Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Co-Axial Master Chronometer Owner Review : Accomplished, precise and comfortable

Although more recent, less appreciated, and lacking the prestigious history of some of its counterparts, the Aquaterra immediately stood out to me. Within the Omega catalog, it has been my favorite from the beginning and is one of the few watches I absolutely wanted to wear. The reasons are numerous, and I'll list them for you, but first, I'd like to explain what catches my attention in a watch because in this case, they are all (or almost all) present. A watch isn't just an object, at least for me, but I think many of you think the same. It's an object, but one with a "soul," with character and distinctive traits, and every detail, flaw, or quality contributes to that. To begin with, the movement: the caliber 8800 is not only precise, reliable, and technologically advanced, but it's also beautiful. The spiral Geneva scales are perfectly executed and already distinctive; they are embellished with red engraved markings, which distinguish Omega calibers from the competition, which often opts for gold lettering. Next comes the case with lyre lugs, a signature of the brand. These atypical lugs bring dynamism, and the alternating polished/brushed finishes pay homage to the case, highlighting its architecture and emphasizing the sinuous curves of the lugs. But although particularly successful, the case is merely a link between a remarkable movement and an equally remarkable dial. With a slightly lower minute track and regular lines that differ in width, echoing the motif of boat deck slats, the dial of the Aquaterra "Teak Deck" is dynamic and full of character. Its sunburst pattern allows for subtle and varied nuances, depending on the light. Yet, it is the indexes and hands that are the most accomplished, in my opinion. Triangular, brushed, iridescent, with sharp edges, cut through the dial with regularity and elegance. They add an extra touch of refinement to this model, which is supposed to compete with the Rolex Datejust. I find that the shaded and/or lacquered references come closer, but their fully polished case, which I find bland, and in the case of the shaded models, a date disc that doesn't match the dial, appeal to me less and don't have that "all-around" look that I love so much. To continue the comparison, I chose a very attractive and comfortable rubber strap because the steel bracelets simply aren't up to the standard offered by Rolex. Less comfortable, and not necessarily featuring micro-adjustment (for example, on my version, the butterfly strap with micro-adjustment is not available. It is currently only available on the lacquered versions), I think this is an aspect of the watch that should receive more attention from the brand, which currently seems to be devoting more time to releasing (too) many dial variations. This detail aside, this watch, which I've been dreaming about for several years, has delighted me for nearly six months, and the honeymoon period doesn't seem to be over. Thank you for reading.