I wanted to love the aqua terra bad. I went through the 38 and 41 mm 88/8900 in blue. About a month ago, I hit up exquisite and traded in my AT for a grand seiko SBGA413 (spring shunbun) and it blows the AT away in every aspect, imo of course. Going from the AT to the GS felt like I was entering in a new realm of luxury. Maybe I’d like this small seconds better 🤷♂️
Can only like what you like. Can’t try to force something you don’t like just because others like it. Glad you were able to trade to something you liked better
I actually do like these indices quite a bit. I already have a watch with the typical 41mm AT wedges. I just don't know if I'd like this model better with the small seconds and a sunburst dial.... or the 38mm blue wave dial 220.10.38.20.03.002. I think the wave dial is definitely more interesting and unique. Both are really classy though.
The larger version looks better. Such a watch is a lot to do about the dial with the small seconds and the larger version looks a lot more interesting and more complete. Don't really care for how the 38mm cuts out the small seconds frame on the bottom with the circular date window at the bottom of it.
Agree on both cons. No screw down crown is fine . . . and I much prefer the 41mm small seconds dial design over this 38mm. To the point that I would not consider this. I really like a small seconds “complication”, but the dial is most important. A real missed opportunity here.
Once again a great review Guy. To me this watch seems to target more the dress market as opposed to the sports audience. I love that the sunburst of the dial comes from the centre of the small seconds pinion, it just makes it different , that chrome like rim to the sub seconds is also something I like a lot. As you say the minute markers are missing and I would like to see them back, even if they are a tad subdued compared to the 41. One other personal preference would be the date dial being having the background colour matched to the dial. A small but to me anyway a significant improvement. All minor gripes though. Aesthetically I prefer this model to the centre seconds but it is a very close call. Great photography and a very well articulated review Guy. Thanks for sharing. I think the AT range is overlooked by some but is a clear winner for those who don't live by the spec sheet. My old discontinued asymmetric case AT is one of my keepers. A cracking time piece in my humble opinion.
First, really good review. I am pretty sure Omega targets this model to the female customers, due to the indices shape which for sure are feminine, missing minute track, and finally no screwdown crown feature. The latter, women especially do not like and design was intentionally simplified by Omega.
Good stuff. Small seconds is a function I would definitely like to add to my collection in the future. I was finally able to add a time only watch to my collection. Before that everything was central seconds with the date, I was getting sick of that look.
As great as this is... I will always prefer the vintage small seconds on vintage cases. I just feel that design belongs in the past, and the past looks superb with it. Agree with other comments that the normal Aqua Terra is more cohesive.
Great review. Beautiful case, dial, and clasp. Not a fan of the indices. Look feminine to me. The "sailboat hulls" look more like "tulip petals" to me. Date window is a little odd, but it could grow on me.
😂 I feel you with the tulip petals. I thought the same thing. They don’t bother me as much with the indices but the second hand looks a little just weird to me
Good review of a flawed watch. However, the large seconds hand Aqua Terra 38mm, on a leather strap (I don't do butterfly clasp bracelets) is a good value at $5400, especially when compared to a Rolex Datejust. And I personally think the large seconds hand version is more cohesive in design and more attractive.
Why o why does Omega and other brands insist on polished center links, if there was a pole I bet more people would rather not have them, it stopped me from purchasing the Aqua terra in green, and no I don't want to put it on a nato or rubber.
If you notice…the second hand doesn’t line up to dial markers at 5, 10, seconds etc. the minute track markers are decoratively positioned…but not accurately or traditionally positioned. Also the metal bracelet just, and I mean just fit over my 6.5 inch wrist…I then looked at the screwed links and found there were many…so many…that I believe this watch was intended for the female wrist. It was a huge male disappointment! If your wrist is over 6 1/2”…you’ll have to order extra links…What was the last mens watch with this issue?
I don't know...the markers, dial and date integration looks off to me. I guess the lack of any minute track looks strange...still the first gen AT and Railmaster from the 90s/2000's haven't been surpassed by Omega so far.
The 41mm styling is more to my taste too but the finish is great as you say on both size’s. The Omega boutique in my city has been displaying some of the different variations in their window all week. The 41mm looks huge next to the 38mm almost to the point of being to big. I didn’t expect that. I would almost certainly pick the smaller size and I generally prefer larger watches. They look fantastic on a strap. I’m impressed
O wow.... Didn't even know this watch existed. Looks absolutely stunning and the dimensions would be perfect for my wrist. But 6300 dollars...? 😭thats Rolex money.
You can't buy a new Rolex with a similair movement like the Omega under 10k dollars.. not even a used one on the grey market. And even a similair one (Rolex Explorer or datejust) has a worse movement than this Omega. So yeah, price for a luxury watch is good :-)
I'm a 32yo male with 6" wrist. Wearing one right now as my daily driver. I only get compliments than scrutiny about gender-bs. The regular version with triangular indices (I call them teeth) just don't cut it for me.
I believe Omega calls this a women’s watch, and for good reason, as the indices are quite feminine. I don’t know why Omega wouldn’t make the 38mm size for men with the small seconds. All they’d have to do is give it the same indices as the bigger one and perhaps add a minute track or chapter ring.
