omega yacht timer

IN DEPTH: The Omega Seamaster Yachting – A Luxurious & Rare Regatta Chronograph from the 1970’s

Behind its visual appeal, its design and all those little things that jump out from its specifications sheet perhaps a wristwatch’s essence is that it is a highly personal item which also can be used to measure time. Timing events can be for something as simple as making al dente pasta, or more complicated like sport events, aerial manoeuvres, diving time, military actions (artillery arm was the first exponent of watches/chronos usage), the start up of jet engines and so forth. So from critical events to simpler tasks, the watch was and still is a fundamental companion.

The chronograph we are going to have a look at today belongs to a family of very specific timepieces: watches that are designed specifically for Yachting races. Yacht timers – also referred to as regatta timers, or yachting chronographs, – are watches specially designed and made for the countdown to the start of a sailing race. The Omega Yachting (ref 176.010) was the company’s proposal in a market being flooded with dedicated regatta chronos.

Before we go on to the watch we must shed a light to this specific naval race. What is a Regatta? A regatta is a term that means “a series of boat races.” The word dates back to the 17th Century and originates from Italy; in the Italian/Venetian dialect it literally means a fight or contest. At the end of all the races, whatever finishes that each boat received (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) are added together, similar to a Golf tournament for example. The competitor with the lowest total points wins the event. It’s taken for granted often, but many do not know exactly how a sailboat race works. It’s actually not much different from a runner’s track race. There are however, a few major differences that make a sailboat race work very differently than a track race. First, sailboats don’t have any type of brakes, so while there is a start line that each boat must cross, they cannot all line up and simply wait around for a gun to start the race. Instead, there is a five-minute countdown where the boats will sail around, and come up with a general game plan of where along the start line they want to be when the gun goes off. As time elapses down to under a minute, each sailboat starts to approach the line in hopes of being as close as possible to, but not over it, when the starting gun goes off. The second difference is how each boat goes around the course. Because a sailboat cannot go directly into the wind, they need to “tack” back and forth upwind to the first mark. After that, they will head to the next mark of the course until eventually they have rounded all the marks completing a lap of the racecourse. The combination of a good start, strong race course tactics, and simply making the boat move as fast as possible will get a competitor to the front of the fleet, winning the race. So, with this information we understand how time measurement is a serious parameter that guarantees the successful completion of all these intricate manoeuvres, and from that point we can now move to the specific chronograph offered by Omega in the 1970’s

This chronograph from Omega has the reference 176.010 and was introduced in 1973. This model was named the Yachting and was classified as part of the Seamaster family of watches. Its inner ring permits its usage for regatta races, so Omega targeted a specific segment of the chronograph market with the introduction of this model. Sailing is a hobby/sport (or for some people, a way of life) that has always charmed watch companies. Chronographs like the Heuer Autavia Skipper, the Regate/Regatta (sold under three different brand names – Aquastar, Heuer, and Tissot), Heuer’s Yacht Timer, the Breitling Co-Pilot and SuperOcean (both in regatta timing trim), Lemania’s self-branded Regatta Yacht Timer,   Yema Yachtingraf ,  and Wakmann were the direct competitors of the Omega Yachting. Skippers could use all these specialized watches for timing events during a regatta race.

Despite the plentiful competition, Omega followed a more luxurious route than from its mainstream competitors, Heuer and Breitling. If we look closely at the watch and compare it with its rivals, we can appreciate how.

• Firstly, It has an immaculate blue iridescent dial which creates a much more luxurious feel. Add to this the applied markers and the applied Omega logo.
• Secondly, its case: the case is unique for this model and its construction helps elevate the character of the watch with its continuous alternation of sunray-brushed and polished finishes. It is quite chunky and measures 43mm in diameter. When we consider the case and the dial together, we understand that the purpose of Omega was not just to create a tool wristwatch but a luxurious item that reflected the decade of its design and the lifestyle of the yacht-racers. This duality was the obvious difference from other offerings in the market.
• Thirdly, another distinguishing feature was the calibre used in this watch: calibre 1040. This actually a movement designed and build by Lemania, and originally introduced in 1972 as Lemania calibre 1340. It runs at 28,800bph, with 22 jewels, and has a 44-hour power reserve. Both have a bidirectional winding system and KIF shock protection. There are some differences however. The Omega movement is rhodium-plated, while the Lemania movement features a grey finish. The main difference however is that the Omega has a 24-hours indicator, placed at 9 in the second sub dial. The Lemania calibre 1340 lacks this 24h indication.

Did you know… Did you know that in 1973 Omega launched the first COSC chronograph calibre? Well they did with calibre 1041, which is a variation on calibre 1040. It was first used in the legendary Speedmaster 125 (ref 378.0801) that was made for the 125th anniversary of Omega. Highly collectible these days, as it was limited to 2000 pieces, making of it the first officially certified chronograph chronometer in the world.

The Yachting is today one of the rarest vintage chronographs of Omega, and an important link in a very long chain of sports watches focused on sailing. Take for instance the Seamaster Aqua Terra Chronograph (NZL-32) that Omega introduced in 2007, or more recent, in 2013, the Omega ETNZ Seamaster Diver Special Edition .

People in the yachting community, skippers and owners alike, who wanted a luxurious chronograph that could be used for measuring regatta races and other naval activities, now had a suitable option. It’s chunky, has quite a bit of a “bling-factor” and is quite complicated in its design aesthetics. Its purpose is to be an imposing item, which of course can measure time. Utilitarian is an adjective notably absent when we describe the yachting, an eye-catching and certainly a very beautiful Omega chronograph from the 1970’s.

For those who were looking for a slightly more affordable alternative, Tissot offered the Navigator Yachting ref. 45503. Inside ticks Tissot calibre 2170, which is actually the Lemania calibre 1341. That was Lemania’s value-proposition and was a more affordable variant of calibre 1340. Back in the 1970’s Lemania sold their movement to a large number of companies including Heuer, Sicura, Nivada, Alpina, Sinn, Bucherer, Dugena and Tissot. Both the Tissot and the Omega shared the same hands, pushers, plastic crystal and case, however the main difference was again the absence of a 24-hour indication.

8 responses

Top review of another rather underrated 70ies chronograph.

As for the photos, they just keep making me drool over the keyboard…

Again; an excellent review for an amazing watch. Really like your articles Ilias!

Glad you like them Horacio, Thank you very much……

i have a same one

Thank’s for Yema Yachtingraf

hello, got one of this but with a 1041 chronomètre version into it. Did you checked out the movement? Thanks for the info’s and presentation.

Hi Manu! As far as i know the cal.1041 was put exclusively to the 125 Speedmaster…..

Ilias Do you know what this watch should be insured for nowadays? Or how I could find out? Thanks!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Top stories.

First Look Bulgari Drops a new Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch Dial for its…

Introducing The New Baltic Hermétique Glacier Limited Edition Duo with Ice-Inspired Dials

First Look New American Indie Watchmaker Fleming Presents its First Watch, the Series…

Subscribe to our newsletter, subscribe to our newsletter.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Cookie policy

I agree that this Website uses cookies and similar technologies for providing me this Website and its functionalities, for obtaining insights about its use and for providing me relevant advertisements. You may change the settings to activate or deactivate each category of cookies. To find out more about cookies, please see our Cookie Notice .

Configure my cookies

Click on each button to activate or deactivate the use of each type of cookies. A colored button indicates if the cookies are active (red), or inactive (grey).

These are cookies that are required for the operation of the Website and for you to be able to complete services you ask for. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of the Website.

These cookies record information about choices you make on the Website, such as your user name, language or the region you are in. In this way, we are able to personalize your visit to the Website.

These cookies allow us to collect information about how visitors use the Website, for example to count visitors and to see how visitors move around the Website. They record your visit to the Website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. These cookies do not collect information that identifies you. All information is anonymous. This helps us to improve the way the Website works.

These cookies allow you to share Website content with social media platforms (e.g, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). We have no control over these cookies as they are set by the social media platforms themselves. Please have a look at section 3 of the Cookie Notice about pixels and social plug-ins to learn more about how social media cookies are used in association with social plug-ins.

These cookies allow us to deliver tailor-made advertisements to you on third party websites based on your interests in our products and services manifested during your visit on our Website. These cookies do not collect information that identifies you. All information is anonymous.

• Watch Comparator 0
• Favorites 0
• Language Back Close language menu

MyOmega menu

• Change language
• Open search Search Search

Watch Comparator ( )

You have no watches to compare.

To start comparing, browse the collection of OMEGA watches .

Select between 2 to 4 watches to compare.

• My Omega Dashboard
• My Personal Information
• My Order history
• My Favourites
• My Favourite Stores

I have an account

I don't have an account

Create a My OMEGA account to benefit from our exclusive services and keep up to date with our latest publications.

• 0 }"> Basket 0 --> 1 --> 0 }"> Open Basket 0 --> 1 -->

Collections menu

Speedmaster Instruments X-33 Regatta Watches

• X-33 Marstimer
• Skywalker X-33
• X-33 Regatta
• Spacemaster Z-33

1 watch displayed

Discover also

• Diver 300M - America's Cup Edition
• Discover the universe of SPEEDMASTER X-33 REGATTA ETNZ LIMITED EDITION

Products list

Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta

45 mm, titanium on coated nylon fabric strap

Instruments - X-33 Regatta

Choose the Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta timepiece and celebrate OMEGA’s partnership with the sailing crew of Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ). Limited to 2,017 pieces, this Limited Edition was worn by ETNZ during the 35th America’s Cup yacht race, which they won in historic style. <p> Available through the OMEGA online shop, the X‑33 features an ingenious Regatta function, keeping track of the critical five‑minute countdown to the start of a race. Presented on a black coated nylon fabric strap with blue rubber lining and blue stitching, the Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta ETNZ Limited Edition is powered by the OMEGA calibre 5620, a highly precise thermo‑compensated multi‑function quartz movement, itself cased in a 45mm Grade 2 titanium case. <p> The bi‑directional rotating bezel is made of a ceramic‑titanium mix and features stars on the 15, 30, 45, and 60‑second markers, a clear reference to the Southern Cross on the New Zealand flag. <p> The hands and indexes are coated with Super‑LumiNova while the backlit LED screens remain highly legible under any circumstances. <p> The caseback is stamped with an EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND logo and engraved with "CHALLENGER FOR THE 35TH AMERICA’S CUP", "X‑33 REGATTA" and the Limited Edition number. This unique Swiss watch is truly an all‑purpose sports watch that is set to appeal to today’s generation of sailors ready to take on the roughest seas. <p> Buy an OMEGA Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta watch directly from the OMEGA website through our online catalogue, where you will find the latest models on offer. Order now with just a few clicks.

Choose the Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta timepiece and celebrate OMEGA’s partnership with the sailing crew of Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ). Limited to 2,017 pieces, this Limited Edition was worn by ETNZ during the 35th America’s Cup yacht race, which they won in historic style. Available through the OMEGA online shop, the X‑33 features an ingenious Regatta function, keeping track of the critical five‑minute countdown to the start of a race. Presented on a black coated nylon fabric strap with blue rubber lining and blue stitching, the Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta ETNZ Limited Edition is powered by the OMEGA calibre 5620, a highly precise thermo‑compensated multi‑function quartz movement, itself cased in a 45mm Grade 2 titanium case. The bi‑directional rotating bezel is made of a ceramic‑titanium mix and features stars on the 15, 30, 45, and 60‑second markers, a clear reference to the Southern Cross on the New Zealand flag. The hands and indexes are coated with Super‑LumiNova while the backlit LED screens remain highly legible under any circumstances. The caseback is stamped with an EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND logo and engraved with "CHALLENGER FOR THE 35TH AMERICA’S CUP", "X‑33 REGATTA" and the Limited Edition number. This unique Swiss watch is truly an all‑purpose sports watch that is set to appeal to today’s generation of sailors ready to take on the roughest seas. Buy an OMEGA Speedmaster X‑33 Regatta watch directly from the OMEGA website through our online catalogue, where you will find the latest models on offer. Order now with just a few clicks.

• Christopher Ward
• Grand Seiko

Yachting Timers & Watches

At worn&wound we’ve long been fascinated by watches that were designed specifically for individual sporting events. This is part of a series on these unique timepieces.

Yacht timers – also referred to as regatta timers, yachting chronographs, or sailing watches – are watches specially designed and made for the countdown to the start of a sailing race. As you can imagine, starting a race on water, with entrants powered by the wind, is not as easy as lining up on a grid, Formula 1 style, or lined up like sprinters at a track meet, waiting for the starting gun. As we just saw in the recent America’s Cup races in San Francisco, the yachts (we use the term loosely in the case of the America’s Cup boats) are already at speed as they approach the starting line. The trick for the skipper is to NOT cross the starting line before the starting gun goes off. If they do, they’re penalized quite heavily (how and how much depends on the rules in effect for the specific race).

