Omega Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand: Omega’s Challenger (VIDEO)

New Zealand is a small nation with a grand tradition in sailing. With three America’s Cup titles to its credit since 1995, the Kiwi nation produces extraordinary competitive seafarers, and the Omega Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand commemorates the endeavors of New Zealand’s premier regatta squad.

Launched as a limited edition of 2,013 units to mark the 2013 34th America’s Cup, the Omega Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand is a 44mm stainless steel sports chronograph with dive watch durability and functionality to aid regatta crews.

The basic case form, dial layout, and bracelet of the Omega ETNZ are inherited from the celebrated “James Bond” Omega Seamaster Professional; that’s a heck of a good start. Omega departs from the basic Bond by upgrading the ENTZ to a 44mm case that keeps the classic design in-step with contemporary tastes in sports watch size and wrist presence.

Additional functionality comes in the form of a count-down calibration on the chronograph minutes sub-dial. Because regatta crews must time their starts in synch with the official match countdown clock, the presence of reverse-register on a regatta chronograph is essential.

Omega‘s design of the Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand is guided by a unique red-white-black color palette based on the actual livery of the ENTZ racing sailboat. Additional tribute elements include a special case back dedication with individual numbering and an engraved image of the Emirates Team New Zealand official logo.

Additional refinements include a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel insert, a deployant dive-suite extension within the clasp, and, in true Bond Omega Seamaster fashion, a helium relief valve for use with exotic deep dive apparatus.

Within the 44mm steel case, Omega employs a caliber 3330 co-axial movement that represents the only known marriage of a Valjoux 7750 base movement with a co-axial escapement. In addition to mechanical novelty (and resulting collector potential), the combination is tougher than previous co-axial chronograph adaptations based on Frederic Piguet dress watch movements. The COSC-certified Swiss chronometer features a free-sprung escapement, silicon Si14 amagnetic hairspring, and a superior 52-hour power reserve.

This Omega Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand includes a complete commemorative boxed set featuring America’s Cup memorabilia and a toolset to perform DIY rotations between the bracelet and ENTZ-themed rubber strap.

See this Omega Seamaster Diver Emirates Team New Zealand in high-resolution images on www.watchuwant.com