Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra

The timepieces in the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra collection combine the elegance of dress watches with the durability of diving watches. A screw-down crown and case back provide this model with 150 m (15 bar, 492 ft) of water resistance. The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer also coats the hands and indices in luminous material, so you can always tell the time, even in poor lighting conditions. The triangular hour markers and arrow-tipped minute hand are classic Seamaster features and draw comparisons to the iconic Seamaster 300.

However, unlike its legendary sibling model, the Aqua Terra lacks a diving bezel. Instead, a narrow and – in most instances – polished ring runs around the dial's edge. It also features a beautifully patterned dial that resembles the deck of a yacht. The final result is simple, sporty, and elegant and pairs as well with a suit as it does with a polo shirt. With cases ranging from 28 to 43 mm in diameter, there is something for every taste and size. Omega also offers the 49.2-mm Aqua Terra XXL Small Seconds for those looking for something particularly hefty.

The Omega Aqua Terra line is incredibly diverse. For example, there are models with cases and bracelets made of stainless steel or yellow or rose gold, as well as two-tone editions that combine 18-karat gold and stainless steel. In 2020, the company also launched the "Ultra Light" series with titanium cases, dials, and movement components.

This variety of options also applies to the complications. In addition to three-hand watches, you'll find models with a chronograph, GMT function, or a world time display that can show the time in 24 time zones at once. Omega outfits most Aqua Terras with automatic calibers featuring co-axial escapements. This mechanism is low-maintenance and highly resistant to magnetic fields. The manufacturer also offers especially small women's watches with quartz ETA calibers.

The Aqua Terra is among Omega's most comprehensive watch collections and thus covers a wide range of prices. Older stainless steel models with quartz calibers are especially affordable. For example, you can find small women's watches on Chrono24 starting at around 2,000 USD. Larger men's watches generally only cost a few hundred dollars more. If you're interested in a three-hand Aqua Terra with one of Omega's Co-Axial calibers, be prepared to spend upwards of 2,900 USD on Chrono24, depending on the size, material, and condition.

In 2015, Omega introduced the first watches with Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibers. These movements are highly accurate and resistant to magnetism and shocks. Today, you can find Aqua Terra models with this technology. Three-hand editions in stainless steel cost roughly 3,600 USD.

Consistent with contemporary color trends, Omega expanded their dial range in 2022, adding to their previous selection of black, white, blue, silver, and olive green further editions in red, yellow, and light green. As of summer 2022, these 38-mm Aqua Terra timepieces are still hard to find on Chrono24. The official sales price is 6,200 USD.

Omega introduced the Aqua Terra Small Seconds in 2021. This watch has a small seconds that shares the 6 o'clock position with the date display. It comes in diameters of 41 mm and 38 mm and is available in stainless steel, two-tone, or rose gold variants. Prices for this timepiece range from 4,000 to 22,000 USD depending on model.

At the upper end of the price scale for three-hand watches you'll find timepieces in Omega's own rose gold alloy Sedna gold as well as their "Ultra Light" titanium models weighing in at only 55 g. Gold models will cost you around 26,000 USD, but as soon as diamonds come into play, the price can skyrocket to 37,000 USD and beyond. A lightweight titanium model, on the other hand, readily identifiable by its recessed crown and colorful seconds hand, sells for around 42,000 USD.

Omega also offers the Aqua Terra with various complications. Of these, the Aqua Terra GMT Chronograph is particularly well-equipped. Measuring 43 mm in diameter, this watch comes with a stop function and a second time zone in addition to its date display. The extra time zone shares a subdial with the small seconds at 9 o'clock, while a subdial at 3 o'clock displays the minute and hour counters. The date display is located at 6 o'clock. Prices range from 4,500 USD for stainless steel editions to 7,500 USD for two-tone watches. Expect to see prices closer to 27,400 USD for models in Sedna gold.

Until 2018, the Swiss brand also manufactured chronographs with three subdials: a minute counter at 3, an hour counter at 6, and a small seconds at 9 o'clock. These timepieces get their power from either the caliber 3303 or 3313, both of which are based on the same Frédéric Piguet movement. The 42-mm stainless steel edition is easy to recognize by the position of its date display at 6 o'clock, and costs around 3,000 USD. Its 44-mm sibling model features its date between 4 and 5 o'clock and sells for about 3,800 USD in stainless steel. The same watch with a two-tone design requires an investment of roughly 4,800 USD.

The Aqua Terra GMT

If you're looking for a sporty dress watch with a GMT function, you may enjoy the Aqua Terra GMT. This 43-mm watch takes everything that makes the three-hand edition so popular and adds a 24-hour hand for displaying the time in a second time zone.

