Before You Buy: Omega Aqua Terra Black Lacquer Dial

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Before You Buy: Omega Aqua Terra Black Lacquer Dial - Comprehensive Review

Рет қаралды 30,326

Күн бұрын

Today we discuss the brand new Omega Aqua Terra with its Black Lacquer Dial. Does it change the game? What is a lacquer dial? Does the bracelet adjustment system work or even matter? We'll discuss it all.
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Пікірлер: 146

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

By the way, the indicies and hands are rhodium plated as far as I can tell based on Omega's website. I had trusted Hodinkee and Time and Tide to grab that one piece of information. They are not White Gold hands and Indicies.

@VidtinkuSirogo Ай бұрын

Aren’t they are white gold, which are rhodium-plated? I have just bought an Aqua Terra small seconds recently and it had a tiny sticker mentioning gold amount used in the watch along with all the certificates.

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

@@VidtinkuSirogomy assumption is that if they were truly white gold with the plating it would be bragged about on the Omega site. Because that’s missing, I’m guessing they’re plated over another base metal

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

White gold is rhodium-plated in many applications. Could be that they are actually made from white-gold. Unfortunately, Omega’s website doesn’t give info on the base metal. But they mention Sedna (red) gold hands and indexes materials on specific models .

@sinesaii Ай бұрын

@@petrokersta5293only shit white gold is rhodium plated. It is like an advertisement of bad white gold (with nickel). The good stuff shines on its own. Rolex’s white gold is not rhodium plated.

@jackserious3282 21 күн бұрын

@@sinesaii all white gold is plated. Without the plating it would look dull and yellowish.

@dannyg6592 Ай бұрын

Many kudos to you, Harrison for being the first person to mention the flaws in this clasp. I dislike butterfly clasps and I also dislike polished cases and PCLs. This watch competes not with an Explorer, but with a Datejust 41 smooth bezel oyster bracelet black dial. I owned that exact DJ and it was a superb watch, much nicer than the Omega. And the 5mm Easylink works perfectly on the Rolex clasp.

@zachg9065 Ай бұрын

That clasp design is an absolute joke in IMO. If micro brands can come up with great adjustment systems, these major brands need to step up.

@ugabrew Ай бұрын

Seriously. Even those Steel Reef extension links look better than this.

@firstnamelastname-ys3mz Ай бұрын

Wrong. Try it in person. Omega bracelets are now epic

@rougeb7663 Ай бұрын

The micro adjustment on the speedmaster is nice now this AT clasp is ass

@MikoTheTomCat Ай бұрын

@@firstnamelastname-ys3mzyes I tried it in person and it’s absolutely shite! Very awkward and not practical at all. The measly 2mm is nowhere near enough extension. Omega should do better then this after thought. Not good enough.

@MikoTheTomCat Ай бұрын

@@rougeb7663Speedmaster micro adjustment is another joke. Nowhere near enough. Really poor from Omega.

@bjoernaltmann Ай бұрын

The better comparison would be between the Explorer and the Railmaster. The Aquaterra is more like a DateJust, considering the options and the almost completely polished surfaces.

@shehrozekhan5651 Ай бұрын

Definitely agree, especially because both have …. Date complications

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

I agree. I try to make comparisons with what I have here to give context. I have seen a few comments comparing it to the Explorer as well. Unfortunately I can't own them all!

@5OclockSharp 23 күн бұрын

I disagree. It’s more like the explorer imo. The Globemaster is a closer comparison to a Datejust.

@angelos.9690 Ай бұрын

I got the AT 38mm with blue dial two months ago, and I 'm still in love with it.... omega have a great tradition of innovation, and with coaxial ( George Daniels), have achieved a great quality level and performance too.

@drchung474 Ай бұрын

I would honestly take even a 2mm adjustment any day over no microadjustment at all. I think there is a lot of utility to it, as it is perfect for my wrist (I have a 16cm wrist). I do think it was clearly an afterthought for this bracelet and it looks weird when used. It's unfortunate that these larger brands still don't have good microadjustment systems, especially when compared to many microbrands that have executed it wonderfully at a fraction of the cost. Having said that all, beautiful lacquer dial and I would seriously consider getting one of these. Ty for the thorough review! Love your humble approach to watches, and I have subscribed!!

