Every major city in Canada has at least one power house store, equipped with all the biggest brands like Rolex and Cartier. In Montreal this store is Chateau D’Ivoire. It is perhaps the oldest store in the city to specialize primarily in luxury watches and was the only one for many years. This probably explains how they were able to amass their collection of brands that not only includes Rolex and Cartier, but almost all of the aggressively marketed horological brands of the Richemont Group (the newly acquired Roger Dubuis is the only one missing). The boutique offers a dizzying display of mainstream brands and is definitely worth a visit. Just up the street is the local Patek Philippe dealer. Kawfman de Suisse Jewellers, which also carries Bucherer. The boutique offers that old-time, white-glove luxury experience. Don’t be fooled by the traditional decor and expensive products, however. On all my visits I have received a warm welcome and was attended to generously.

For enthusiasts of up-and-coming and lesser known luxury brands, the Matt Baily boutique provides. It is located in Downtown Montreal, at the heart of many of the summer festivities. The small space of the store is simply, yet luxuriously designed and filled with some of the hottest brands. Matt Baily always searches for watches that are ready to burst in popularity and this explains why he was the first to bring in brands such as Bell & Ross and U-Boat to Canada. The staff of the watch department really know their stuff (toot toot!), and a talk with any of them will prove this. The Baily Blog, an online journal for the employees of Matt Baily to showcase new models and current events about the industry is further indication that these are knowledgeable watch enthusiasts. Matt Baily also offers the ability to trade-in your watch towards the purchase of another. This amounts to a pretty nice collection of pre-owned watches, which are offered with a one-year in-store warranty. Speaking of certified pre-owned watches, a visit to Timeless Watches is always a good stop for those who appreciate the advantages of pre-loved timepieces. The store is also an authorized dealer of Welder and TW Steel, but it is their used pieces and enthusiasm for collectible watches that make this small boutique a great place to visit.

Away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Montreal, several luxury stores serve the suburbs. Bijouterie Italienne and Créations Paul H. offer big names like Rolex and Bretling to the citizens of the East End of Montreal. A large community of Italians, a populous renowned for their love for luxury watches, probably explains the presence of these two stores within a few blocks of each-other. To the North of the Island of Montreal, the Carefour Laval shopping mall houses a couple of other luxury watch stores including the Pan-Canadian chain, LaSwiss.

In my view, LaSwiss is in a very fortunate predicament. This is because they are the exclusive authorized dealers of one of my all-time favourite watch brands, Audemars Piguet. Other than the infamous AP, the LaSwiss boutiques carry many brands. These include companies like the fantastic Parmigiani and the pervasive Breitling. The lineup varies from location to location. I’ve visited their newly built store on Ste.Catherine street several times to take a look at their stock of APs. Occasionally I found myself conversing with the manager or their in-house watchmaker. The strongest concentration of LaSwiss stores is, unsurprisingly, Southern Ontario.

I have never been to Toronto long enough to visit watch stores, but the largest market for luxury watches in Canada surely demands some pretty special retailers and so I have heard many accounts of the GTA’s watch boutiques. The Toronto boutique that most fascinates me and first on my list of stores to visit is Louis Black. Its intrigue is due to the extremely high-end nature of its brands. When I imagine what Frank Muller, Jaquet Droz, Richard Mille, DeGrisgono, F.P Journe, Antoine Preziuso, Urwerk, and Roger Dubuis must look lik under the same roof of a store not much bigger than my bedroom I get visions of Las Vegas and my mouth waters. Several stores serve the mainstream brands. Royal de Versailles strikes me as the big boy, resembling a branch of Tourneau. Some of the underdogs that come to mind are Cupido and L’Oro, which deal with cool brands such as Alpina, Ernst Benz, and Ball.

After Toronto there is no need to skip all the way to Calgary to find the next excellent luxury watch store. Abraham Jewellers, located in Windsor, carries a few cool brands including the big and bold U-Boat watches. The store seems to be more deeply rooted in diamond jewellery than in luxury watches, but after some talks with George, the owner, his passion for watches is obvious. Winnipeg has its share of luxury watch stores. Independent is the local Rolex dealer, so as can be expected, some of the other big names like Tag and Mont Blanc can be found there as well. Dimitra’s Jewellers is another of the few authorized dealers of U-Boat watches in Canada and is a must-see shop when visiting the Peg.