So some sort of a count-down timer is useful to the pilot and tactician. Horns signal the start of the countdown period and a skipper can start his yacht timer by the audible signal. He then has an on board measurement of progress to the start of the race, and can sail his yacht accordingly – hopefully to reach the starting line, at speed, just as the starting gun sounds.

Over the decades there have been numerous yacht timers and specialized chronographs produced by the world’s watch companies. Perhaps the most well-known yachting timer today is the Rolex YachtMaster, but there are others, past and present. Current and recent pieces include those from Tutima, Alpina, Atlantic, Omega, Panerai, and IWC, as well as electronic offerings from TAG Heuer, Suunto, Tissot and others.

But the vintage timepieces – the regatta timers of old – are what really get our juices flowing. Sailing chronographs like the Heuer Autavia Skipper, the Regate (sold under three different brand names – Aquastar, Heuer, and Tissot), Heuer’s Yacht Timer (both wrist-mounted and stopwatch form factor), the Breitling Chronomat and SuperOcean (both in regatta timing trim), the Memosail (two are on eBay as we write this), Lemania’s self-branded Regatta Yacht Timer in handheld stopwatch format, and the wonderfully busy Wakmann.

Regatta timers have various ways of indicating the countdown time. There’s typically a multi-colored or numbered disc rotating beneath the dial with the colors or numerals showing through windows similar to a date disc. Five vari-colored dots – usually blue followed by red (Alpina, Regate), numerals against colored backgrounds (Memosail), or a separate chrono hand coupled with colored zones on the watch’s bezel (Tutima, Bretling, Heuer) or indicating time remaining to the start via a separate scale within the dial (Rolex).

Heuer’s Autavia Skipper was part of the legendary Autavia line in the 1970s. It featured the Autavia’s classic tonneau shaped case, a red, white, and blue countdown sub-dial at 3 o’clock, a small seconds at 10 o’clock, and date at 6. Chrono pushers were in the classic locations at 2 and 4, but the crown was positioned at 9 o’clock. The watch featured a 60 minute rotating bezel, and examples are often see with a blue dial & bezel combination.

Heuer’s Yacht Timer from the 1960s came in both a wrist-mounted version and a handheld stopwatch form factor. Color-wise, regatta timer dials are never shy, and the Heuer is no exception. This watch was basically a fifteen or thirty minute stopwatch (there were at least two versions) with a multi-colored dial formatted and printed for the countdown function.

Aquastar’s Regate, also branded and sold as Heuer, Tissot and other brands such as “Racing”  in the early 1980s, used a Lemania movement with a classic five-dot/ window format, with a tri-colored rotating disc beneath the dial. five windows for five minutes, and once the timing started the colored wheel would progressively show thru the windows, changing them one at a time from blue to red to white (or silver).

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Breitling produced watches in regatta timing trim in both the Chronomat and SuperOcean lines. The Chronomat featured a center mounted minute with a multi-colored inner chapter ring. The SuperOcean used the center-mounted totalizing hand with a multi-colored bezel. These black-cased watches featured Venus 178 or 188 movements, modified to handle the unique needs of a yachting chronograph.

Lemania’s self-branded Regatta Yacht Timer is another handheld stopwatch format timer. The timing function is the familiar series of five windows with a colored disc beneath, but with the letters S-T-A-R-T replacing the third color (similar to the Memosail).

The Wakmann , yet another 1970s piece, looks almost too nice to have been a working watch. To us, it looks more like a dress watch for the Yacht Club awards banquet (but then, so does the current Rolex Yachtmaster II). The timer’s motor is a Lemania Caliber 1341 automatic with hour sub-dial at 6 o’clock and running seconds at 9 o’clock. Countdown chrono minutes and seconds are indicated by center mounted hands with orange tips. The display has a lot going on, with a date window at 3 o’clock, a white stationary chapter ring with days of the month, a multi-colored chapter ring with days of the week (moveable via a secondary crown at 10 o’clock – line it up with the correct day of the week for the current month), and a third multi-colored chapter ring outside the first two, this one with 15 countdown minutes in the first quadrant and a tachymeter over the following three quadrants. We’d be concerned about reading this in the heat of racing battle. That said, we love this watch for its center minutes totalizer, its unique display of day of the week and month, and it’s cool 1970s cushion styling.

With ultra-modern quartz-based timers available (TAG Heuer produced what was effectively a dedicated smartwatch, specifically to be worn by members of the America’s Cup Team Oracle, which relayed real-time data stream of boat performance to each crew member), and the inevitably harsh conditions of sailboat racing, these wonderful vintage racers have probably seen their heyday (one can’t imagine a skipper actually wearing a Rolex Yachtmaster II in a modern race). But their unique styling, and sheer mechanical timing abilities are works of wonder in any age. We’d wear one, even if it’s only to sail our desk into next week.

by Ed Estlow

special thanks to our friends at analogshift.com for lending us the Wakmann

and Francesco B for use of his Racing Regatta images

• Information
• About the Blog
• About Worn & Wound
• Privacy Policy
• Editorial Policy

Privacy Overview

Regatta Time: 7 Yachting Watches

A number of luxury watch brands have gotten involved in sponsoring sailing teams and events. Some brands have even developed timepieces specifically suited for competitive sailing and other nautical activities, often incorporating some version of the all-important regatta countdown function. Here we run down seven yachting and regatta watches and reveal why they’re ideal companions out on the waves.

1.Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides

Corum has been making watches for yachtsmen since 1960, when it debuted the first Corum Admiral’s Cup watch, named after and inspired by the famous yacht race of the same name. The Admiral’s Cup has since grown to become an entire collection, one of Corum’s core pillars. Numerous variations on the Corum Admiral’s Cup have been introduced over the years, including the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides . This watch’s movement, Caliber CO 277 — which Corum spent three years working with the Astronomic Observatory of Geneva and French Navy’s oceanographic institute to create — contains a mechanical complication that is eminently useful for someone piloting a boat: a moon-phase-like function that informs the wearer of how strong and how high the tides are, and when high and low tide will next occur. (Tides, of course, are affected by the moon’s relation to the earth and sun.) A hand on the subdial at 12 o’clock indicates the tidal coefficient, or range between high and low tides. A subdial at 6 o’clock tells when the next two tides will occur. Meanwhile, the 9 o’clock display tells the wearer if tides are rising or falling. The date is displayed at 3 o’clock. The Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides has the collection’s hallmark 12-sided case, which is made of titanium coated with blue PVD and measures 45 mm in diameter, and comes on a vulcanized blue rubber strap.

2. Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio

Panerai is much better known for making watches for use underwater rather than above the waves, but the Swiss-Florentine brand began sponsoring the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge in 2005 and introduced its first dedicated yachting watch at SIHH 2013. (AT SIHH 2017, the brand took its support of sailing sports to the next level, becoming Official Timekeeper of the America’s Cup.) that The Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio (PAM00526) has a lightweight, brushed titanium case, 47 mm in diameter, and is outfitted with Panerai’s in-house Caliber P.9100/R, which powers not only a flyback chronograph but a user-friendly regatta countdown function.

To start the countdown to a regatta (in which perfect timing is crucial, with all boats required to line up behind an imaginary line without crossing it), the owner pushes an orange push-button at 4 o’clock to move the central orange chronograph minute hand back, one minute at a time, until it is at the correct position in relation to the length of the countdown. Next, he presses the chronograph stop/start button at 10 o’clock, which starts the chronograph hands moving, indicating first the minutes and seconds remaining until the start, and then, when the countdown has finished, the time elapsed since the start of the race. At the end of the interval being measured, the push-button at eight o’clock returns all the chronograph hands to zero; if it is operated while the hands are still moving, it activates the return-to-zero (flyback) function of these hands, enabling the wearer to start timing a new interval immediately, without using the stop and reset buttons. The flange around the dial displays a 15-minute scale for the regatta countdown, with the five final minutes distinguished in orange, along with a tachymeter scale that is measured in knots, which enables a sailor to determine the speed of his boat over a defined distance. For more details on this Panerai watch, including the price, click here . The price of the watch is $17,200.00 excl. sales tax (July 2017).

3. Rolex Yacht-Master II

The Rolex Yacht-Master II — the successor to the original Rolex Yacht-Master — debuted in 2007 and introduced a Rolex-exclusive regatta countdown function that can be “programmed” from 1 to 10 minutes and incorporates a mechanical memory that allows it to be reset to the same countdown duration used previously. Once launched, the countdown can also be synchronized on the fly, enabling adjustment to match the official regatta start-time countdown. Programming the countdown is easy, by means of the rotatable Ring Command bezel , a Rolex-developed system linking the bezel to the movement.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II has a 44-mm Rolex Oyster case (available in several precious metals, in Rolex’s proprietary “Rolesium” material, or in a new stainless steel version with blue Cerachrom bezel, shown below.) The watch contains the Rolex manufacture Caliber 4161, which has a COSC chronometer certification and includes a column-wheel chronograph. For more on the Rolex Yacht-Master II, click here .

4. Alpina Sailing Yachttimer Countdown

Not everyone who owns a boat is a millionaire, and the Alpina Sailing Yachttimer Countdown is a yachting watch for those on a slightly tighter timepiece budget. For under $5,000, the owner of this watch gets a clever yachting-specific complication, namely a moving countdown window that counts down from 10 to 1, gradually revealing a red “START” indicator for the start time of a regatta. The Alpina Sailing Yachttimer is a limited edition of only 8,888 pieces. The watch has a 44-mm stainless steel case, with a see-through caseback offering a view of the in-house movement, Caliber AL-880, and comes on a black rubber strap. The price of the watch is $3’695 (July 2017).

5. Perrelet Turbine Yacht

Introduced in 2014, the Perrelet Turbine Yacht — another new complication for the distinctive Turbine collection, which has swiftly become Perrelet’s flagship family — combines the spinning dial-side turbine-style rotor with an integrated windrose function, inspired by the world of yachting, which helps to orient sailors by points of reference and the position of the sun. The Perrelet Turbine Yacht has a substantial, 47-mm-diameter stainless steel case, also available with either black or bronze-toned PVD coating. The turbine rotor on the dial, made of titanium, has 11 blades, echoing the look of a submarine propellor, and rotates above a surface with a maritime-themed parallel-line pattern reminiscent of the teakwood deck of a yacht. The windrose — according to Wikipedia, “a graphic tool used by meteorologists to give a succinct view of how wind speed and direction are typically distributed at a particular location” — is on a bidirectional rotating ring surrounding the dial. prices for the Perrelet Turbine Yacht range from $6,550 to $7,200.

6. Bremont Regatta OTUSA

The U.K.-based Bremont brand has also served as Official Timing partner to the America’s Cup and to the competition’s defending champion, Oracle Team USA. To commemorate the races, Bremont brought out at this year’s Baselworld this COSC-certified regatta timer, the Bremont Regatta OTUSA. The watch has 15- minute and 5-minute countdown displays at 12 o’clock, a 12-hour counter and date aperture at 6 o’clock and running seconds at 9 o’clock. Bremont has incorporated into the crown a bit of carbon fiber taken from one of the foils of a 2013 Oracle Team USA AC72 yacht. The case is titanium, 43 mm in diameter, and water resistant to 100 meters. It has a transparent back through which you can see the rotor, decorated with a wave-like pattern and the words “America’s Cup.” Price: $6,895 (July 2017).

7. Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph

Ulysse Nardin tapped two professional yachtsmen, Loïck Peyron and Iain Percy from the Swedish Artemis Racing team (which the brand sponsors), to help design its new regatta timer, the Marine Regatta Chronograph , which debuted at SIHH 2017. The watch is a bi-directional chronograph counter that automatically begins timing the race once the countdown is complete, thus eliminating the need to hit the restart button at the precise moment when the race begins. Official fleet yacht races begin with either a five-, seven- or 10-minute countdown to the starting signal, during which time boats jockey for a position as close to the starting line as possible without crossing it and thus facing major penalties. The movement, Caliber UN-155, is based on the manufacture automatic chronograph Caliber UN-153 and has a three-day power reserve. The 44-mm case is stainless steel and has a fluted bezel with rubber inserts, molded rubber pushers, a screw-down crown and 100-meter water resistance. There are two dial variations, one in ocean blue with signature Artemis Racing yellow and the other in sea foam. There is also a limited-edition series of 35 Marine Regatta Chronographs with black champlevé enamel dials. The regular series is priced at $15,900, and the special edition, at $29,800.

