A Week On The Wrist: Do You Really Need A Dive Watch? The Easy-Wearing Omega Aqua Terra Doesn’t Think So.
Omega’s everyday steel sports watch is casual enough for the pool party and dressy enough for the office.
Originally published by Brandon Menancio on Hodinkee, January 18th, 2023
I’m in love with a good dive watch. Do I dive? Nope. Can I swim? Barely. But that’s not the point here! I love dive watches because they look great with all of my casual outfits (aka sweatpants), they can withstand a few bangs on the desk during my hardcore video editing sessions, and they’ll survive a few water droplets while I’m washing the dishes.
If any of the above activities resonated with you, then maybe a diver is just too much watch for you. I recently realized they’re probably too much for me, which is why I spent a week with one of the more popular non-diver stainless steel sport watches on the market, the Omega Aqua Terra 150m.
Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 38mm Blue Dial On Bracelet
It offers similar water resistance (a respectable 150m) to that of a diver (way more than I’ll ever need), but in a more versatile package that’s casual enough for my small cadre of sweatpants and is dressy enough for my suit (Yes. Singular).
I wore the 38mm version with an attractive blue “teak” dial motif and a stainless steel bracelet. If you think this version is too small, Omega also has a 41mm version that looks nearly identical that sells for the exact same price of $5,700. Actually, if you don’t like the size, the dial color, or the bracelet then Omega has your back. There are a whopping 260 SKUs of the Aqua Terra currently listed on their website so you should be able to find one that fits your specific tastes.
During my week with it, the Aqua Terra was unsurprisingly very easy to wear and felt right at home with almost any style I threw its way. The problem with a lot of dive watches is that they don’t look all that great with dress clothes (James Bond would definitely disagree. I mean, if he were real), and that’s where I think a watch like the Aqua Terra really shines in comparison.
The polished bezel and center links give the watch a semi-formal look while the lyre-lugged case and dial furniture keep things caszhe. Even the not-real James Bond would agree – he’s worn it in a few of his more recent movies.
I have plenty more to say about the Omega Aqua Terra, but you’ll have to check out my accompanying video where I also discuss how it competes with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual and examine an interesting flaw that I’ve never experienced with any other watch before. I also shoot some hoops at a basketball court by the ocean. Why not? It’s a really versatile watch.
Ball is life.
