Omega returns to the America’s Cup

37th America’s Cup gets underway from Barcelona in Spain: the oldest international sporting trophy in the world, which was first awarded in 1851 on the Isle of Wight.

Queen Victoria watched that very first race from her Royal yacht, with the winner being a boat named ‘America’. The Queen then asked who was in second place.

The reply was: “Your Majesty, there is no second place.” And that’s been the guiding principle of the America’s Cup ever since.

espite having well documented links with Neil Armstrong and James Bond, it is Omega’s unrelenting ties with sports that is perhaps the venture’s signature hallmark.

Notably, having been the official timekeeper of the Olympics for the best part of a century, the Swiss watchmaker has chronicled the perimeter-pushing feats of the world’s greatest athletes: Usain Bolt’s iconic triple in front of the Beijing crowd; Sir Chris Hoy’s triumphs in London; Léon Marchand’s dominance in the pools of Paris.

And, while this year’s collection of Olympians have long departed the athletes’village for a brief period of recovery (or retirement), Omega has been extremely quick to transition from its role in the French capital to one in Barcelona, owing to its official partnership with the 37th America’s Cup, which set off on 22 August and will conclude on 27 October.

No surprise then that the world’s top watch companies are enthusiastic backers, with Omega recently confirmed as the Cup’s official timekeeper once more – for the fourth time (after 2000, 2003, and 2021).

The brand’s relationship with the America’s Cup actually dates back to 1995, when Omega first sponsored the Team New Zealand boat: the defending champions this year.

“I’m proud to say we’ve earned our place on the water, having served with distinction at three previous editions of the America’s Cup.

honoured to be tasked with measuring every microsecond of this historical boat race and the exciting new races under the America’s Cup banner,” says Omega president and chief-exec Raynald Aeschlimann.

In the past, Omega has released special versions of the Aqua Terra and Seamaster (OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300m America’s Cup Edition) chronograph to mark the America’s Cup.

This year, there’s another brand new Seamaster to celebrate the partnership, featuring a white dial engraved with the classic laser-engraved wave pattern, as well as red and blue skeleton hands.

As arguably the most iconic watch in Omega’s current range – thanks also to James Bond – this is a serious statement of intent from the Swatch group.

With Omega rarely having been off our TV screens at the Olympic Games recently, the brand is enjoying unprecedented levels of awareness.

Outwardly, this latest release looks very much like the familiar Seamaster, but it’s packed with innovative America’s Cup tributes.

The blue ceramic bezel incorporates a regatta timer, with two five-minute pre-start sections ahead of the actual start marker and regatta scale.

To mark its return to the waters, Omega has unveiled the Seamaster Diver 300M America’s Cup, a collectible piece of wristwear that’s produced from stainless steel and is instantly recognisable for its blue ceramic unidirectional bezel on which there is a regatta scale featuring two five-minute sections (used for race pre-starts), and a ‘START’ section complete with flag motif.

On the ceramic matte-finish dial is a pattern of subtly stylised laser-engraved waves, and the seconds hand features an America’s Cup trophy counterweight; the caseback, meanwhile, displays the Auld Mug with a ‘B’ for the host city.

Driving it all is Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806, and the patented Quick-Change system is ideal for when wanting to make fluid switches between the stainless-steel bracelet and the blue rubber strap – options that are equally suitable when mastering the waves or back home on steadier ground.

The star of the show is actually on the back of the case, with a prominent America’s Cup logo overlaying the exhibition caseback. Inside is the familiar Omega 8806 movement (certified by METAS, the Swiss institute of metrology) with a 56-hour power reserve. The whole watch, within a 42mm case, is waterproof to 300 metres: a functionality that the America’s Cup crews hopefully won’t be testing.

And speaking of cases, the presentation box is pretty stunning, coming in the blue, red, and white colours of the America’s Cup with contrasting stitching.

There’s an overtly nautical commemorative theme; again with the logo prominently on display inside the lid of the box (representing the ‘Auld Mug’: the traditional nickname for the cup).

All this can be yours for £6100, with a choice of the classic steel bracelet or a blue rubber strap.