ADVENTURE SEEKERS
There's much to appreciate in these hardy, full-on sporty watches that result from partnerships and collaborations with some of the world's top sporting events
OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup Limited Edition
IN MAY, OMEGA announced its role as Official Timekeeper of the America’s Cup, a historic sailing competition that dates back to 1851, making it the oldest trophy in international sport. The 36th America’s Cup is taking place in March 2021, with competitors sailing in AC75 monohulls across Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour in
New Zealand. Omega also announced that it’s continuing its partnership with the race’s current champions: Emirates Team New Zealand. To celebrate the momentous occasion, the watchmaker has released the Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup Limited Edition, powered by the Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 8900, with a power reserve of 60 hours, housed in a 43.5mm stainless steel case that’s water-resistant to 600 metres. A blue ceramic diving bezel boasts a five-minute countdown for racing. The America’s Cup logo has been placed on the dial, on the counterweight of the seconds hand and on the sapphire crystal caseback. The watch is limited to 2,021 pieces.
CHOPARD Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro
CHOPARD, THE MAIN sponsor and official timekeeper of the Mille Miglia classic car rally since 1988, continues its partnership with the event, starting with the release of two limited edition racing-inspired models. The Mille Miglia GTS Azurro Chrono, limited to 750 pieces, comes in stainless steel and features a trio of sub-dials reminiscent of classic car dashboards, while the Mille Miglia GTS Azurro Power Control, an automatic time and date watch, is limited to 500 pieces in stainless steel and
18K rose gold, with a cool power-reserve indicator that looks like an automotive fuel gauge. Both models were designed with striking blue Azzurro dials, contrasted by Mille Miglia red that’s used for other accents, including the “1000 Miglia” direction arrow that frames the date window. Both watches carry even more details from the track: the sides of the cases are grooved like an engine’s piston and the oversized winding crown resembles race-style fuel fillers. The straps look like they come from the motoring world, too, designed in perforated leather similar to the ones used by the racecar drivers of the 1950s, and with a rubber lining that looks like the tread pattern of a Dunlop racing tire.
PANERAI Luminor Luna Rossa GMT 44mm
PANERAI CELEBRATES ITS partnership with the Luna Rossa sailing team – the challengers for the 36th America’s Cup – with a special edition watch of its own: the Luminor Luna Rossa GMT 44mm (PAM01036). Like the Luna Rossa itself, Panerai has chosen to use titanium for lightness and corrosion resistance. The timepiece comes in a 44mm titanium case that features black DLC coating for increased wear resistance. On the screwed dodecagonal caseback, one can appreciate the Luna Rossa logo, the AC75 monohull (the boat itself) and an engraving of the America’s
Cup trophy. The most attractive feature of the watch, however, is the dial itself, which uses a thin layer of technical fabric from the Luna Rossa AC75 monohull. The timepiece is powered by the Calibre P.9010/ GMT, a dual-barrel movement that offers three days of reserve power, and a GMT function – which is crucial for the sailors of the Luna Rossa, whose home base is Italy. The watch is water-resistant up to 300 metres, and comes with a Ponte Vecchio calfskin strap and an additional black rubber strap.
ULYSSE NARDIN Diver Chronograph 44mm Hammerhead Shark Limited Edition
ULYSSE NARDIN HAS just released three new bold chronographs, the hero of which is the Diver Chronograph 44mm Hammerhead Shark, limited to 300 pieces. The watch comes in a titanium case, matched with a blue and white dial. It’s accented with touches of red in the bezel joining, the chronograph seconds hand, the chronograph pushers and the rubber strap, which shows a red hammerhead shark sculpted in the rubber. The watch runs via the in-house Calibre UN-140 automatic chronograph, with hours, minutes and a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock. This in-house movement boasts a friction-resistant silicium escapement and 48 hours of power reserve. The full-on hammerhead shark engraved on the caseback is also worth a second look.