Andrew McCutchen
Editor’s Note: Perhaps the most prestigious sailing competition in the world is currently underway. The 37th America’s Cup, the oldest international competition still running in any sport, held since its inception in 1851, kicked off in Barcelona, Spain on August 22nd and will conclude on October 27th. The competition is made up of five events: the Louis Vuitton Qualifying Regatta, the Louis Vuitton Cup, the Unicredit Youth America’s Cup, the PUIG Women’s America’s Cup and the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. While other watchmakers may have ties to the event and its participants, OMEGA is the only official timekeeper. To commemorate its role as official timekeeper and the competing teams it supports, OMEGA has unveiled a trilogy of 2024 America’s Cup Edition watches. We’re so jealous that Andrew had the chance to get his hands on all of these when he attended the opening of the America’s Cup in Spain. So, I’m now going to hand the keys back to Andrew and let him share his first impressions of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (37th America’s Cup Edition), the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black and the Omega Seamaster Regatta (37th America’s Cup Edition).
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (37th America’s Cup Edition)
What really catches my eye on the Omega Seamaster 300M on the wrist is the slight off-white lume plot and the blue border around it. It’s really subtle, but nice to notice. The white ceramic wave dial is very fresh and blocks light even at different wrist angles, making it very readable at any time of day or angle. The America’s Cup brand logo is very subtle, and the counterweight of the seconds hand is like a little Easter egg, conveying the exclusivity of the watch without compromising the aesthetic. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but I think it’s a nice decorative element. Also, the blue-to-red gradient minute hand is a nice twist on the dial, incorporating the white, blue, and red color scheme of the America’s Cup. As an aside, have you ever seen gradient color hands before?
Beyond that, this is a nautical-themed twist on the white dial of the standard fan-favorite Seamaster 300M Diver. I think the touches of blue and red accents give it a more summery, nautical, and beachy feel compared to the standard white dial version. While it’s a familiar model in many ways, what makes it stand out is the nautical-themed remix of the design, especially with the incorporation of the regatta countdown on the ceramic timing bezel insert.
Brand Omega Model Seamaster Diver 300M (37th America’s Cup Edition) Reference 210.30.42.20.04.002 Case Size 42mm (D) x 13.8mm (T) x 49.93mm (LTL) Case Material Stainless steel Water Resistance 300m (Screw-down crown) Crystal Sapphire crystal front and back Dial White Strap Blue rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet Movement 8806, in-house, automatic, co-axial, METAS certified Power Reserve 55 hours Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, date Availability Current Price US$6,200 (rubber case)
$6,500 (bracelet)
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black
For me, the main selling point of the Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black is the color scheme, with a strong contrast of black and baby blue all the way through. The strap has contrast stitching and contrast colors. The pushers have contrast rings. The crown has a contrast logo. The watch remains stealthy at all times, the black Omega adds contrast, and the touches of blue create visual noise. So, this is definitely a cool big black chronograph watch, but the baby blue accents add a fresh feel and flair. There is a certain flashiness to the color scheme, which is probably in keeping with the size.
Having watched the race and knowing the importance of the countdown timer, I understand why there is a big feature on the chronograph at the 3 minute mark – a 5 minute countdown timer. This is very important because when the countdown timer expires, the yacht will select the run that will cross the starting line. If you know the ins and outs of the America’s Cup, you know this can be the moment that makes or breaks the entire race. At what point will you cross the line? Do you be conservative and sacrifice a few seconds? Or do you go all in and really time your run so that you are at full pace when you cross the line?
For the first time, I understand why the countdown timer is such a big feature and visual signature of the watch. On top of that, it also has a helium release valve. Wearability-wise, it’s just too big for my 7-inch wrist. It looks well-balanced in the photos, but feels big on the wrist. It’s on a premium deployant-style rubber strap, so it’s big all around. Apart from that, the ceramic bezel has a beautiful satin finish that makes it stand out, and the color should stand out for anyone looking for a watch with a stealthy yet bold aesthetic.
Brand Omega Model Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black Reference 215.92.46.51.01.003 Case Size 45.5mm (D) x 19mm (T) x 52.4mm (LTL) Case Material Black Ceramic Water Resistance 600m (Screw-down Crown) Crystal Sapphire Crystal (Front and Back) Dial Black Strap Black rubber strap with ceramic folding clasp Movement 9900, In-house, Automatic, Co-Axial, METAS Certified Power Reserve 60 hours Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph, regatta timer Availability Current Price US$13,300
OMEGA Seamaster Regatta (37th America’s Cup Edition)
The Omega Seamaster Regatta should be closely compared to its proper competitors. It is a high-end, high-performance version of a watch like the Tissot T-Touch. It has the same kind of AniDigi technology, with the hands at a right angle at 12 o’clock, so they don’t get in the way of the information displayed on the digital screen on the dial. It’s a fun feature to operate, as the hands converge and exit the display in a very pleasant robotic motion. That being said, this watch is accurate to within 7 seconds per year, thanks to the latest, very high-performance endo quartz technology, which beats most brands’ high-performance quartz and its catalog sibling, the Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer, which was accurate to within 10 seconds per year. So it’s definitely high-performance.
The 15 features are far beyond my time or willingness to try them out, but they are impressive for those willing to explore the possibilities. There is a graphic display of the moon phases, which allows you to recreate the moon as seen from both the northern and southern hemispheres. Aside from its primary use as a regatta timer, there are plenty of other features to explore, such as an accelerometer to measure G-forces and a thermometer to measure temperature, all of which revolve around its functional uses in sailing. But at the end of the day, with its white rubber strap, it feels like the perfect companion for a true sailor who wants to have all the information at his fingertips and something useful and good looking on deck. So, if you are actually in command of a boat, this watch is the perfect companion, and the price is no object. The $7,400 price tag is from the world of luxury, and the world of yacht owners, and the blend of beauty and high performance that qualifies it as a true tool watch will be a strong attraction for those who live in both worlds.
Brand Omega Model Seamaster Regatta America’s Cup Reference 216.92.46.79.10.001 Case Dimensions 46.75mm (D) x 14.89mm (T) x 48.5mm (LTL) Case Material Grade 5 Titanium Water Resistance 50 meters Crystal Sapphire front Dial Blue, digital LCD display Strap Integrated blue rubber, titanium clasp Movement Caliber 5701 Quartz, in-house Power Reserve 31 months Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, UTC, perpetual calendar, dual time zones, moon phase, 3 alarms, chronograph, tachymeter, telemeter, pulsometer, timer, regatta countdown timer, sailing logbook, temperature (ºC/ºF), accelerometer Availability Available Now Price US$7,400
