Omega Aqua Terra Vs Rolex Explorer 

My head says Omega. My heart says Rolex. My wallet says neither. 😅

I’m still a “Noob” to the watch game, but to me the greatest attribute a watch can have is accessibility. I can find / not have to wait 18-24 months to get an Omega. That fact alone has me side with Omega. Brilliant timepiece that I can actually purchase.

The aqua terra is my grail. saving every month to hopefully being able to afford it in a year or 2. the Aqua terra world timer aswell is just stunning

The moment Omega puts micro adjustment on every model, the brand will be fearsome. Same for Grand Seiko

I wanted the Rolex Explorer but after waiting several months and not being able to source one locallly, I got the Aqua Terra in blue (38mm). After wearing it for a while, it grew on me. I really love this watch. It's well made and the details like the anti reflective coating, the lines on the face and the hour markers make this a better choice for me than the Explorer.

You don’t know how long i waited for this video, cheers Adrian.

Wish the Aqua Terra didn't have polish centre links. The older ones didn't, the first 8500 AQ, with vertical pattern, blue dial is a classic.

Man, that Aqua Terra just looks gorgeous. Never liked light-coloured dials but this one is an exception. Always liked simple watches with centre seconds, the fact that it also has a date complication is a huge bonus. The want is really strong with this one.

I tried a 41mm green dial on this week?I'm sold on it. Rolex are a bit of a joke now,stupid false market prices, manufactured waiting lists,and for what. A watch that collectors can't now appreciate. Omega every time

The Omega Railmaster is also an underated explorer alternative.

The AT has been on my radar for a one (luxury) watch collection. The things that stand out to me over the Explorer are: 1. Availability 2. Movement specs 3. Water resistance 4. Date complication 5. Jumping hour complication

I'm back to work after these bloody lockdowns, working hard and saving money and this summer i'm buying Aqua Terra 38 in black. One of the best everyday watches!

Aqua Terra hands down. Date, exhibition case back, no comparison needed.

Appreciate the walk and talk intro like old times.

The only thing I'm not a fan of is the polished center links. Besides that, what a killer watch!!!

The Aquaterra has a date function and the bracelet has polished center links. The Explorer has none of that. In the Omega lineup, the Aquaterra competes with the Rolex DateJust and not the Explorer.

This is easy: Aqua Terra all day, every day. The only Rolex that would win is a ceramic Submariner at the same price, and since that will never happen, AT comes out on top!

For me it’s the Aqua Terra all the way - however it would have to be the 41mm with the 8900 movement. 60 hr power reserve, twin barrel co-axial movement which provides constant torque release for all of its 60 hr power reserve for constant accuracy, 15000 gauss, silicon balance bridge for shock resistance, METAS certified with movement in case to 6 positions, bi-directional automatic winding, etc etc. Stick it on a rubber strap for sporty looks, or a leather strap for classy looks. Such a versatile everyday usable timepiece. The dial does amazing things in various light conditions too. I’ve heard as a piece of hardware this watch being described as the best watch money can buy under £50k?

I own a 41mm Aqua Terra and absolutely love it. Such a great everyday watch.

I had this exact dilemma back in 2018. My heart was saying AT, my head was saying Explorer (and it's better residuals)... In the end I chose the AT and have no regrets. After almost 3 years of ownership, it still brings me joy every time I wear it. If I have any criticism of the watch, it's with the butterfly clasp. While the clasp is elegant and lovely to look at, it has no adjustment movement which is mighty inconvenient in the summer heat. Another great vid.

If Omega throw in an 'on the fly' adjust clasp, then for me, the Omega becomes the obvious choice.

I think the aqua terra is a little underrated …it’s a lovely piece and is good value for money ..I was making the same choice but went for the Explorer 214270 ..no regrets !

Always loved the Aqua Terra. It's a great balance between sporty and dressy, and works for pretty much every occasion. The thing that bothers me about it is how the minute hand has an arrow head and the hour hand doesn't. The tip of the hour hand always looked to me like it broke off. Just my personal taste

I’ve had my sight, saving up money for years for various watches, including explorer and grand seiko, without even taking a glance at omega aqua terra. Then one day I just walked in an omega Local AD, slapped on the aqua terra black dial and it was friggin amazing. It was my best purchase of the decade

Another great video. I got my Aqua Terra 2 years ago (the one with the yellow and black seconds hand). It was a pre owned, only a couple of years old, box and papers, from a local independent AD. It was nearly half the retail price! I absolutely love it. To me they are almost like a Grand Seiko. People that know about watches really appreciate them. Keep up the great work 👍

Aquaterra 38mm in blue sunburst dial is the best looking everyday simple watch PERIOD 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 SATISFACTION to look at the front and the back 10/10. Prices have to be backwards comparing to rolex

I'd buy the Aqua Terra because I think it's the better looking of the two, especially with the blue dial.

