New Aqua Terras are (finally) online

[Wooster]

Omega sure needed lots of time to update the site, but finally the 2017 AT's are online. Some interesting choices for both the 38 and the 41 versions.

No news about the non LE Railmasters though, as much as I noticed.

Cheers,
Christian

[Itsguy]

Thanks - they're here.

Still can't work out if it's an improvement over the old style tbh. They have the dreaded polished centre links, don't know if a conical crown is better, don't know if changing the direction of the 'teak' dial or moving the date is an improvement either, it seems neither worse nor better, but I can't say I'm bowled over by the new symetrical style. They haven't made a mess of them, but I don't find myself looking at them and desperately wanting to trade in the old model either. The case back looks good at least.

Maybe gentle evolution is right for the AT, the 38 version is still perhaps the best sized watch I own. It ain't broke and maybe it doesn't need too much fixing.

[ostrichfalafel]

Wish there was more news about the non LE rail masters!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[seffrican]

Like the new case shape, don't think much of the horizontal lines, like the new position of the date window, don't like the shape or outline of the date window. The crown is a bit meh. Overall, not an improvement.

[IanBear]

Wish there was more news about the non LE rail masters!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Went into the Royal Exchange boutique yesterday. Apparently arriving October, £3600 retail on bracelet

[murilloinf]

Went into the Royal Exchange boutique yesterday. Apparently arriving October, £3600 retail on bracelet

3600? O.o wow

Sent from my SM-G930F using TZ-UK mobile app

[vRSG60]

Nice.
I keep forgetting I own an Aqua Terra

[ach5]

I like this one, but not too many of the others

[domwells]

I like this one, but not too many of the others

Ooo I really like that one!
The way the horizontal lines break around the logo is quite pleasing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vRSG60]

An interesting take on it.

[NikGixer750]

I have a current line AT 8500 which I love, not at all tempted to get one of these new ones tho. Not sure on the date position or the horizontal lines, the use of colours is nice similar to the other new Omegas. Not for me

[Andy_G]

An interesting take on it.

I think thats the Rory McIlroy edition. There's a green version for Sergio as well.

[futon river crossing]

Quite a nice dial/handset - the crown really bugs me though!

[ach5]

Quite a nice dial/handset - the crown really bugs me though!

I thought I was going to look back at it and have the watch ruined forever... but on specifically studying the crown (which I hadn't noticed before)... I like it!

[Gomers]

Think the date placement is good, not necessarily an improvement but nice. Very subtle what they've done with the actual case shape though, can't put my finger on it, think they've made the lugs shorter which gives it a slightly more squat look. Crown ? Too fussy for me. Overall though, prefer the original 8500, the 2500 was the best of the lot though.

[Itsguy]

Think the date placement is good, not necessarily an improvement but nice. Very subtle what they've done with the actual case shape though, can't put my finger on it, think they've made the lugs shorter which gives it a slightly more squat look. Crown ? Too fussy for me. Overall though, prefer the original 8500, the 2500 was the best of the lot though.

The main change to the case is the removal of the subtle crown guard that made the right hand side of the watch slightly wider, and this will also have changed the lugs slightly. Maybe this was what sparked the obsession with making the watch more symmetrical, and also revealed the crown which now looks more prominent - and of course isn't a symmetrical element, so that theory can't ever quite work in practice. That's the beauty of a date at 3, it ties in with the crown, reflecting it. From there, I guess they tried tinkering with the crown shape to make it blend in more, and perhaps it's easier to use.

The AT is a great watch, probably a modern classic, Omega's answer to the Datejust, and yet they can never quite resolve its different elements. They keep trying - should it have PCLs, or a crown guard? Should the date window have a surround that ties in with the indices, do the indices feel comfortable on the teak dial, and which way should the teak dial go? It's still a great watch but they can never quite get all the different elements perfectly in harmony. Arguably the best effort had the brushed centre links and no date surround, like the older applied indices AT quartz, even though the date looked a bit unfinished. Yet adding a surround in the style of the chunky indices didn't work out either and was soon changed back.

The more I look at these new ones, the more I think that it's still a work in progress, a perfectly good watch, but not destined to go down in history as the ultimate AT. Then again, it will need to be seen for real to be sure.

