If you ask OMEGA, black is the new black. The Swiss luxury watchmaker has bucked the colourful trend for patterned dials and vibrant hues in favour of a sleek, new monochrome Seamaster Aqua Terra. The latest update to the dive watch collection introduces a more refined aesthetic in three distinctive sizes, keeping things simple, direct and straight to the point. If you ask me, it’s a welcome change of pace for an industry that has banked on the extravagant for far too long.
| Image: OMEGA
The Seamaster Aqua Terra Black Dial again continues the lineup’s legacy of versatile timepieces, blurring the line between capable dive watch and functional daily driver. Water resistant to 150 metres and replete with a fittingly contemporary stainless steel case design, the Aqua Terra has proven to be one of OMEGA‘s most important, if not underrated, collections. With the latest black dial model, it appears the brand is really honing on that pedigree, unveiling not one but three diameter sizes – in 34mm, 38mm and 41mm. All three feature the updated black varnished dial, which features a sleek lacquered finish, a first for the Aqua Terra range.
Outside of the obvious sizing discrepancies, the three new releases are strikingly similar. The only major difference between them is the round date window and lack of minute track on 34mm, as opposed to the traditional trapezoidal date window, and sharp triangular indexes on both the 38mm and 41mm references. Inside, it is a similar story.
The 34mm and 38mm models are powered by OMEGA’s calibre 8800 movement, a precision-certified addition that provides 55 hours of power reserve. The 41mm, however, sports a slightly beefier calibre 8900, an innovation that offers up to 60 hours of power reserve and is visible through the stunning sapphire case back. Both calibres are fitted with a silicon hairspring and Master Chronometer certified, meaning they are resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 Gauss.
For OMEGA, a brand with strong ties to the legendary British spy James Bond, the latest release feels entirely fitting. It has all the hallmarks of a timeless classic, unencumbered by sweeping trends and steadfast in its design philosophy. You could even argue the sleek monochrome number is a direct reference to the suave Mi6 agent himself, boasting a colour palette that could very well pass as tuxedo-ready, but that could be purely coincendental. What certainly is intentional, however, is OMEGA’s emphasis on enduring luxury, an ethos that flows through the Seamaster Aqua Terra Black Dial. If the old adage is correct, a classic never dies, and this timeless modern hero is living proof.
The OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Black Dial is available at OMEGA boutiques and online now. The three diameter sizes are priced evenly at AUD$10,975 and arrive on a three-link bracelet with redesigned links, covered by a five-year international warranty.
OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Black Dial
- Brand OMEGA
- Model: Seamaster Aqua Terra Black Dial
- Reference: Ref. 220.10.34.20.01.001 / Ref. 220.10.38.20.01.004 / Ref. 220.10.41.21.01.001
- Diameter: 34mm / 38mm / 41mm
- Movement: OMEGA Calibre 8800 automatic (34mm/38mm) / OMEGA Calibre 8900 automatic (41mm)
- Water Resistance: 150m
- Power Reserve: 55 hours (34mm/38mm) / 60 hours (41mm)
- Price: AUD$10,975.00 (34mm) / AUD$10,975.00 (38mm) / AUD$10,975.00 (41mm)