I've definitely switch my focus from wanting an explorer to wanting an Aquaterra. I was always a bit worried that with the ex I'd find it wanting, as an everyday/frequent wear, because it doesn't have a date, which is something I like. For this reason and now that the 39mm ex is no more and prices on grey market are beyond any sense I've definitely discounted it. As far as the AT and the 300 are concerned is the AT is just a nicer looking watch.

I love my Aqua Terra (41mm, blue dial). Love the sunburst effect. I spent months trying on different sizes and colours before I decided on the one I ended up with. Is the Explorer better? I don't know. It's not like I can go walk into an AD and try one on. And that makes all the difference. (I also have a rule of not buying over retail)

The aquaterra is probably my favorite watch that I don't think I will ever own. Every model looks amazing but none of them truly excite me

Great video as always. Just one remark: we talk at half speed while talking watch, when you are saying to subscribe and to like the channel you hit 5x speed. It doesn’t get old, it always cracks me up.

In my life, Omega was the brand that was impressed upon me as the "I made it" watch. The AT is an amazing watch and a fantastic "do it all" selection. The Explorer does not inspire me nearly as much. Great video!

Wish people would stop comparing Omega to Rolex when they both have good things and can compliment each other well.

A disadvantage for me is the height of the Aqua Terra. Especially at the 38mm version. In this point the Explorer wins.

Is been in a ´wait list’ for the 39mm with cash ready for 12 months, then Goldsmiths contacted me to say I needed a NEW wait list appointment because the 39mm had been discontinued. No way. So I started shopping around and fell in love with the AT. I’m so happy with my decision!

The biggest problem with the Aqua Terra is: 1) Crown to stiff to turn 2) Crown slippery because it effectively has not knurling Compare this crown with the one on the Tudor Pelagos and there is no chance for the Aqua Terra. Omega must change that slippery crown.

The Aqua Terra by far is the best bang for your buck in the luxury watch segment. I prefer the 41mm with the 8900 movement.

I own the full-size AT in green; it's my first higher-end watch and definitely a purchase I'm happy with. I like that it has versatility, but the details still feel dynamic. I tend to find Rolex a bit too austere and stoic for my tastes.

WHICH WATCH SHOULD I BORROW NEXT? Check out Chronext: www.chronext.co.uk/spring-sale?

Love the AT. Having said that I just bought a SM300M. Because I couldn’t stomach paying 3X the price for a sub. WRT price, I think one has to compare what the watches can ACTUALLY be had for. Let’s face it- most of us can’t get a sub or explorer at an AD. So a grey market AT vs grey market Explorer. The Rolex goes for >2X the price of the AT. Fine if you can afford it, but pretty much makes the decision for you if you can’t. In Canada, subs are selling for 18 grand. Explorers selling for 15 grand. I bought a brand new SM300m for 6k. A full 1/3 the price of a sub. I simply couldn’t justify it. On paper from an AD, they’re only a couple grand apart. But that just simply isn’t reality. Great video man!!!

Adrian, get her this Aqua Terra so that you can wear it too. The Aqua Terra looks stellar in that white dial!

Sorry Adrian but I don’t agree that Rolex and omega are in different ranges. Maybe on brand recognition but not quality.

I love the Aqua Terra, particularly that white dial, although I prefer it on the rubber strap. One of the next watches on my hit list.

I love the Aquaterra; it’s beautiful! I don’t care for the 19mm lugs, butterfly clasp, and lack of micro-adjustments, though. If Omega addressed these “issues” it would be perfect.

Both fantastic watches. I suspect the Rolex Explorer 1 will stand the test of time better as the dial on the Omega AT is less timeless and will point to a particular period in watch collecting. I do prefer the AT options as the blue and Sedna gold is very sharp, the green dial looks fantastic and the black dial does look classic. With this said, if it were a single watch to wear and have nothing else in the collection, I can see the Explorer 1 being my choice. But I’m in the other minority who likes the gold 369 over the lumed version - seems more versatile to me.

Something off about the case shape and the proportions of bracelet to case on the Aqua Terra.

My wife bought me my Aqua Terra 41mm Grey dial/blue hands, for my 60th birthday last year and i could not be happier. It makes me feel special and i smile every time i took at it. Happy me!

