Omega Gets into the Olympic Spirit with an Aqua Terra for Beijing 2022

It’s hard to believe, but we’re right around the corner from the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, set to be held in Beijing beginning in early February. These winter games come just months after the completion of the summer Olympics, which were pushed back a full year thanks to the pandemic that we’re all still, at varying levels, grappling with in our day to day lives as we navigate vaccines, travel restrictions, and an endless number of complications as we enter an apparent “new normal.” The Olympics, though, go on, and with the games comes a reminder of their long association with Omega. The watch brand is not merely an Olympic sponsor, but has contributed a great deal of timing technology to the games over the years, and you could say without much controversy that those advancements in timekeeping have had a major impact on the competitions themselves over the years. It’s no surprise, then, that Omega always has a handful of special watches that debut just for the occasion of the Olympics, including the all new Seamaster Aqua Terra seen here. 

Sometimes the Aqua Terra can get lost in Omega’s vast catalog, and it’s a real shame. I’ve always had a hunch that for many people, the Aqua Terra is actually more of an ideal daily driver than bulkier Seamaster dive watches, and more complicated and specialized Speedmasters. The Aqua Terra line is all about practical functionality, delivering solid specs for daily wear (150 meters of water resistance, a screw down crown, and a stainless steel bracelet) and reliable precision (a METAS certified Caliber 8900 movement). At 41mm in diameter, this particular Aqua Terra is sized at what has become a standard for the product line, but it’s worth noting there are a wide variety of 38mm options on offer as well, though not with the trappings of an Olympics related special edition. 

Like other Olympics related watches in Omega’s recent past, this one features a color palette heavy on white and blue, with a hint of red, and no obvious Olympic branding on the dial (no rings to be seen, here). The design feature of this watch that really makes it special is that white dial, which is rendered in ceramic, and has been given what Omega calls a “frost-finish” pattern, because, well, winter. While Omega is rightly touting the watch’s icy look as we head into the Winter Games, this doesn’t feel like a novelty that can only be worn while watching the luge competition from the comfort of your living room. Textured dials look great year round, and there’s nothing inherently seasonal about this watch apart from the marketing push behind it. 

Additional dial details include the applied triangular hour markers that have become synonymous with the Aqua Terra, along with an arrow tipped minute hand that is similarly associated with this product line. The blue (lume filled) markers and hands make for a particularly legible combination against the white dial, and a date window sits relatively unobtrusively at the 6:00 position. The stainless steel bracelet has polished center links, which is sure to annoy some collectors who prefer their daily drivers with fewer shiny surfaces, but it adds a bit of refinement to the piece and feels pretty natural on the Aqua Terra. 

The new Seamaster Aqua Terra Beijing 2022 is available now through Omega and has a retail price of $6,200. Omega