omega legend steel on steel 321.30.44.50.01.001

The Archipelago Raid is an extreme sailing competition where sport, nature, endurance and adventure combine to produce a challenge that is only embarked upon by the most competent sailors. It takes place in the spectacular Stockholm, Aland and Finland archipelagos, which together form an exceptional course through beautiful but harsh landscapes. Each team of two sailors sail for four days on a Formula 18 (5.5m catamaran) along a unique course drawn among 100 000 rocks and islands. Every year, the Archipelago Raid is organised around mid-summer (end of June/beginning of July) when the nights are extremely short at the 60's north latitude. The bright nights provide a unique navigating experience which appeals to many top foreign sailors. During the four days and nights, the competitors sailed more than 350 miles, divided on five legs, with a total of 25 check points to pass. The results are based on a point system per leg. After a tight battle between the five frontrunners, Sogeti (skippered by last year's winner Magnus Wox��n, with Rodney Ardern) was the first to cross the finish line at 16.19.44 (local time). However, after all the points from the five legs were added together, Tidermans was the overall winner. Since the start, the Archipelago Raid has been characterised by the incredibly even racing: precision timekeeping was therefore crucial. In this one of the most gruelling orienteering sailing races,endurance, speed, strategy, crazy navigation, organisation, cold water and no sleep are all necessary ingredients for success. This year's event also gave rise to disappointment for some: OMEGA ambassador Ellen MacArthur sustained an accidental injury to her leg by a knife, cutting her shin during a manoeuvre. Ellen carried on racing for a few hours with top sailor Nick Moloney on board OMEGA Hobie Tiger 18, but her leg began to swell and they were forced to withdraw. She was then examined by the doctor who confirmed that she needed to rest the leg. Ellen was clearly disappointed, but her indefatigable determination and spirit shone through: "It's a real shame, but we have every intention of coming back for another go".Skipper of the winning team Tidermans, Anders Lewander, summed up the exhilaration of the competition, saying, "The Raid is a powerful experience: an odd mix of great and wild sailing. A mix of meticulous planning and a sailing experience with both good and bad all the time. One can never give up and it is really important to constantly encourage each other on board". This year OMEGA is proud to have added the Archipelago Raid to the sailing competitions for which it acts as Official Timekeeper �C which include The America's Cup and The Swedish Match Cup - and looks forward to its continued association with this event in the future.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr G Kannan, Country Manager Swatch Group India said, "The popularity of Omega has grown manifold during the last couple of years. It was only imperative that we honour our patrons with something more. We are grateful to our global brand ambassador Pierce Brosnan to take out time and travel to India to launch the Constellation Double Eagle."Unveiling the watch, Omega Brand Ambassadress Sonali Bendre Behl said, "It is indeed a pleasure to share the same platform with the Hollywood heartthrob Pierce Brosnan and to unveil one of the most sought after chronographs. A perfect fit for those looking for a classic watch but with a subtle sporting edge to it."Later in the evening, Omega ambassador Brosnan congratulated the International Indian Film Academy for its success in promoting Indian cinema across the globe. He presented Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan with a cheque for Rs. 25 lakhs for the IIFA charity Foundation, which looks after the needs of film industry workers.The newly launched Omega Constellation Double Eagle promises to be a much sought-after timepiece. Equipped with the Omega calibre 3313 movement, it is a chronograph connoisseur's delight. The watch has an intricate rhodium-plated finish of circular graining, Geneva wave decor and gold-plated engravings, with a blue-steel screw as the centrepiece of this mechanical and aesthetic marvel. Few such chronographs are available on the market today, since only a handful of prestige watchmakers are capable of producing this highly sophisticated mechanism. Furthermore, the Constellation Double Eagle has a discreet sporty touch to their chronometer counterparts. Another attractive feature of this watch is its revolutionary Co-Axial Escapement, which reduces friction in the movement and offers better long-term accuracy; it also has a column-wheel chronograph mechanism. The column-wheel chronograph ensures precision operation of the chronograph functions, with a vertical coupling ensuring zero delay in the start, stop and reset functions. Priced at Rs 142,000 onwards, the Omega Constellation Double Eagle range is available in a polished lacquered white dial or a matt black dial, both of which have facetted rhodium-plated hour markers and facetted, rhodium plated and truncated Dauphine hands. The high quality of the watch is reflected in the attention to detail that includes an applied Omega symbol and rhodium-plated rings surrounding the chronograph counters. A date window at 6 o'clock completes the high-end Omega chronograph look, which is protected by a domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides.Omega has been present in India since 1998 and has been rapidly expanding its distribution base in the country. At present, the company retails its exclusive watches in over 38 outlets across the country.