Don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for a good ana-digi watch — check out a review of my comparable Breitling B55 Yachting in titanium here. Today marks the debut of the Omega Seamaster Regatta America’s Cup, an uncharacteristically generic name from Omega for what carries a “brand-new multifunctional quartz movement,” the Omega Calibre 5701.
Omega is anything but new to the ana-digi game — the brand has been at it for decades, and has consistently offered the X-33 (and its odd-ball variations) in the current line-up. The X-33 is now joined by this Seamaster Regatta America’s Cup, the “watch for sailors all over the world” — and especially those taking part in the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona. Omega is quick to point out that this new model is “easy to see,” “easy to operate,” and “easy to hear” — i.e., it is meant for actual onboard use, unlike the whimsical (albeit highly engineered) yacht-timer watches of its arch nemesis, Rolex.
The new-for-2024 Omega Seamaster Regatta America’s Cup watch comes in a titanium case that measures a whopping 46.75mm wide, 15.6mm thick, and a rather more wearable 50.00mm lug-to-lug. That latter 50mm measurement is not somewhat like much smaller-diameter watches, alas the rubber strap still extends rather far away from the lugs. However you cut it, this new Seamaster is a larger watch; fitted with a quartz movement and a titanium case, it might nevertheless be reasonably light and comfy to wear.
Maybe Omega’s official wrist shots are not the most favorable, but at least there are some to help us assess how the watch sits on the wrist. The four pushers — at 2, 4, 8, and 10 o’clock — underline the complexity of the new Omega Caliber 5701, as well as the brand’s focus on making this a utilitarian watch that America’s Cup crew members can operate easily in the heat of the moment. All four pushers are cast in rubber — one in red and three in blue — while the sandblasted crown with laser-engraved Omega logo is also there for push and turn actions.
The Omega Caliber 5701, this “all-new multi-functional quartz chronograph movement” features a thermo-compensated integrated circuit for increased accuracy, an inertial sensor unit, brightness sensor, and new LCD-display function. It also comes with a 61-page manual to explain its perpetual calendar, UTC, T1 and T2 timezone, 1-2-3 alarm, chronograph, tachymeter, telemeter, pulsometer, timer, regatta countdown, race, logbook, temperature, accelerometer, hand backlighting and hand-parking, reset, T1 and T2 quick switchover, analog and energy saving modes, as well as its chimes and customized display in the energy saving mode.
Good luck.
Have no doubt: The new Omega Seamaster Regatta America’s Cup watch is as capable as it is mind-bendingly complicated. It is one of those few Swiss luxury wristwatches that can actually make a G-Shock operation manual go and shiver in an unlit corner. Don’t get me wrong, though, I think all this is highly entertaining in a sea of all-mechanical chronographs where a static tachymeter scale is both the beginning and the end of additional functionality. And if one can find good use for the 5701’s many features, then all the better.
As befits a watch with such extensive digital functionality, the large Seamaster 300-style hands can be “parked” to the side so that they do not overlap any of the important displays and hinder their utility. There is plenty of lume, too, including the bidirectional rotating bezel’s ceramic insert. Water resistance is rated at only 5 bar (equivalent to 50 meters or 167 feet), and the manual warns not to operate the pushers or the crown underwater.
I believe a greater water-resistance rating is not possible, as the crown has to be engineered for frequent turning and pressing to allow for navigation between functions, modes, and menus. The caseback also has an odd construction, as these ana-digi watches have an outer caseback with open slots, and a regular, albeit rather more basic caseback with a simple gasket below that. These are held in place by eight screws as opposed to a threaded screw-down assembly. You will also spot the pushers inside the straps for Omega’s patented “Quick-Change” system, although this new model appears to only come on a blue rubber strap and no titanium bracelet.
Immensely complicated, highly functional, neatly engineered, and as cool as just about any ana-digi watch, the Omega Seamaster Regatta America’s Cup watch (216.92.46.79.10.001) is priced at $7,400 USD. You can learn more at the brand’s website — and from the 61-page manual.