[Caruso]

The main change to the case is the removal of the subtle crown guard that made the right hand side of the watch slightly wider, and this will also have changed the lugs slightly. Maybe this was what sparked the obsession with making the watch more symmetrical, and also revealed the crown which now looks more prominent - and of course isn't a symmetrical element, so that theory can't ever quite work in practice. That's the beauty of a date at 3, it ties in with the crown, reflecting it. From there, I guess they tried tinkering with the crown shape to make it blend in more, and perhaps it's easier to use.

The AT is a great watch, probably a modern classic, Omega's answer to the Datejust, and yet they can never quite resolve its different elements. They keep trying - should it have PCLs, or a crown guard? Should the date window have a surround that ties in with the indices, do the indices feel comfortable on the teak dial, and which way should the teak dial go? It's still a great watch but they can never quite get all the different elements perfectly in harmony. Arguably the best effort had the brushed centre links and no date surround, like the older applied indices AT quartz, even though the date looked a bit unfinished. Yet adding a surround in the style of the chunky indices didn't work out either and was soon changed back.

The more I look at these new ones, the more I think that it's still a work in progress, a perfectly good watch, but not destined to go down in history as the ultimate AT. Then again, it will need to be seen for real to be sure.

Agree with a lot of that, especially the early ones with the cleanest design.

[bigmul]

A step,backwards IMO, date at 6 is awful, not keen on the stripes and no clue what they were thinking about the bracelet/strap "integration"....vile!

[pearley8]

I think the design is a step backward.

My opinion would be:

Keep the teak orientation vertical
Get rid of those bloody polished centre links
I like the new date position, gives the face symmetry
The hour hand needs work
Maybe some new colour options

Way back I was saving to buy the Blue AT at 41.5mm, I was close to pulling the trigger, when on the third time trying it on, the penny dropped that the centre links were a deal breaker.

[Sparjar]

[Itsguy]

Ha ha brilliant, that's true glamour!

I'm not really feeling the dial yet based on photos, it's no Nautilus... Maybe better in real life? You can only hope so.

[tiny73]

First time I've really seen these but like the Aqua Terra a lot, especially the blue one. The bracelet/strap lik integration looks quite elegantly done. The seamaster 60th anniversary however, is a class above that...

[Dm1672]

I do like the Aqua Terra almost bought one on a few occasions

[ryanb741]

Let's see this in the metal first. Suspect they will be lovely. New Railmaster at £3600 RRP meaning can be bought with discount at less than £3k looks like a ridiculously good deal - the silver dial is my favourite version. 40mm too

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[ziphos]

I like this new version, the only small criticism is the length of the hour hand, to me it's very slightly too short.

[Mark lowman]

Certainly seems somehow to bring out a number of different looks. The stainless steel bracelet gives it a conservative style yet the integrated rubber seems to have styling queues from Bulgari?? I actually think it looks excellent on the strap. With a modern style appeal that breaks away from pseudo vintage . I'm impressed.

[Bobbyf]

I like this one, but not too many of the others

That dial just reminds me of a Local Authority UPVC front door I'm afraid.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

[Sparjar]

What I'll never get with Omega is why do they have to f**k with their designs all the time. The old (two generations back) AT was perfect. The one before this wasn't bad either. I wish they were a bit more like Rolex in that regard, i.e. somewhat boring but consistent.

[Waldorf]

Have all the Aqua Terras been revamped, other than the quartz model?.

Cheers

[Filterlab]

Very nice.

[china]

^ There is quite a lot going on on that watch, two-tone, distinctive dial, special endlinks and the rubber strap with stitching - maybe a bit busy.

I do like the white dial one posted before, kind of reminds me of Nomos Club - must be the colors. I think I still prefer the original teak dial.

[paskinner]

That dial just reminds me of a Local Authority UPVC front door I'm afraid.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

Not just the Omega.



Sent from my iPad using TZ-UK mobile app

[Filterlab]

^ There is quite a lot going on on that watch, two-tone, distinctive dial, special endlinks and the rubber strap with stitching - maybe a bit busy.

