OMEGA & SAILING PRESS INFORMATION 2020 OMEGA AND SAILING OMEGA has always been anchored by a with sailing thanks to its timekeeping strong ocean heritage that extends back prowess, its sponsorship of various races, to the early days of the brand. Long and its long-term partnerships. From before its connection to sailing began, rookies to race-hardened veterans, OMEGA created the world’s first com- sailors from all levels of the sport have mercially available divers’ watch in 1932 taken to the water knowing that OMEGA and therefore became the choice of is there in support. The brand proudly many ocean explorers and professional backs entire crews, such as Emirates divers at the time. Since then, OMEGA’s Team New Zealand, Alinghi and ocean-ready watches have been loved Switzerland’s Team Tilt. It has served as and trusted by men and women all over Official Timekeeper at world class events the world, including those in the British such as the America’s Cup, the Ocean Royal Navy, fields of science, and legends Race and the Olympic Games. From of the sea such as Jacques Cousteau. supporting the efforts of just one sailor, such as Dame Ellen MacArthur when she It’s therefore no surprise that OMEGA’s broke the solo round-the-world record in achievements above and below the 2005, to promoting the sport on a global waves naturally progressed to a passion level, OMEGA is a trusted name on deck for sailing. For more than 25 years, and its distinctive logo is a common sight OMEGA has been very much involved on sails. EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND OMEGA began its partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand in 1995. The relationship was led by legendary round- the-world skipper and America’s Cup legend Sir Peter Blake, who captained Black Magic to victory that year. Today, OMEGA is still a proud supporter, sponsor and Official Timekeeper of Emirates Team New Zealand and was onboard in 2017 when the crew lifted the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda. Two of today’s Emirates Team New Zealand crewmates have also been chosen as official OMEGA ambassadors. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke are two of the world’s most successful sailors. As well as being gold medal winning Olympians, the two kiwis were part of the team that lifted the America’s Cup in 2017, a mo- ment that positioned Burling, then aged 26, as the youngest winning helmsman in the competition’s history. OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER OF THE AMERICA’S CUP When the 36th America’s Cup takes place in Auckland, it will be OMEGA measuring the moments. Familiar territory for a brand so closely associated with timing the event. Dating back to 1851, the “Auld Mug” is the oldest trophy in international sport and has become the source of fierce international rivalries and spectacular duels. As well as its support of Emirates Team New Zealand, OMEGA has played a vital role during the competition’s long history, serving as Official Timekeeper of the event in 2000 and 2003. After celebrating its role as Official Timekeeper of the America’s Cup in 2000 SEAMASTER DIVER 300M SEAMASTER DIVER 300M SPEEDMASTER X-33 REGATTA SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN SPEEDMASTER and 2003, OMEGA’s sailing ”AMERICA’S CUP” SEAMASTER CHRONOGRAPH CHRONOGRAPH EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND 600M CHRONOGRAPH DARK SIDE OF THE MOON watches then focused on the LIMITED EDITION NZL-32 EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND LIMITED EDITION ”VOLVO OCEAN RACE” ALINGHI brand’s support of Emirates 2000 Team New Zealand. 2007 2015 2017 LIMITED EDITION 2020 2003 2013 2017 2018 2020 SEAMASTER DIVER 300M SEAMASTER DIVER 300M CHRONOGRAPH SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN 600M SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN CHRONOGRAPH ”AMERICA’S CUP” RACING EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND DEEP BLACK GMT 36TH AMERICA’S CUP LIMITED EDITION EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND LIMITED EDITION ALINGHI In 2019, OMEGA and ALINGHI joined forces in a brand new sailing partner- ship. Under the leadership of Founder and President Ernesto Bertarelli, ALINGHI has twice won the America’s Cup in 2003 and 2007. Sharing a pioneering vision of innova- tion, technology and history-making moments, OMEGA and ALINGHI, two proud Swiss brands, now sail together on various competitive circuits, including the GC32 Racing Tour and the TF35 Trophy. THE OLYMPIC GAMES OMEGA has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games on 28 occasions since 1932. During that time, the brand has perfected the timing of each event and become closely involved with the sailors who compete. At Rio 2016, OMEGA partnered with Torben Grael, a renowned sailor who has won five Olympic Games medals for Brazil, as well as his daughter Martine Grael and her sailing partner Kahena Kunze who both won gold in the women’s 49er FX event. On top of that, the brand also cheered on several of the Emirates Team New Zealand crew who were competing for New Zealand in their respective events, including Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. SWISS INGENUITY: THE SPEEDMASTER ALINGHI The partnership between OMEGA and ALINGHI has brought the very best of Swiss precision, innovation and pi- oneering spirit together. To celebrate this unique sailing collaboration, the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon ALINGHI combines the most advanced watchmaking materials and craftsman- ship. Most impressive is the watch’s Calibre 1865, which can be seen through the skeletonised dial. The laser-ablated movement has been inspired by ALINGHI’s TF35 catamaran, and combines a mix of honeycomb and black carbon pat- terns. The black ceramic timepiece is also notable for its tactical time display at 3 o’clock and the ALINGHI logo at 6 o’clock, which rotates when the chrono- graph function is used. THE TIMEKEEPER’S TIMEPIECE This Seamaster Planet Ocean com- memorates the 36th America’s Cup, contested by Emirates Team New Zealand in Auckland. As well as paying tribute to OMEGA’s role as Official Timekeeper, it draws inspiration from the colours of the event’s logo: an impression of the “Auld Mug” in red, white and blue. Appropriately limited to just 2,021 pieces, the certified Master Chronometer sports a white polished ceramic dial with 36th AMERICA’S CUP transferred at 6 o’clock, encircled by a blue ceramic [ZrO2] bezel ring with diving scale, 5-minute countdown and START indication highlighted in white and red liquid ceramic. The wave- edged caseback has an America’s Cup logo transferred on the sapphire crystal. A blue and red structured rubber strap with white stitching completes the look. ESSENTIAL SAILING TECH: THE PLANET OCEAN 600M Sailing is a precision sport, so it makes sense to head on deck with a timepiece tested at the highest level. The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer, with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, features a blue ceramic dial with Arabic numerals and a date window at 6 o’clock. The dial includes a small seconds sub-dial, as well as 60-minute and 12-hour counters on one dial for intuitive reading of elapsed time. Cased in stainless steel, it sports a blue ceramic unidirectional rotating divers’ bezel, with Liquidmetal™ diving scale and matching blue leather strap with rubber lining. Visible through the transparent caseback is the mighty OMEGA Master Chronometer calibre 9900. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: OMEGA International Press Office Rue Jakob-Stämpfli 96 2502 Bienne Switzerland Tel. +41 32 343 9211 Fax +41 32 343 9715 [email protected] www.omegawatches.com https://press.omegawatches.com OMEGA is a company of the Swatch Group, the largest manufacturer and distributor of watches and jewellery in the world..