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Effervescent. It’s the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, in a phrase. It’s the twist and the crack, the comfortable hissing of bubbles, and the satisfying clear liquid cascading from a tall frosted bottle into a chilly rocks glass. It’s the comfortable clinking of ice cubes at water’s edge. And with its colourful array of choices, its bubbly character, and its sharply rendered dial, it’s additionally arguably the platonic very best of the summer time watch — one for in a single day backpacking journeys, seashores & yard cookouts, but in addition weddings, consumer conferences, and date nights. It’s additionally doubtless why just some days shy of summer time’s official beginning line, Omega is successfully doubling down on its most versatile assortment with practically twenty (!!) new Aqua Terra references geared up with the Bienne maker’s latest Small Seconds Grasp Chronometer calibre.
Fairly truthfully, it’s an enormous line extension, and one which I personally don’t absolutely perceive — it feels a bit just like the Omega from 5 or years in the past, a model content material with introducing tons of of skus at a time throughout its tradeshow cycles, and never the tightly curated model we’ve come to like yet again as of late. However that’s to not say this isn’t watch — removed from it. In any case, one in all Omega’s model signatures has at all times been that of alternative and variety, and boy do Aqua Terra followers have a lot to select from now, between the usual three-hand and the brand new Small Seconds-equipped references. The brand new vary continues the normal span of each 41 and 38mm case sizes, in both chrome steel or treasured steel, with a number of two-toned choices combined in for good measure. in addition to two-toned choices, every with their very own distinctive dials in addition to strap or bracelet choices.
The small second is a straightforward complication that makes an enormous visible distinction, significantly on extra minimalist, Bauhaus-inspired watches (or Omega’s not too long ago introduced Tresor Energy Reserve watches) which lean on the subsidiary register to interrupt up the dial and supply a bit of extra visible curiosity. However the present Aqua Terra doesn’t precisely have this drawback, because it already has fairly a number of visually fascinating and distinctive design components — significantly its slatted “teak deck” idea dial and daring, facetted hour markers. The small seconds undoubtedly provides one other layer of texture and complexity to what’s already a fairly ‘lively’ dial, and it is likely to be a welcome addition for many who admire a barely busier look. New for this reference is in fact the impartial operating seconds hand and subsidiary seconds register at 6:00, which is encircled by a superbly contrasted ring that matches the textured ring on the periphery of the dial itself.
Every thing else in regards to the Aqua Terra Small Seconds maintains the baseline established by the usual three-hand references, from the 150 meters of water resistance and the imminently wearable case proportions, to its bubbly character all make it the polar reverse of its prime competitors — regardless of the watch world equal of faucet water is likely to be. Possibly the staid Datejust? After all the largest replace right here is the Grasp Chronometer-certified Omega cal. 8916, which powers the 41mm chrome steel model. In step with the remainder of Omega’s 89xx-level actions, this Small Seconds maintains the super-handy ‘Journey Time’ perform, which permits fast adjustment of the hour hand from the crown’s first place. The 41mm treasured steel variations get cal. 8917, which is nearly similar from a chronometric standpoint, save for a treasured steel rotor and steadiness bridge, to match the gold on the case itself.
Although definitely succesful, and bearing the adventurous ‘Seamaster’ moniker, I wouldn’t say the Aqua Terra is an journey watch within the conventional sense, until your concept of journey is an efficient novel, a chilly mojito, a Panama hat, and an infinity pool overlooking the facet of the ocean. That mentioned, it’s to not say the Aqua Terra couldn’t be journey watch – quite the opposite, its most sought-after reference (now discontinued) was a correct Bond watch, in any case. And after having tried each the 38.5mm case measurement and the newer 41mm variant (be aware that the Aqua Terra has been downsized by a half millimeter to 38mm and 41mm, respectively), my choice is with the 41mm – and never simply because the bigger instances get the extra fully-featured 89xx-series actions. I’ve at all times felt that the Aqua Terra is a watch that wants the additional dial aperture to let all of the element absolutely breathe, and given its already quick lug-to-lug measurements on the most recent revision, it strikes a contemporary, sporty silhouette, albeit one which’s comfy and unobtrusive in all the precise methods.
Whereas there’s no formal affirmation on a worth enhance at Omega (one thing that’s roughly a mid-summer custom for a lot of key Swiss manufacturers), the worth for the chrome steel 41mm Seamaster Aqua Terra Small Second (ref. 220.10.41.21.02.004 as pictured) is $6,300 USD, a roughly 10% enhance over the usual 3-hand variant. Variants on the rubber strap in chrome steel begin at $6,050 USD. You possibly can study extra in regards to the full Seamaster Aqua Terra assortment on the Omega web site proper right here.
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