DELMA Oceanmaster Lume

The landscape of professional sailing instruments is one defined by precision, resilience, and absolute clarity. Within this demanding sphere, Delma has carved out a significant reputation with its Oceanmaster collection, a line of timepieces engineered specifically for the rigors of competitive offshore sailing. The brand now expands this esteemed family with the introduction of the Oceanmaster Lume, a series of four watches that places uncompromising visibility at the forefront of its design, powered by dials that radiate with an intense and enduring light. These new models are not merely aesthetic updates; they are a direct response to the needs of explorers and mariners who operate in the world's most challenging and light-deprived environments.



DELMA’s horological journey began in 1924, instilling nearly a century of Swiss watchmaking expertise into every timepiece. The Oceanmaster collection, however, is a more recent yet highly focused endeavor, born in 2017 from the brand’s partnership with the NY Vendée transatlantic sailing race. From its inception, the Oceanmaster was conceived as a professional-grade tool, designed to guide the world's most accomplished sailors across treacherous oceans. This legacy has been built upon by a series of iconic special editions, each with a distinct purpose. The sold-out Oceanmaster Antarctica, for instance, was dedicated to supporting marine research in the planet's most remote continent, while the Oceanmaster Tide incorporated specific complications for tidal planning, an essential function for coastal navigation. Most recently, the Oceanmaster OHOR celebrated the achievements of elite sailor Oliver Heer, cementing the collection's deep ties with the professional sailing community.



The development and validation of a true tool watch often require a trial by fire, a real-world test that pushes its components to their absolute limits. The Oceanmaster Lume found its proving ground on the wrist of skipper Oliver Heer during his grueling campaign in the 2024 Vendée Globe, a solo, non-stop, and unassisted circumnavigation race that is widely considered the pinnacle of offshore sailing. This partnership was more than a sponsorship; it was an exercise in co-development, where the watch had to perform flawlessly as a critical piece of navigational equipment. Over weeks at sea, Heer and his timepiece faced every conceivable condition, from the maddening stillness of flat calms to the terrifying force of towering waves, all while enduring the profound and disorienting darkness of the open ocean at night.



Throughout this formidable journey, the Oceanmaster proved to be an unwavering and trusted companion. The feedback from such extreme usage was instrumental in refining the final product, ensuring its features were not just theoretically useful but practically indispensable. In the isolated cockpit of a racing yacht, where every second counts and decisions must be made in an instant, the ability to read the time with a mere glance, regardless of the ambient light, is a matter of strategic importance. The watch's performance during the Vendée Globe is a powerful testament to its design philosophy, confirming that its durability, water resistance, and, most critically, its luminosity, are all engineered to a standard demanded by the world’s most elite adventurers.



At the very core of this new collection is its most defining feature: the fully luminous dial. Unlike conventional watches where only the hands and hour markers are treated with luminescent material, the entire surface of the Oceanmaster Lume's dial is coated in high-performance Super-Luminova. This creates an astonishing effect, transforming the watch from a brightly colored sports watch in daylight to a radiant beacon of light in the dark. This feature directly addresses the critical need for constant legibility during night sailing or when navigating below deck, ensuring that the time and key navigational indicators are always clearly visible without the need to activate an external light source.



During the day, the Oceanmaster Lume presents a bold and vibrant face. The collection is available in four striking colorways: a high-visibility dark yellow, a classic dive-watch dark orange, a rich dark green, and a vivid dark blue. These intense colors are not chosen for aesthetics alone; they create a high-contrast background that makes the hands, indexes, and the watch's signature points-of-sail indicator exceptionally easy to read under the bright glare of the sun on the water. The matte finish of the dial surface further reduces reflections, ensuring that legibility is maintained from any angle, a small but crucial detail when a quick glance is all that circumstances allow.