With the economic upswing of Alberta in the past decade or so, it is not hard to see why some of the country’s most important stores are located here. Calgary Jewelers has a stacked lineup including Bell & Ross, Hublot, and Jeager LeCoultre. A spacious and elegant boutique displays the watches. Brinkhaus is the Winnipeg dealer of big brands including Rolex and Patek. A second Brinkhaus store is located in Vancouver, but before we move to Vancity, lets jump to Edmonton, where you can find Swedish Jewellers. Its imposing facade leads to an impressive showroom and collection of luxury watches. I had the pleasure of meeting Al, the second generation owner of this family business, at Baselworld 2010 and it is clear that he knows his watches and is passionate about his products. I can only imagine that his staff share the same attitude.

Palladio is a name commonly linked to Vancouver. It is one of only three retailers in Canada to be authorized to sell Panerai watches and offers several other important brands as well. A boutique offering less mainstream brands in Vancouver is Rodeo Jewellers at the Oakridge Centre. As every other major city in Canada, Vancouver luxury watches can also be found at upscale boutiques who are not primarily specialized in horology. Birks is one. The storied jewellery store is an important dealer of Omega and Cartier watches and even has its own brand of timepieces. Chances are high that all Canadians who love high-end fashion have shopped at a Holts Renfrew at one point or another. Since a couple of years ago, this Quebec-born department store has offered Bell & Ross watches at some of their locations across Canada. The problem with these big stores tends to be the lack of knowledge on the part of staff. I have heard occasional reports of sales personnel being caught not knowing the difference between quartz and mechanical movements.

It is estimated that the Canadian market for luxury watches is equivalent to about five percent of the US market. Having dealt with hundreds of Canadian luxury watch aficionados over five years, I can tell that this market is growing. Luckily Canada has some beautiful boutiques that specialize in high-end watches, and who’s managers and owners are just as excited to bring in new watches into Canada as the Canadian public is to see them.

Many authorized Canadian watch retailers have been left out of this article, but not on purpose. Please share what you know about your local AD in the comments below.

Marco is a watch specialist at Matt Baily in Montreal.

Watches Canada

OMEGA presented Woolstencroft with a Seamaster Planet Ocean wristwatch

Skier won a record five consecutive gold medals

Vancouver, BC, April 6, 2010 – Canadian skier Lauren Woolstencroft had been known as the Golden Girl of Paralympics since 2002 when she claimed two gold medals and a bronze at the Games in Salt Lake City. At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games her status evolved from impressive to legendary as she topped the podium in each of the five events she entered.

Woolstencroft is the only winter Paralympian in history to win five gold medals at a single Paralympic Games.

OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Paralympic Winter Games, presented Woolstencroft with a Seamaster Planet Ocean wristwatch in celebration of her remarkable accomplishment. The presentation was made at the OMEGA Olympic Games Boutique on the ground floor of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

After receiving her watch, the ski star posed for photographs and signed the Boutique’s guest book. Woolstencroft said “What a great honour to be recognized and be given the gift of time for my accomplishments at the Paralympic Winter Games. To receive an OMEGA watch from the official timekeeper of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games is very exciting.”

The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games have been widely heralded for their representation of the notion of true sport. At the Closing Ceremony on the 21st of March, International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven praised the Games and the athletes, saying, “Together, we have all captured the Paralympic Spirit from these Games and can carry it around the world.”

OMEGA and the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

OMEGA’s famous logo has been a familiar site in Vancouver and Whistler and on television screens around the world throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The brand’s association with the Olympic Games dates back to 1932 in Los Angeles and OMEGA was also proud to have the opportunity to apply its timekeeping expertise to the Paralympic Games. The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games were the 24th at which OMEGA has been Official Timekeeper. The Swiss watchmaker recently extended its agreement to continue to serve in its timekeeping role at the Olympic and Paralympic Games through 2020.

