Monday Morning Coffee Spiced With Smoked Paprika: The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Shades Watch

Do you ever add spices to your coffee? It’s actually quite a common thing. If it’s something you haven’t tried, you could start with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, cloves, or star anise as a way to spice up your coffee experience. And if you have an adventurous taste, you could test your pallet with cumin, for instance, or even a mix of different spices. While sipping a black coffee and looking at the five new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Shades 38mm watches, the red-dialed version made me think of smoked paprika. How would that smoky, spicy, and delicately sweet taste mix with the dark, rich, yet fruity flavor of a coffee made with Kimbo beans? I had to find out.

When you see the new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Shades 38mm watches side by side, they create a stream of thoughts and associations. Watch people will immediately see the strategic side of the shiniest of Aqua Terra models so far; creating a radiant, dressy alternative for models made by the brand with the crown. Others see fashionable colors, and foodies might even think of spices. Well, Omega did name one color saffron. But sadly, the one that makes me taste white pepper on my tongue was given the name “sandstone”. And the smoked paprika dial was dubbed the “terracotta”.

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Shades 38mm: a spicy alternative to what exactly?

The most cynical approach to describing the deep red Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades 38mm (220.10.38.20.13.003) and its siblings is to portray them as a €7,200 alternative for the now discontinued Oyster Perpetual 39 watches with colored, sunburst dial variants. The current “OP” models are not available in 39mm anymore – there’s a cold and uncomfortable void between the 36 (€6,100) and 41mm (€6,400) versions. And on top of that, the new OP models have a more muted-looking dial covered with six layers of lacquer. Yes, the OP lacks a date, but the more radiant Datejust 41 in steel with a smooth bezel is because of its characteristic cyclops and €8,600 price tag, too far out of reach for the “AT.”

There are ten watches, out of a total of 220 (!) in the Aqua Terra collection, that bear the name Shades. There are also an additional five 34mm versions available. The 38mm variants are more than a bunch of spicy alternatives that fill a gap left by the “Crown.” These watches offer you the chance to wear a watch that can handle the rigors of everyday life in a flamboyant fashion. These Aqua Terra watches are very much like a dress watch 2.0.

Is the Aqua Terra 150M Shades still a Seamaster?

The last time I wore an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra was the Small Seconds model in off-white and beige tones. This version, with its textured dial that hints at the watch’s nautical history, was already a very luxurious, less functional, more dressed-up version of the Seamaster. The new Shades models push the style envelope even further. The 38mm × 12.3mm case with a lug-to-lug length of 44.9mm is fully polished. And the thin yet sturdy bracelet with its fold-over butterfly clasp and suave, rounded links is both polished and brushed. But if we check where the balance stands, shiny beats brushed, hands down.

The bright and shiny look of the red Aqua Terra Shades on my wrist makes me question if this watch is still a Seamaster. It would shine brighter still if the watch had been classified into a separate Aqua Terra family, instead of a subcategory. Also, the 150-meter water resistance is a bit meager for a modern-day Seamaster. Why not set the bar at 300 meters, Omega? Make a clear distinction between the watches that shine below sea level and those that dwell on the land 99 percent of the time. This distinction would also highlight how the lacquered and sun-brushed dials from the Shades models step out of the shadow of the rugged and dominant professional models.

Joy on a subconscious level

As expected, underneath the shiny dial, with its applied indexes (filled with white Super-LumiNova that glows a bright blue) and its date window at 6 o’clock—please date window haters, look at it with an open mind and you might reach the conclusion that on this watch, the date looks balanced and also brings life to the overall design—beats a chronometer movement. It’s the in-house Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8800, certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). The precise movement (0/+5 seconds per day) powers not only the date but also the rhodium-plated hands.

The presence of an advanced movement made to the highest standards is a feature that adds to the joy of the rather exuberant exterior. Beauty founded on quality is something that can be enjoyed at an almost subconscious level. The Aqua Terra Shades is not all show; it’s got plenty of business too. This watch shines with confidence, and that rubs off on its wearer, I guess.

A taste of the Shades

The Aqua Terra has been with us since 2002, and the name tells us the watch is a capable timekeeping companion in both wet and dry conditions. It also makes this all-rounder a bit of an ambivalent, middle-of-the-road watch. It wants to be this and that at the same time. Yes, it does make its point from a functional standpoint, but it never causes a scene. The “AT” is a bit of a goody-two-shoes. And maybe because of this ambivalence and lack of outspoken character, the Aqua Terra never made any waves when they arrived at Fratello HQ.

However, there’s nothing ambivalent about the Aqua Terra Shades collection. This watch is meant to shine unapologetically. And it does. All the five “flavors” do, and it’s the smoked paprika… Sorry, the terracotta version, that I like best. The deep red color, in combination with the sunray pattern, makes it a lush, maybe even slightly decadent-looking watch. It might not be to your taste, but this AT sure is an outspoken and confident timepiece. And I say, it was about time we saw that in the Aqua Terra collection.

By the way, in case you thought I was joking, coffee with added smoked paprika is actually fantastic! Mix about half a teaspoon of smoked paprika with your ground coffee. Brew the mixture, add warm milk, and finish it off with some maple syrup for a sweet, smoky, and creamy cup of coffee you never thought you would ever drink. Don’t, however, put the paprika straight into the coffee like I did. That’s a cup of joe I can’t recommend.

Find the Aqua Terra to your taste on the official Omega website.