As daylight fades, the watch undergoes a dramatic transformation. The entire dial surface begins to glow intensely, bathing the watch face in a consistent, powerful light. Against this glowing backdrop, the critical time-telling elements are rendered in sharp relief. The applied indexes are filled with Super-Luminova BGW9, which glows blue, while the hour and minute hands are filled with SLN C1, which glows green. This subtle use of contrasting lume colors is a deliberate choice, designed to help the wearer distinguish between the different elements instantaneously in complete darkness. This thoughtful application of luminescence elevates the watch from a simple time-telling device to a genuine navigational instrument.



A unique and highly specialized feature inherited by the Oceanmaster Lume is its integrated tactical planner, also known as the points-of-sail indicator. This system is represented by colored markings on the dial, including blue and red triangles in the upper and lower left quadrants of the dial, respectively, and plus symbols at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. For a sailor, these indicators are invaluable, providing a quick visual reference for the most efficient sailing angles relative to the wind. It allows for rapid course plotting and tactical decision-making during a race, reinforcing the watch’s status as a purpose-built tool for the serious mariner.



The formidable capabilities of the dial are housed within an equally formidable case. Machined from solid 316L stainless steel, the case measures a substantial 44 mm in diameter with a height of 13.8 mm and a lug-to-lug distance of 51 mm. These dimensions give the watch a commanding presence on the wrist, befitting its rugged purpose. The case architecture features a modern, slightly cushioned shape with a predominantly satin-brushed finish that resists showing minor scratches from daily wear. This utilitarian finish is elegantly contrasted by polished beveled edges along the case flanks, adding a touch of visual sophistication to its otherwise tool-centric design.



Protecting the intricate dial is a flat sapphire crystal, a material renowned for its exceptional scratch resistance, second only to diamond. To ensure maximum clarity under all conditions, the crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating, which significantly reduces glare and reflections. This is particularly important when on the water, where the sun's reflection can easily obscure the view of a watch dial. The case is completed by a screw-down stainless steel case back, which is secured by four screws and features a mineral crystal window, a unique feature for a watch with such a high depth rating, offering a glimpse of the mechanical movement within.



A critical component for any serious water-going timepiece is its bezel, and the Oceanmaster Lume is equipped with a highly functional one. The unidirectional rotating bezel is crafted from solid stainless steel, ensuring it can withstand harsh impacts. Its primary function is for tracking elapsed time, but it has been specifically adapted for nautical use. Engraved on the bezel are the cardinal directions—N, E, S, W—along with a full 360-degree scale, allowing it to be used as a solar compass. A prominent luminous pip is set at the 12 o'clock position, enabling the bezel to be oriented and used effectively even in total darkness. The bezel's edge is deeply knurled, providing excellent grip for easy operation with wet hands or when wearing gloves.



The hands and indexes are designed with the same obsessive focus on legibility. The hour and minute hands are broad and sword-shaped, offering a large surface area for the application of Super-Luminova C1. The central seconds hand is rendered in a vibrant red, providing a stark contrast against all four dial colors. This not only adds a dynamic visual accent but also serves the practical purpose of making it immediately apparent that the watch is running, a quick and vital check for any mechanical timepiece. The applied hour markers are generously sized and filled with BGW9 lume, ensuring they stand out clearly against the fully luminous dial at night. A framed date window is neatly positioned at 6 o’clock, providing essential information without cluttering the dial.



Powering the DELMA Oceanmaster Lume is the Caliber SW200-1, a robust and reliable automatic movement produced by the renowned Swiss manufacturer Sellita. This caliber is a true workhorse of the watch industry, respected for its durability, accuracy, and ease of service. It is a logical and practical choice for a tool watch designed to venture far from civilization, where reliability is paramount. The automatic winding system means the watch is powered by the natural motion of the wearer's wrist, eliminating the need for batteries.