Christophe Berthaud, the general manager of OMEGA Timing presents Sir Philip Craven with an OMEGA Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Limited Edition watch

Sir Philip Craven, the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), visited OMEGA’s Paralympic Countdown Clock in downtown Vancouver and the Olympic Games Boutique at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Tuesday, March 16th.

Sir Philip, joined by his wife, was welcomed by Christophe Berthaud, the general manager of OMEGA Timing, the company responsible for the timekeeping and data handling at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Berthaud introduced Sir Philip, who has been president of the IPC since 2001, to the Boutique’s staff who showed him some of the highlights of their display, including the Constellation ’09 Collection, the Olympic Pocket Watch 1932, the Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Limited Edition watch created to commemorate the Games, and the Speedmaster Professional – the legendary Moonwatch.

Afterwards, Sir Philip signed OMEGA’s guestbook and Christophe Berthaud presented him with a commemorative Olympic Pin Set and an OMEGA Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Limited Edition watch. Sir Philip and Mr. Berthaud then posed for photographs with members of the Boutique’s staff and chatted with visitors and well wishers.

In addition to his high-profile role as president of the IPC, Sir Philip Craven is one of the most successful Paralympians of all time, having represented Great Britain in wheelchair basketball at five editions of the Paralympic Games between 1972 and 1988. Remarkably, in 1972, he also competed in track and field athletics and swimming.

The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games opened on the 12th of March and will continue through the 21st of March.

Oris Oscar Peterson Limited Edition

Jazz giant honoured by Oris

Oris’ track record in producing limited edition watches is almost as distinguished as the track record of the man to whom Oris dedicates its latest jazz watch: Oscar Peterson.

Regarded by many as the greatest jazz pianist of all time, his career and chosen instrument inspired the special design features of this elegant watch.

The delicately applied indices take the form of piano keys and sit atop a central dial ring with concentric grooves. This dial ring is reminiscent of an LP and refers to the hundreds of recordings Oscar Peterson made during his career.

Oscar Peterson loved watches with Roman numerals and this limited edition honours that – even displaying the VIII in gold plate – a reference to the eight Grammys he won during his lifetime.

The case back carries the Oscar Peterson lion logo and the limited edition number from 0001/1925 to 1925/1925, chosen because it was the year the great man was born.

Oscar Peterson’s talent knew no bounds: the Oris Oscar Peterson Limited Edition is a fitting tribute to a jazz giant.

Oris Oscar Peterson Limited Edition - Back

Product Features

Oris Oscar Peterson Limited Edition
Ø 42.00mm Ref: 733 7642 4084

- Automatic mechanical movement. Centralised second, minute and hour displays. Date display at 6 o’clock.
- Multi-piece stainless steel case with stainless steel crown. Water resistant to 10 bar/100m.
- Sapphire glass domed on both sides with inner anti-reflective coating.
- Black dial with applied ‘piano key’ indices.
- Black dial with applied Roman numerals. VIII plated in rose gold plated.
- Nickel hands with Superluminova inlay. Second hand with ‘O’ counterbalance.
- Black calf skin leather strap with croco imprint and stainless steel folding clasp.
- Varnished wooden box, certificate and DVD.

Canadian Jazz Maharaja, Oscar Peterson

About Oscar Peterson

Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the “Maharaja of the keyboard” by Duke Ellington, “O.P.” by his friends, and was a member of jazz royalty. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career. He is considered to have been one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, who played thousands of live concerts to audiences worldwide in a career lasting more than 65 years.

Source: www.oris.ch
www.wikipedia.org

Gold Medal winner Maelle Ricker, and OMEGA President Stephen Urquhart in bobsleight, standing in the back is Astronaut Tom Stafford and in the back is Astronaut Gene Cernan

Snowboard cross star was the first Canadian woman to win gold at home

One of the most thrilling finishes at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games resulted in a tale of national pride and Olympic redemption. Maëlle Ricker, competing in snowboard cross only a few kilometers from where she grew up, became the first Canadian woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal in her homeland.

OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Winter Games, presented Ricker with a Seamaster Planet Ocean wristwatch in celebration of her accomplishment. She joined OMEGA president Stephen Urquhart and NASA astronauts and OMEGA brand ambassadors Gene Cernan and Tom Stafford in the brand’s lounge at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver where the presentation of the watch took place.

