OMEGA | Seamaster Aqua Terra XXL

OMEGA

A New Composition of Gold with a Bright Hue Used for the Case!

By Yasuto Shibuya

Seamaster Aqua Terra XXL

The large-sized model of the "Seamaster Aqua Terra" has garnered overwhelming support from watch enthusiasts, thanks to its impressive 49.2mm case size—among the largest in OMEGA's current watch lineup—its large movement, originally designed for pocket watches, visible through the see-through case back, and its simple, nostalgic dial design that inherits the grammar of the golden age of mechanical watches.

This year, a new product featuring a new gold material called "Orange Gold" for its case has joined the lineup. As the name suggests, it has a bright orange hue, achieved by adding platinum to regular gold. It is harder and more scratch-resistant than conventional pink gold or OMEGA's red gold. Furthermore, its color is said to resist fading over time.

The hands, indices, and the Ω mark at 12 o'clock are also made of this Orange Gold material.

Among this year's new releases, this is a connoisseur's piece with the most presence in both size and color. A more affordable model (493,500 yen) with a stainless steel case instead of Orange Gold is also available.

Manual-winding, Orange Gold case, alligator strap, 49.2mm case diameter, see-through back, certified chronometer, 150m water resistance, 1,743,000 yen (estimated price), scheduled for December release.

Automatic winding, Rose Gold case, alligator strap, 41mm case diameter, limited to 88 pieces worldwide, 3,801,000 yen (estimated price), scheduled for December release.

BRAND HISTORY

A brand with one of the highest recognitions in the Swiss watch industry. Its roots lie in a small workshop opened in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1848 by watchmaker Louis Brandt.

Although the workshop initially specialized in assembly, it soon pioneered a sales strategy targeting all of Europe and America. The company steadily grew, and in 1877, it was renamed "Louis Brandt & Fils."

In the 1880s, the company relocated its headquarters to Bienne, where it remains today, establishing a manufacture factory that handles all aspects of watch production in-house. The "Labrador" movement, boasting the highest precision standards of the 1880s, was born in this factory.

Later, the "Caliber 19" (commonly known as the OMEGA caliber), developed during the era of "Louis Brandt & Frère" which was renamed in 1890, led to the adoption of "Ω = OMEGA," the Greek letter representing the ultimate, as the company name in the early 20th century.

Since its first official timekeeping at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, OMEGA has been active globally, serving as the official timekeeper for sports events worldwide. In the realm of wristwatches, the "Speedmaster" was selected as official NASA equipment in 1965 after passing rigorous tests, and in 1970, the "Seamaster" was used in a 250m deep-sea experiment during the "Janus Project" for underwater exploration, marking numerous achievements.

Having steadily increased its devoted followers, OMEGA has not rested on its laurels but continues to pursue the perfection of its own products.

In 1999, OMEGA succeeded in the mass production of the Co-Axial escapement invented by watchmaker George Daniels, once again proving its technological prowess to the watchmaking world. Since the 21st century, the Co-Axial escapement has been progressively incorporated into new models. Furthermore, in 2007, OMEGA unveiled its first in-house movement in 30 years, demonstrating an unceasing drive for development.

Founding Year: 1848
Place of Founding: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Main Series: Speedmaster, Seamaster, De Ville, Constellation
Inquiries: Swatch Group Japan OMEGA Customer Center 03-5952-4400
Official Website: http://www.omegawatches.jp/