The technical specifications of the Sellita SW200-1 are well-suited for a watch of this nature. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), which translates to a smooth, sweeping motion of the seconds hand and contributes to its timekeeping accuracy. The movement contains 26 jewels, which are synthetic rubies placed at high-friction points to reduce wear and tear, thereby increasing the caliber’s longevity and performance. When fully wound, the movement provides a power reserve of approximately 41 hours, ensuring it will continue to run even if taken off for a day and a half.



The Oceanmaster Lume’s construction is engineered to withstand immense pressure, boasting a water-resistance rating of 50 ATM, which is equivalent to 500 meters or 1650 feet. This level of water resistance is substantial, far exceeding the requirements for recreational or even professional scuba diving, and places the watch in the category of elite diving and marine instruments. This capability is achieved through a combination of its solid case construction, the screw-down case back, and a large, screw-down crown. The crown itself is shielded by integrated crown guards that extend from the case, protecting it from accidental impacts that could compromise the watch's seal.



The watch is secured to the wrist by a solid stainless-steel bracelet with a 24 mm lug width, which gives the watch a balanced and integrated appearance. The three-link design is both classic and robust, echoing the watch's overall tool aesthetic. The bracelet fastens with a stainless-steel deployant clasp that features a dual push-button release system for added security, ensuring the 130-gram timepiece remains firmly in place during vigorous activity.



The collection's four color options allow for a degree of personal expression within its highly functional framework. The yellow-dialed model (41701.670.6.169) is perhaps the most tool-like, its color reminiscent of professional safety equipment where visibility is the highest priority. The orange version (41701.670.6.159) pays homage to a long tradition of dive watches that used the color for its supposed legibility at depth. The green model (41701.670.6.149) offers a contemporary feel, a vibrant hue that connects with the natural tones of the ocean. Finally, the blue variant (41701.670.6.199) provides a bright, aquatic aesthetic that evokes the feeling of clear, tropical waters.



Each element of the Oceanmaster Lume has been meticulously crafted to support sailors and adventurers in the most demanding environments on Earth. From the tactical planner integrated into its dial to the compass bezel and the extreme water resistance, every feature serves a distinct and practical purpose. The addition of the fully luminous dial is the culminating feature, a brilliant innovation that ensures this vital instrument remains perfectly legible whether under the midday sun or in the deepest, darkest night on the open sea.



With the Oceanmaster Lume, DELMA continues its long tradition of producing innovative and reliable instruments for exploration. It is a timepiece that shines as brightly as the ambitions of the sailors it is designed to accompany. Whether navigating coastal waters or crossing vast oceans, in calm seas or through raging storms, this watch is built to endure, to perform, and to inspire.



The new DELMA Oceanmaster Lume collection is available for purchase directly from the company and its authorized retailers. All four color variations—yellow, orange, green, and blue—are offered at a sale price of $1,650.00, representing a significant value for a Swiss-made automatic timepiece with such a robust build and unique, highly functional feature set.



Case: 44 mm x 13.8 mm 316L stainless steel case, 51 mm lug-to-lug, 24 mm lug width. Unidirectional stainless steel nautical bezel, screw-down crown, and sapphire crystal with AR coating. Water-resistant to 500 m / 1650 ft.

Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatic caliber. 26 jewels, 41-hour power reserve, frequency of 28,800 A/h. Functions include hours, minutes, central seconds, and date.

Dial: Full Super-Luminova dial in yellow, orange, green, or blue. Applied indexes with Super-Luminova BGW9, hour/minute hands with SLN C1, and a red central seconds hand.

Strap: Three-link stainless-steel bracelet with a stainless-steel deployant clasp with pushers.

Price: $1,650.00

Reference Number: 41701.670.6.169 (Yellow), 41701.670.6.159 (Orange), 41701.670.6.149 (Green), 41701.670.6.199 (Blue)

Notes: The watch features a fully luminous dial for constant visibility and an integrated points-of-sail indicator for nautical navigation. The model was field-tested during the 2024 Vendée Globe sailing race.