The Aqua Terra GMT is also available in stainless steel or Sedna gold, and in two-tone editions that combine the two materials in their design. Depending on the model, expect to pay between 3,900 and 19,000 USD to add one of these timepieces to your collection.

The Aqua Terra Annual Calendar

In recent years, the Aqua Terra Collection has included models with a so-called annual calendar, which differentiates itself from other date displays by being able to automatically recognize the number of days in a month, i.e., whether a month has 30 or 31 days. A manual correction of the date is only ever necessary on March 1st.

The annual calendar function is displayed at 3 o'clock using two windows, one for the month and one for the day. The case measures 38.5 mm in diameter and is available in stainless steel, rose gold, or a combination of the two. Stainless steel models are available on Chrono24 for about 4,400 USD, while gold models currently cost between 5,500 and 9,000 USD. Two-tone models represent a happy price medium and sell for around 6,500 USD.

As is the case in most collections, Omega has released numerous special edition Aqua Terras. The Aqua Terra >15,000 Gauss is one such timepiece. It was the first watch to feature technology and materials now present in all the Swiss manufacturer's Master Chronometer calibers. You'll recognize this watch by its black and yellow striped second hand and the yellow ">15'000 GAUSS" inscription above 6 o'clock. Be sure to set aside around 5,000 USD for this anti-magnetic timepiece.

The limited-edition Aqua Terra 007 Spectre has an almost identical construction. This model debuted in 2015 in honor of the 24th entry in the James Bond film franchise, "Spectre." The dial is embellished with the repeatedly interlocked Bond family coat of arms, and its second hand is solid yellow. Furthermore, the 007 logo is integrated into the ">15'000 GAUSS" inscription. This James Bond watch is limited to 15,007 pieces and has a price of about 7,300 USD.

Omega opted for light and robust titanium when crafting the models in the GoodPlanet line. These watches are dedicated to the GoodPlanet Foundation, an ecology and sustainable development NGO. You have the choice between two models: a 38.5-mm three-hand version and a 43-mm GMT edition, which has a fourth hand for displaying the time in a second time zone via a 24-hour scale on the bezel. You'll need to have around 5,300 USD on hand for the GMT model on a textile strap. If you want one on a stainless steel bracelet, you'll need an additional 350 to 450 USD.

The Aqua Terra Golf is yet another special edition. While technically identical to the standard model, it has numerous green elements that contrast nicely against the black dial. These details include the second hand; the "Seamaster" inscription; and the 15, 30, 45, and 60 markers on the minute track. A black and green NATO strap completes the look. Those who dislike this color combination may prefer the version with a light dial and orange accents. The green edition requires an investment of roughly 4,800 USD, while the orange variant costs around 4,400 USD.

The Aqua Terra Worldtimer

One particularly exceptional model is the Aqua Terra Worldtimer – the first Omega watch to feature a world-time display. This 43-mm timepiece's most striking detail is the enamel Earth at the center of its dial. A 24-hour scale surrounds the Earth, which itself sits within a sandblasted platinum dial. Each time zone is represented by the name of a well-known city; those that observe daylight savings time are written in blue, those that do not appear in black.

To date, Omega has produced three versions of the Aqua Terra Worldtimer. The 2017 platinum edition is very exclusive and had a limited run of only 87 pieces. You can call this timepiece your own for about 70,000 USD. The 2019 model with a Sedna gold case and bracelet is considerably less expensive at 30,000 USD. The most affordable Worldtimer also debuted in 2019, featuring a stainless steel case and blue rubber bracelet. You can purchase this watch for around 7,800 USD.

Magnetic fields pose a serious threat to mechanical movements. They can cause components like the balance spring to "stick together," thus significantly affecting the watch's precision. In addition to the permanent magnets in flip charts and refrigerators, electromagnetic fields can also take their toll. Magnetic fields are almost unavoidable: They're in headphones, smartphones, tablets, speakers, and even induction cookers, to name just a few sources.

Manufacturers have been protecting their calibers against magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss using soft iron cages since the 1930s. However, Omega went in a different direction with their Aqua Terra >15,000 Gauss. The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer opted for anti-magnetic materials to guarantee chronometer-level accuracy even when exposed to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. The balance spring is made of anti-magnetic silicon and swings freely in a titanium balance wheel, which is also resistant to magnetism. What's more, Omega's engineers were able to create a number of other silicon elements including the escape wheel, arbor, and pinions.

Omega has all their Master Chronometer calibers tested and certified for magnetic resistance and accuracy by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).