I can't quite tell if the end link pieces are actually part of the strap. I wonder if it had a plain strap it would eliminate the busyness of it.

I still like it though I have to say. Nice to see a pale dial with dark hands, makes a change from flipping silver on silver.

[Alansmithee]

I can't quite tell if the end link pieces are actually part of the strap. I wonder if it had a plain strap it would eliminate the busyness of it.

I still like it though I have to say. Nice to see a pale dial with dark hands, makes a change from flipping silver on silver.

If this is to go by, I think they must be:

[Filterlab]

Oh yes, very nice.

[murilloinf]

Is this just me or this is is the milgaus white all over ?

Sent from my SM-G930F using TZ-UK mobile app

[flareslove]

It's funny how changing the direction of the lines seems to have such an impact. The fact that I have an opinion on something so small makes me feel like a crazy person.

I much prefer the older model.

[ryanb741]

Shut up and TAKE MY MONEY!!!!

Very modern take on the classic 'one watch' which of course it no longer is as it's so sporty so ironically Omega have made a Datejust competitor that's superior in virtually every way (movement, finishing, anti magnetic resistance etc) and yet the watch has lost the versatility of the Datejust and the previous Aqua Terra in terms of being able to dress up or down so whilst I'll be all over this like a rash I can see lots of 'normal' watch buyers finding it too sporty for an every day watch. Would seem that the Globemaster and not the Aqua Terra is the Datejust equivalent now.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Belligero]

^
It's a nice enough watch, but let's not get carried away here; with Swatch Group's bean counters in charge, you definitely ain't getting Rolex quality.

[ryanb741]

^
It's a nice enough watch, but let's not get carried away here; with Swatch Group's bean counters in charge, you definitely ain't getting Rolex quality.

I'm sorry but without digging up the bones of previous threads I beg to differ. Modern Omegas are every bit as good as their Rolex counterparts and in some instances are superior. But I'm sure this has been done to death before so let's agree to disagree :)

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[col81]

Nice watch

[UKMike]

After looking at the pictures on this thread I have come to the conclusion that I can only get on with vertical stripes on a watch dial! Weird I know, and I am unable to explain it, but horizontal stripes (or even worse, the AP "waffles") are just wrong.
As for the AT, the previous version was definitely on my list as a future purchase - and the new one isn't.

[893bet]

Shut up and TAKE MY MONEY!!!!

Very modern take on the classic 'one watch' which of course it no longer is as it's so sporty so ironically Omega have made a Datejust competitor that's superior in virtually every way (movement, finishing, anti magnetic resistance etc) and yet the watch has lost the versatility of the Datejust and the previous Aqua Terra in terms of being able to dress up or down so whilst I'll be all over this like a rash I can see lots of 'normal' watch buyers finding it too sporty for an every day watch. Would seem that the Globemaster and not the Aqua Terra is the Datejust equivalent now.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Very nice!

Does this version only come in 41mm? Don't see a 38/39mm version of it?

[seffrican]

^
It's a nice enough watch, but let's not get carried away here; with Swatch Group's bean counters in charge, you definitely ain't getting Rolex quality.

Rolex can't afford their own bean counters? They need to charge more for their watches.

[Allwatches]

Actually quite like this, wonder if they'd ever make one without the date window...

[oldoakknives]

I like this one, but not too many of the others

I do too but can't see it on a bracelet.
Ian

[paw3001]

Still think the original 8500s look the best but I am biased!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Binsull]

Love the look of the rubber strap versions.

I bought the below a couple of weeks ago for a holiday watch and it has really got me in to white dial watches having mostly had black watches previously. The white 38mm on rubber strap is very tempting, especially as the metal link is part of the strap. Can easily be changed for a leather and go from sports watch to a more dressy look.

[RobDad]

Looks a bit 'meh' - and makes me feel a bit old tbh. Since when did a 3 handed steel Omega cost over £3k? And what's more get described as a bargain? - emperors new clothes methinks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wooster]

Good article on Fratello: https://www.fratellowatches.com/omeg...er-aqua-terra/

Here's my favourite...



I sold my Skyfall due to lack of symmetry and to thickness. The new model deals with both complaints. Could have done without the polished mid-links though.

Cheers,
Christian