This article was originally published in 2014; prices are subject to change.

Such a wonderfully informative blog. thanks for sharing

A correction to your Bremont piece: Oracle was the defender of America’s Cup in 2013 and 2017. The current Cup holder is Emirates Team New Zealand. (interestingly, although Omega has sponsored ETNZ since 1995….by far the longest relationship between a watch brand and an AC team…it has never developed a regatta-specific watch , instead issuing a few “ETNZ versions” of Seamaster Diver over the years).

What about the many Ulysse Nardin releases?

title should be 5 ugly regatta watches

yup ! sure is !

imho — Ugly watches? Just exactly what would you consider to be beautiful watches in this category?

I agree Erik, I think these represent the best watches from Rolex (the 2 tone would be best), Bremont, Alpina and Panerai. Other versions are just a bit boring, imho.

I have a omega NZL-32 I think it’s the best looking regtta timer out. It’s a very stunning watch.

I agree. The Omega NZL is beautiful but out of production yes?

Click here to cancel reply.

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

You might also be interested in:

Retro Racer: Testing the TAG Heuer Monza ...

Read the article

WatchTime to Host Collectors’ Event ...

Hands-on with the Äonic Automat, An Innovative ...

Retro Time: Tissot PRX Powermatic 80

Downsizing: Six Watches Under 40-mm from ...

The Sound of a Legacy: Chopard’s L.U.C ...

The fastest and most secure way to protect the watches you love.

We've minimized the paperwork and maximized protection, so you can stop worrying about your watches and focus on enjoying them.

In most cases, you'll get a personalized quote in seconds and your policy kicks in immediately.

Wherever you are on planet Earth, your watches are protected. Rest easy and travel safely.

If you suffer a covered loss, there's no deductible and no gimmicks. Ever.

Each of your watches is covered up to 150% of the insured value (up to the total value of the policy).

Our quotes are based on historical sales and real-time market data allowing us to give fair prices without all the hassle.

Popular Searches

Introducing The 42mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Is Back – Now In Titanium Or Rose Gold – And It's Really Good (Live Pics)

Hands-On Spending Some Quality Time With The Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve

Talking Watches With Hurley Haywood, Legendary Race Car Driver

Editors’ Picks

How To Wear It The Cartier Tank Cintrée

In-Depth Examining Value And Price Over Time With The ‘No Date’ Rolex Submariner

Watches In The Wild The Road Through America, Episode 1: A Model Of Mass Production

Introducing The Frederique Constant Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown

One of watchmaking's most charming complications returns to frederique constant..

In 1997, Frederique Constant introduced a regatta timer for the first time (and until now, the only time) in its collections. The regatta timer may be one of the most specific, if not the most specific, of all complications. A regatta timer is used to count down the amount of time remaining before the competing yachts are allowed to cross the start line during a yacht race; the start line is defined by an imaginary line drawn between two buoys. Sailboats cannot, unlike race cars, simply wait at a starting line, as they are constantly in motion thanks to the wind. Instead, racing yachts maneuver behind the start line, seeking to correctly anticipate the moment that the starting signal is given (traditionally a gun or cannon shot) at which point they can legally cross the line without incurring a penalty for starting too early.

This situation means that one of the most exciting parts of a regatta, are the moments during which the clock is counting down from the warning gun to the actual starting gun, when the yachts are maneuvering for the most advantageous possible position. The warning gun is often fired, by custom, five minutes before the starting gun so when skippers hear it go off, they know they have that amount of time before the line can be crossed. The regatta timer is set up to allow instant and intuitive read-off of the amount of time remaining before the start. Each circle represents one minute, and as the colors change in each circle in succession, skippers can easily see how much time remains, without resorting to the often difficult-to-read sub-registers of a traditional chronograph.

It is a complication whose utility outside the context of a regatta I have always struggled to envision (counting down a five minute egg?) but its very specialized purpose combined with its idiosyncratic design, give regatta timers a unique appeal among complicated watches. There will be three versions of the Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown launched in the US market, which will be a gold PVD model with a blue dial, a steel model with grey dial, and a two-tone model on a two-tone bracelet, with a guilloché pattern. 

The regatta timer is both an easy complication to dismiss, but it's also an easy complication to like, if you give it a chance. On the one hand, if you're not a yacht skipper or a regatta official, there is probably not a whole lot of use you're going to get out it. On the other hand, it is so charming and so visually punchy, and so very much a product of a time when watches were practical necessities, and made to fit every need and budget, that you can't help but fall in love with it a little bit. I have never had the pleasure of owning a regatta timer but I have had a chance to spend some time with several different models, including a vintage Heuer Regatta, and there is something irresistibly watchable about seeing those little circles change color as the minutes count down.

Whether you ever get a chance to use these for their intended purpose, they're great looking watches with a real connection to both horological history, and to Frederique Constant's own history as well. They're also very attractively priced, considering that you're getting an interesting take on an unusual complication – the most expensive (and I think most handsome) version, in rose gold plate, is $3495 ($3195 for the steel model).

Brand: Frederique Constant Model: Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown Diameter: 42mm Case Material: steel or rose gold plated steel; box-type sapphire crystal Dial Color: navy blue or grey, both with hobnail guilloché type pattern Indexes: applied Lume: Super-LumiNova on hands Water Resistance: 10 atmospheres/100 meters Strap/Bracelet: alligator leather, or matching two tone bracelet for the two tone model; extra rubber strap also included

Caliber: FC-380 (ETA 7750 or Sellita equivalent, modified to include countdown function) Functions: hours and minutes, countdown regatta timer Power Reserve: 48 hours Winding: automatic or hand-winding Frequency: 28,800 vph Jewels: 25

Price: blue dial and rose gold plated model, $3495; two tone case and bracelet, $3395; grey dial with steel case, $3195 Availability: available now

See the Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown models at FrederiqueConstant.com.

The Value Proposition The Montblanc Heritage GMT

By Stephen pulvirent

HODINKEE Radio Episode 57: Paul Boutros On Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT

Sunday Rewind A Rolex Milgauss, An Omega >15,000 Gauss, And A 4,000 Gauss Neodymium Magnet

By Hodinkee

Introducing The Tudor Black Bay Chrono Dark

By James stacey

Top Discussions

HODINKEE Radio Talking About Our Favorite GMT Watches From Tudor, Longines, And More

Introducing MoonSwatch + Snoopy! The Omega x Swatch 'Mission To The Moonphase' Has Landed

Last Week’s Top Stories

In-Depth Swiss High Court Rules On Lawsuit Between Rolex And Customizer Artisans de Geneve

By Anthony traina

This Week In The Shop Six Killer Grand Seiko Dials Not Named 'Snowflake'

By Erin wilborn

Hands-On Gold And Titanium Meet With The 38mm ‘The Citizen’ LE – A Most Surprising Watch

By Danny milton

Photo Report A Few Favorite Watches From Italy's Parma Antique Fair

By Mark kauzlarich

Pre-Owned Picks A Tudor METAS Black Bay Burgundy, A Serti Dial Rolex Submariner, And A Hesalite Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 3861

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best sailing watches: 16 options for racing and cruising

• October 17, 2023

Fox Morgan, Phil Sampson and Roger Hughes test and review 16 of the best sailing watches available with functions for racing and cruising sailors

The best sailing watches can offer a multitude of functions, from MOB alerts to tidal calculations and large faced race count down timers. And yet still there’s utter simplicity of a waterproof self winding timepiece.

Just as tablets and even smartphones have revolutionised how sailors use multifunction displays and instruments, so the latest smart watch technology has now firmly filtered into sailing. While we’re now familiar with using our watches to give us directions, make calls and send messages, and act as a repeater screen on our wrists ashore, so the latest sailing watches also make navigation, data and comms technology wearable afloat.

You’ll see that Garmin have several entries in our best sailing watches guide and if you’re specifically after a Garmin, we have rounded up the best of those in this guide to the best Garmin watch for yachting sailing and more .

However, the cleverest watch is not always the best watch for sailing. For racing an extremely simple and speedy to operate model may suit better. Price is not always an indicator of functionality either; even some of the least expensive sailing watches, like the Casio we showcase below, can be packed with features.

At the other end of the scale,  luxury horology brands – including Rolex, Panerai, and Omega among others – have long been closely associated with sailing, seeing it as the perfect sport to demonstrate their style, waterproof and ruggedised qualities, and accuracy.

In making our selection of the best sailing watches, we’ve chosen those with features specifically suitable for wearing aboard. That doesn’t mean, however, that they float, so be sure to do the clasp up securely and be wary of pulling off jacket sleeves in a hurry and losing your prized timepiece overboard!

Editor’s top choices at a glance

Best sailing smart watch – Garmin Quatix 7 Best premium sailing watch – Garmin MARQ Captain Best value sailing watch – Casio Lithium Quartz Best racing sailing watch – Ronstan Clear Start Race Timer

Best sailing watch for multifunction use

Garmin quatix 7.

Best sailing smart watch

Specifications: Apple or android smart phone compatible,  Sizes: 47mm / 51mm, Weight 70g, Battery life: up to 16 days with screen on by demand, GPS tracking, waterproof to 10 ATM

Reasons to Buy: Large easy to read face | incredible versatility for an array of lifestyle activity | healthy wellbeing and boat interactivity | customisable to suit individual needs Reasons to Avoid: Battery life not as good as the Quatix 6 if screen is always visible | bright facia can be distracting | touchscreen is pointless without the additional kit it interfaces with

Garmin’s latest sailing smartwatch includes improvements to strengthen integration with onboard electronics.

It’s a touchscreen model that can, for instance, be used to control MFD displays or Fusion audio systems, as well as Garmin autopilots.

You can also pay for things with contactless payments, but you’ll need to use an intermediary app, such as Curve if you are in the UK as British banks haven’t signed up for that function directly yet.

So let’s address the major change for the Quatix 7 over the Quatix 6, and that’s the display. Plenty of folks complained about the darkness or difficulty seeing the Quatix 6 screen, so they’ve addressed that with a much brighter lit up style of screen.  It is very bright even when turned to its dimmest setting. To save the battery from being drained unnecessarily at night, there’s a night time version of the watch screen where you can view it as a digital numeric mono display, on demand, otherwise the screen is completely blank. This brighter clearer display does come at a compromise of battery life or screen saver settings.

The extra screen size in the same outer bezel size though is really very nice. Maps and other tracking options can be easily seen.

High end Sapphire models add a new ultra-clear AMOLED touchscreen.

The watch can output directly to Strava and myfitnesspal along with other apps according to your preference. We like this watch very much indeed and it is currently the best smart sailing watch for all round functionality. Pricey though, but worth it.

Garmin MARQ Captain

Best premium sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Smart | Size: 46mm

Reasons to buy: Weather and tidal data | MOB and GPS functions | Stream boat data to your wrist Reasons to avoid: Full extent of capabilities is governed by the onboard technology it’s connected to | Premium price

Tested by: MBY Editor, Hugo Andreae

Our top priced pick comes from wearable tech-specialists, Garmin. The MARQ Captain sailing watch comes packed with marine-relevant features.

Functions include weather and tidal data for your home port, a regatta timer to pinpoint starting times, a ‘tack assist’ function to determine whether you’re on lift or a header, a man overboard button and GPS.

The full extent of its capabilities is governed by the onboard technology to which it is connected, but possibilities include streaming boat data direct to your wrist wherever you are on the boat and controlling products from the Garmin-owned Fusion range of audio systems.

Garmin Instinct 2S Solar

Specifications: Type: Smart | Size: 40mm / 45mm / 50mm, weight 53g(2oz)

Reasons to buy: GPS positioning on charts | barometric pressure and compass | Smartphone connectivity | An incredible amount of styles and colours | A single charge lasts 14 days Reasons to avoid: Premium price without a premium design

Tested by: Tech Editor, Fox Morgan

The Instinct 2, launched in February 2022 is Garmin’s all-round watch, which they call their outdoors watch. Features that are particularly relevant to sailors include GPS positioning on charts; barometric pressure and a compass.

It has smartphone connectivity, receives emails and texts, and can control music via a phone. This watch also has an inbuilt thermometer and heart rate monitor.

The Garmin Instinct is available in no fewer than 20 different styles and colours. It’s actual diameter is 47mm (1 13/16” in) but the viewable face is 32mm (1 1/4”). The Instinct is 16mm (5/8” in) thick and weighs 53g (2 oz).

For racing sailors, it also has multiple start sequence options. We have an indepth review from long term testing of this watch coming soon.

The Garmin Instinct watch is a good alternative for anyone seeking a more moderately priced alternative to the Quatix 6.

Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch

Specifications: Apple or android smart phone compatible,  Sizes: 47mm / 51mm, weight 82g, Battery life: up to 16 days with screen always visible, GPS tracking, waterproof to 10 ATM

Reasons to buy: Suits a multitude of water activity | Highly customisable | An incredible amount of data available on your wrist | A single charge lasts 14 days Reasons to avoid: High level of functionality is not for the technologically phobic

This watch I tested comprehensively for several weeks/months – it is a very smart design, with functions for every type of pastime on the water and off it.

Garmin is well known for superior boating instruments and they have now managed to squeeze all the data of a ten-inch chartplotter into a 1.3” inch round sailing watch. Bluetooth functionality means you can connect it to a Garmin chartplotter using the free Garmin Connect app, and to other makes of plotter using the Garmin transceiver (a $150 extra).

This allows all the features of a chartplotter to be displayed on the watch, including charts and even autopilot control to allow you to change heading or follow a GPS route – provided it is also connected through the chartplotter.

The Quatix 6 also offers more typical smartwatch functions including the ability to receive email and texts, can be used to control music on board, and monitors the user’s heart-rate.

It’s simple to switch between ‘boat display’ and ‘stylish watch’ modes, as hundreds of different watch faces that can be downloaded to customise it to the wearer’s preference, including an antique style face and even a copy of Big Ben. The Quatix 6 can also be switched between analogue and digital.

It’s overall diameter is 51mm (2” in) with a 36mm (1 5/8” in) viewable face, and it is 17mm (11/16”) thick. The Quatix 6’s weight is 83g (3oz) with the plastic strap or 156g (5.5oz) with the stainless band, which is quite a bit heavier than a conventional watch.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Spinnaker haas automatic.

Specifications: Type: Analogue | Size: 43mm

Reasons to buy: S mart styling | easy to read day and night | electronics free | self winding Reasons to avoid: Due to self winding mechanism the watch is not as slim as a quartz movement watch which might mean that cuffs on shirts and foulies are tight.

Tested by: Professional TopSail Schooner Skipper, Phil Pryor

The joy of a traditional analogue watch is right here in this stylish all metal timepiece from Spinnaker.

Spinnaker Watches collaborated with the Marine Conservation Society to produce this limited edition model that’s a tribute to marine biologist and pioneering diver Hans Hass.

If you want to ditch the computers and keep it simple then this is definitely worth a look.

It feels reassuringly sturdy with it’s all metal band and easy to read rating bezel.

It’s waterproof to 300m and requires no batteries as this watch self winds from the motion of your hand through every day movement.

The winder unscrews to allow time, day and date adjustment and that my friends is all there is to this gorgeous watch. At least as far as the wearer is concerned. Behind that metal back is the smooth Japanese workings of a self winding watch. When it arrived in the box the watch was still and inactive. But the moment I removed it from the box it started to self wind. With just a small amount of movement, the second hand was moving.

For sailors who want to a sleek non electric time piece and for those divers who like to go under the water as well as on it.

I love this safety yellow colourway as it really stands out and is easy to read. This might not be to everyone’s taste though which is fine because the Spinnaker Hass comes in 9 different colourways.

Buy the Spinnaker Hass now on eBay

Buy Spinnaker Hass from Spinnaker

Casio Lithium Quartz

Best value sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size: 48mm

Reasons to buy: Great value | Highly functional | 2 year warranty Reasons to avoid: Lacking in design | Lacking extensive features of premium alternatives

There’s no question that when it comes to affordable innovation, Casio is right up there.

Despite being one of the lowest-priced watches in our selection, the Casio Tide Watch Orange is a highly functional piece of kit which, in addition to all the usual time, day and auto date functions also features a tide graph and lunar phase display.

More conventional sailing watch functions include a timer, stopwatch and LED might. It is water resistant to 100m/10 bars and has a 2 year warranty, all packed into a 48mm diameter, 13 mm thick case.

Best sailing watch for racing

Ronstan Clear Start Race Timer

Best racing sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size 65mm

Reasons to buy: Robust design with secure strap | Extra-large | easy to press silicon buttons | Great display Reasons to avoid: Some consumers report issues with clasp/strap

With wrist, hull, mast or boom mount options, the Swiss-made Ronstan ClearStart Race Timer is aimed squarely at racing sailors.

Made by renowned rigging and hardware company Ronstan, it’s a robust design with a secure elastic strap and substantial ‘bumper’ around the digital display.

The ClearStart Race Timer’s features include extra-large, easy-press silicon buttons, a highlighted start/stop button, oversized 16 mm digits set in a 65mm rotating face and a double line display simultaneously showing the race countdown and time.

In addition, the ClearStart Race Timer offers ‘5-4-1-0’ and Match Racing start sequence programmes, making it a great choice for competitive sailors. Ruggedly constructed and built to last, this sailing watch weighs in at 92 grammes and is water-resistant to 50 metres.

Buy the Ronstan ClearStart Race Timer now from West Marine

Optimum Time Series 14 Rechargeable sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size: 68mm

Reasons to buy: Rechargeable battery | Packed with features | Suitable for mounting Reasons to avoid: Basic design

Optimum Time’s bold coloured watches are popular among racing sailors from dinghies upwards, and the new rechargeable design makes it more sustainable for anyone who uses theirs frequently.

Featuring a 36mm diameter LCD display mounted within a bright red and black 68mm ABS case, Optimum Time’s Series 14 watch is a substantial device that is equally suited to being mounted on a mast or boom as your wrist, while the digits are large enough to allow crew to see the same timer as the skipper.

Waterproof to 5 ATM (i.e. capable of withstanding a pressure of 5 bar), the sailing watch is packed with useful features and comes complete with a bespoke USB charger clamp for convenient charging.

Buy the Optimum Time Series 14 now on Amazon

Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer watch

Best analogue racing sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Analogue | Size 46mm

Reasons to buy: Striking analogue display | Countdown timers Reasons to avoid: Larger than average design | Complex to set up | lacks reset button | Expensive

This is a very striking analogue watch, designed to appeal specifically to racing sailors who don’t want a digital display. It features a racing countdown timers (from 5 mins, 3 mins or 1 minute), then after the start the chronometer automatically starts a race timer for up to one hour.

This is a larger than average design, at 46 mm (1.81” in) diameter and 14mm (0.55” in) thick.

However, this watch is complex to set up, as some functions require three buttons to be pressed in sequence. There is also no ‘reset’ button for anyone who misses their start sequence timer.

Buy the Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer now on the Watch Shop

Optimum Time Series 3 sailing watch

Best all-round racing sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size: 65mm

Reasons to buy: Great price | Highly functional | Easy to read Reasons to avoid: It’s really big

The popular ‘big yellow’ Optimum Time Series 3 is a lower-priced, yet highly functional racing watch. And it truly is big – far too large for my wrist at a gigantic 65mm (2.56” in) diameter and 16mm (0.62” in) thick. It’s also available in colours other than yellow – including white, blue and pink.

An advantage for racing is that this watch is easy to read at a distance thanks to its huge 16mm digits. A bracket is supplied to fix it to a mast. It also has a sync button if you miss the start gun, and can then run a repeat sequence or race timer for handicap competitions.

Robust, and water resistant to 5 ATM, with a wide elasticated strap.

Buy the Optimum Time Series 3 now on Amazon

Ronstan Clearstart RF4055 sailing watch

Best specialist racing sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size: 50mm

Reasons to buy: Multiple start sequence options | Match racing timer | Can sync for early/late start Reasons to avoid: Larger than average design

This sailing watch is another specialist racing design. Race mode features include multiple start sequence options, match racing timer and the ability to sync for an early or late start.

The Clearstart RF4055 is unusual in that it has a fibreglass case, which is available in striking yellow and red as well as the more subtle black. It has a 50mm (2″) diameter face, which is larger than most watches, with a 13mm (0.5″ in) digital display, and the weight is 74gm (2.61oz), though the buttons have a lower profile than some other race watches making it neater to wear on shore.

Buy the Ronstan Clearstart RF4055 now on Amazon

Buy the Ronstan Clearstart RF4055 now on eBay

Optimum Time Series 12 sailing watch

Best audible racing sailing watch

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size: 26mm

Reasons to buy: Audible warning features | Many colour choices Reasons to avoid: No GPS or interconnectivity | Small display is hard to read in hectic moments

Another race timer with countdown time and pre-programmed start and audible warnings. Despite its more smart watch-style appearance, there is no GPS or interconnectivity, but you do get a countdown repeat option, World Sailing 5-4-1-0 start sequence pre-programmed with audible warning signals, and a sync button.

The Optimum Time Series 12 is available in many colours, but has a small 26mm (1.02” in) display, with 10mm (0.34” in) figures, which will make it hard to read in the middle of a hectic race start.

Buy the Optimum Time Series 12 now on eBay

Gill Race Watch Timer

Best racing sailing watch for watersports

Specifications: Type: Digital | Size 44mm

Reasons to buy: Water-resistant to 30 metres | Carbon housing | The sleep feature preserves battery life Reasons to avoid: Basic design and functions

This striking red and black Race Watch Timer is a sailing-specific watch developed exclusively for watersports apparel company Gill. It’s water-resistant to an impressive 30 metres, with the timepiece unit encased in a reinforced carbon ABS plastic housing with a stainless steel back.

As well as telling the time, the sailing watch’s functions include a countdown with synchro, day, date and alarm. There’s a keyboard lock feature to you don’t accidentally change the settings and an electro-luminescent backlight allows the wearer to check the data day or night.

A neat sleep feature preserves and prolongs battery life in a ruggedly constructed unit designed for durability and years of trouble-free service.

Limit ProXR Countdown sailing watch

Best value racing sailing watch

Reasons to buy: Large, clear, easy to read display | Multiple design options | Dual time, stopwatch, countdown and pacer functions Reasons to avoid: Lacks features/functions of more premium competitors | Chunky

Limit has been producing watches for more than 110 years and specialises in offering a wide variety of styles at great value prices.

For a budget-friendly sailing watch option, the Limit ProXR Countdown comes with a large, clear and easily readable display and is backed by a two-year guarantee.

It also has a dual time display and stopwatch, countdown and pacer functionality. No fewer than five alarms can be set and there’s a night time illumination facility.

Available in a choice of orange/black or blue/black, the looks of this chunky 50 mm case diameter sailing watch certainly belie its low price tag.

Buy the Limit ProXR Countdown now on gooutdoors.co.uk

Ulysse-Nardin The Ocean Race Diver

Specifications: Type: Analogue | Size: 44mm

Reasons to buy: manufacturer with a strong history in watch making | ‘green’ credentials | classy and collectible Reasons to avoid: Lacks features/functions of more sailing-specific watches | you’ll need deep pockets

Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin sourced discarded fishing nets to upcycle into the base material for this watch, highlighting the 640,000 tonnes of nets that are discarded at sea each year.

In addition, 95% of components for the mechanical movement are sourced from within 30km of Ulysse Nardin’s site.

Buy The Ocean Race Diver now on ulysse-nardin.com

FAQ: What makes the best sailing watch?

The ability to read the time, countdown or data in a hurry or at an angle is key, so look out for digital readouts with large numbers – some sailing watches have the ability to switch from digital to analogue readouts – and screens that can be viewed in different qualities of daylight. Backlit functions are essential for anyone heading offshore, whether racing or cruising.

A well-fitting wristband or strap with a secure clasp is vital to keep the watch on your arm. Most sailing watches have soft rubber or synthetic wristbands, which are more durable in a marine environment, and safer than steel. Rubber straps are also lighter and easier to adjust.

If you plan to use your watch for race start timing, look for programmable start sequence options, a sync button, countdowns that switch to seconds in the final stages. A loud, clear alarm or ‘beep’ function that tells you time to the gun is particularly useful, so you can keep watching your course, trim and other boats around you during the final approach to the line rather than having to glance at your wrist.

You can read more about other types of GPS enabled and waterproof fitness trackers and smart watches at YBW.com

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated boating page for more marine products.

Regatta Yachttimers

An overview of sailing regatta watches, stopwatches.

Before wrist watches were used as an aid to start a sailing regatta, this was done with handheld mechanical stopwatches. At the beginning of the 20th century, brands like Breitling, Excelsior Park, Leonidas and Le Phare all developed a Yachting movement with a 5 minute counter, and a sweep hand counting the seconds backwards from 60 to zero. These movements were used in various other watch brands as well, eg. Gallet, Heuer and The Paget. Later versions of the Yachting stopwatches had a 10 or 15 minute countdown, and some models could be worn around the wrist with a strap.

