Keeping interest levels high, reaching new audiences, staying up-to-date, finding new forms of expression… the overlaps between watch brands and the Olympic Committee are more numerous than you might think. Prior to the Tokyo Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee announced that athletes would be competing for medals in five new sports. Each with its own Omega watch? Just imagine…
Baseball: Keeping Track on the Field
A chrono would be superfluous to requirements for baseball/softball, with matches lasting up to half a day. The tournament will be played mainly at weekends, under the American flag. An annual calendar watch is a smart choice for keeping track of fixtures, with a touch of red or blue for the United States. The Constellation Globemaster Co‑Axial Master Chronometer Annual Calendar 41mm fits the bill.
Climbing: Tough Stuff
It takes strength to hoist yourself up rocky crags. A watch worn for climbing has to be similarly tough enough to rub against gritty surfaces, unscathed. Ceramic is the solution. So, is there such a thing as a ceramic-case Omega with a nylon strap (more suitable in this instance than leather)? Indeed there is: the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon “Black Black”. Moon rock, rock climbing…
Surfing: Riding the Wave
Finding a surf-suitable watch from a brand that’s made navigational and dive watches a speciality shouldn’t be hard. Competitors are scored on the difficulty and variety of manoeuvres rather than speed, so no need for a chrono. However, surfers are committed environmentalists and will want an eco-friendly watch. Good news: Omega has dedicated the Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition to protection of the oceans. We recommend the rubber strap, more adapted to water.
Skateboard: Digital Generation
Back on dry land, we swap surfboards for skateboards and a radically different environment. Skaters are typically young, hip, urban and heavily into pop culture. The ‘80s are making a comeback right now. While digital may seem an unlikely match for Omega, the brand does have a discreet segment of quartz-powered instruments: Speedmaster Instruments. The on-trend, neo-retro Speedmaster Spacemaster Z-33 is the perfect choice. Its titanium case will resist any amount of flips, ollies and grabs, as will the hardwearing rubber strap.
Karate: Precision on and off the Tatami
Which leaves karate. The wearing of accessories is forbidden during training and competitions, but the Japanese values taught inside the dojo also have their place in the city – especially when the Games are held in Tokyo! Imagine a watch that masters time with the strength and precision of a kata, in a design that meets the budo ideals of purity and simplicity. Which Omega has precision built into its mechanisms, in an understated size? Certainly the DeVille Tourbillon Co‑Axial Chronometer Numbered Edition, just 38.7mm in diameter.
