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The Omega Aqua Terra 38mm has been out for some time. It has additionally been barely overshadowed by its larger brother by way of consideration. So I reckoned it was about time to place one on my wrist and see whether or not that is the right on a regular basis watch. I imply, all of the elements are there. On paper, that is the one watch you’ll ever want. Time to search out out whether or not it really works out that approach in actual life. You could know that that is simply my model of watch. I’ve declared my love of small do-it-all watches on Fratello on quite a few events. The Omega Aqua Terra was one with which I had not but spent important time. So let’s dive in and see whether it is nearly as good within the metal as it’s on paper.
The official title of this watch is the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial Grasp Chronometer 38mm Ref. 220.10.38.20.02.001. That may be a bit an excessive amount of of a mouthful for me so I’ll seek advice from this watch merely because the Aqua Terra 38mm. Be aware that there’s a 2022 launch by that title too. These are fitted with colourful dial choices and a rounded bracelet.
A correct spec sheet
After I say the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm is sweet on paper, I’m referring to its spectacular specs. The Aqua Terra 38mm comes with the very succesful caliber 8800. This motion is fitted with a Co-Axial escapement underneath a full steadiness bridge. It’s proof against magnetic fields as much as 15,000 gauss. It is usually METAS licensed, making it a Grasp Chronometer. The properly completed caliber is seen by means of a sapphire case again.
The 38mm case is fitted with a screw-down crown and a double-AR-coated sapphire crystal. The water resistance ranking of 150 meters is loads for any form of real-life use and abuse. As you’ll have come to anticipate, the attribute lyre lugs are current right here. They join the case to a stable three-link bracelet with a dual-deployant clasp. The detachable hyperlinks are held in place with substantial screws.
These specs mix to make the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm a robust contender by way of worth. It’s going head-to-head with some heavy hitters out there. This is without doubt one of the extra technically succesful decisions at this value stage, although.
Design of the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm
The Omega Aqua Terra has a really distinct look all of its personal. From a distance, you’ll definitely not mistake this for the rest. Essentially the most attribute design components are the lyre lugs, arrow minute hand, and cut-off triangular indices. This model comes with the equally recognizable teak-deck striping on the dial.
The design may be very properly achieved. It’s cohesive and purposeful. The small print are properly thought-out. The crown, for example, follows the identical inward taper because the indices. The identical goes for the date aperture at six. It’s all very neat and congruent.
If something, it’s a tad over-designed. Each ingredient has some form of element to it — an additional angle, a aspect, a cut-off, and so forth. Put facet by facet with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual (or a Datejust, for that matter), the AT appears to be like a bit over-complicated. It offers the watch a type of nerdy vibe in my eyes, and I say that within the kindest approach potential. It’s not a classical magnificence, however it does by some means work very properly. The Aqua Terra is extra “technical-looking”. I suppose that’s the proper time period.
The Omega Aqua Terra 38mm on the wrist
After I put the Aqua Terra 38mm on, I instantly appreciated it. To place that into perspective for you, I as soon as offered a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39mm as a result of I felt it was too massive for me. Naturally, I doubted up entrance whether or not the Aqua Terra 38mm can be okay for me. Effectively, I’m comfortable to report that it definitely is!
The size work extraordinarily properly. Once you mix the 38mm diameter with a brief lug-to-lug of lower than 45mm, you get an incredible carrying expertise. The feminine finish hyperlinks assist loads on this case. The bracelet instantly follows the contour of your wrist, which simply appears to be like proper. This watch appears to be like neither massive nor small. It’s only a very good and versatile measurement.
The Aqua Terra 38mm is slightly over 13mm thick. This makes it simply ever-so-slightly tubby. The AT pulls it off, although. The technical, sporty aesthetic is additional emphasised by the girth. Don’t get me unsuitable, this isn’t a thick watch by any means. It simply has a sports activities watch’s stance on the wrist. Nonetheless, it should easily slide underneath any however the tightest of cuffs.
Factors of criticism
Like every watch, the Aqua Terra 38mm shouldn’t be excellent. Though the bracelet is properly made, I’m not a fan of the polished heart hyperlinks. They’re absolute smudge and scratch magnets. I discovered myself continually wiping the watch down. And even when completely clear, the look is only a bit too blingy. This would possibly sound blasphemous, but when I ever purchase one, I would get the bracelet brushed by watchmaker. I feel a completely matted bracelet fits the subdued, sporty look of the Aqua Terra 38mm a lot better.