I think the AT is a superb value, and I prefer it over the seamaster 300. I feel it’s more versatile and I don’t have a need for the helium escape valve and stronger water resistance. 150m more than meets my needs. I think the AT has the added value over the Explorer of being acquirable tomorrow if anyone wants one. Thanks for the video Adrian!

I love the aqua terra & the fact that i can actually go into a shop, try it on & then actually buy it is a big deal, whereas with the rolex that’s not an option so it gets ruled out. I have a speedy pro and a seamaster pro, so difficult to pull the trigger on the aqua terra. 🤔

Great video man! I was choosing between these exact two watches. I ended up buying the Aqua Terra (38mm blue dial). The main reason tbh was the availability. The whole buying experience was simply better with Omega. I felt like if I was paying this amount of money for a watch I didn't want to end up in some queue and have to wait for months to get what I actually payed for. Anyway, I'm extremely happy with Aqua Terra! Although I don't think you can go wrong with any of these watches.

I've been wearing the AT for over 5 years and it is by far my favourite watch. Just goes with every occasion and never misses a beat.

Aqua Terra every day and twice on Sunday. No comparison.

The 41mm blue AT is as close to being perfect as any watch for me. If I could afford one 🤞 I know I'd neither hesitate or regret it.

Some people might find date window unnecessary, but I do feel it is much more convenient to have date on watch, it's just easier than get out your phone to check date. The antimagnetic ability of Omega is really awesome, they put this feature on all the omega watches which is just a good job that no other mechanical watch brand does !

The Aqua Terra is my grail, so you can probably guess my preference. Comparing directly to the Explorer I (my second favourite Rolex behind the Skydweller) I love the AT's dial design, especially the subtle 6 o'clock date, and the display caseback. I wish it had the 2mm micro-adjust clasp off the new Constellation, but I've heard it's easy to swap the 20mm butterfly clasp on the 41mm (my choice) with the single fold micro-adjust clasp off the Speedy Racing 44mm, so I'd do that. I also agree that there's an issue with Omega's pricing. They seem determined to charge more for the "premium" 8900 calibre, hence why the 8800 powered SM300M is less than the 8900 powered Aqua Terra 41mm and Planet Ocean 600M 43.5mm. Unfortunately, this plan falls apart when smaller versions of 8900 watches (such as the 34/38mm AT and 39.5mm PO) cost exactly the same, despite having supposedly "cheaper" 8800 movements. That said, this is a comparison to Rolex, and the Aqua Terra could put its prices up by 10-15% and still be decent value compared to even the Oyster Perpetual, let alone the Explorer.

Always aqua terra!!!! I bought the 41mm version with the olive dial last we. Love it.

Here is the question: as the new mass of Rolex admirers improve their knowledge of horology while also becoming more frustrated with Rolex watches' lack of availability and high grey market prices, will they soon realized the brilliant mechanical designs and esthetic beauty of other brands like Omega and chose them over Rolex basic models like OP and Explorer? Another question: will Tudor newer models with its daring designs and COSC & METAS certification undercut both Rolex and Omega basic lower end models?

The aquaterra can go from the beach to the boardroom effortlessly, perfect "one watch" piece IMO. I have the earlier version with the plain sunburst silver dial and polished indices, I wish they still offered plain dial versions in their current line.

I like the Aqua terra but I prefer it in the green dial ...it's stunning!

I WANT to like it, but in person the AT just doesn’t quite sing. Can’t quite put my finger on it. Functionally it needs a thinner case and a more-easily adjustable clasp.

Nice comparison between the Aquaterra and the Explorer. Both great watches, but for me the AT easily wins for the design and for the movement that is far superior and beautifully decorated.

I've had my Aqua Tera Black dial 41mm for a year now and I absolutely love it! Like others have commented, a brushed bracelet with a deployant clasp would make it a better everyday watch.

Both are really nice pieces , but why must Omega put AR coatings on the top of a sapphire glass so that it scratches ?

I love the aqua terra, I got mine in 2019 as my first ever "proper watch" and find it extremely versatile. It's the perfect watch for me and I still love to wear it!

Talking Seamaster Models: what are your Thoughts on the new Seamaster 300 Models? :) The „vintage“ looking ones 😄

I have the aqua terra 41mm. Superb watch and a lot of watch for your coin. My only gripe is there's no micro adjustment on the clasp. That's it. Other than that, it's perfect.

Adrian, so on your recommendation, I tried Chronext. Bought the Aqua Terra and delighted with the Chronext service. Great recommendation and fantastic watch!

