The past few years have seen watch brands increasingly turning toward vibrant color as a way to set their products apart from the pack. Sports/dress hybrid watches, in particular, have led the charge in this area, and as part of its 2022 novelties, Omega joins the growing trend with a rainbow of rich new sunburst dials for the versatile Seamaster Aqua Terra line. Split between the 38mm and 34mm variants of the series, these new dials bring a range of colors, from restrained to adventurous, without falling into the same colorway patterns as the brand’s rivals. The new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra models breathe exciting new life into the long-running series and reimagine this familiar form with an array of fresh new personalities.
Although the dial hardware of both the 38mm and 34mm variants are carried over from previous iterations, these new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra models reinvent the design with a markedly different approach to dial finishing. The “teak deck” horizontal striped texture that has been a staple of larger-cased Aqua Terra models is deleted here in favor of a cleaner but more generic sunburst finish across each of the 10 new dial options. Although this finish loses some of the depth and uniqueness of previous Aqua Terra iterations in images, these new designs recoup some of that sense of individuality with a spectrum of unexpected colors. As one might expect, the five 38mm models offer bolder and more vivid colorways than their smaller stablemates, but with a clean and elemental backdrop, each color is given visual room to shine in images.
The brightest and most eye-catching of the 38mm group is undoubtedly the deep scarlet hue Omega refers to as “Terracotta.” Created through a rarely seen process known as chemical vapor deposition, or CVD, this rich red tone showcases the grain of the sunburst dial dramatically in images, with subtle orange highlights that handsomely complement the intricate brushed and polished surfaces of the applied indices and handset. All other dials in the series use the more familiar PVD process to lay down their colors. The not-quite-gold, not-quite-orange “Saffron” dial is another standout in images, with a lively and outgoing character that adds drama to the Aqua Terra design without overwhelming the simple layout in images.
For those looking for a more traditional, conservative option, the slate-blue sunburst option presents a tastefully restrained take on the ubiquitous blue dial sports watch motif, while the pale champagne gold of the “Sandstone” dial offers an offbeat alternative to the classic silver dial. Lastly, the mint green tone of the “Bay Green” dial marks an intriguing middle ground between restraint and visual drama in images, with a markedly different execution to the plethora of olive and hunter green dials on the current market.
The five new 34mm models in the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra series deliver more delicate colorways overall, matching this lighter and more feminine interpretation of the Aqua Terra formula. The applied wedge indices of the 38mm model are replaced with brightly polished applied lozenges in white gold, while the handset abandons the larger design’s partial brushing and blunted dauphine hours hand in favor of a slimmer, sharper, fully polished rendition of the Aqua Terra’s signature dauphine and arrow handset. The printed minutes track is deleted on these models for a smoother, less aggressive look, while the larger models’ applied Omega text at 12 o’clock is replaced by a simpler printed script. Even the 6 o’clock date window is softened from the 38mm models’ trapezoidal cutout, with the 34mm series opting for a circular window with a tall raised frame. Both case variants, however, suffer from the same white date wheel, which disrupts the overall visual flow of these dials noticeably in images. Although the champagne “Sandstone” colorway is shared with the 38mm line, the rest of the 34mm models offer unique dial colors. The 34mm “Sea Blue” model presents a lighter, less stormy oceanic tone than its 38mm counterpart in images, while the “Lagoon Green” model interprets the design in a compelling deep turquoise. The last two variants are by far the most overtly “women’s watch” entries in the group, in a soft lavender tone and a bright cotton-candy hue Omega dubs “Shell Pink.”
Both the 34mm and 38mm interpretations of the new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra offer fully polished renditions of the base Aqua Terra case design. The overall profile for both sizes is pure classic Omega, with twisted lyre lugs flowing directly into a broad case side chamfer paired to a smooth sloping bezel. Although a 4mm reduction In case diameter would usually come with a dramatic shift in overall proportions, Omega is careful to keep the series’ base design intact in both images, with bezels and lugs fine-tuned to remain in balance with one another at these two different sizes. Both cases are also fitted with sapphire display casebacks and offer a sporty 150 meters of water resistance.
Omega powers each new model in the Seamaster Aqua Terra series with its in-house Calibre 8800 co-axial automatic movement. Sporting the brand’s signature co-axial escapement system, the Calibre 8800 is a thoroughly modern staple of Omega’s current lineup with a silicon balance spring and a massive 15,000 gauss of magnetic resistance. This adds up to an equally modern level of performance, with accuracy certified to the exacting Master Chronometer standard by independent evaluating group METAS. The Calibre 8800’s power reserve stands at a solid 55 hours at a 25,200 bph beat rate. Omega decorates this movement in its signature style, with the brand’s trademark Geneva waves in arabesque across the bridges and winding rotor. Each new model in the Seamaster Aqua Terra line is paired to a three-link bracelet in stainless steel, featuring broad polished center links contrasted by outer links with deep brushing in images.
Although these new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra models play into the watch industry’s current “color revolution,” Omega’s colorways and executions both set these models apart from their competitors and reinvigorate one of the brand’s most enduring series. Each new model in the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra series is available now through authorized dealers. Starting MSRP for these new models stands at $5,700 as of press time. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.
