{"id":38050,"date":"2022-02-08T23:34:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T22:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/?p=38050"},"modified":"2022-02-08T23:34:19","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T22:34:19","slug":"the-omega-aqua-terra-beijing-2022-watch-hands-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/the-omega-aqua-terra-beijing-2022-watch-hands-on\/","title":{"rendered":"The Omega Aqua Terra Beijing 2022 watch hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

Omega<\/strong>\u2018s Olympic timekeeping Department has been among the brand\u2019s hidden gems since the Swiss brand became the official timekeeper in 1932<\/strong>. The accuracy and plenty of timing activities during the Olympics<\/strong> are paramount, and so is the effort provided by Omega<\/strong>, whose behind-the-scenes work is huge. The research and development team whose mission is to time the tiniest fraction of a second is a \u201cskunkworks\u201d, representing to Omega<\/strong> watches what NASA<\/strong> is to civil aviation or a Formula One<\/strong> team to its high-volume automotive counterpart. It\u2019s rocket-science technology.<\/p>\n

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In slightly less than a century, Omega<\/strong> has pioneered this industry so much to deserve large areas of its fully renovated museum, where timing machines surround your favorite wristwatches. The Olympic journey began in 1936<\/strong>, in Garmisch Partenkirchen<\/strong>, with a team including a single watchmaker and 27 pocket watches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Twelve years later, Omega<\/strong> introduced the first-ever photoelectric cells in the industry; as a result, Olympic timekeeping changed forever, with new technologies breaking through edition after edition.<\/p>\n

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1948<\/strong> marks the beginning of a new era, followed by the first starting gate to appear in 1956<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Sports timing is a class of its own; technological advancement runs so fast you\u2019ll hardly spot any significant gap between earth and space technologies, for instance; you won\u2019t see any fuel cell during an event here; yet, either the extreme performance and parts\u2019 miniaturization are often comparable.<\/p>\n

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For example, skiers wear transponder-equipped boots sending live-radio signals and tons of data to a receiver per second. It\u2019s hard to link this Division\u2019s developments to consumer products, but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if both the Z-33<\/strong> and X-33<\/strong> had been co-developed back then.<\/p>\n

Omega Beijing 2022: the new watches<\/h2>\n

While I hope Omega<\/strong> will create a luxury digital sports watch anytime soon (it makes sense by scrolling the brand\u2019s involvement in digital high-frequency technology during the late seventies), let\u2019s get back to its core consumer business then. Can we affirm that the Consumer Division has adopted an \u201cOlympic approach\u201d while recently revolutionizing products and processes? It\u2019s hard to say, but looking at the \u201cMaster Chronometer\u201d<\/em> certification and cutting-edge watches like an Aqua Terra Ultra-light<\/strong>, I see a different industrial mindset compared to the past.<\/p>\n

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As usual, when an Olympic event is underway, let\u2019s always expect Omega<\/strong> to release commemorative watches, and Beijing<\/strong> 2022<\/strong> couldn\u2019t be any different. The Swiss brand released two new timepieces belonging to the same product family: the Seamaster<\/strong>. The first option is a professional diver, the Seamaster Diver 300M Beijing 2022 in titanium<\/strong>, hence the Olympic take on a Nekton<\/strong> edition Seamaster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The second one belongs to Aqua Terra<\/strong>, which finally finds its place on the magazine, in the shape of the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150 M Co-Axial Master Chronometer Beijing 2022<\/strong>, the legacy of the timepiece introducing the first-ever 15,000 Gauss magnetic field resistant luxury watch<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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The Aqua Terra<\/strong> is Omega<\/strong>\u2018s take on the three hands luxury sports watch in steel template, the brand\u2019s contender in the most competitive class of timepieces housing the industry-leading Master Chronometer certified 8900 series calibre<\/strong>. If you\u2019re looking for a complicated Omega<\/strong> watch, the Aqua Terra<\/strong> is the exclusive collection to offer a World Time timepiece, Omega\u2019s top-end mechanical complication if we exclude its premium series of tourbillon watches. In brief, the Omega Aqua Terra<\/strong> is a nicely designed and executed watch geared towards those looking for a more subtle and cleaner design while enjoying the brand\u2019s state of the art and ingenuity.<\/p>\n

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The Omega Aqua Terra Beijing 2022<\/strong> edition has a white \u201cfrosted\u201d<\/em> dial on a white ceramic base disc. We took a few macros to appreciate details you hardly spot up front instead. The dial\u2019s pattern is unique, with the \u201cZrO2\u201d<\/em> popping up. Just turn your eyes to the date window, and you can appreciate the design and details. The date window\u2019s upper and lower edges are curved and exquisitely executed. Hands and applied indexes (adopting white Super-Luminova) turn from dark to electric blue; when placed under certain light conditions, the electric blue and white pigments create a mesmerizing effect.<\/p>\n

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The Aqua Terra Beijing 2022<\/strong> is a compliant, well-executed watch and confirms how Omega<\/strong> has grown as a watchmaker in technical prowess and appeal altogether, as proved by the solid case back whose only addition is the embossed Beijing 2022<\/strong> logo surrounded by a Naiad<\/strong> locking system.<\/p>\n

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The bracelet is top-notch and offers excellent comfort, too; it\u2019s a pity it looks just too mainstream, as does any three-link steel bracelet this styled out there. I believe the Aqua Terra would deserve a specific design as seen elsewhere across the products\u2019 portfolio. The case measures 41 millimetres<\/strong> in diameter and houses the Master Chronometer certified calibre 8900<\/strong>, offering 60 hours of power reserve<\/strong> when fully wound and industry-leading accuracy.<\/p>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

Two years ago, I wouldn\u2019t have considered an Omega Aqua Terra<\/strong>; that\u2019s what I\u2019ll do today instead. The watch offers a more subtle personality compared to Omega<\/strong>\u2018s hero products, whose pedigree is higher, in comparison, so far.<\/p>\n

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However, from a product perspective, the Aqua Terra<\/strong> keeps growing respect from the community thanks to continuous upgrade and refinement. Inside and out. You won\u2019t experience a Moonwatch<\/strong> or Seamaster Diver<\/strong> cool factor, but a more mainstream product, equipped with Omega<\/strong>\u2018s best-in-class technology whose appeal is growing and whose retail price \u2013 6600 Euros<\/strong> \u2013 has not grown as much, instead.<\/p>\n