Omega has just announced the Seamaster Diver ETNZ Limited Edition, created for Emirates Team New Zealand, one of the challengers for the 2013 America’s Cup.

As a partner of Emirates Team New Zealand, Omega has created a limited edition for the team, which will soon take part in the Louis Vuitton Cup yachting contest to determine the challenger for the 34th America’s Cup. Sailing cutting edge AC72 catamarans, three teams will compete with each other for the right to challenge the current holder of the cup, Oracle Team USA. The watch is a Seamaster chronograph with the cal. 3330 inside. It is equipped with the Co-Axial escapement as well as column wheel and vertical clutch, but is actually the previous generation of Omega chronograph movements. The current flagship chronograph calibre is the cal. 9300, as found in the black ceramic Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon”. That being said, the cal. 3330 based watches are more accessibly priced and represent solid bang for the buck. Though the movement is a standard chronograph movement, the five minute countdown markings on the minute sub-dial at three o’clock means this can function as a regatta countdown timer as well.

The five minute countdown function on the red-ringed minute counter

The case, which has a helium escape valve, is 44 mm in diameter with a water resistance of 300 m. An Emirates Team New Zealand logo in relief decorates the case back.

2013 numbered pieces will be made, with a price of S$8550 including 7% tax, or about US$6800. They will be available in stores next week. – SJX

Emirates Team New Zealand AC72

The Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 sailing past the Golden Gate Bridge