Abercrombie & Fitch

In 1892 David T. Abercrombie started a small waterfront shop in New York, USA, under the name ‘David T. Abercrombie Co’. In 1900 Ezra Fith became his partner, and in 1904 the company’s name was changed into ‘Abercrombie & Fitch Co’. From the beginning the company was specialized in outdoor clothing and excursion products, and offered top-quality gear for hunting, fishing, camping, safaris, climbing, driving, flying and other outings, calling itself ‘Greatest Sporting Goods Store in the World’.

Page 29 from the Abercrombie & Fitch catalog, summer 1957.

In the mid 1940’s Heuer began producing watches and stopwatches for Abercrombie & Fitch, mostly with a special feature (of which the Seafarer chronograph is the most well-known). The summer 1957 catalog shows a ‘Yacht Race Timer’ stopwatch with a 5 minute countdown.

Three different versions of a Abercrombie & Fitch yachting stopwatch.

Abercrombie & Fitch, left signed A&F yachttimer, right signed Abercrombie & Fitch Co Yacht-Timer with the Heuer shield added. Obvious these models are related to Heuer.

Aristo / Apollo

Aristo’s history began in 1907, when watchmaker Julius Epple founded the ‘Julius Epple K.G.’  (officially registered in 1936). in Pforzheim, Germany. Later the name changed into ‘Aristo Uhren- und Uhrgehäuse Fabrik’   and again later into ‘Aristo Watch GmbH’ .

At first Aristo used movements from Glashütte and Urofa, but in 1934 the movement factory Maurer & Reiling was taken over and Aristo started to produce their own movements (signed JE for Julius Epple).

Other sub-brands by Aristo that released a Yachting Timer stopwatch were for example Apollo (registered in 1927) and Aristo-Park, both registered by Aristo Import Co. Inc., New York USA, for the American market. You can download page 293 from the 1930’s Sporting Goods Journal Book here , where Aristo Import Co. is offering their Aristo-Park No. 3 Yachting Timer with 5 minute countdown. With a special attention to  the build in box in the movement concontaining 8 useful spare-parts.

Apollo Yachting Timer, 4 different versions with old and new Apollo logo. Third model with a caliber BFG 411 movement, engraved Apollo Import Co.

Balma / Balmaster

Balma Yachting Timer with unknown movement.

Balmaster Sports Yachting, but no countdown. Second one with a countdown of 15 minutes. And a version branded Beauwyn Sports Yachting.

Baumgartner

In 1899 Arnold Baumgartner founded his watch-movement factory ‘Manufaktur Baumgartner’ in Grenchen, Switzerland. The company first specialised in producing cheap movements. When both his brothers Ernest and Emil joined one year later, the company name was changed into ‘Baumgartner Frères’ .

After getting several patents in the years to follow, the company became successful and changed to a partnership in 1916, thus changed the name into ‘Baumgartner Frères S.A.’ In 1926, together with some 25 other manufacturers of watch movements (like Landeron, Lémania, Valjoux, Venus), Baumgartner joined the Ebauche S.A. holding company.

As of 1962 the Baumgartner company does stamp their movements with the BFG logo and its caliber number, which obviously makes their age easier to determine. In the years to follow Baumgartner became successful in particular with the production of many Roskopf movements. At least  five of their calibers (410, 411, 412, 417 & 611) were used as Yachting Timers, not only by the bigger brands as described in this overview, but also by numerous smaller watch brands.

Balco Yachting Timer with a 5 min countdown. Probably with a BFG movement.

Berco-stop Yachting Timer (BFG411?).

Chesterfield Yachting Timer, with the BFG 611 movement signed Chesterfield Watch Ltd.

Chesterfield Yachting Timer, with the BFG 611 movement signed Dolmy Watch Ltd – RC167.

Chronosport Yachting Timer (BFG411?).

Two times Commodoor Yachting Timer, with different crown and dial, with a BFG 417 movement. The inside of the caseback is stamped ‘Wakmann Watch Co’.

Degon Yachting and Huntana Yachting Timer (both BFG?).

Dolmy Yachting Timer with a caliber BFG 611. Both the case and movement are engraved ‘Dolmy Watch LTD’.

Dolmy Yachting Timer with a caliber BFG 411, alternatively branded Chesterfield-Dolmy.

Endura Yachting Timer with a 5 min countdown. The inner lid is engraved with ‘Endura Time Corp. – Swiss made’. Movement probably BFG.

SR Eurastyle Yachting Timer with caliber BFG 411, two slightly different dials.

Stadion Super, Presta and Fuldex, all three for Yachting and Rowing, with a ‘strokes per minute’ scale (BFG?).

Hoffritz Yachting Timer (BFG411?).

Itraco Yachting Timer with a caliber BFG 410.

Levrette with a caliber BFG 417.

Luxa Yachting Timer (BFG411?).

Rocar Yachting Timer with an unusual BFG 410 movement. Mind the extra reset pusher at 10 o’clock. It functions both as a reset as a flyback pusher!

Star Yachting Timer, with slightly different dials (BFG411?).

Thalco Yachting Timer, different dials and hands, with a caliber BFG 611 signed E. Schlup – Abrecht.

Tim Yachting Timer with a caliber BFG 611 special movement.

Tim Yachting Timer with slightly different dials.

Velona Yachting, caliber unknown. To be worn around the wrist.

Wakmann Yachting Timer, with a caliber BFG 411 movement. The caseback of this stopwatch is marked Dolmy Watch Ltd.

In 1961 Wakmann registered the brand name Dynameter. Here the Yachting Timer with ref. 209 (BFG411?).

Breitling / Montbrillant

In 1884 the young Léon Breitling, at the age of 24, manufactured his first counter chronograph at his workshop in Saint-Imier, Switzerland. He had founded a small watchmaking firm called ‘G. Léon Breitling’ , and specialized himself to the field of chronographs and timers. These precision instruments were intended for sports, science and industry.

In 1892 Léon Breitling moved the company to La Chaux-de-Fonds to larger production facilities. The company name is then changed into ‘G. Léon Breitling SA, Montbrillant Watch Manufactory’ after the street name Rue Montbrillant of the new location. Due to some disagreements with relatives about Breitling as a brandname, the company used the name Montbrillant as brandname (registered in 1899).

When Léon dies in 1914, his son Gaston takes over. And his son Willy takes over the company in 1932, after Gaston died in 1927. In these years Breitling still focussed on chronographs for sport and military purposes, and especially the chronograph for aircraft was developed.

The Paget 5 minute Yachttimer with an early Montbrillant movement.

Two unmarked yachting stopwatches in the 1923 Montbrillant catalogue.

It was not until the end of the 1920’s that the name Breitling began to appear on the dials, later on followed by serial numbers.

As of the 1930’s Breitling no longer produced movements by their own, but instead the company used calibers from Felsa, FHF, Venus, Unitas, etc. that were refined in their own factory.

Read more about the later Breitling Yachting wristwatches in the Brand list here .

Two versions of a Breitling The Leader with an unmarked Montbrillant movement, resembling the ones in the 1923 Montbrillant catalogue. The second one has the name Breitling on the dial and is probably from around 1925. Both stopwatches have the name Benzie of Cowes on the dial.

Benzie of Cowes, established in 1862 as The Yachtsman Jeweller, still there on 61 High Street, Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Breitling Tel-Rad ref. 1575 with a red countdown scale for 60 seconds in de center. With a Valjoux 362 movement. Circa 1959.

Yachting Breitling ref. 1509 with caliber Valjoux 321, circa 1960’s.

Yachting Breitling with caliber Valjoux 320, circa 1970’s.

Breitling Sprint Yachting with caliber BFG 411, ref. 1.410, dated 1971.

Breitling Yachting Timer, dated 1972. With ‘Sprint’ (left, ref. 04560) or ‘7 Jewels’ on the dial.  

Chronosport

Chronosport wrist stopwatch with caliber Valjoux 7770, circa 1980.

Chronosport Startmaster with one pusher.

Chronosport Yachting with 15 minute countdown in an ABS case, with different case-backs.

Excelsior Park

The history of Excelsior Park starts in 1866 when Jules-Frédéric Jeanneret and his partner Francois Fallet established their watch company ‘ Jeanneret & Fallet ’ in Saint-Imir, Switzerland. They produced mainly stopwatches and chronographs.

Jules-Frédéric Jeanneret had three sons: Albert, Henry and Constant, who all came to work for the company. When Fallet left the company, it was renamed into ‘ J.F. Jeanneret & Fils ’. But already before Jules-Frédéric died, Albert and his brothers started their own company ‘ Albert Jeanneret & Freres ’ in 1889.

In 1891 the brand name Excelsior was registered by Albert Jeanneret & Freres, as he patented (No 3364) a sports stopwatch under that name showing on the movement side a bridge in the shape of a J (for Jeanneret) which will become a trademark for Excelsior Park later. You can download the Swiss patent No 3364 here .

Two years later, in 1893 Albert left the company to continue with Fritz Moeri, and Henry and Constant went on as ‘ Jeanneret Freres ’. The remaining brothers split up around 1900. Constant started ‘ Constant Jeanneret-Droz ’, and he would later buy Leonidas. Henri started ‘ Henri Jeanneret-Brehm ’, with the brand name Excelsior Park. In 1918 the company’s name becomes ‘ Les Fils de Jeanneret-Brehm, Excelsior Park ’.

In 1922 Excelsior Park patented a small box inside a movement to put spare parts in. That would also become a kind of trademark for the brand. This idea however has been copied by Leonidas and Berna in particular.

In 1923 ‘Les Fils de Jeanneret-Brehm, Excelsior Park’ registered the Park brandname and the ‘Park Watch Import Co’ company for the American market.

From 1918 through 1983 Excelsior Park manufactured a wide range of stopwatches, branded watches and watch movements for Certina, Gallet, Girard Perregaux and Zenith. They manufactured two yachting movements derived from their calibers JB 1 and JB 2, mainly used for themselves and for Gallet. In 1984 the activities stopped as result of a bankruptcy.

Excelsior and Excelsior Park Yachting Timer.

Four times Excelsior Park Yachting Timer, all with a caliber JB166 movement. Three different crowns and slightly different dials; version 4 to be worn around the wrist.

Left: Park Yachting Timer with 5 min countdown. Movement unknown. Right: Dial branded A. Lecoultre, with a JB166 movement marked ‘Park Watch Co”.

Unusual 5 min. Yachting Timer with just one hand counting down the seconds. 300 Seconds in one turn! Movement derived from the JB-1 (see under Gallet).

See here (version 20170502) for an overview of some different Yachting models with an EP movement. And here you can download some pages from the 1950 catalogue, showing the JB 1 and JB 2 movement, specifications on the spare-parts box in the movement, and the various Excelsior Park Yachting Timer models at the time.

Gallet / Security / Select

Gallet is the world’s oldest Swiss manufacturer of timekeeping applications, dating back to 1466 when Humbertus Gallet settled in Geneva as a clock maker. As of then the company went on as a family run business. In 1826 it was officially registered as ‘ Gallet & Cie ’ by Julien Gallet, who moved the company from Geneva to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

Best well known during the 20 th century became its line of MultiChron chronograph wristwatches. On their website Galletworld.com they claim to have made the world’s first Yachting stopwatch with a regatta countdown timer in 1915. But I doubt whether this is true (see The Holy Grail section here ).

Gallet MultiChron Yachting Timer, both as hand- and wrist-stopwatch.

In 1911 Gallet started to cooperate with Henri Jeanneret-Brehm, and when he started the Excelsior Park brand in 1918, the Gallet company started to focus on the American consumer using EP movements. Léon Gallet’s sister had married Jules Racine who had settled in New York, where he would represent the Gallet brand.

But as the American market would prefer their own domestically styled brands, new names (37 totally!) were created. For example Security and Select, both using an EP stopwatch movement. In later Yachting models movements of Baumgartner Frères were used.

Gallet ad with two of their Yachting stopwatches, and two wristwatches of a later date.

Gallet Yachting Timer, with a caliber EP 1 movement marked Jules Racine.

Gallet Yachting Timer with 5 minute countdown.

Gallet 5 minute Yachting Timer with only one hand, movement derived from the JB-1.

Gallet Yachting Timer with 15 minute countdown. Left with a different crown and ring, and a slightly different dial. Right with the addition ‘by Racine’ on the dial for the American market.

Gallet Yachting, 15 minute countdown, with a caliber EP 1 movement marked Jules Racine. With a leather strap to be worn around the wrist.

Security Yachting Timer, with 30 minute countdown subdial, movement marked ‘Jules Racine & Co’

Select Yachting Timer with a caliber BFG 611 movement, right with ‘Racine’ on the dial.

  Select Yachting Timer, with a caliber BFG 417 movement, and with ‘Racine’ on the dial.

