Swiss watchmaker OMEGA knows a thing or two about the ocean. As the purveyors of the Seamaster, one of the most iconic diving watches ever produced, the brand has close ties to the water, and thanks to a little partnership with the America’s Cup, fans will get to see that connection in action. OMEGA has just been announced as the official timekeeper for the sailing race, dropping a limited-edition piece to commemorate the occasion.
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The new OMEGA America’s Cup partnership isn’t a first for the Swiss brand. The 2021 collaboration will mark the third time in history that OMEGA has fulfilled the prestigious sailing role, since the brand began its partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand in 1995.
“The America’s Cup has a truly special place within the OMEGA brand. From ingenuity and precision, through to the competitive energy and history, every part of it appeals to our spirit,” OMEGA president and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann said. “We’re very excited about our role next March and also for the chance to be on-board with Emirates Team New Zealand once again.”
The 36th America’s Cup is set to take place in March 2021, with competitors sailing in AC75, 75-foot foiling monohulls. The competition is fierce and timings are essential, which is why sailor Peter Burling is thrilled to have OMEGA take on the official timekeeping duties.
“Timings are so critical in the sport of sailing, whether it’s counting down to the start, or the race durations, everything is related back to time. So having a precision timekeeper like that is pretty important,” he said. “I think there are a lot of similarities between what we do here with Emirates Team New Zealand and also with OMEGA. We are both pushing the cutting-edge on technology and precision and it is all about the fine details of making the end product perfect. It has a lot of synergies in that regard.”
It wasn’t the only announcement OMEGA had for us, however. To kick off the partnership, OMEGA has doubled down, unveiling a brand-new limited-edition Seamaster Planet Ocean 35th America’s Cup. Presented in a structured rubber strap, the 43.50mm watch pays homage to OMEGA’s deep-diving heritage. The ceramic bezel doubles as a countdown for racing, with the red, white and blue colours adding a subtle nod to the American flag.
The competition name and logo can be found at 6 o’clock and on the counterweight of the central seconds hands. On the reverse side, the America’s Cup logo is transferred on the caseback’s sapphire crystal, through which you can see the OMEGA Master Chronometer Calibre 8900.
The OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 35th America’s Cup is limited to just 2,021 pieces and is available to order now for AUD$10,725.
