now for $10,700. The 36th edition of the America's Cup, hosted by Prada, will begin on March 6 with Prada Cup winner Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli taking on Emirates Team New Zealand – a repeat of the finalists' first showdown in 2000, which turned out to be the first America's Cup Omega to act as a timekeeper.