Last week in San Francisco, home to the 34th America’s Cup, Omega, who sponsors Emirates Team New Zealand, launched a special limited edition yachting watch to commemorate their relationship — the Seamaster Diver ETNZ Limited Edition. America’s Cup begins July 4th.
The Seamaster Diver ETNZ is presented in a 44 mm diameter (by approximately 14.90 mm thick) stainless steel case that has both polished and brushed finish. The Limited Edition timepiece has a special ring around the 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock which acts as a 5-minute countdown to the start of a regatta. And while the countdown timer uses the same sub-dial as the chronograph minute counter, both can operate without obstructing one another since they are displayed via separate rings.
The Seamaster Diver ETNZ has a matte black dial, which is contrasted by a mixture of red and white. The bezel is in a matte black ceramic and has a 60-minute dive scale along with a glow in the dark dot at 12 o’clock. The white hour and minute hands have the traditional Seamaster shape and are skeletonized and feature luminescent material on their tips. The hour markers are applied dots, filled with luminescent material. A counter a 6 o’clock counts the chronograph hours and features an integrated date window within the sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The central chronograph seconds hand is red, as is the red outer ring that indicates the seconds.
The chronograph minutes counter/countdown sub-dial features a red outer ring with white inner markings and a red hand. The black rubber strap features the Omega logo in red, further adding to the overall sporty theme of the watch.
The watch is a Seamaster, and accordingly, it has professional dive features such as a bezel that rotates in only one direction (so as to prevent accidental adjustment while diving). A helium escape valve, with integrated date corrector, is located at 10 o’clock on the case flank. “Reading the elapsed chronograph time is simplified by the innovative use of white Super-LumiNova. The coating on the faceted white hands emits a blue light in contrast with the minute hand and the dot on the diving bezel, which emit green light. This feature allows divers to keep track of their time at a glance.” Water-resistance is 300 meters.
The Omega Seamaster Diver ETNZ Limited Edition is powered by a robust Co-Axial movement — caliber 3330 — which is equipped with a Si14 silicon balance spring. The self-winding column-wheel chronograph equipped movement is a certified chronometer. Omega stands behind the watch, and namely its movement, so much that it offers a full 4-year warranty.
The caseback is embossed with the “ETNZ” logo. Additionally, the limited edition number (0000/2013) and “CHALLENGER FOR THE 34TH AMERICA’S CUP” are engraved on the caseback. The Omega Seamaster Diver ETNZ Limited Edition comes in a special presentation box which includes a brushed and polished Omega patented screw-and-pin stainless steel bracelet with divers’ clasp and a tool to switch between the strap and bracelet.
The new Seamaster comes with a phenomenal 3330 caliber Omega Co-Axial movement and a look that is sporty but not overdone. It is associated with Emirates Team New Zealand, but you only see that on the caseback. The price is 5,200 CHF.