A second gripe I’ve with this model is the texture of the crown. I applaud the aesthetic facet of this design alternative, as beforehand described. On this case, nonetheless, it leads to a slightly sharp ridge proper the place you use the crown. I discovered unscrewing it to be fairly uncomfortable. No crown ought to go away you with a sore thumb and index finger. Particularly on an on a regular basis watch on this section.
Curiously, each these points had been launched in later generations of the Aqua Terra. The earlier era featured a straight crown, and older variations additionally had a brushed bracelet. It appears Omega tried so as to add some extra formal sophistication to the Aqua Terra 38mm. When it comes on the expense of performance like this, I can’t actually applaud it. Not all change is progress.
Is the Aqua Terra 38mm the right on a regular basis watch?
Effectively, we already famous that the right watch doesn’t exist. So let’s decrease our requirements only a bit. The Omega Aqua Terra 38mm is most definitely a improbable on a regular basis watch. It feels tremendous stable, prepared for something you may throw at it. It exudes ruggedness, which may be very reassuring.
The Aqua Terra 38mm can be very versatile from an aesthetic viewpoint. Except you’re going black tie, I don’t assume you’ll run into points pairing this with any outfit. That being stated, it’s definitely leaning in direction of the sporty facet of the do-it-all-watch spectrum.
There’s a subtlety to the Aqua Terra 38mm that I take pleasure in in an on a regular basis watch. It’s clearly and clearly a really good watch, however it’s by no means offensive or brash. Each from a stylistic and technical viewpoint, you may strap this watch on and never take it off till it wants its first service. It’ll survive and it will likely be acceptable. That’s the essence of an on a regular basis watch.
The difficulty of positioning
There may be one elephant within the room that I really feel I have to tackle. The market positioning of the Aqua Terra 38mm is… properly… odd. Admittedly, it does rely on the way you take a look at it. If we had been to take a look at the aggressive panorama of Rolex, Grand Seiko, and IWC, for example, the pricing for the Aqua Terra appears very cheap.
The place it will get bizarre is once you take a look at Omega’s personal catalog. The Seamaster 300M is much like the Aqua Terra, however with a ceramic rotating bezel, 300 meters of water resistance, a ceramic dial, and a helium escape valve added. That’s much more, constructed on the identical idea of a stainless-steel Omega on metal bracelet, powered by caliber 8800. Nonetheless, it’s priced €400 decrease than the Aqua Terra 38mm. That appears bonkers. Omega takes “much less is extra” to the following stage right here.
The factor is, if you’re out there for an Aqua Terra 38mm, you aren’t doubtless curious about a 300M.
The factor is, if you’re out there for an Aqua Terra 38mm, you aren’t doubtless curious about a 300M. So should you simply evaluate the AT to its rivals from different manufacturers, it makes an entire lot of sense. It is perhaps odd to say a couple of wristwatch costing six grand, however it’s good worth. There may be a lot superior, proprietary watchmaking tech on board. You’ll not simply discover that elsewhere on this section.
Closing ideas on the Aqua Terra 38mm
I actually loved my time with the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm. This can be very properly made, it’s fairly good-looking, and it’s most definitely tremendous versatile. It is usually a little bit of an authentic alternative. If somebody reveals up with an Aqua Terra, you realize they’ve given it some thought. You understand they’ve had a detailed take a look at the choices, and so they went down the highway much less traveled.
It looks as if it fits me higher than I care to confess.
Positive, its look is extra “techy” than “excessive vogue”, however it appears to be like cool nonetheless. And that may be a matter of style anyway. The bracelet and the crown are potential deal breakers for me, although. Particularly on a watch that’s nearly clinically severe and near perfection, I need such particulars to be good. It’s significantly irritating to see that they had been higher on earlier iterations.
My “Fratella” Sofia shot some video of me carrying the Aqua Terra 38mm for Fratello’s TikTok. After I noticed that footage, I form of fell in love with this watch. It was completely different than after I look down at it or see myself within the mirror. I simply appreciated what the watch does for me. It looks as if it fits me higher than I care to confess. I’d not have picked this white-ish silver model, however seeing it on myself within the third individual modified that. I might very fortunately put on this Omega Aqua Terra 38mm every day. How about you?
The Omega Aqua Terra 38mm is out there now and has an RRP of €6,100.
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