Racine Select Yachting Timer in an ABS case, caliber BFG 417, probably of a more recent date. Right a version to be worn around the wrist with a strap.

In 1882 Johann Adolf Hanhart opened a watch and jewelry shop in Diessenhofen, Switzerland. In 1902 though, the company moved to Schwenningen in Germany, and so Hanhart became a German manufacturer.

In 1920 his sport-loving son Wilhelm Julius Hanhart took over the company, and a few years later in 1924 he started with the production of cheap mechanical stopwatches together with another watchmaker. This turned out to become a great success. From the 1950’s on the company concentrated on the production of mechanical stopwatches, and even today Hanhart is still selling stopwatches for all kind of sporting events.

Caliber tabel in the 1959 Hanhart catalogue.

In their 1959 catalogue, which you can download here , Hanhart shows a single-pusher Yachting stopwatch with a 5 minute countdown, driven by the Caliber 48/Y movement.

Hanhart Yachting with a 5 minute countdown. Three versions with a different logo on the dial.

Hanhart Yachting with a 10 minute countdown and different crown, and a Hanhart Yachting Sportcraft.

Two times Hanhart Yachting in an ABS case and with a 15 minute countdown and a pusher between 10 and 11 o’clock for reset. The left model has ref. number 1217115.

In the 1960’s Hanhart was the first to produce stopwatches with an ABS case. Today, the ‘Hanhart 1882 GmbH’   company is still in operation, and based in Gütenbach, Germany.

Read about the Heuer history in the Brand list here .

One of the earliest listings of a Heuer Yachting chronograph is shown in the 1936 catalogue ‘Chronographs and Timers’ by Ed. Heuer and Co, to be found at Jef Stein his wesite OnTheDash, see here . Shown here is a Yacht Timer with a 5 minute countdown function, ref. 912.

Heuer Yacht Timer, ref. 912, listed in the 1936 catalogue ‘Chronographs and Timers’.

Heuer Yachting, ref. unknown, similar to the ref. 3912 as in the 1959 catalogue (see below). The movement, equal to the one in the above drawing, is clearly marked Ed.Heuer&Co with the Heuer logo.

Since the 1959 catalogue Heuer Yachting stopwatches are shown on a more or less yearly basis, starting with the reference number 33.712 with a 5 minute countdown and an eyelet for a strand, and the reference number 3912 with a 10 minute countdown and a wrist-strap.

The first one has an A.Schild 1564 movement, the second one an A.Schild 736 movement. Later versions of the Heuer Yachting stopwatches use a Lemania, a Valjoux or a Baumgartner Freres movement.

Adolf Schild S.A. (also known as ASSA) was a Swiss ebauche and watch movement maker operation from the 1890’s throughout the 1970’s. The company became one of the largest movement makers in Switzerland by the 1920’s! In 1926 ASSA combined with A. Michel AG and Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF) to create Ebauches SA . But the quartz crisis in the 1970’s would hit Adolf Schild hard, and to survive it merched with the ETA group. In 1983 Adolf Schild S.A. disappeared from the market.

For a very comprehensive overview of all the Heuer yachting stopwatches that were released between 1959 and 1986, please check the Heuerchrono.com website by Henrik  here or the Onthedash.com website by Jeff Stein  here .

Heuer ad from 1964.

Heuer Yacht Timer ref. 33.512, with caliber AS 1564, circa 1962. Heuer Trackstar Yacht Timer ref. 603.612, with caliber Valjoux 7710, circa 1976. And Heuer Yachting Timer ref. 603.615, with caliber BFG 411, circa 1980.

Heuer ad in magazine Yachting, November 1984. Showing four Yachttimers, three stopwatches and one chronograph wristwatch.

Ilona Yachting with a 15 minute countdown, movement unknown. See one similar model under Stadion.

The Ingersoll brothers Robert Hawley and Charles Henry started their American ‘Ingersoll Watch Company’  in 1882 in New York City. After initially selling low-cost items as rubber stamps, the first Ingersoll watches were introduced in 1892, and were supplied by the Waterbury Clock Company. In 1896 Ingersoll introduced a watch called the Yankee  , setting its price at $1. This made it the cheapest watch available at the time.

In 1904 Ingersoll opened a store in London, Great Britain, and introduced the Crown pocket watch for 5 shillings, which was the same value as $1 at the time. These were produced by a British subsidiary ‘Ingersoll Ltd’ .

Although very successful, the Ingersoll Watch Company went bankrupt in 1921 during the recession that followed World War I, and was then purchased by the Waterbury Clock Company. They sold the London-based Ingersoll Ltd in 1930, making it a wholly British owned enterprise. Eventually this would become the ‘Timex Group USA’ .

Ingersoll Yachtsman with center minute hand and small seconds subdial.

Ingersoll Yachtsman with both minute and second counter from the center.

3 x Ingersoll Yachtsman, branded Henry Jones London EC4, Sowester and Seatimer.

2 x Ingersoll Yachtsman, branded Temsail and Seabord Yacht Timer.

Ingersoll Yachtsman of a bit more recent date.

The brand name Le Phare was first introduced in 1867, when Charles Barbezat-Baillot and Henry Guy started their company in Le Locle, Switzerland, under the name ‘ Guye & Barbezat ’. They produced complicated watches as chronometers, chronographs and repeaters. Guye died ten years later in 1877, and in 1890 the name of the company changed into ‘ Barbezat-Baillot, manufacture La Locloise ’.

 After receiving several awards at international exhibitions for reliable and affordable repeater watches, Le Phare was so successful that the company changed its name into ‘Manufacture d’Horlogerie Le Phare’   in 1903. The same year the company started to produce stopwatches.

The company specialized itself in producing repetition chronographs, and later Le Phare would become the second largest Swiss producer of chronographs. In 1914 the company was acquired  by George Perrenoud, but after the first world war repeater watches became less popular and numerous changes in the management were to follow.

Around 1915 Le Phare has made a regatta movement with a 5 minute countdown, derived from their most popular caliber 114VCC.  An unbranded version of the Yachting stopwatch could have been manufactured by Le Phare themselves, but several versions in different cases where launched by The Paget. As a Swiss brand The Paget was registered in 1897 by Weill & Cie, located in La Chaux-de-Fonds (they had an office in London). The brand was transferred to the same company in 1917.

One unbranded and two times The Paget – Tiffany & Co Yachting stopwatch with a 5 minute countdown, all with a Le Phare 114 Special movement, circa 1915.

See here for an overview of some different Yachting models with a Le Phare movement.

Read about the Lemania history in de Brand list here .

In the mid 1980’s Lemania introduced this 5-dot Lemania Regatta stopwatch, ref. 1002, to be worn on the wrist, and driven by a Lemania caliber F10 6280 movement. The indicator disk changes from blue to red to START, which makes it a 10 minute countdown timer.

The same Lemania F10 6280 movement is used in similar versions by Aquastar, Heuer and Omega.

In the same period, mid 1980’s, Lemania introduced this big size Ø 60 mm hand-stopwatch with ref. 1001, again using the 5-dot countdown system. The indicator disk is equal as in ref. 1002, and changes from blue to red to START. Inside is a caliber BFG 412 movement, which was also used by Heuer for a similar version (ref. 658.915).

Pictures from a Danish watersports brochure.

Lemania 1 ATU. with a 10 minute countdown, and a similar version as Tissot Navigator, with a strap to be worn around the wrist. The access to the movement is possible by taking of the glass. To do so you have to take off the crown, and blow air-pressure in untill it pops out. All as instructed on the case-back. The movement is a Lemania caliber 4100 (labeled as Tissot 4100 in the Navigator).

Lemania Yachting, with a 10 minute countdown. Similar dial as the ones above, and the same instructions for access to the movement with air-pressure shown on the ABS caseback. With unknown caliber.

Leonidas / Sportex / Arco / Clebar

In 1841 the Swiss watchmaker Julien Bourquin opened his workshop under his own name in Saint-Imier. When he died in 1897 his son Ferdinand took over, and renamed the company into Ferdinand Bourquin, Successeur de la Maison Julien Bourquin . Specialised in stopwatches and chronographs, Ferdinand Bourquin registered the Leonidas brand name in 1902.

After Ferdinand Bourquin died young (1903), his widow joined with Constant Jeanneret-Droz, one of the three sons of the Excelsior Park founder Jules-Frédéric Jeanneret. In 1910 the company was renamed in the Leonidas Watch Factory S.A. , and finally Constant Jeanneret-Droz took over completely in 1912. As he brought the necessary know-how Leonidas produced quit outstanding chronograph movements.

Although Excelsior Park first came up with the idea of a small compartment in the movement with spare parts, Leonidas changed the design and registered their ‘invention’ in 1929, see the Swiss patent CH131402 here .

See for an early 5-dot Yachting stopwatch from around the 1950’s in the Holy Grail section here .

In 1964 Leonidas merged with Ed. Heuer and becomes Heuer-Leonidas S.A. with Jack W. Heuer as managing director. But after Heuer became TAG Heuer in 1984, the name Leonidas disappeared completely.

Leonidas Yacht-Timer, ref. 603612 with white dial, and with black dial. Movement probably Valjoux 7700.

In 1944 Leonidas registered the Sportex brandname, using the cheaper Roskopf movements. After the merge with Heuer, Heuer-Leonidas used the better Baumgartner Frères movements and sold the Sportex stopwatches amongst others in the USA. Most likely the brand Danforth was related to Heuer-Leonidas as well.

Sportex Yachting Timer, with a caliber BFG 411, with white or black dial.

Also in 1944 the brandname Arco was registered by Leonidas, and later on in 1958 Clebar.

Arco Yachting Timer, 2 versions with slightly different dials.

Clebar Yacht-timer, movement unknown, circa 1960’s. And with a similar dial Anjax Yachting. No idea where this brand belongs to.

In 1858 the brothers Hyppolite and Charles-Yvon Robert founded the company H. & C. Robert   in Villeret in the Bernese Jura, Switzerland. In 1878 their sons Charles and Georges took over the management and in 1885 also Yvan Robert joined. The company’s name then changed to Robert Frères Villeret . The company began registering several brand names, for example ‘Mercure’, ‘Ariana’, ‘ Tropic’ and ‘Hertha’.

As of 1895 Robert Frères Villeret   began with the production of watch movements and pocket watch cases in nickel and silver versions, and in 1908 with chronographs and stopwatches.

In 1923 the brand name ‘Minerva’ was registered, and the company was renamed to ‘Fabrique Minerva, Robert Frères SA, Villeret’   in 1929. The company named (numbered) each major caliber sequentially, starting with nr 1 and so on, preceded by the size. So their first movement was named 18-1.

Minerva’s caliber 19-14 with a 30 minute counter was used in many sports stopwatches. For the Yachting versions only a small modification was necessary to have it with a suitable timer. Exceptional for some of Minerva’s movements is the use of coil springs, see the above picture of the caliber 19-14. You can download a spare-parts list here .

For economic reasons the Robert family left the company in 1935, and eventually in 2006 Minerva becomes part of Montblanc in the Richemont group.

Minerva Yachting with round crown, in bad condition.

Minerva Yachting, different cases, with later crown.

Minerva Yachting Timer, with additional text ‘The Crow’s nest’.

Read about the Omega history in the Brand list here .

Omega Yachting, with a caliber Omega 9010 movement, 1965.

Omega Yachting ref. 6309, with a manually wound caliber 8010A movement.

Two times Omega Yachting, with a 15 minute countdown.

Seiko Yachting with a Seikosha cal. 9011 (or 1106?) movement. This big size ∅ 57 mm stopwatch has a red (or yellow) canvas strap to be worn around the upper leg. Circa 1960’s.

Smiths Yachting Timer, movement signed Smiths Industries Limited.

Smiths Yachting Timer, another 4 different versions. But the last one shows Made in Switzerland.

Smiths Yacht Timer in ABS case, alternatively branded Sowester.

Stadion Yachting Timer, 3 versions.

Three times Stadion Super with different logo, right with a caliber BFG 411.

Unbranded versions

Unbranded Yachting Timer worn around the wrist, with unknown movement, 1941.

Unbranded Yachting Timer, dial and caseback marked ‘Camerer Cuss – London’, with unknown movement.

Unbranded, Yachting Timer, different versions. Right with caliber BFG 417.

In 2021 Bruce Mackie sent me a couple of pictures of what he claimed to be a very rare unbranded Yachting stopwatch. At first glance it seems like a fairly standard timer with a subdial for 15 minutes. Maybe the only uncommon feature is the nautical tachymetre along the outer edge of the dial, which is in miles per hour when measuring over 1/4 of a mile. Sofar nothing spectacular.

