Introducing: The New Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 30mm With A New Movement
Today, Omega introduces a new selection of Seamaster Aqua Terra watches for ladies. They feature a new 30mm case and an in-house-developed self-winding movement. Thus far, Omega’s smallest Aqua Terra measures 28mm but comes with a quartz movement. The self-winding Aqua Terra models used to be 34mm and larger. This new small Aqua Terra 30mm comes in 12 variations.
The Seamaster Aqua Terra
Before discussing the details, let’s briefly recap the Aqua Terra line. Introduced in 2002, the Aqua Terra became another sub-collection of the Seamaster family. While Omega has only a few watch families, such as the Seamaster, Speedmaster, Constellation, and De Ville, many of them contain several sub-collections.
The modern Omega Aqua Terra 150M 38mm
The first Aqua Terra featured caliber 2500. This was an ETA-based (2982-A2) movement with a Co-Axial escapement. There were also quartz versions available in different sizes for both men and women. The Aqua Terra was a reliable, good-looking watch that would match any attire. In 2008, one year after the introduction of the in-house-developed caliber 8500, Omega upgraded the Seamaster Aqua Terra once more.
Seamaster Aqua Terra “Bumblebee” (2013)
In 2013, Omega took a revolutionary step by creating a movement (caliber 8505) capable of resisting magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. The most famous model with this movement was the Aqua Terra ref. 231.10.42.21.01.002, which enthusiasts quickly dubbed the “Bumblebee” due to the yellow and black seconds hand.
Aqua Terra 150M Ultra Light
Quite a few variations in 20+ years
The Aqua Terra evolved into a collection offered in various sizes and materials while also featuring complications, such as a worldtimer. Or what about the Aqua Terra 150M Ultra Light with a hand-wound movement, a high-end sports watch developed with input from golf champion Rory McIlroy? The Aqua Terra has become Omega’s GADA (go anywhere, do anything) watch, with its level of water resistance, stainless steel bracelet, and antimagnetic movement.
The new Aqua Terra 30mm
The 12 new Seamaster Aqua Terra 30mm references include three models in 18K Moonshine Gold, one in 18K Sedna Gold, five stainless steel versions, two bicolor models in steel and Moonshine Gold, and one bicolor variant in steel and Sedna Gold.
All watches feature a metal bracelet with fitted end links and a butterfly clasp with a 2mm easy comfort adjustment. Omega applied polished and brushed finishes to the surfaces of the case and bracelet.
The new models come in a variety of dial colors (black, grainy silver, blue, purple, gray, brown, green, champagne, and mother-of-pearl). My favorites of these 12 new Aqua Terra 30mm watches are the steel version with a black dial and the Moonshine Gold model with a green dial, diamond indexes, and a diamond-set bezel.
All versions have dauphine hands with lume for good readability in low-light conditions. The hour markers, except for the diamond ones, also have an application of lume.
Caliber 8751 (8750 for the steel models)
New thinner (and smaller) Omega movements
Inside the 30mm ladies’ watches, we find the new calibers 8750 and 8751. These movements are smaller, with a 20mm diameter and a 3.98mm thickness (4.08mm for the 8751 due to the thicker gold rotor). They feature the Co-Axial escapement, and each one is, of course, certified as a Master Chronometer by METAS.
All the new Aqua Terra 30mm models have transparent case backs so that their wearers can admire the new calibers. The decoration is like the other in-house-developed Omega movements, featuring arabesque Geneva waves on the rotor and parts of the mainplate as well as a black balance wheel and black screws. The gold models house caliber 8751, which has an 18K gold winding rotor and a gold balance bridge. All engravings on the movement are filled with red lacquer.
Caliber 8750
For comparison purposes, the Rolex caliber 2236 also has a 20mm diameter but a 5.95mm thickness. Admittedly, the Rolex movement boasts a greater power reserve (70 hours) compared to Omega’s 48 hours. Still, Omega’s Co-Axial escapement and Master Chronometer certification add greater protection against magnetism and ensure that no watches lose time. I recently measured my 2017 Globemaster (caliber 8900) and my 2019 Speedmaster (caliber 3861), and they’re still performing amazingly well. It’s +1 second per day on average for the Globemaster and +2 seconds per day on average for the Speedmaster.
Making thinner cases possible
Rolex uses its 2236 movement for the 28mm Datejust, for example, and the 37mm Yacht-Master. The new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 30mm models have a 10.65mm profile, making them a bit thinner than Rolex’s Datejust 28 (11mm) or 31 (12mm). This means the thinner Omega caliber 8750 (and 8751) could be utilized in larger models, allowing for a reduction in the thickness of the cases in the future. I assume there is a limitation on the case size with a 20mm movement. Still, if Omega can use it in 36–37mm cases, there seem to be interesting possibilities for creating slimmer watches.
The Aqua Terra models, including these new 30mm ladies’ versions, are water resistant to 150 meters. However, because METAS tests and certifies all watches for their water resistance, there is a +25% margin to be on the (very) safe side.
Ashley Graham
My Little Secret
The launch campaign, “My Little Secret,” kicked off in Kyoto, Japan. The concept is that some things are simply too beautiful to keep hidden. Omega has six campaign ambassadors for this Aqua Terra collection, including Sunday Rose Urban Kidman, the daughter of longtime Omega ambassador Nicole Kidman.
Watch brands cater to smaller diameters, and this new Aqua Terra 30mm exemplifies that trend. Unlike my grandmother’s Omega Ladymatic from the 1960s, which required careful handling, the new Aqua Terra 30mm serves perfectly as an everyday watch. It can be worn while swimming in the ocean (or pool) and will also pair well with a chic dress code.
Most importantly, the Aqua Terra 30mm will maintain its chronometric performance in all those circumstances. As Omega campaign ambassador Ashley Graham (a model with a whopping 21.2 million followers on Instagram) said, “This watch will never come off, and it will go with every part of my life.”
Prices start at CHF 5,500 (ex. VAT) / US$6,600 (ex. sales tax) / €7,000 (inc. VAT) for the stainless steel models. For more information and local prices for all the variants, visit Omega’s website.
