Powered by the OMEGA Calibre 1865, the new Speedmaster features a manual-winding movement that is ideal for sailing due to its lighter and slimmer design.
Last year, OMEGA announced its partnership with Geneva-based yacht team Alinghi in celebration of the two brands’ mutual Swiss precision, innovation and pioneering spirit. This week, their marriage has led to the conception of the brand new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Alinghi.
The launch comes after their partnership’s success, not once but thrice – with Alinghi winning the GC32 world title in June, the D35 Trophy in September and the GC32 championship in November 2019.
“The new watch is about two great Swiss brands combining their passion for innovation and sailing. To match ALINGHI’s state-of-the-art boat creation, we’ve harnessed some truly impressive technology, along with the best materials and a very original design concept,” Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, said in a statement.
Powered by the OMEGA Calibre 1865, the new Speedmaster features a manual-winding movement that is ideal for sailing due to its lighter and slimmer design.
Drawing inspiration from the yacht team’s new TF35 catamaran, the movement’s mainplate and barrel bridge are enhanced by a honeycomb design that resembles the boat’s carbon fibre skeleton hull – an effect achieved through laser ablation. This same technique is used to decorate the other bridges with a black carbon pattern that also signals the material used for the vessel’s hull.
Cosmetically, the watch is built with the same 44.25mm black zirconium oxide ceramic case standard of the Dark Side of the Moon line, along with a perforated black and red rubber strap to match the Alinghi logo. Red here represents passion, whilst black represents technology. This is complemented by a tachymeter scale in Super-LumiNova and a start/stop button adorned in red varnish.
Though it’s the Seamaster series that is commonly associated with seafaring, the Speedmaster Alinghi’s sub-dials have been specially designed with yacht buffs in mind. At three o’clock, there’s a regatta timer displaying a 5-minute arc, which helps with precision on the waters and ensuring the yacht hits the starting line at perfect timing.
The traditional sub-dial at 6 o’clock has been replaced with a sandblasted and anodised aluminium disc in the shape of Alinghi’s logo. Finished in red, the logo rotates on the watch when the chronograph function is used.
“Throughout our history, we’ve been very aware of the watchmaker’s incredible expertise in sports timekeeping and passion for sailing. So, it is a very special moment to have worked on a watch together and now see the exquisite results,” said Ernesto Bertarelli, Founder and President of Alinghi. “It’s the perfect start to our relationship and a real sign of more to come in the future.”
For more information, log on to the official website here.
Photos: OMEGA
