Comparison

They generally feature a countdown timer to help visualise clearly and precisely all the time signals – usually a series of 5-, 6- or 8-minute countdowns – provided to boats before the starting gun.

This reissue of the Sideral, originally launched in 1969, is “a young watch, for young people, designed to help them forget their dad’s watch”. It retains its original period shape inspired by a boat hull, its pop-art colours and its green and red countdown scale marking 10 to 5 and 5 to 0 minutes, connected to the minutes hand. It’s excellent value for money.

This vintage bronze chronograph is both stylish and functional. The 30-minute counter is divided into six 5-minute sections, each in a different colour with contrasting markings, to enable the wearer to easily follow the countdown before the start of the race. Another excellent value proposition.

This ultra-light, high-tech instrument features a 15-minute regatta countdown timer in the sub-dial located at 12 o’clock. The yellow hand with its white luminescent tip indicates three 5-minute zones. The first two are graduated with white markers while the last zone features the numbers 5-4-3-2-1 to prepare for the start.

This is a dual-purpose professional tool watch. Not only is the Seamaster an exceptional dive watch, with a depth rating of 300 metres and a helium valve, but the chronograph counter at 3 o’clock can switch to a countdown timer to mark off the minutes before the start of a race. This watch is dedicated to the 36th America’s Cup, of which Omega was the official timekeeper in 2021.

The most distinctive feature of this watch is its bidirectional rotating bezel in ceramic with a 0 to 60 minute scale, which not only allows the wearer to measure the time between two buoys, it also sets the minute hand to the number of minutes to count down before the start. It comes in a sporty and highly corrosion-resistant titanium case.

This watch pays tribute to the partnership between the watchmaker and the legendary Ocean Race and its environmental commitments. As official timekeeper for the event, Ulysse Nardin has launched an exceptional tool watch with a Carbonium bezel. This alloy contains fibres from offcuts from aeroplane fuselage construction, resulting in a 40% reduction in environmental impact compared with other carbon composites.

This chronograph is connected to the maritime world through its history and its distinctive crown protector, designed to ensure perfect waterproofing – an essential feature in marine environments. This flyback chronograph is the perfect racing accessory for counting down the time to the start. Once the race is under way, it can be used to measure the boat’s average speed between two buoys.

This watchmaking masterpiece was unveiled at the 2022 Les Voiles de Saint Barth regatta, of which Richard Mille is the main partner and official timekeeper. This flyback chronograph is water resistant to 300 metres and can measure successive short time intervals, both before the start and between the buoys. Discerning collectors in search of the ultimate piece for their collection should waste no time, since only 120 have been produced.