Omega Debuts Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon To Mark Partnership With Alinghi
The watch demonstrates the same values and qualities that both partners share
Photo: Omega
In 2019, Omega and Swiss competitive sailing team Alinghi formed an alliance. The latter was first created in 1994 by Ernesto Bertarelli and has enjoyed several racing success since its founding, including winning the America’s Cup three times (2000, 2003 and 2007). The dynamic partnership between the two Swiss giants also saw victories in the same year, with the GC32 team clinching the world title in June 2019, the D35 Trophy win in September and GC32 championship in November.
To mark this occasion, Omega has launched the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon, a new addition that employs the decorated Calibre 1865. The manual-winding movement of this new watch is lighter and thinner, making it ideal for Alinghi’s sailing crew.
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Drawing inspiration from Alinghi’s new TF32 catamaran, the mainplate and barrel bridge of the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon uses the ablation technique to create a honeycomb effect, not unlike the interior of the Alinghi boats’ carbon hull. The same technology is also employed to other bridges with a black carbon pattern that’s similar to the boat’s hull.
That’s not all. At 3 o’clock, a 4-minute or 5-minute tactical time display has been included in red, to help with precision on the water. At 6 o’clock, the traditional subdial design has been replaced with a sandblasted and anodized aluminium disc, which features a red Alinghi logo that rotates when the chronograph function is used.
Other notable features include incorporating the colours of Alinghi’s logo (red and black) onto the 44.25 mm case in black zirconium oxide ceramic. Along with a tachymeter scale in Super-LumiNova, the Alinghi logo also features on the stop/start pusher, which has been created in red varnish.
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Photo: Omega
Ernesto Bertarelli, founder and president of Alinghi, says in an official statement: “It’s been an immense pleasure to collaborate so closely with Omega on this wonderful new timepiece. 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. It’s the perfect start to our relationship and a real sign of more to come in the future.”
Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of Omega adds: “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.”
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