They then crossed the street to pose for photographers in OMEGA‘s red bobsleigh in front of the Official Countdown Clock in downtown Vancouver.

When he presented Ms. Ricker with her watch, Stephen Urquhart said, “We are so happy to share this gift of time with Maëlle. She’s a true champion and embodies all that is great about the Olympic Winter Games. She demonstrated drive, determination and a winning spirit. We are particularly pleased to be making this presentation to a national hero in her home city.”

Maëlle Ricker responded enthusiastically, “This amazing Omega watch is a great honour. Now I definitely won’t be late for any of my upcoming snowboard world cups. Olympic partners like Omega really keep the Games running on time and I’m really happy to have created a gold medal moment for Canada.”

When Maëlle Ricker participated in snowboard cross at the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games her hopes for a medal were dashed by a fall which resulted in a concussion. She has said that Turin served as a motivation to work particularly hard in preparation for the Games in Vancouver.

Ricker is an established star in her sport. She has 23 World Cup medals in snowboard cross, including 12 victories. She has been to the podium seven times in World Cup halfpipe competition and has claimed two gold medals.

OMEGA and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

OMEGA’s famous logo is a familiar site in Vancouver and Whistler and on television screens around the world. The brand’s association with the Olympic Games dates back to 1932 in Los Angeles. That year, OMEGA became the first company ever to be entrusted with the timekeeping at every Olympic event. The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games are the 24th at which OMEGA has been Official Timekeeper. The IOC and the Swiss watchmaker recently extended their agreement through 2020.

Omega Countdown clock - Vancouver

For Vancouver and OMEGA’s timekeepers, the long wait is over

The Opening Ceremony at each edition of the Olympic Games is a much-anticipated event as the world waits to see how the host city will launch the most prestigious sporting extravaganza on Earth. The city of Vancouver more than rose to the occasion with a spectacular display of choreography, lights and special effects and a roster of Canadian entertainment legends.

It was the first time in the history of the Olympic Games that an Opening Ceremony had taken place indoors. More than 55,000 spectators filled the B. C. Place Stadium, which has the largest air-supported dome in North America.

The ceremony featured a dazzling array of Canada’s best-known musicians and entertainers including Bryan Adams, Nellie Furtado, Sarah McLachlan and k.d. lang.

Also featured were representatives from Canada’s indigenous Four Host First Nations who welcomed the world to the Games in English, French and their own languages..

There was a somber moment when the Georgian team entered the stadium during the parade of athletes. Earlier in the day, their teammate Nodar Kumaritashvili died following a crash during a training run for the men’s luge singles. The spectators cheered loudly for the team and later, observed a minute of silence in Kumaritashvili’s memory.

The Canadian team entered the stadium to a tumultuous ovation, led by flagbearer Clara Hughes, who is the only athlete from her country to medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. A former cyclist, she is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals at both Games.

After much speculation about who would be the final torch carrier and light the Olympic cauldron, Canadian hockey great Wayne Gretzky had a hand in lighting two – the first was in the stadium where he was joined by Paralympian Rick Hansen, speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan, NBA star Steve Nash and skier Nancy Greene.

Gretzky then carried the official flame outside and hopped into a pickup truck which carried him to an outdoor display near the city center, where he lit a similar cauldron to the one indoors.

Fireworks erupted outside the arena and elsewhere in the city, bringing the ceremony to a close.

Asked about the Ceremony, OMEGA President Stephen Urquhart said, “First let me say that like everyone in the Olympic family, all of us at OMEGA are saddened beyond words by the death of this talented young Georgian athlete.” He added, “Vancouver and Canada gave us a truly outstanding event. We expected something very special but this was thrilling. We are happy for the cities of Vancouver and Whistler. They have worked long and hard for the Olympic Winter Games and we are looking forward to delivering flawless timekeeping results to them.”

OMEGA is serving in its capacity as Official Olympic Timekeeper for the 24th time since 1932. At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the brand has deployed a team of 235 timekeeping and data handling professionals who are supported by 290 trained local volunteers. The 250 tons of equipment they brought from Switzerland will be used to time the results of every event at the Games.