But when you turn it over, there’s no nickel caseback but instead a second face showing a beautiful Yacht timer! And when you start the countdown, this timer actually runs backwards (counterclockwise). Incredible. I fully agree with Bruce, this is definately one of the most rare and uncommon yachting stopwatches I have ever seen.

From the Rarebirds.de website I copied this picture of two very rare Universal Geneve yachting-stopwatches to be worn with a strap around the wrist (33 mm steel case). Probably around 1930’s. Both have a 5 minute regatta countdown timer.

Rare set of Universal Geneve regatta wrist-stopwatches, with white and black dial.

Yema Yachtingraf.

Back to the Homepage.

This stopwatch section of the website is frequently updated, so please visit again!

• Many thanks to Bruce Mackie for sending me the pictures and information of your double sided Yachting stopwatch.
• Many thanks to Sergio, #Rolexman85, for your picture of the Abercrombie & Fitch \ Heuer stopwatch
• Many thanks to @rehomerelook for permitting to use the picture of the A&F (Heuer like) stopwatch.
• Many thanks to Ara Boghigian for sending me the pictures of your Heuer Yachting stopwatch.
• Many thanks to Bob Ryan for sending me the pictures of your Yachting stopwatches.
• Many thanks to Greg Hamilton for your contribution to my collection.
• Many thanks to Manfred Zwehn and Joel Pynson for all your information about the Yachting stopwatches.
• http://www.goldschmiede-zwehn.de/index.htm
• http://www.invenitetfecit.com/index.html
• http://uhrenpaul.eu/
• http://www.mikrolisk.de/
• http://hans-weil.faszination-uhrwerk.de/index.html
• http://www.watch-wiki.net/index.php?title=Main_Page
• http://watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Hauptseite
• http://blog.onlineclock.net/history-of-stopwatches/

Shop New Arrivals

What Is the Purpose of a Yachting Timer?

There are a lot of watchmaking complications out there that aren’t particularly useful for the “mass market” – moonphase complications in particular, but also others. A yachting timer (like the Rolex Yacht-Master II ) for example, is designed to aid in the countdown to the start of a regatta (a yacht or boat race). Oh, I’m sorry. You don’t spend your weekends competing in regattas? That’s ok though, as its function also has other applications in the real world (but more on that later).

The Purpose of a Yachting Timer

When competing in a regatta, getting off of the starting line is a bit of a convoluted process. Powered by wind, there is no “mashing the throttle” from a standstill to get things moving. Thus, a running start of sorts needs to be undertaken, which means a countdown takes place as boats jockey for position in relation to the starting line.

Typically a 5-minute interval (with some variance), the yachting timer complication – also called a regatta timer – was created specifically for timing these countdowns. A sound is typically triggered to announce the starting of this countdown, giving competitors warning to start their timers and prepare to launch out of the starting gates. If you want to dig deeper into that, Cruising World has a great “Racing 101” feature, but you probably get the fundamentals by now at the very least.

Sure, a small percentage of us might get out on a sailboat from time to time. Of that contingent, a few might actually even compete here and there. The thing is, you really don’t need to be out on the water to make use of a yachting timer. Just think for a second about all of the little tasks in your daily lives that could benefit from a short-run countdown timer. Steaks on the BBQ, your child’s time-out, that chat with a work colleague that always feels like it goes on forever (“oh, sorry Susan, I’ve really gotta run”), short intervals of billable time in the office, time remaining in a presentation; if you think about it long enough, you’ll certainly come up with a few more too. You might not need/use it every day, but at the very least, it makes for an interesting alternative to the conventional chronograph.

Famous Regatta Timers

Over the years, a number of brands (other than Rolex) have gotten into the category, especially during the ‘70s. Heuer’s catalog included both the Skipper and later the Heuer Regatta. The former used a 15-minute chronograph sub-dial, with each 5-minute increment/slice being painted a different color – a method both simple and effective.

The Heuer Regatta on the other hand is slightly different. 5 circular cut-outs on the dial change color minute by minute as they count down. Rather than a conventional chronograph setup, the Regatta is more like an Omega Chronostop in the sense that the timer is always running, yet you can instantaneously reset your 5-minute interval on the fly by using its pusher at 2 o’clock.

Beyond these two noteworthy pieces, there were also a number of pretty obscure offerings from Lemania, Aquastar, Memosail, and others, but of course, the big modern entry to the category comes from Rolex, and she’s a complicated thing to say the least. The Rolex Yacht-Master II is hands-down the most interesting, complex, and cleverly engineered yachting timer on the market thus far. Powered by the Rolex Caliber 4161 movement, and good for a power reserve of 3 days, its countdown timer is actually programmable in intervals between 1 and 10 minutes. Confused? Here’s how it works.

First, unscrew the crown (without pulling it out), and rotate its external Ring Command bezel counter-clockwise till you reach an end stop. This is the “programming position.” From here, using the reset pusher at four o’clock allows you to move the oversized countdown timer hand between the 1 and 10 indices on the inner timing track of its bezel. Next, you simply reposition the bezel and screw its crown back down, and from this point onwards resetting the timer on the Yacht-Master II will reset it to the preset interval. At this point, whether you want to time the five-minute countdown to the start of a regatta, or the two minutes per side you want to grill that thick-cut steak for, you’re all set.

About Justin Mastine-Frost

With over a decade of experience as a journalist and editor covering the watchmaking, the automotive industry, and other lifestyle topics, a general obsession with mechanical creations remains the common thread. Having worked for a broad range of industry and general interest publications throughout the years, Justin has developed a sincere appreciation for a wide range of watch brands and styles, as well as an ever-growing interest in the vintage watch market.

Bob's Watches Blog Updates

Sign up and be the first to read exclusive articles and the latest horological news.

Bob's Watches / Rolex Blog / Resources

Recommended Articles

Rolex Sky-Dweller Setting Instructions

Luxury Watch Designers that Changed History

Minute Details: The Rolex Daytona ref. 16520

You may also like.

Rolex Yacht-Master

Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 Everose Gold

Rolex Oyster Perpetual

Ladies Rolex Oyster Perpetual 67180 Stainless Steel

Ladies Rolex Date 6517

Not logged in

• Create account

Regatta Watches

Page actions.

• View source

• 1 Regatta Watches
• 2 How A Regatta Timer Works
• 3 Notable Examples
• 4 Regatta Models

Yacht timers – also referred to as regatta timers, yachting chronographs, or sailing watches – are watches specially designed and made for the countdown to the start of a sailing race.

Over the decades there have been numerous yacht timers and specialized chronographs produced by the world’s watch companies. Perhaps the most well-known yachting timer today is the Rolex YachtMaster , but there are others, past and present. Current and recent pieces include those from Tutima , Alpina , Atlantic , Omega , Panerai , and IWC , as well as electronic offerings from TAG Heuer , Suunto , Tissot and others.

Vintage models – the regatta timers of old – are not common and highly collectible now. Sailing chronographs like the Heuer Autavia Skipper , the Regate (sold under three different brand names – Aquastar , Heuer , and Tissot ), Heuer’s Yacht Timer (both wrist-mounted and stopwatch form factor), the Breitling Chronomat and SuperOcean (both in regatta timing trim), the Memosail, Lemania’s self-branded Regatta Yacht Timer in handheld stopwatch format, and the Wakmann and Wyler .

How A Regatta Timer Works

Regatta timers have various ways of indicating the countdown time. There’s typically a multi-colored or numbered disc rotating beneath the dial with the colors or numerals showing through windows similar to a date disc. Five vari-colored dots – usually blue followed by red (Alpina, Regate), numerals against colored backgrounds (Memosail), or a separate chrono hand coupled with colored zones on the watch’s bezel (Tutima, Bretling, Heuer) or indicating time remaining to the start via a separate scale within the dial (Rolex).

Notable Examples

Heuer’s Autavia Skipper was part of the legendary Autavia line in the 1970s. It featured the Autavia’s classic tonneau shaped case, a red, white, and blue countdown sub-dial at 3 o’clock, a small seconds at 10 o’clock, and date at 6. Chrono pushers were in the classic locations at 2 and 4, but the crown was positioned at 9 o’clock. The watch featured a 60 minute rotating bezel, and examples are often see with a blue dial & bezel combination.

Heuer’s Yacht Timer from the 1960s came in both a wrist-mounted version and a handheld stopwatch form factor. Color-wise, regatta timer dials are never shy, and the Heuer is no exception. This watch was basically a fifteen or thirty minute stopwatch (there were at least two versions) with a multi-colored dial formatted and printed for the countdown function.

Aquastar’s Regate , also branded and sold as Heuer, Tissot and other brands such as “Racing” in the early 1980s, used a Lemania movement with a classic five-dot/ window format, with a tri-colored rotating disc beneath the dial. five windows for five minutes, and once the timing started the colored wheel would progressively show thru the windows, changing them one at a time from blue to red to white (or silver).

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Breitling produced watches in regatta timing trim in both the Chronomat and SuperOcean lines. The Chronomat featured a center mounted minute with a multi-colored inner chapter ring. The SuperOcean used the center-mounted totalizing hand with a multi-colored bezel. These black-cased watches featured Venus 178 or 188 movements, modified to handle the unique needs of a yachting chronograph.

Another 1970s piece, the Memosail has an almost art deco look with its round lugless design, and wide rounded bezel (another version was cushion-shaped). The dial is easy to read with blue and white concentric rings. The countdown function is a curving window from 12 to four o’clock showing the letters S-T-A-R-T on a rotating ring. When the timer is activated, the minutes 10-9-8-7-6 appear against a yellow background, ticking half a notch every 30 seconds. The final countdown minutes 5-4-3-2-1 then appear against a red background. The internals were a Valjoux 7737, a modification of the 7733.

Lemania’s self-branded Regatta Yacht Timer is another handheld stopwatch format timer. The timing function is the familiar series of five windows with a colored disc beneath, but with the letters S-T-A-R-T replacing the third color (similar to the Memosail ). This can also be seen on the Wyler version.

Credits - https://wornandwound.com/yachting-timers-watches/

Regatta Models

• Aquastar Regate
• Heuer Regate
• Heuer Regatta
• Heuer Skipper
• Rolex YachtMaster
• Wakmann Regate
• Wyler Vetta La Giraglia
• Yema Yachtingraf
• Diving Watches
• Switzerland
• The Watches of Jacques Cousteau
• Recent changes
• Random page
• Help about MediaWiki
• Special pages

Userpage tools

• What links here
• Related changes
• Printable version
• Permanent link
• Page information

• This page was last edited on 8 June 2020, at 03:26.
• Privacy policy
• About Chronopedia
• Disclaimers

• Best Sellers
• Shop By Color
• New Arrivals
• Black Rubber Straps
• Blue Rubber Straps
• Orange Rubber Straps
• Shop by Material
• Shop by Rolex Model >
• Rolex | Rubber Straps
• Rolex | Leather Straps
• Sea-Dweller
• Explorer II
• Yacht-Master
• Oyster Perpetual
• CUSTOM TUDOR WATCH STRAPS
• CUSTOM PANERAI WATCH STRAPS
• Shop by Lug Size
• 20MM Straps
• Leather Watch Straps
• 21MM Straps
• Rubber Watch Straps
• 22MM Straps
• Nylon Watch Straps

• WATCH ROLLS
• WATCH BOXES
• SPRING BARS

UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

Join our community for exclusive product drops, valuable watch news, and reviews only for subscribers.

All You Need to Know about Regatta Timers in Sailing Watches

With the passion for watches often connected to the spirit of history and tradition, it naturally makes sense to link such emotion to one of the oldest forms of human and mechanical competition - competitive sailing. Thought to date back to the Netherlands in the 17th century, sailing races (collectively called a regatta) are steeped in tradition including the start sequences that generated the need for a yacht timer.

Starting a Race

Unlike an auto race, or even a foot race, a sailboat can neither stand still on a starting grid nor can it accelerate quickly from a stop.

Instead, yachts will be in motion well before the starting line. One could think of it like a foot race where you are allowed to get a running start. The key to a proper start is crossing the starting line as soon as the starting signal sounds (but not before) and while moving as fast as possible on a good heading.

Unique Needs of a Sailing Watch

The starting procedure of a sailing race involves a series of flags and horns, but in essence, it is a 5-minute countdown (in some rarer instances 10 minutes). For that reason, most regatta timers have timing countdowns of five minutes or increments of five.

Here is the breakdown of a start:

5 minutes to start: A flag and horn to signal the start of the countdown. Engage your regatta timer on a five minute countdown.

4 minutes to start: A second flag and horn sounds. This is both a second timing reminder as well as a flag displaying starting rules of the race. If one didn’t start their 5-minute countdown, they can begin a 4-minute countdown now.