@lendlneil Ай бұрын

I don't know if it's just me but the new adjustable clasp on the Speedmaster works perfect for me.

@lrbrown Ай бұрын

I love the AT. My 41mm green dial is one of my favourites.

@jamesminshall4601 Ай бұрын

I find the aqua terra too dressy for me but that green dial is stunning and makes me wish otherwise.

@sinesaii Ай бұрын

I have an older one with the all brushed bracelet that I love.

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

Omega logo, hands, and hour markers are rhodium-plate, not white gold as on Rolex Explorer. That said rhodium is more than double the price of gold 😊 P. S. I checked it on Omega’s website.

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Ahhh I see that on their website. I trusted Hodinkee and Time and Tide's press releases. That'll teach me.

@shehrozekhan5651 Ай бұрын

Amazing review like always! I think as a watch fan I really love to see when reviewers not only give the pros of a watch but also legitimate cons. Nice to see functional reviews for people who are genuinely considering buying the watch

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

I appreciate that!

@Gonzo1968 Ай бұрын

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder..I think this Omega AQ shets on The Explorer.. 🤷‍♂️

@benticus7082 Ай бұрын

Good comment on buying a vintage explorer - those appear to go for as low as $5-$5.5k for 14270s - so one could buy that and pay for a service and be around the cost of one of these aqua Terras. Interesting thought!

@pasquale78 Ай бұрын

The clasp system is the same as on the Constellation, so they didn’t have to engineer a new clasp. I think it’s definitely a cost reduction, which is a shame. I would rather see something like a foldover clasp, but then it would be less dressy. Still, having a few extra millimeters there when you need ‘em in a pinch, is kinda cool.

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Ahhh that's good to know. I hadn't found that bit of information. Perhaps one day it'll change. Tough to do on the fly with a butterfly style clasp.

@andrpers14 Ай бұрын

38 is nice, that 41 is just a tad too big due to LtL and top heavy in my view 👍

@Shogunsen Ай бұрын

Very good review, thx! Especially the part with the clasp is important. I myself am still deciding for my first luxury watch 😊.

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Nice! Well I'm coming up with a video focusing on a first luxury watch if you're still looking by the time I put that up.

@Shogunsen Ай бұрын

@@HarrisonElmore glad to hear that and I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’m on the WL for a BLNR and currently discussing the ones you are reviewing 👍👌.

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

@@Shogunsen sounds good! I’ll try to cover the gambit of all the watches I’ve covered!

@Shogunsen Ай бұрын

@@HarrisonElmore Sounds great!!

@ferasalbinmohamed1029 Ай бұрын

Thank you, you have helped me make up my mind on whether to buy it or not

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Glad I could help!

@user-qq8jn5bb4m 13 күн бұрын

I always struggled with the day/night legibility of this beautiful watch for which the Explorer 1 is doing a much better job

@NicolasMiari 19 күн бұрын

I have the Seamaster 300M, which has a 9mm range of micro-adjust spread across 6 steps, and on any summer day I use 4 or 5 steps of the 6. This definitely doesn't cut it for me, I wish they did away with the butterfly clasp and adopted something like the SMP.

@kaladze09 Ай бұрын

The glidelock system itself was worth spending 10 000$ for the Sub, the rest is just a bonus.

@mikesmusicden Ай бұрын

The AT is a beautiful watch with a reliable, quality movement. However the best thing is that a person can actually buy the thing rather than grovel to an AD to be added to a "list" to be considered for a purchase...

@ernestoarango7127 Ай бұрын

Why is everyone saying white gold indices when the site clearly says rhodium plated?

@jaredstephenson6468 Ай бұрын

The 41 looks enormous. Love the Goldilocks size, though, and the framed date window looks excellent.

@wheelsandwatches Ай бұрын

For me the point of the AT is the boat deck dial. Also, they have become too shiny. Pcl, too much polishing on the case etc. makes it too far to the dressy side of watches. I own the 8500 golf edition and still think this is the sweet spot of the AT watches. Finally, the implementation of the that micro adjust is appalling. Omega can and should have done much better.