The ORIS Darryl O’Young Limited Editions

It’s all in the design

The Oris TT3 is back – with a vengeance and it’s ready to wipe the track with other motor sports watches. Excited by the Type 997 Porsche cars driven in competition by Darryl O’Young, the PCCA Double Class A Champion, Oris has designed two watches with a cool, sporty and technical look. Each model is limited to 997 units – a nod to the Type 997 Porsches.

Influenced by the technical features on the awesome Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and the 911 GT3 Cup, both sizes of watch (43.50 mm and 41.00 mm) guarantee maximum wearer comfort. The curved cases are black DLC coated for durability as well as added style. The sporty rubber strap with its flexible lugs ensures a snug fit on the wrist.

The unusual glass dial is printed with a wheel rim pattern and offers a glimpse of the quality automatic mechanical movement, as well as the calendar date wheel. This creates an eye-catching 3D layered dial effect. The Superluminova numerals on the dial are the same Microgramma typeface as used on the Porsche cars.

Seeing the quality Oris mechanical movement as the individual pieces move and turn is like watching Darryl as he drives around the track: smooth, controlled and dynamic.

Everybody off the track…TT3 is back!

The ORIS Darryl O’Young Limited Editions - back

Product Features

Oris Darryl O’Young Limited Edition
Ø 41.00 mm Ref: 733 7588 7714
Ø 43.50 mm Ref: 733 7589 7714

• Automatic mechanical movement. Centralised second, minute and hour displays. Date display at 4 o’clock.
• Multi-piece black DLC coated titanium case and crown. Screwed see through case back, water resistant to 10 bar/100 m
• Sapphire glass domed on both sides with inner anti-reflective coating.
• Glass dial with printed Porsche rim pattern and Superluminova numerals in Microgramma typeface, Superluminova indices.
• Black nickel hands with luminous inlay.
• Black rubber strap with black integrated flexible lugs and black DLC coated folding safety clasp.
• Limited to 997 pieces. Limited edition number engraved on the case side at 9 o’clock.

Canadian-born Chinese racing driver Darryl O’Young

Electronic Start System (in action)

At every Olympic Games, OMEGA’s timekeeping and data handling professionals arrive equipped with tons of equipment – a veritable arsenal of the world’s latest and best sports timing and judging technology. Every Olympic Games features some technological premieres. Here’s a preview of the equipment which will have its Olympic Games debut in Vancouver and Whistler:

Electronic Start System

The most logical place to begin is with OMEGA’s new Electronic Start System. One of the most enduring images from any Olympic Games is the starting pistol, reminiscent of the revolvers so popular in movies set in the Old West. At this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this has been replaced by a streamlined, futuristic device composed of a flash gun and a sound generation box.

When the starter presses its trigger, three things happen simultaneously: a sound is “played”, a light flash is emitted and a start pulse is given to the timing device. By pressing the trigger a second time within two seconds, the false start will be audibly signaled. The sounds can be changed and downloaded by computer.

As was the case with traditional powder pistols, the sound will be reproduced by speakers near each competitor, guaranteeing that they will hear the signal at the same time. At some venues, the audio signals will also be put on the public address system.

The OMEGA Snowgate starting gate

The Snowgate starting gate

Alpine skiers at this Olympic Games will start their runs through a new starting gate called “Snowgate” for the first time. New technology ensures that the starting pulse is generated when the “wand” (or “bar”) is at precisely the same angle for every competitor. The control box for the device includes both a main and a backup system. The systems use different technologies – one is purely mechanical; the other is electro-mechanical. The skiers have a ten-second starting window and can begin up to five seconds before or five seconds after the official start time. If they are within this time frame, the timing system will be activated automatically when they burst through the gate; otherwise, they are disqualified.

High-definition judges’ scoring system

In figure skating, OMEGA Timing’s high definition judges’ scoring system will be in place. It has been tested at international competitions in Leipzig and Liberec and was sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) in 2008 for its events. It has been in use since the beginning of 2009 for ISU Championships and will make its first Olympic Games appearance in Vancouver.

The system provides several additional advantages: there will be a tremendous increase in quality thanks to the high-definition images. It also weighs considerably less than its predecessor and offers improved handling.

