The brand regularly launches special editions dedicated to Olympic Games. The last two are for the Olympic Winter Games 2018 in PyeongChang in South Korea and the Omega Olympic Official Timekeeper collection.
For the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1932 – the first time Omega participated at Olympic Games – one watchmaker brought 30 split-second chronographs from Switzerland that were used for timekeeping. When Omega today participates at Olympic Games a huge team of timekeeping professionals is supported by up to 400 tons of equipment. 400 tons? Yes, since Omega today is able to measure 28 international summer sports (or 7 winter sports) simultaneously and to do all the data handling to provide the results to the local audiences and to everyone watching the Games on TV.
That´s only one side of the coin.
Omega always launches limited editions dedicated to the respective Olympic Games.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra „PyeungChang 2018“ Limited Edition
Today I got the newest one for Winter Games 2018 in PyeongChang in South Korea.
Why already now?
That´s what Omega told me: “To celebrate the two year countdown of the Olympic Winter Games in South Korea, we proudly present this exclusive and stunning timepiece based on the current Aqua Terra 150M collection.”
The event name is displayed on the so called “réhaut” of the watch by using the five colours of the iconic Olympic Rings. The words “PYEONGCHANG 2018” have been inscribed on the minute track of the teak-concept blue dial.
Did you notice that the 20 and the 18 are perfectly aligned with the exact minute indexes?
The 41,5 mm steel watch is powered by the Master Co-Axial movement 8500 and officially certified as a Master-Chronometer. Price: 5300 Euro including 20 % VAT.
This is a collection of three chronographs to celebrate Omega´s proud timekeeping history …
Omega Olympic Official Timekeeper collection
Only 188 units of each chronograph in the collection will be produced. The case-back on each chronograph is engraved with the five iconic rings of the Olympic Games, encircled with the words ‘Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games’. The limited edition number of the chronograph completes this circle.
The Omega Olympic Official Timekeeper Co-Axial Chronographs have lacquered white dials and steel blue hands.
The pink- and yellow-gold cases measure 39 mm, the white-gold one 38 mm.
All three chronographs are powered by the Omega calibre 3203, a manual-winding chronograph with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial Escapement without date that is officially certified by COSC as a chronometer. Power reserve: 55 hours; 28.800 A/h (= 4 Hz)
Yellow gold 522.53.39.50.04.002 … 14.000 Euro including 20% VAT
Pink gold 522.53.39.50.04.001 … 14.000 Euro including 20% VAT
White gold 522.53.38.50.04.001 … 15.000 Euro including 20% VAT
>>> On page as a reminder let me show you again the Omega Seamaster Bullhead Rio 2016 Limited Edition and the Omega Speedmaster Mark II Rio 2016 >>>
To me, “Olympic Games” as a theme always had a certain smell (of corruption, human rights problems, pollution etc.). “Space flight”, on the other hand, is much less controversial, a heroic story. This means that while I own a few Omegas, I would never buy a watch with five rings on it.
Professional timekeeping during sports events of course is necessary. Interestingly this does not influence my perception of the brand, probably because it is more technical and less emotional. But watches are an emotional thing. In my eyes, the brand’s image would improve if they would withdraw a little from this theme, at least in the area of consumer products …
I would not buy one of the Olympic watches either (simply because I don’t have any relation with these Games and locations…), but I would take the three chronographs instead … 🙂
Both Omega Speedmaster Mark II Rio 2016 and Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra PyeungChang 2018 Limited Edition look simply fabulous and what’s more those 2 outstanding watches do not cost an arm and a leg.
On the other hand Omega Seamaster Bullhead Rio 2016 Limited Edition is one of the ugliest watches created by Omega till date, at least that is what I think.