The world’s most prestigious yacht race, the America’s Cup has been sponsored by a variety of watch brands, which was Panerai until the last instalment – and to confuse things even more, the competing teams each have their own watch sponsors. Having been a backer of defending champion Team New Zealand for the last two decades, Omega now back to being a sponsor of the entire event as official timekeeper for 36th America’s Cup that’ll take place in 2021 off the coast of Auckland in New Zealand.

Since the last time Omega was the official race timekeeper was in 2003, the brand is marking the occasion with the Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup, no doubt the first of several editions for the event.

Initial thoughts

With event-specific limited editions being an Omega favourite, this isn’t going to be the only America’s Cup edition. At the same time, the red-white-and-blue livery has been used on other watches. In short, the Planet Ocean America’s Cup isn’t going to be a particularly unique edition.

But the watch itself is a strong proposition. Omega watches usually offer good value for money, combining high-tech mechanical watchmaking and high-end materials, which is the case for the Planet Ocean line at large. Though the America’s Cup model is a limited edition, it costs only about 10% over the standard model. So if you want a Planet Ocean but want something a bit more special than the stock offering, this is a good choice.

A high-spec instrument

The Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup has the same 43.5 mm case as well as cal. 8900 movement as found in the standard model, but it’s dressed in a new combination of colours. The dial is glossy white ceramic, while the bezel insert is made of blue, white and red ceramic.

The watch also also incorporates several America’s Cup-specific details, including the 10-minute regatta countdown scale as well as the event name at six o’clock. More unusually, the counterweight of the seconds hand is shaped like the America’s Cup itself.

And on the back, the 36th America’s Cup logo has been printed on the inner face of the sapphire back, which means the movement is only partially visible.

The movement is the cal. 8900, one of the Omega’s top of the line automatics that’s a Master Chronometer certified by METAS, Switzerland’s meteorological agency. It’s also equipped with the lubrication-free Co-Axial escapement invented by the late English horology George Daniels. And its hairspring is silicon, while the escapement components are made of non-magnetic alloys, giving the movement an impressive magnetism resistance of over 15,000 Gauss.

Key facts and price

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup Limited Edition
Ref. 215.32.43.21.04.001

Diameter: 43.5 mm
Height: Not available
Material: Steel
Water resistance: 600 m

Dial: White ceramic

Movement: Caliber 8900
Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
Winding: Self-winding
Frequency: 25,200 beats per hour (3.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 60 hours

Strap: Blue rubber

Limited edition: 2,021 pieces
Availability: At Omega boutiques and retailers from mid 2020
Price: 6,500 Swiss francs; or 9,800 Singapore dollars

For more information, visit Omegawatches.com.