FeatureOmega’s Tryst With Timekeeping At The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics

What can be more thrilling than celebrating the highest echelons of human excellence and sportsmanship that put to test extreme dedication, perseverance, accuracy, camaraderie and most of all an exciting journey that inspires one and all! An Olympic win is an honest and committed representation of the fulfilment of years of dreams. And Omega’s partnership with the Olympics is one that’s inspirational in its true sense as it strives to reward dreams and painstaking efforts much like its own timepieces that are born out of years of craftsmanship and innovation.

At the frontier of timekeeping technology where it’s most crucial – the Olympic Games – Omega keeps its promise of tracking time with utmost precision, with innovative timekeeping technology and with iconic timepieces. As the excitement at the ongoing PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games builds up (the opening ceremony alone drew 28.3 million viewers on Friday), amidst heightened anticipation and plenty of medals up for grabs, we take a look at Omega’s two collector’s pieces this year that are an ode to the spirit and glory of the games and the dynamic technology on display to track time with every sport.

Omega At The Olympics, Since 1932

As the official timekeeper since 1932, Omega has taken its role seriously at every edition of the Olympic Games – both summer and winter – and has come up with commemorative, limited edition watches to mark the occasion. Most of these have surely and suavely stood the test of time to become a part of history and claim their proud position at the Olympics and Omega’s hall of fame.

As a watch brand, there is no event that puts timekeeping accuracy and precision to test more than the Olympic Games, where every fraction of a second and millisecond counts towards paving the path to Olympian victory and glory. The time kept is the difference between just falling short and achieving the dream that fuels nations and athletes alike to cross boundaries and make history. And to make such dreams come true, Omega has unceasingly developed its technology since the first ever Winter Olympic Games, where a single technician was sent with 27 stopwatches to time every second at the games until today, when it’s automated systems and sensors that provide in-depth and accurate data instantly.

Omega has rightfully claimed its podium at this prestigious event for 86 years in a row. From the early stopwatches to the Omega Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Olympic Edition Dive watch; from the Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial London 2012 Limited Edition, to the limited edition Omega Seamaster Bullhead Rio 2016 and the Limited Edition Omega Speedmaster Mark II Rio 2016 – all watches win with their unique designs and features.

With all eyes currently on the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, Omega has geared up once again to resume its duty as the official timekeeper for the 28th time and as the most trusted partner for nearly 3,000 athletes from 92 nations. To partner with this historic feat, Omega has sent 300 timekeepers and 230 tons of equipment to South Korea to cover all aspects from the start line to the finish line cameras, scoreboards and display boards.

A Leap Into The Future

From the start to the scoreboard, Omega has relentlessly delivered flawless timing to the world’s finest competitors by creating several milestone innovations. Let’s start with understanding timekeeping innovation at the Games.

For the 2018 Games, Omega will write a brand new chapter with sensor systems that will provide continuous measurements from start to finish, enabling athletes to understand where they gained or lost time and have live information with which to analyse their performance. Add to that other innovative and ground-breaking technologies such as an arsenal of high-tech equipment for speed-skating on ice, including an electronic starting gun, lap counter, and even information transmitting ‘transponders’ worn on the ankles of competitors. To keep pace with alpine skiing, the brand’s ‘Myria’ camera recording system is capable of taking 10,000 digital images per second, infrared photocells and the ‘Snowgate’ starting gates will ensure they track every single movement. For higher octane sports, systems such as Omega’s Whistle Detection System, and motion sensors – attached to players – provide essential in-game data.

If such timekeeping technology won’t help in deciding close calls and ensuring the most accurate results possible, then pray, what will! Moreover, all this new technology will also serve to enhance our viewing experience on-screen.

A Slice Of Omega’s Expert Timekeeping On Your Wrist

In addition to the baffling new systems at the Olympic Games, Omega also serves up a generous dose of modest timekeeping machines for its patrons to partake in the iconic event. For 2018, special editions of its Seamaster watches – the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600 M and the Seamaster Aqua Terra ‘Pyeongchang 2018’ Limited Edition – have risen to this challenge.

Limited to 2018 pieces each, both the watches feature the ‘PyeongChang 2018’ logo on their transparent sapphire crystal casebacks. Let’s take a closer look at the Planet Ocean model.

The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600 M ‘PyeongChang 2018’ Limited Edition

What makes the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600 M instantly covetable are its visually striking design aesthetics, and its numbered pieces. Stylishly sporty, the eye-catching colour combination of blue and red echoes the colours of the Korean flag. An imposing 43.5mm stainless steel case also features a polished, blue ceramic (ZrO₂) dial and unidirectional bezel, with an Omega Liquidmetal diving scale, and a red rubber cover for the first 15 minutes – a world first. The watch face gets a further uplift with the juxtaposition of the applied rhodium-plated indexes and minute scale in Omega Liquidmetal on the deep blue dial. The minute hand, meanwhile, is in line with the luminous dot on the bezel, and emits a green glow. As an ode to the 2018 Olympic Games, the watch is engraved in blue with the words Planet Ocean and Limited Edition, as well as the Limited Edition number on the transparent sapphire crystal caseback.

Powered by the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8900 and resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss, the watch is water resistant to 600m and stores power for up to 60 hours. The timepiece is complemented beautifully by a sturdy blue rubber strap with red stitched detailing. This celebratory edition is parcelled in a special presentation box and comes with an additional stainless steel bracelet.

From designing timepieces worn by the suave James Bond, to making watches that have been sent to the moon, scaling new heights in the world of fine watchmaking is what Omega is best known for. Their sustained association with the Olympics – an event that’s always high on detail, accuracy, performance, sportsmanship and emotions – is surely a win at the races for Omega.

Explore all the Olympics specialities from Omega here, and do tell us in the comments section below which Olympics watch is your favourite