The 2021 Omega Aqua Terra models continue to venture into bold new territory, with the introduction of a subdial at 6 o’clock. With classic and luxury models in both 38 mm and 41 mm, the Small Seconds editions represent an unusual configuration usually reserved for classic timepieces for use on a diver themed sports watch.
The Case and Dial
Shown here is the 41 mm model available in 18K Sedna™ gold. It features a polished-brushed case, central hour/minute hands in diamond-polished 18K Sedna™ gold and a small seconds recessed subdial and date window at 6.
The case is manufactured with alternating brushed and polished surfaces. The polished edges start as a bevelling of the case, continuing and twisting the lugs harmoniously. This is also known as the lyre lugs. The brushing makes the case sides less sensitive to scratches. The bezel is polished, giving the Aqua Terra a visually balanced appearance.
The brushed silvery-beige dial is distinguished by a horizontal “teak” pattern, along with a date window at 6H and an opaline Small Seconds subdial featuring an 18K Sedna™ gold ring.
The design is further complemented by 18K Sedna™ gold hands and applied indexes filled with white Super-LumiNova, as well as sandblasted minutes and seconds tracks on the dial and subdial.
The Movement
On the 2021 editions, the screw-in caseback is polished-brushed with a wave-edged design, engraved with “AQUA TERRA” and the watch’s water resistance. The flat sapphire crystal on the caseback allows a clear view of OMEGA’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8917, certified at the industry’s highest level by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). As always, OMEGA’s worldwide 5-year warranty applies to all of the new Aqua Terra timepieces.
The movement uses a non-typical speed of 3.5Hz with Co-Axial system and free sprung balance wheel. The co-axial system used by Omega since 1999, was patented by the watchmaker master George Daniels in 1980. The three pallets design has the advantage of the reduced friction. This minimizes the stress in the lever escapement and the need of lubrication of the classical Swiss lever escapement. The unusual speed offers the chronometric capabilities of the 4Hz movements with the long run robustness of the 3Hz calibres. An interesting and admirable move from Omega. Using two series-mounted barrels, Calibre 8917 packs a power reserve of 60 hours.
Concluding thoughts
The Aqua Terra is a versatile luxury sports watch, with steel for the more utilitarian and gold for those who like the color and don’t mind the price premium. The 150m water resistance will suffice any amateur diver/snorkeler needs and the movement is as advanced as it gets.
That said, with the pool of dive watches out there and the lack of a design competitive edge, the movement arms race with Tudor will soon fizzle as a differentiator and unfortunately, being cannibalized by its much more popular Speedmaster colleague makes it difficult for the Aqua Master as with the Constellation models to find good footing.
This variant in gold and rubber strap is priced at US$18,700.
3 Comments
In every review Deployant continually refers to the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra as a “divers watch”, in this article it is stated that the watch is: “a diver themed sports watch” and towards the end the reviewer says: “The 150m water resistance will suffice any amateur diver/snorkeler needs” and finally: “with the pool of dive watches out there”. This is stuff and nonsense. The Aqua Terra is not and never has been a divers watch or even a “divers watch themed” watch. There is no unidirectional rotating bezel and there is no attempt to make the watch even look like a divers watch. The watch does not comply with IOS 6425 in anyway. Omega make several divers watches; the Planet Ocean, the Diver 300M and the PlopProf which are all IOS 6425 compliant divers watches. The Aqua Terra is a throwback to the original Seamaster watches which were water resistant dress watches that could be worn in the office with a suit or at the weekend around water or for water-based activities such as sailing. Just because the watch says “Seamaster” on the dial that does not make it a divers watch, something that one might hope a reviewer on a watch website might understand. Omega themselves describe the Aqua Terra range as the “perfect balance between sophistication and ocean spirit”. Nowhere does Omega claim the Aqua Terra is a divers watch or even a diver themed watch.
As an aside it should be noted that Rolex Submariners, Sea Dwellers and Dep Sea watches are in fact “diver themed watches” as apart from the standard Submariner (without a date) none of the other Rolex so-called divers watches comply with ISO 6425 as revised in 2018, despite the Rolex Submariner having been released in 2020
The last paragraph is incomprehensible, meaningless word salad.
Pity the date wheel wasn’t aligned in the window when the photos were taken; good looking watch otherwise