Andrew shares his in-hand first impressions of the 3 new Omega America’s Cup watches (now with video!)
Zach BlassEditor’s note: Arguably the world’s most prestigious sailing competition is currently underway. The oldest international competition still operating in any sport, held since its founding in 1851, the 37th America’s Cup began in Barcelona, Spain on August 22 and will end on October 27th. The competition consists of five events: the Louis Vuitton Preliminary 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 or its participants, there is only one Official Timekeeper: Omega. Commemorating its role as Official Timekeeper, along with the competing team it supports, Omega introduced a trilogy of 2024 America’s Cup Edition watches – all of which I am very envious Andrew got to go hands-on with when he attended the start of the America’s Cup in Spain. Therefore, I will now hand the keys back over to Andrew so he may share his in-hand first impressions of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (37th America’s Cup Edition), Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black, and Omega Seamaster Regatta (37th America’s Cup Edition).
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (37th America’s Cup Edition)
What stands out to me about the Omega Seamaster 300M on the wrist is the slightly off-white lume plots and also the blue framing of these lume plots. It is really subtle, but it is a nice thing to notice. The white ceramic wave dial is very fresh, and it also blocks the light when you change your wrist angle – so it is very legible at any time of day and angle. The Amerca’s Cup branding is very subtle, the counterweight on the second hand a small Easter egg that signals the special nature of the watch without overwhelming the aesthetic. It may not be for all tastes, but I think it is a nice decorative element. Also, the blue-to-red gradient minutes hand is a neat twist that brings in the full white, blue, and red colour scheme of America’s Cup into the dial. Side note: when have you ever seen a gradient-coloured hand?
Aside from that, this is very much a nautical twist on the fan-favourite standard Seamaster 300M Diver with a white dial. I think the touch of blue and hint of red result in a slightly more summery, oceanic, and beachy look compared to the standard white dial version. While familiar in many respects, it really stands out on its own with its nautical design remixes – especially with its incorporation of a regatta countdown on its ceramic timing bezel insert.
| Brand | Omega |
| Model | Seamaster Diver 300M (37th America’s Cup Edition) |
| Reference | 210.30.42.20.04.002 |
| Case Dimensions | 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 | Now |
| Price | US$6,200 (on rubber) US$6,500 (on bracelet) |
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black
For me, the colour scheme is the main selling point of the Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black because you have this high contrast of black and baby blue that continues everywhere. There is contrast stitching and contrast colours on the strap. There are contrasting rings on the pushers. There’s a contrasting logo on the crown. Any moment the watch could remain stealthy and black Omega turns up the contrast and makes visual noise with the blue touches. So, it is no doubt a bada** big black chronograph watch, but the baby blue accents add fresh vibes and flair. The colourway has a certain loudness to it that perhaps matches its size.
Having watched the race, and knowing how important the countdown timer is, I can appreciate why there is this big feature on the 3′ register of the chronograph – a five-minute countdown timer. This is just key because the yachts are sort of choosing their run to cross the start line at the exact point that that countdown timer elapses. If you know the ins and outs of the America’s Cup then you will know that this is potentially the make-or-break moment of the whole race. At what point do you cross the line? Do you be conservative and give up a few seconds? Or, do you risk it all and really time your run so that you’re at full pace when you cross the line?
That explains to me for the first time why this countdown timer is such a feature and such a visual feature of the watch. In addition to that, we have a helium release valve. In terms of how it wears, it is enormous on my 7-inch wrist and while it looks somewhat proportionate in photographs it feels huge on the wrist, and, with its sort of high-end deployant style rubber strap, it’s just big everywhere. Aside from that you have a nice satin finish to the ceramic bezel, a colour scheme that should make this a stand out for people who want a watch with a big presence and stealth-yet-bold aesthetic.
| Brand | Omega |
| Model | Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “ETNZ” Deep Black |
| Reference | 215.92.46.51.01.003 |
| Case Dimensions | 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, ceramic foldover clasp |
| Movement | 9900, in-house, automatic, Co-Axial, METAS-certified |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph, regatta timer |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$13,300 |
Omega Seamaster Regatta (37th America’s Cup Edition)
The Omega Seamaster Regatta needs to be compared apples-to-apples with the right competitive set. This is a luxury and high-performance version of a watch like a Tissot T-Touch. It has the same sort of ani-digi technology, with hands that can get squared up at 12 to get out of the way of the information displayed on the digital screens on the dial. It is a fun function to engage with because it’s just quite a pleasing robotic motion that has these hands sort of collect together and get out of the display. Having said that, it is unlike most ani-digi watchers thanks to its brand new and very, very high-performance end quartz technology that allows the watch to be accurate within seven seconds per year – certainly exceeding high-performance quartz from most brands and exceeds its catalogue-cousin, the Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer, which was accurate within 10 seconds per year. So, it is undoubtedly a high performer.
Fifteen functions is far more than I had the time or even the inclination to try out but it is impressive for people who like to play with all the different possibilities. There is a graphic representation of the moonphase that can be adapted to be how the moon would look from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. For its main purpose, which is as a regatta timer, there are lots of things to explore around the functional uses for sailing, like an accelerometer to measure G forces and a thermometer to measure temperature. But, at the end of the day, with its white rubber strap, it feels like the perfect companion for the true sailors who want to be able to access all of that information, who want to have something on deck that is both useful and looks the part. So, if you’re involved in actually commanding a vessel, this is a companion that would be right at home and the price is not going to bother you. At US$7,400, for something that is from the world of luxury, and from the world of yacht owners, its blend of aesthetic and high-performance that qualifies it as a true tool watch will have strong appeal for those who live in both of those 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 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Blue with digital LCD display |
| Strap | Integrated blue rubber with titanium clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 5701 quartz, in-house |
| Power Reserve | 31 months |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, UTC, perpetual calendar, dual time zones, moon phase, three alarms, chronographs, tachymeter, telemeter, pulsometer, timer, regatta countdown timer, sailing logbook, temperature (ºC/ºF), accelerometer. |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$7,400 |