@jimmcdonagh1385 Ай бұрын

Great review, most informative, thank you!

@bobnewby9129 Ай бұрын

The clasp is fail in my book. They need micro-adjustment but that is not the way to do it.

@joshuakaplan5726 Ай бұрын

I think it's a great release and deff a value proposition compared to a Rolex Black DJ or Explorer. However, due to my preferences for the Explorer design language, dial, indices, and size, I'd still choose that over the Blaqua Terra. Glad to finally see what limited microadjust they could put into the butterfly clasp, but honestly I just wish they'd give it the SMP 300M clasp and slim it down to better fit the AT. The updated bracelets on the shades line and this look great with that presidential look, but agree that all the polishing on the center links, case, and lugs are too much.

@MarkDanger777 Ай бұрын

6.6k is a pretty hefty price tag

@MEDSAN24 24 күн бұрын

I just got this one today, 38mm ❤❤❤ Rolex took too long for an Explorer.

@douglaskrueger357 20 күн бұрын

I still think the Rolex bracelet is the best in the business. They seem to get it right. My explorer 39 is absolutely perfect … I wish Omega could get it right. It would catapult them to new heights.

@deanvanlaarhoven1413 Ай бұрын

You need to look into tutors black bay with non-rotating bezel. Handsome less expensive and do it all in various sizes.

@robynsjp Ай бұрын

Nice vid ! I'll stick with my first iteration blue AT 39 mm, brushed links. That new black one is too big, too loud. But, I might go for a blue small seconds on rubber strap that looks lots of fun !

@MickBrown-bu7bd Ай бұрын

Saffron dial is so much more beautiful that any of the others

@weezkidtube Ай бұрын

I prefer the first generation Aqua Terra with a matte black dial, non conical crown and gentler curves. Granted it has the 2500 movement but if you can get the latter C variant then it's a heck of workhorse.

@EricZ726 Ай бұрын

Great points. Thanks for the review

@youtubeuser8436 20 күн бұрын

So beautiful! I love this watch! Timeless masterpiece!

@MikoTheTomCat Ай бұрын

Subscribed! Good to finally hear a transparent review rather than the typical Omega fanboy reviewers. Thank you and I agree regarding the clasp. Big disappointment and not good enough from Omega. A deal breaker for me. I’ll be getting a Datejust instead of this. It’s 5mm easy link extension is leagues ahead of this Omega measly 2mm, very awkward, uncomfortable and ugly extension. Not good enough for this price. Omega should do better!

@flop7217 Ай бұрын

i wish they did just a simple white AT and take my money. the 38mm is fine however i don't dig the orange stuff in the 41 mm version at all

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

I’d also mention Richemont alternatives: IWC Pilot’s Mark XX and Cartier Santos large. It’s a crowded space.

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Agreed. I plan to do a video around watches around the "Everyday" Category in this price range.

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

Looking forward to it! Most people are shopping for that one nice watch

@rickjason215 Ай бұрын

IWC Mark XX has a 5 day power reserve. The best of Omega Aqua Terra has 60 hours. The Omega clasp is not great. I can get the Mark XX for about half of the Omega. I find these watches boring.

@hugohernandez3651 12 күн бұрын

The bracelet is not in the same class as the oyster yet. Other than that, it is a very good alternative to an OP or an Explorer.

@TimeBaum Ай бұрын

This is a nice alternative to the Rolex Explorer but overall I'd still choose the explorer as its more sportier than the aquaterra

@the_shadow_realm5110 Ай бұрын

Rolex are still the champs of clasps.

@ALL-il1sw 24 күн бұрын

OMG stop drinking the Kool aid. Have you seen the 1950s style stamped metal under the clasps. Then there's the friction lock, no push button deployant like so many others. The micro adjust is agricultural, you need two hands to operate, a simple push button slide is far better. Have a look at IWC, best clasps and bracelets in the business

@the_shadow_realm5110 24 күн бұрын

@@ALL-il1sw I easily adjust my Submariner’s Glidelock with one hand without removing the watch from my wrist. Got any more of that Kool-Aid bruh?