Furthermore, OMEGA’s timekeepers can provide all the necessary support in the operation of the system and will no longer have to rely on third parties.

The OMEGA Universal Tracking System

In the cross-country skiing events in Vancouver, OMEGA will use the OMEGA Universal Tracking System based on global positioning system (GPS) technology to track the locations of the athletes throughout the race. A similar system was used with great effect at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the road cycling and triathlon events. This will allow the timekeepers to measure the distances between the skiers at any time during their races. Furthermore, it will be possible to display their positions using three-dimensional animation with a visual virtual track based on satellite data. A prototype of the system was used during the 2008/2009 International Ski Tour but the Games in Vancouver and Whistler will mark its debut at an Olympic Games.

Transponders in Ski Cross and Snowboard Cross

At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, there will be one new discipline, ski cross. For this freestyle skiing event, transponders will be used allowing intermediate standings to be displayed while the race is taking place. Transponders will also be used for men’s and ladies’ snowboard cross.

The Chronos Timer in Alpine Skiing

The Chronos Timer in Alpine Skiing

The alpine skiing events in Vancouver will also mark the Olympic Games debut of the Chronos Timer. This OMEGA Timing product has seen service as a backup in technical competitions (giant slalom and slalom) in Adelboden, Switzerland and was used as the main timing device for the training and two downhill runs of the European Cup in Wengen. Its next “centre-stage” appearance will be at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

OMEGA and Olympic Games timekeeping technology

OMEGA first served as Official Olympic Games Timekeeper at the Games in Los Angeles in 1932. At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games OMEGA will assume the responsibility for the 24th time. OMEGA and the IOC have signed a contract which extends through 2020. For more than three quarters of a century OMEGA’s timekeeping and data handling efforts have been matched by the brand’s dedication to the improvement of timekeeping technology.

At each Olympic Games, OMEGA is proud to be at the service of remarkable athletes from around the globe. The company strives to ensure that their sporting performances are evaluated by uncompromisingly cutting-edge equipment and the world’s finest timekeepers.

Source: www.omega.ch

The OMEGA Olympic Countdown Clock in Vancouver

As the giant OMEGA Countdown Clock in Vancouver approaches the minus one year point in its steady march toward the Opening Ceremony on the 12th of February, 2010, OMEGA’s professionals are actively involved in preparations for the competition where, for the 24th time, the Swiss specialists will serve as Official Timekeepers at the Olympic Games. On the 12th of March, they will play the same role at the Paralympic Games.

At OMEGA’s first timekeeping assignment for the Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in 1936, a lone OMEGA technician brought 27 stopwatches which were used to time each event at the Games.

Seventy years later in Turin, OMEGA deployed 208 professionals – 127 timekeepers and 81 data handlers – armed with 220 tons of equipment.

Those numbers will be exceeded at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games as OMEGA mobilizes the largest timekeeping contingent in the history of winter sport.

OMEGA began its Olympic Games timekeeping tradition at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games. In addition to its prominent Olympic Games role, OMEGA has been behind many of the most important technological developments in all of sports timekeeping.

The Games in Vancouver will take place over a 17-day period beginning on the 12th of February. More than 5,500 Olympic Winter Games athletes and officials from more than 80 countries will make it the largest Olympic Winter Games ever. The Paralympic Winter Games, for which OMEGA is also Official Timekeeper, start on the 12th of March and will continue for ten days. The Games’ organizers anticipate that the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will attract 1,350 athletes and officials from more than forty countries.

100 days to go till the opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Sustainability a key theme

As the cities of Vancouver and Whistler prepare for the Games, there is a lot of attention being paid to the philosophy of economic and environmental sustainability promoted by VANOC, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Committee is doing its best to see that any changes made to the splendid local landscape will integrate smoothly into the community once the Games are over. While Beijing had such spectacular venues as the National “Bird’s Nest” Stadium and the “Water Cube”, VANOC is relying on providing facelifts to existing structures and to creating facilities which will serve the people of Vancouver and British Columbia long after the spectators and press have gone home. It can be argued that the natural splendour of British Columbia and the breathtaking beauty of Vancouver and Whistler would not be enhanced with the addition of large new purpose-built structures.

