With the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the world is looking towards the end of the pandemic. One of the hopeful signs of its nearing end is the resumption of major public events, including the Olympic Games.
The year marks the first time the Olympic Games have been postponed since its opening in 1896. The international multi-sport event was outright canceled three times during WWI (1916) and WWII (1940, 1944). The Summer Olympics are scheduled to start in July 2021, and despite the delay, the event is still referred to as Tokyo 2020.
As the official timekeeper of the Olympics, Omega commemorates the start of the games with the launch of a new model of the Seamaster Diver 300M and it’s probably the most handsome Seamaster to date.
Omega Releases Seamaster Diver 300M Tokyo 2020
Tokyo 2020 is the 29th year the Swiss watchmaker is serving as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games. In 1932, Omega started to take on that role, launching new collectible designs of some of its most iconic timepieces each time. The brand has built its reputation upon capturing every second of the action during the games with unrivaled innovation, passion, and precision.
Inspired by the emblem of the Tokyo Games, the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Tokyo is presented in a clean white-and-blue color scheme. It has a sapphire crystal case back with the official event’s logo and is presented in a dedicated Olympics commemorative box. Beyond that, the special version of the Seamster has features that pay homage to its more than 70 years of lineage.
It features a white ceramic dial in a 42mm stainless steel case, mounted with a blue ceramic bezel ring. The dial, itself, boasts a laser-engraved wave pattern and is completed with luminous blue hands and indexes. It is set on a stainless steel bracelet of alternate polished and brushed links. Overall, these result in the rugged yet functional look of the timepiece. Its association with the event is relatively discreet, with the logo of the Games only imprinted on its case back and commemorative box.
The Tokyo Games watch is powered by the in-house Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800 movement, which is valued for its accuracy, anti-magnetism, and water resistance of up to 300 meters—qualities that make the Seamaster a standard in professional sports. This non-limited, special edition Seamaster is the latest commemorative watch that joins the ranks of many other collaborative Seamaster watches, including the Seamaster Diver 300M Rio 2016 and the Seamaster Diver 300M Beijing 2022 that was released earlier in February. It is released 100 days ahead of the Olympics and is available now through authorized dealers for $5,600.
Other Omega Seamaster Watches Released for Tokyo 2020
Omega’s archive of commemorative Seamaster watches alone is a treasure on its own, with the Seamaster’s core features being supplemented with variants over the years. Interestingly, the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M is actually part of the Tokyo 2020 collection, which comprises two other models that boasts highly customized dials and more horological features to boot.
Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020
With a slightly smaller 41mm diameter stainless steel case, this limited edition timepiece is the first Aqua Terra to sport a polished blue ceramic dial. This dial houses luminous rhodium-plated hands and indexes and features a laser engraved pattern inspired by the Tokyo Olympic 2020 logo. It also has the Olympic emblem on the sapphire caseback, but unlike the Seamaster Diver 300M Tokyo 2020, it is presented on a coordinating blue rubber strap. Nevertheless, you can swap it with a stainless steel bracelet that comes with the packaging. The watch is limited to just 2,020 pieces and retails for roughly $7,000.
Seamaster Planet Ocean Tokyo 2020
This version of the Planet Ocean strikes a balance between celebrating the Olympics and this year’s host nation, Japan. It flaunts a polished white ceramic dial that is contrasted by the red tip of the seconds hand—two colors that represent the Japanese national flag. This dial is housed in a 39.5 stainless steel case with a ceramic bezel. Other distinct features include the red ‘20’ marking at 4 o’clock, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic logo on the sapphire caseback, and a white leather strap. Similar to the Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020, this special edition watch is limited to 2,020 pieces. But, for a retail price of approximately $8,000, you also get a NATO strap and a stainless steel bracelet with which you can swap the leather strap.
For years of being the official timekeeper of the Olympics, Omega has supplied some of the most outstanding limited edition models to celebrate the international event. It was just in February when it released the special edition watch to mark next year’s Winter Games in Beijing.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Beijing 2022 features a sunburst-finish blue ceramic dial in a 42mm stainless steel case where a Grade 5 titanium is placed. But, what’s interesting is that the watch sports luminous rhodium-plated indexes and includes minute markers at 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 o’clock positions in the colors of the Olympic Games. The case back of the watch includes a stamped logo of the 2022 Winter Games.
The commemorative timepiece will run on the Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 800—a movement that has passed the highest standards of performance, precision, and magnetic resistance in Swiss luxury watchmaking. It is available in authorized Omega retailers with a price tag of $6,150.
Takeaway
Like the medals during the Olympic Games, only a select few can get these special editions of Omega Olympic watches, owing to the long lines of watch enthusiasts looking to get their hands on them. It is particularly true with the Aqua Terra and Planet Ocean Tokyo 2020 versions, both of which are limited in availability.
With Omega’s consistent commitment to innovation, we can only expect that the future Olympic watches will be better than the last. Nevertheless, these Tokyo 2020 watches have a style on their own and are well worth owning.
Which of these watches appeal to you most? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