@ALL-il1sw 23 күн бұрын

@@the_shadow_realm5110 haha, so you didn't look at the IWC then, makes sense right, wrong name on the dial

@the_shadow_realm5110 23 күн бұрын

@@ALL-il1sw I’m a Rolex Hunk

@ALL-il1sw 23 күн бұрын

@@the_shadow_realm5110 I figured that off the first comment 🤣🤣

@mybrainlikesthings Ай бұрын

Retail price keeps going up while the preowned market value keeps going down. So I think Omega is delusional, because I’d take an OP41 and possibly a DJ41 over this any day. AQ is okay, but I fail to see how it’s special. And now that the dials are removing complexity and texture for Tag Heuer Professional 200 (last century) aesthetics it makes it even worse IMO

@MikoTheTomCat Ай бұрын

💯 I’d pick a Datejust over this. The Rolex 5mm easy link adjustment is leagues ahead of this primitive and awkward 2mm extension 🤦‍♂️

@martinoconnor923 Ай бұрын

Christopher Ward make a better adjustment system on the Twelve at a much lower cost...... it looks like Omega put the design out to first year college engineering students ...... very poor .... a comparison video to a Grand Seiko would be interesting..... insightful video as always.......

@VidtinkuSirogo 21 күн бұрын

The Twelve has no on-the-fly adjustment.

@busenfreund Ай бұрын

date at 3 o'clock would've been perfect

@fabfour289 Ай бұрын

I wud rather have a 41mm version with the 8800 movement n 12 mm thickness. Tks for the vid, man

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Anytime!

@davidb9531 25 күн бұрын

Omega are a prestige brand with rrp constantly soaring with R and D from the mid last century. Someone needs to go in there and crack some heads seriously!

@millersciencesms762 Ай бұрын

For that price, the clasp and taper are unacceptable.

@kslee2034 Ай бұрын

I don't know...why doesn't Omega make it thinner like Rolex?? Even non-chrono ones have a normal thickness. I wonder if they made it that way on purpose or if they lack technical skills. In particular, I think the Aqua Terra model could be made a little thinner.

@the_shadow_realm5110 Ай бұрын

Surely the AquaTerra is more comparable with the DateJust.

@DHD10000 Ай бұрын

Imagine this watch without the wording seamaster and without the arrow minutes, now that would be a grail

@ripperx444 Ай бұрын

Summary: New dial. Shiny similar to a submariner black dial. New bracelete. Similar to a Rolex president. Good price. With discount easily $4750 new. Solid piece. More color options will get the sales going!

@ugabrew Ай бұрын

That clasp............ woof.

@polygoncoco Ай бұрын

That clasp is hilariously bad. It’s like omega and grand seiko are competing to make the worst bracelets possible

@robotstobor3388 Ай бұрын

OK but, the Sinn 556, has a beautiful dial for a lot less money.

@dwoodcoffeeco Ай бұрын

Oh wow that clasp gap is terrible

@brogge3 9 күн бұрын

They aren't white gold indices, they are rhodium plated...

@jamesminshall4601 Ай бұрын

A great review, I hadn’t thought to compare it to a grand Seiko but that killed any appeal of this new aqua terra. All the disadvantages (Bracelet I would never use and lots off polish) of the grand Seiko but without the payoff. When I start comparing the seamaster to a grand Seiko, a reverso or a santos Dumont, it does not make sense. Ps could you please stop using the second camera, you look healthy in some views but really grey in others.

@matt768 12 күн бұрын

What is your wrist size?

@cezar684 Ай бұрын

This bracelet helps me understand the desire for Rolex. Mind you, I don’t own one.

@MuchachoCarracho Ай бұрын

Any reason why on a watch of that price the antireflective coating is not on the inside?

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

Its on both sides! Top and bottom. Top has its downsides though

@wristopia4101 Ай бұрын

Ugly micro adjust is better than no micro adjust at all IMO. I simply do not get the Aquaterra. It's a sports watch so should have a three fold IMO. Omega could at least have an optional three fold clasp bracelet. They make a three fold/deployant rubber strap as an extra cost option for the SMP300 standard pin buckle rubber. It's huge and heavy compared to the Explorer equivalents which look much dressier. Rolex have the OP or DJ as dial options, but with Omega it's big and heavy with a butterfly clasp or nothing, which is a shame.