Accordingly, existing buildings are being adapted to the needs of the Olympic Winter Games and new ones have only been considered when it was clear that they would improve the quality of life for local residents following the Games.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will attract an estimated three billion television viewers worldwide. More than 10,000 members of the press are planning to attend and it is projected that the vancouver2010.com website will be visited 75 million times.

Source: www.omega.ch

OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, celebrated the opening of its Boutique in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Friday 04 December 2009 – OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, celebrated the opening of its Boutique in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver today. The breakfast event and ribbon cutting ceremony featured Caroline Faivet, CEO of Swatch Group North America, OMEGA Brand Manager North America Gregory Swift, Dave Cobb, Executive Vice-President and Deputy CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), 1980 Bronze Medallist Olympian Steve Podborski, and six time Paralympian medallist Karolina Wisniewska.

The OMEGA Boutique will remain open throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and will host all of the events featuring the brand’s family of ambassadors scheduled to take place throughout the Games. The Boutique occupies a space of nearly 50 square metres on the ground floor of the Fairmont and showcases a full range of OMEGA’s timepieces, including the Olympic Games-themed Timeless Collection and the Seamaster Diver 300M “Vancouver 2010” Limited Edition watch created to commemorate the 24th time that OMEGA has served as Official Timekeeper for the Olympic Games.

The Boutique is the first retailer in Canada to offer OMEGA’s completely redesigned Constellation line. The popular, instantly recognizable Constellation will be presented with the brand’s three other main watch families, De Ville, Seamaster and Speedmaster. In addition to the timepieces on which OMEGA has built its reputation since 1848, the Boutique at the Fairmont will feature OMEGA’s Fine Leather Collections as well as the new Aqua Terra Eau de Toilette pour Homme, OMEGA’s first fragrance.

Dave Cobb, Executive Vice-President and DEputy CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and paralympic winter games behind watchmaker bench at the OMEGA Olympic boutique in Vancouver

The OMEGA Boutique’s façade has been designed around the themes of the sun, water, the earth and, of course, time. Brilliant lighting illuminating the products in the show window represents the sun’s energetic light rays.

A stroke pattern above the displays casts shadows and reflects light – a perfect depiction of clouds, which gather water to generate the rain. Vertical tracks express rainfall. The rain, in turn, symbolizes time which is never still and which never returns in exactly the same form.

Finally, below the displays, chiselled and silvered glass represents an exposed cross section of the earth intended to convey a history of time.

The OMEGA Boutique has a multilingual international staff selected from the brand’s headquarters in Switzerland and from other OMEGA Boutiques around the world. The staff will also include a watchmaker who will have a fully outfitted bench in the Boutique, allowing visitors a chance to see how the horologists do their detailed, precision work on OMEGA’s legendary watches.

The Vancouver Boutique is one of just four exclusive OMEGA Boutiques in North America. The other three are located in Beverley Hills, Mexico City and New York City, which opened in April of this year.

About OMEGA and the Olympic Games

OMEGA, as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, is not only responsible for timing every Olympic event, but also for data handling, the display of the results at the venues, and the distribution of the results to the world’s media.

At OMEGA’s first timekeeping assignment for the Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in 1936, a lone OMEGA technician brought 27 stopwatches that were used to time each event at the Games.

Seventy years later in Turin, OMEGA deployed 208 professionals – 127 timekeepers and 81 data handlers – armed with 220 tons of equipment.

Those numbers will be exceeded at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games as OMEGA mobilizes the largest timekeeping contingent in the history of winter sport.

The OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300m « Vancouver 2010 » Limited Edition

OMEGA began its Olympic Games timekeeping tradition at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games. In addition to its prominent role at the Olympic Games, OMEGA has been behind many of the most important technological developments in all of sports timekeeping.

The Games in Vancouver will take place over a 17-day period beginning on the 12th of February. More than 5,500 athletes and officials from more than 80 countries will make it the largest Olympic Winter Games ever. The Paralympic Winter Games, for which OMEGA is also Official Timekeeper, start on the 12th of March and will continue for ten days. The Games’ organizers anticipate that the Paralympic Winter Games will attract 1,350 athletes and officials from more than forty countries.