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Omega Just Added an Unexpectedly Tough Update to Its Best Everyday Watch

Is it too late to crown the watch of the summer?

Close-up of an omega watch face with a teal dial, black and white hour markers, and a date window showing the number 8. The watch has a polished silver crown and a black bezel. The text "CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER" is visible on the dial.Omega
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By Johnny Brayson

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After the Speedmaster and Seamaster Diver 300M, the Seamaster Aqua Terra is almost certainly the most recognizable watch in Omega’s lineup today.

Available in countless materials, sizes and colors, the Aqua Terra’s potent mix of sporty and classy styling, robust resistance to magnetism and water, and venerable cool factor make it one of the most compelling everyday watches on the market. If you’re looking for a one-and-done watch, it’s tough to beat the Aqua Terra.

But outside of the Aqua Terra’s formability as a GADA watch, Omega also produces some more specialized versions of the watch. These include the travel-ready Worldtimer and the Olympics-dominating Ultra Light.

As of today, there is another.

Close-up of an Omega Seamaster watch face with a teal gradient dial, black and white hour markers, and black hands. The text "OMEGA Seamaster" and "CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER" is visible on the dial. The outer edge features minute markers in light blue.
Omega’s new Aqua Terra is anything but the same old, same old.
Omega

In its tough and sporty era

Late last year, Omega launched a new version of the Aqua Terra with a lacquered turquoise dial. Lacking the engraved teak motif of most other models in the line, the turquoise dial boasts a lacquer finish with a gradient effect that darkens at the edges of the dial. Paired with the vibrant dial are black PVD hands and indices for heightened contrast, all of which are filled with Super-LumiNova.

Today’s new model reuses the summer-ready turquoise dial from last year and, like that model, is available in either a 38 or 41mm stainless steel case. But this is not the same watch.

First, the bracelet of the original Aqua Terra Turquoise has been swapped out for a new integrated rubber strap. The strap is the same stitched and woven style seen on other rubber-strapped Aqua Terras, but the color is brand-new, with black, weave-effect rubber juxtaposed with turquoise stitching.

Two Omega Seamaster wristwatches with teal gradient dials, black textured straps with teal stitching, and black bezels. Both watches display the date at the 6 o'clock position and have silver hour markers and hands, with the minute hand featuring a white arrow tip. The background is a matching teal gradient.
The turquoise Aqua Terra got a seriously sporty makeover in both sizes.
Omega

I’ve always been a huge fan of the Aqua Terra rubber strap for both its looks and comfort — I vastly prefer it to the bracelet — and this new color combination looks amazing. As usual, it features a deployant clasp and a loopless design for a clean appearance.

Next, we have a pretty significant update to the bezel. The Aqua Terra, including last year’s turquoise version, normally features a polished stainless steel bezel, which helps increase the dressy vibes of the watch. But one downside of polished steel is that it’s a scratch magnet.

On this new model, the steel bezel has been swapped out for one made of brushed, matte black ceramic. This is similar to the bezels seen on some versions of the Aqua Terra Worldtimer, but I can’t think of a standard Aqua Terra model with this same feature.

Omega Seamaster wristwatch with a teal gradient dial, black bezel, and silver hour markers. The watch features a date window at 6 o'clock, a black rubber strap, and the text "Co-Axial Master Chronometer" on the dial. The hands are silver with white accents, and the second hand has a white arrow tip.
The new ceramic bezel adds both a sporty vibe and increased scratch resistance.
Omega

The ceramic bezel effectively accomplishes two things. First, it turns this into a full-on sports watch. With a matte black bezel in ceramic and a rubber strap, I don’t see this version of the Aqua Terra fitting quite as well with a suit as previous versions. Secondly, because ceramic is nearly impossible to scratch, the new bezel offers some serious protection to one of the most vulnerable areas of the watch, making this version of the AT extra tough.

Pricing and availability

Outside of the new strap and bezel, these are the same Aqua Terras we know and love. That means the 41mm version gets the Omega Cal. 8900 movement, which has a 60-hour power reserve courtesy of twin mainspring barrels and features an independently adjustable hour hand for easy time zone adjustments when traveling.

The 38mm version houses the Omega Cal. 8800, which has 55 hours of power and lacks the independent hour hand. It does get a quick-set date, however, and its thinness allows the watch to be about 1mm thinner than the 41.

Back view of an Omega Aqua Terra watch showcasing its intricate mechanical movement labeled "Omega Master Co-Axial 8900." The watch features a stainless steel case, visible gears, and purple jewel bearings, with a black leather strap embossed with the Omega logo and teal stitching. The case back is engraved with "Aqua Terra" and "150m / 500ft.
Regardless of whether you end up with the Cal. 8800 or 8900, both will be visible behind a sapphire caseback.
Omega

Both movements are automatic Master Chronometers able to withstand magnetic fields of 15,000 Gauss and are equipped with co-axial escapements, so it’s up to you to decide if the 8800’s thinness or the 8900’s travel feature is more important to you.

Price also isn’t a factor in determining which of these new Aqua Terra models you should get, as the 38 and 41mm versions are each priced at $7,300. The watches are non-limited and are available now at Omega boutiques.

Omega Seamaster wristwatch with a gradient teal dial, silver hour markers, and hands. The watch features a black bezel and a black textured strap with teal stitching. There is a date window at the 6 o'clock position. The dial includes the text "Omega Seamaster," "Co-Axial Master Chronometer," and "Swiss Made.Omega

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Turquoise Ceramic Bezel

Specs

Case Size 38 or 41mm
Movement Omega Cal. 8800 or 8900 automatic
Water Resistance 150m
About the Author:

Johnny Brayson is an editor at Gear Patrol mostly covering watches. He enjoys watches that are packed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em details and believes nearly every watch could stand to be a tad smaller.

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