1 minute to start: Flag change and final preparatory signal.

0 minutes to start: Starting flag and signal. 

As a member of a sailing crew is likely extremely busy both positioning for a start as well as navigating around other yachts, most regatta timers are designed with high visibility in mind. Looking at both current production and vintage timers, you are likely to see high-visibility color combinations.

Why the Yachtmaster II

Unlike the standard  Yachtmaster , the Yachtmaster II features a unique regatta timing movement which improves upon the process. Our team covered the process of setting a Yachtmaster II in a  previous article .

What makes the Yachtmaster II unique is the “sync” button. Let’s use the 5-minute starting process described above as an example.

5 minutes to start: Let’s say that the designated timer on the boat was currently adjusting a sheet at the time of the signal. By the time they hit the start button on the timer, 10 seconds has elapsed. With a traditional regatta timer, your options are limited and most likely they would just try to mentally adjust the offset.  However with a Yachtmaster II, they can synchronize at the 4-minute mark.

4 minutes to start: The second horn sounds. The wearer presses the sync button, and the YM II jumps  to the nearest minute, thereby putting their yacht on the exact countdown time as the race director.

1 minute to start: They are still in sync.

0 minutes to start: You cross the starting line right as the starting horn sounds.

I Don’t Own a Boat, Do I Still Need a Regatta Timer?

If you’re expecting us to talk you out of a watch purchase, you are clearly in the wrong place. If you need a practical use, we might recommend timing a steak on the grill and thinking about 400+ years of nautical heritage. But first you have to decide: steel or two-tone?

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

You may also like View all

Everest Bands

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

• Patek Philippe
• Jaeger LeCoultre
• Complications
• Speedmaster
• Professional

A Collector’s Guide to the Credor Eichi II

Oct 27, 2022

A Closer Look at the Seiko One Piece Watches

Oct 26, 2022

An In-Depth Review of the Cartier SolarBeat

Oct 21, 2022

The Timex Marlin: An Affordable Modern Watch With

Oct 20, 2022

Hermes H08: Is It Worth It?

Oct 18, 2022

A Detailed Review of the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer

Over the years, Omega  developed a reputation for crafting jaw-dropping tool watches that provide wearers with incredible utility. From racing watches like the Omega Speedmaster Racing to timepieces intended for space like the Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch” , Omega certainly has an extensive and diverse collection of reliable tool watches.

In this article, we will be turning our attention away from the brand’s famous  Speedmaster collection. Instead, we are looking at a watch that aims to be a truly multifunctional piece, catering to the demands of both frequent travellers and divers: the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer . This is an impressive timepiece that makes good use of the Worldtimer complication while also incorporating the beauty of the Omega Aqua Terra series.

The Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer is a luxury tool watch that holds its own against the likes of established luxury brands like  Jaeger LeCoultre  and  Patek Philippe . Not only does it exude effortless elegance, but it also offers up great utility, as befitting any Omega watch. The Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer is a prime choice for any professional and in this article, we will be taking a closer look at everything it has to offer to us.  

A Brief Background on the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer 

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra collection was introduced way back in 2002, as a way to reinvent the classic design of the Seamaster . Thanks to the critical acclaim received by the Omega Aqua Terra, Omega continued releasing more models in this diving sub-range. In particular, the brand released the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer as a limited-edition model in 2017. With only 87 pieces available, this limited-edition timepiece was crafted using luxurious platinum , showcasing its prestige and value. 

Upon its release, the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer was incredibly well-received, with watch enthusiasts and collectors alike loving this timepiece. Because of its smashing popularity, in 2019, Omega decided to regularly manufacture a standard version of the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer. The brand opted to use stainless steel in this standard Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer. This allowed it to regulate the circulation of the standard Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer in the market, while also avoiding the devaluation of the special-edition platinum model. 

For the next section, we will be reviewing the regular-edition Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer.

Specifications

The Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer comes in a 43mm cushion-shaped stainless steel case, with a thickness of 14.12mm. These are fairly regular dimensions for a watch, allowing it to fit quite nicely on wrists of all sizes. This silver-tone case is coupled with thick, bevelled lugs and a perfectly round fixed bezel. Both made from stainless steel, these lugs and bezel help give the watch a heftier, more imposing look. Along with the rest of the case, the lugs and bezel are also well-polished, giving the watch a gleaming lustre that shines when cast under the light.

On the right side of the case, you can find a sizeable muffin-shaped crown. Crafted from stainless steel, this crown has deeply grooved sides, which provide wearers with a better grip so they can grasp and turn the crown more easily. The crown is also engraved with Omega’s greek letter logo, adding a simple yet refined appeal to the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer.

As you flip the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer over, you can find a transparent caseback made out of sapphire crystal. This highly scratch-resistant caseback gives you an up-close and personal view of the watch’s movement at work. In addition, it is also firmly screwed down, keeping the watch’s inner mechanisms sealed from any external elements like moisture or dust. Thanks to this screw-down caseback, the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer has a solid water resistance rating of 150 metres. This depth rating exceeds the ISO 6425 standards for dive watches , so you can easily bring the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer with you on all your watersports adventures.

The dial of the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer is easily its most substantial asset. There may be other watches out there that possess similar complications with a GMT function and a Worldtimer dial, but the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer manages to display these features with incredible finesse and elegance. Combining style and utility in one, the dial of the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer fulfils your every expectation, making this watch a great choice for those who are just getting started with collecting luxury watches.

This dial comes in a deep blue metallic finish. It bears a simple but alluring pattern of curved teak grooves that run vertically across the dial. At the centre of the dial, you can find an incredibly detailed image of the globe, crafted on a grade 5 titanium plate using laser ablation. On the rim of the globe display is a two-tone 24-hour glass ring. The daylight hours of the ring are indicated in a light blue shade, while the nighttime hours come in a stormy blue hue.

On the very rim of the dial, you can find two circular rings, which bear indicators for 24 different major cities. You can use these indicators to track 24 different timezones. These timezones are marked with impressive attention to detail. For instance, the cities marked in red indicate GMT time, while the cities with blue indicators refer to places with daylight savings time. Finally, the silver indicators point towards cities with timezones that are +1h in the summer.

Aside from these handy complications, the dial of the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer is also furnished with triangular applique indices and long, pronounced arrow hands that sweep across the dial. These hands and markers are all filled with white lume, which will light up and provide wearers with a highly legible display in the dark. At 6 o’clock, you can also find a simple date aperture with white text in a clean, large typeface.

Those familiar with Omega will know that all of its watch movements are manufactured entirely in-house, and the same goes for the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer. The Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer is equipped with the Omega Calibre 8938. This is an automatic movement that comes with additional complications such as a quick-set date function, 24-hour time, and multiple timezones. It beats at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5Hz) and can last for up to 60 hours when fully wound. 

Omega believes that everyone can be as creative as they want with their strap choices. As such, the brand offers a diverse range of straps, such as a stainless steel bracelet, a NATO strap, or a series of differently-coloured alligator leather bands or rubber straps.

Each of these strap options gives the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer a very different vibe. For instance, the polished stainless steel bracelet provides the watch with a sleeker, more professional look. On the other hand, those who want a robust and sporty outdoor piece should opt for the NATO strap or one of the rubber bracelets instead. Finally, the alligator leather strap is a great option for anyone looking to bring their Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer to any formal dinners or parties

The price of the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer differs depending on the strap you decide to get. The standard rubber strap version of the watch sells at around $8,900 USD, while the model with the stainless steel bracelet retails at approximately $9,100 USD.

The NATO strap variant, on the other hand, has an estimated price tag of $9,060 USD. Finally, if you opt for the leather strap option, which is also the most expensive, you will have to fork out around $9,150 USD.

Alternatives to the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer

Below are some alternative models you can also check out.

1. Breitling Transocean Unitime Pilot World Time Ref. UB0510U4/BC26

First up, we have the Breitling Transocean Unitime Pilot World Time Ref. UB0510U4/BC26 . While it does not have the same unique flair as the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer, this Breitling Transocean watch is a fantastic luxury watch that offers a similar utility. 

This Breitling watch is presented in a 46mm stainless steel case, coupled with an exquisite 18K gold-plated bezel that adds a sense of lavishness to the watch’s overall aesthetic. Its sleek, luxurious look is finished off by an elegant black alligator leather strap with white stitching.

This watch’s face might not bear any images of globes, but it still possesses a rather complex, busy dial. This matte black dial is adorned with rose gold stick indices, slender rose gold hands, and a chronograph layout with three sub-dials for the 60-minute, 30-minute, and 12-hour counters. Between 4 and 5 o’clock, you can also find a legible date complication. On the rim of the dial, there are three chapter rings. The innermost ring displays the 24-hour time. The two rings around it bear markers for 24 different timezones.

Driving all of these functions is a Breitling Calibre 05. This self-winding movement has an excellent 70-hour power supply and beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz).

The price for this GMT watch starts at $7,800 USD, which makes it slightly more affordable than the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer.

2. Jaeger LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time Ref. Q8108420

For a distinctive luxury watch with a similar design as the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer, check out the  Jaeger LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time Ref. Q8108420 . It has a complex global dial that accurately displays time from all around the world, earning it the designation Geophysic Universal Time. 

This Jaeger LeCoultre watch is housed in a 41.6mm stainless steel case, with slim, slanting lugs and a black alligator leather strap. The dial of this watch is a true highlight, as it shows off a gorgeous replica of the globe in simple blue and white hues. This dial is also furnished with white stick indices for the hour markers and short, luminous sword hands.

Around the rim of the dial, three white chapter rings are placed. As with the aforementioned Breitling Transocean watch, the innermost ring is used to indicate the 24-hour time. This two-tone chapter ring differentiates between a white background for the daylight hours and a deep blue background for the nighttime hours. The two outer rings, on the other hand, bear indicators in blue and red for 24 different timezones.

Underneath this striking watch face is an automatic Calibre 772. This robust in-house movement features an exquisite design, with a lavish 18K gold rotor. Held together by 36 jewels, this movement also has a 40-hour power reserve and a jumping hour complication, which allows for more precise timekeeping.

This  Jaeger LeCoultre Geophysic timepiece can be purchased for around $10,500 USD. 

3. Patek Philippe Complications World Time Ref. 7130G-016

Lastly, Patek Philippe also has a gorgeous universal time watch up to its sleeves. The  Patek Philippe Complications World Time Ref. 7130G-016  utilizes a 36mm case made of 18K white gold, coupled with a stylish blue alligator leather strap. The fixed bezel of this watch is encrusted with 62 lavish diamonds, upping the luxury factor of this timepiece and giving it exceptional sparkle.

This watch comes with a matte blue dial, which stands out against the sleek silver exterior. Despite being packed full of complications, this dial manages to achieve a remarkably simple and highly legible layout. it comprises just triangular hour indices and stout diamond hands made of white gold.

Placed around the centre of the dial are three chapter rings. The innermost ring serves as the 24-hour time display, with half the ring in dark blue for the nighttime hours and the other half in light blue for the daytime hours. Replacing the 12AM and 12PM markers are printed sun and moon logos in yellow, which help give the watch a quirkier, more playful flair. The two outer rings also carry indicators in white, marking the 24 timezones which wearers can track with this watch.

This prestigious Patek Philippe Complications  watch runs on a Patek Philippe Calibre 240 HU. This automatic movement beats at a frequency of 21 600 (3Hz) and can last for up to 48 hours when fully wound.

The Patek Philippe Complications World Time Ref. 7130G-016 is worth $38,300 USD, making this the most expensive watch on this list. 

Final Thoughts

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer is an exceptional timepiece that truly embodies the sophistication Omega is going for. With its unusual globe dial, this is easily one of the most unique timepieces you can find circulating in the market. Selling at under $10,000 USD, its relatively affordable price is also a huge bonus, and you would be hard-pressed to find another complex luxury watch in the same price range like this one.

If you are looking to add a high-utility, intriguing luxury timepiece to your collection, then you should definitely consider the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer.  

All images courtesy of The Watch Company, unless stated otherwise.Featured image courtesy of Omega.

If the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer is still a bit too much for you, check out our 10 picks for the best entry-level luxury watches —it might be the best place to start!

Seiko Orange Monster SKX781: The Daring Watch for Aquatic Adventures

Swatch Irony: A Guide to Swatch’s Most Chic Watches

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

• What to do in Moscow City, if you’re not mega-rich
• Moscow after dusk: 10 places to drink, dance, and groove
• 5 things you must do in Moscow in 2018 between football matches (or without them)
• Sandwiched between Moscow and St. Petersburg: How to spend a perfect weekend in Tver 
• 24 or 48 hours in Moscow: Where to go and what to do in 2019

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.