Introducing: The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M For The 37th America’s Cup
This year marks the fourth time Omega will fulfill the role of official timekeeper for the America’s Cup. The 37th edition of one of the world’s most prestigious sailing races will take place in Barcelona, where six teams will compete to win and become the defender for the next edition. To celebrate Omega’s important role during this event, in which every second counts, the brand is launching a special edition of its Seamaster Diver 300M. Compared to the previous America’s Cup special editions, this year’s is one of the least complicated. But it certainly features many interesting details that recall the oldest still-running international sporting competition.
Right now, the six teams are competing in the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta. This is like the warm-up for next week’s Louis Vuitton Cup, the winner of which will become this year’s challenger. Then, that challenger will compete against the last edition’s winner, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), in the 37th edition of the America’s Cup, starting October 12th. Omega is also an official sponsor of ETNZ. Last September, the brand launched the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Chronograph Deep Black ETNZ to celebrate that fact.
Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann and ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton holding the “Auld Mug”
Omega as the America’s Cup official timekeeper and partner of ETNZ
We’ll get to this year’s Seamaster Diver 300M in a second. First, though, I wanted to show you Omega’s commitment to the America’s Cup and Emirates Team New Zealand. If you’re interested, you can check out the special watches the brand launched for previous editions of the America’s Cup. In 2021, the brand released a commemorative Seamaster Planet Ocean and a Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph. However, RJ also wrote an overview of other special editions made for the race and ETNZ. All right, with that now out of the way, let’s take a look at the new Seamaster Diver 300M.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M for the 37th America’s Cup
This year’s special-edition Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup has the same 42mm brushed and polished stainless steel case we’re all familiar with. It measures 49mm from lug to lug and 13.7mm thick. This edition’s design also utilizes the official America’s Cup’s colors, which are blue, white, and red.
The polished blue ceramic bezel insert features a countdown scale for racing, including two five-minute pre-start indicators and a regatta-style start flag. As RJ explained in one of the above-mentioned articles, “Five minutes before the race starts, there’s a horn that blows the countdown signal. […] The skipper must make sure that he does not cross the starting line before this shot. With the tough and sometimes barely controllable forces of nature, the lining up of the sailing ship isn’t an easy task.”
Then, we get to the matte white ceramic no-date dial with polished waves in relief. The applied hour markers each have a blue frame and a filling of white luminous material. Just like the printing at 12 and 6 o’clock, the skeletonized hands are blue. In addition, the minute hand fades from blue to a fiery red. The America’s Cup “Auld Mug” acts as a counterbalance on the lollipop seconds hand.
The 8806 no-date automatic caliber
The special-edition Seamaster Diver 300M for the 37th America’s Cup is powered by the in-house-developed no-date caliber 8806. This automatic Co-Axial movement runs at a frequency of 25,200vph and holds a power reserve of 55 hours. After the movement passes the regular COSC chronometer tests and Omega encases it, the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology certifies it as a Master Chronometer. This METAS certification guarantees an average accuracy of 0/+6 seconds per day, protection against magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss, and water resistance to 300 meters (+10% margin).
The movement, including the rotor, has a rhodium plating and shows Omega’s typical arabesque Geneva waves. You can look at it through the exhibition case back. However, part of it is covered by the 37th America’s Cup logo, which is blue and shows the Auld Mug and “B” for Barcelona.
Final thoughts on the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup
If you look at Omega’s previous special editions for the America’s Cup, you can see that some are quite colorful and complicated. I like that this new Seamaster Diver 300M for the 37th America’s Cup is more toned down. Yes, it’s still blue and white with a touch of red. But it’s executed with attention to detail, just like the touches that remind you of the race it was made for. In general, I’m not a fan of logos printed on display case backs. However, in this case, I think it makes sense and won’t bother owners when they’re wearing the watch.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M for the 37th America’s Cup is available now. It costs €7,200 with the stainless steel bracelet and €6,800 with a matching blue rubber strap. Both come with Omega’s Quick-Change system for easy switching, and the bracelet’s clasp allows for on-the-go micro-adjustment. For more information on the new Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup, check out the official Omega website. Also, let me know in the comments below what you think of this special edition.