I’m afraid it has to be the Rolex explorer in my eyes, it’s so simple and classy.

I always overlooked the AT, then I saw one in the metal...... What a watch!

I have a 41mm AT. I paid US$3000 gray-market. It’s a steal at that price.

That AquaTerra is my grail watch for sure , but not the white one the blue hands on grey dial.. that`s a killer watch!

For me, many of Omega’s watches are too thick. The Aquaterra 38mm is 13.2mm thick. That’s dive watch territory. By contrast, the Explorer (14270) is 11mm thick.

I adore my AT. The incredible rubber strap, good looks, and the hour jump complication (on the 8900 movement/41mm version) make it my default travel watch.

I love my aqua terra! 38 Mill, two tones, blue rubber strap. It's my favorite watch in my collection. I can wear it anywhere at any time. I can't say that with my Rolex. When I'm wearing it I have to cover it up so it won't get stolen. Horrible feeling when wearing a watch. Not to mention the movement in my omega kills the Rolex. I have a very small wrist 6 1/4 inches the Omega fits much better with the downward facing luges.

Aqua Terra for me thank you, I love the brand, and I need a date complication.

Love my grey dial aqua terra with blue accents, bought if from an AD 2 years ago and haven’t taken it off. Such an underrated piece. Would love to see you do a comparison of the new Tudor black bay ceramic vs the seamaster 300 ceramic 👍🏼

Your straightforward delivery has got to be top-notch and among the best in the business. Cheers Adrian and hope for more great content!

Both. Both used but mint condition. 39mm aqua terra in grey dial w applied indices. 39mm explorer 214270. Life is good.

I was looking for a datejust and when I was added on a 3 years waiting list, i realised that you can't beat chronext's price on a 41mm AT, black dial, and especially the waiting time. I just love that watch!

this Aqua Terra without the date would be perfection in its most pure form

In general apart from chronographs, I really don’t like white dials on sports watches.

Aquaterra is the more beautiful watch.

Omega for price and value all day long. What’s interesting is I’ve had people over the years asking me if my Rolex watches are real but never once had anyone asked me if my omega was real I actually would always get positive compliments on my omega watches.

Still not sold on a tool watch without a date complication….. Aqua Terra wins hands down over the Rolex…

I own an AT and an AirKing 2019 model... AT every day.

I prefer the 2nd generation aqua terra with the asymmetric case that protect the crown, date at 3, over this recent one. I think its got more personality, and in 38.5mm of course.

I’ve just bought an aqua terra blue dial 8900 It is my first high end watch and I spent a lot of time researching different watches I absolutely love this watch so much so I have ordered the blue alligator strap and the rubber strap and am very pleased to wear this watch every day Thanks for the video

Omega win hands down for most contemporary timepiece

I’m just happy to here you say “Oh-may-guh” instead of “Oh-mee-guh”. 🤣🤣🤣

Prices of both are ridiculous. I feel so sorry for anyone buying a modern watch these days ... I'd bet Rolex/Omega are making these for less than three hundred pounds each ...

I was thinking of a Explorer and am now leaning toward a blue Aqua Terra. It's a great watch I can actually buy, VS having to suck off a Rolex dealer to get one.

Love AT but it needs bracelet with satin brushed finish and clasp with on the fly adjust.

Me sitting here with the Two tone Explorer. Stop making my life difficult Jack.

As an owner of both Rolex explorer 39mm and Omega watches of all sorts. I feel I am reasonably qualified to comment on this. I would say that both watches are as good as the other, but I have to admit that I feel a little bit more special when I wear the Rolex. I believe it comes down to the fact that any sports Rolex is harder to get at retail, and when you do, you will pay full price. I love Omega, but they have diluted the brand with all the different types of the same watch. Example - Speedmaster line up must have over 25 variations. Rolex tend to keep it much more simple.

Completely agree about the price. Aqua terra is amazing, especially with the white dial. Not a fan of the polished centre links and should be priced £3500-£4000 retail I reckon.

I’m waiting patiently for the Explorer, but both beautiful watches

The Aqua's better but I want the Ex....The most classic of all watches

I bought my Aqua Terra 8500 41mm 3 years ago, in mint condition for £2200. and it's my favourite watch and sits well on my 7.3 inch wrist.

Got the aqua terra in blue dial for my 43rd birthday. Its been almost a year now but the honeymoon period just never ends.

Omega is the superior watch, with the superior movement. Rolex has the superior hype, that’s about it at this point in history. Just my opinion.