@meandertaker Ай бұрын

Is the black lacquer dial more or less the same as say the lacquer dial of the black Tank Must?

@HarrisonElmore Ай бұрын

It's the same. All glossy black lacquer dials will be made and look generally the same.

@1984sebb 17 күн бұрын

A watch that should cost 2 Euros that costs over 7000 Euros. People who pay it are fools.......

@marcod.r.3299 14 күн бұрын

I like the watch but that clasp is a total joke for a watch at that price point....Omega should take a look at the IWC clasp from the Mark series and learn how it is done

@angelbergthsoto5140 Ай бұрын

What said Rolex fan?!?!

@Dialandhands Ай бұрын

Brotha ewww, the all polished case is a big turn off for me. The brushing work is what makes the other models so versatile for me.

@200mphBrian Ай бұрын

Hey are you in Naples that's where I live

@wabi-sabimaster 25 күн бұрын

Everyone is ragging on the terrible micro-adjust but wow what about that applied Omega logo on the dial? Yikes, that’s like 1960s level of lettering execution…

@theenavybluemonster Ай бұрын

Normies like polished watches as they look more expensive and they think they can see where their money went. These will sell well to them. I love the 2mm on the fly adjustment. It’s enough of a relief if needed. It’s not meant to stay open as the normal setup so the gap is not a problem.

@lamentate07 Ай бұрын

The polishing and case finishing on this watch is incredible, but it's almost too excessive. The watch is quite 'blingy', for lack of a better word. That's why it isn't really a one-and-done watch, at least not for me anyway, especially at that price. Definitely needed more brushing.

@kemalcanocak Ай бұрын

Ridicilious bracelet design in 2024... No adjustment and quick release? Sorry but Omega should take look at IWC Mark XX bracelet...

@wildbuck6574 Ай бұрын

Lol! That bracelet boy. It's a mess!

@pannan80 Ай бұрын

Too bad they got rid of the 36mm,and the 34mm is not the same watch at all with that ugly round date window & the pill shaped markers.

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

Omega is definitely positioning 34mm as a ladies watch. But it’s a great unisex option.

@heinerjurgens5362 Ай бұрын

@@petrokersta5293I understand and like smaller sub 40mm watches. But everything under 36mm in todays world is definitely feminine and you should hit the gym. 😁

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

I probably should to be healthy. But wearing small watches doesn’t diminish one’s masculinity. Think Muhammad Ali and his Cartier Tank.

@heinerjurgens5362 Ай бұрын

@@petrokersta5293 that was well in the seventies. And a tank is kind of an exception because of its form. Wearing a modern 34 mm round watch just looks tiny.

@petrokersta5293 Ай бұрын

It depends on wrist size. I don’t have a watch smaller than 38.5mm and 45mm lug to lug. I have an average 18cm (7in) wrist and prefer sportier watches 40-42mm, up to 50mm lug to lug.

@wristopia4101 Ай бұрын

Numerals on the chapter ring are odd. They serve no purpose that I can think of. Grand Seiko and Rolex rule this segment IMO.

@bobnewby9129 Ай бұрын

I think it looks good.

@grahamstenson8571 Ай бұрын

The bracelet is a fail with that adjustment system and the lume continues to be useless. Shame Omega, you missed it.

@MikoTheTomCat Ай бұрын

You’re 💯 spot on. Very disappointing from Omega

@kjakan79 Ай бұрын

Its still to thick?

@ytfeelslikenorthkorea Ай бұрын

problem with watches these days.... Remove the logo from this piece, how much is it worth to you, really? $1000? $1500? Maybe $2000 if it's your 'one and done' piece and you will not take it off your wrist for the next 40 years. Slap Omega,Rolex, GS logo on it and everyone is loosing their minds

@dado380 14 күн бұрын

Braclet is crap with that cheap polished look while clasp is looking even worst on the wrist- clasp regulary get stuck while those indices are definetly not white gold.

@scott9739 Ай бұрын

Those hands are a lume wasteland, you can’t read them at night.

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