Hands-On With The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue

After a hot and steamy summer, September was also relatively warm, at least here in Germany. Sadly, October brought us drizzles and much lower temperatures, which shocked me. I don’t know about you, but I felt I needed a dash of summer on these chilly fall days. What better way to bring the July sun back to my life than with one of the recent Summer Blue releases from Omega’s Seamaster line? So I asked the lovely people at Omega to send me one of the recently released Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue models to brighten my mood.

I have had the pleasure of wearing one of the previous versions, the Aqua Terra 150M in (deep) blue, and I loved it. So I knew what to expect. Still, I was intrigued by the fresh new look of the Summer Blue models, and this one proved satisfying indeed. Here are my thoughts.

Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue

Right off the bat, let’s get something straight: the official name of the watch is Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41 MM. As long as it already is, the Summer Blue designation refers to the newly introduced color for the dial and strap. The Aqua Terra is not the only model in the Seamaster lineup with such a tone. In fact, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the line, Omega made pretty much every model from the PloProf to the Seamaster 300 and the Aqua Terra Worldtimer in a Summer Blue version. So, in this sense, there’s nothing new about the Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue. Yet, from all the models with this color scheme, this is the one that speaks to me the most. Why? It’s a combination of many things. First, I love the look and the size of the watch. On my wrist, the 41mm case looks good, though I can see why others with smaller wrists might not fancy the size.

41mm as the sweet spot

I cannot emphasize enough how happy I am with the case-shrinking trend in the watch industry. A few years ago, we witnessed new models coming out in 42mm cases and eventually going down to 39mm or smaller. As re-editions of vintage models started to be hot again and brands tried to stay close to the originals’ looks, cases had to remain under 40mm. Swatch Group brands might not have always aligned with this approach (Tissot and Longines, I’m looking at you), but independent brands did. They stayed true to vintage models’ appearances and sizes, and eventually, that, I feel, started the trend. As someone who loves vintage timepieces, I can only applaud this.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against larger timepieces. But for an average watch wearer, 41mm (maybe 42mm) should be the max, I feel. My 19cm (7.5”) wrist can handle watches 44mm or larger, but at that size, I start to find them a bit uncomfortable. And yes, the thickness is a big factor as well. A 43–44mm watch is often chunky too, which can be an issue. That’s why I prefer watches that are 42mm or smaller. At 41mm, the Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue is just a great size for me, even with its relatively chunky 13.2mm thickness. At the same time, it’s 47.9mm long thanks to the lugs’ beefy but short design. Now, every time I try on an Aqua Terra 150M, it is always in a rubber strap. And that has a significant impact on its wrist presence.

Steel or rubber?

The Summer Blue Aqua Terra 150M, just like most other models from the lineup, is available not only on a color-matched rubber strap but also on a steel bracelet. Granted, the watch and this size on a bracelet might look and feel different than it does on this light blue rubber. This can be good news for those who prefer a bracelet over a strap. Also, light blue rubber with the Summer Blue dial is a bit of an edgy look. I’m all for it, but I do understand that it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Perhaps the other features will persuade you to take a second look.

Let’s start with the all-new case back. The new Summer Blue edition of the Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue features a full-steel back with a new design to commemorate the Seamaster’s 75th anniversary. Now, the Omega Master Chronometer caliber 8900 is a work of art, and in other Aqua Terra models, it is visible through a lovely display case back. We could argue, then, whether or not this case back is better than the standard one. Hiding the caliber 8900 behind it might have been a good idea for this commemorative model, and I understand why Omega did it. Still, as nice as the engraving is, I wish that Omega had used the standard case back. To me, it’s a shame to hide such a gorgeous movement. But if we turn our attention back to the dial for a bit, we also find a little twist there. Thanks to the gradient finish, the blue is not too light, and that’s a plus.

The Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue on the wrist

If you buy a watch with a light blue dial and rubber strap, you automatically know that it will not be a daily wearer. This color simply doesn’t go with everything. For those who think that most guys don’t care, I hear you. However, the majority, for this very reason, would opt for the bracelet. Try it on another strap and see how the dial works its magic. As stated above, gradient dials have a trick that others don’t. They can visually adapt to different straps better than other dials. Trust me, I’m a strap guy. I know what I’m talking about. Take the Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue and throw it on a black strap. You’ll be surprised how well that strap works with the watch. And when the sun is out again in six months, you can go back to the rubber strap. That’s a winning look, too.

What’s left to say?

I’ve talked about many things except for the price. Right now, depending on local VAT, the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue is either €7,000 or €7,100 in the EU. In Switzerland, however, it sells for CHF 6,429 with taxes included. Equating to about €6,668, that’s a decent “discount” if you are lucky enough to live close to Omega’s motherland. Regardless, this is not a budget timepiece, nor should it be. If you want the dark blue version, you can buy it for a few hundred euros less. However, if you’re after the Summer Blue model, you know exactly what you want and why. It is probably not going to be your third or even fourth watch. It might get into the rotation occasionally, but every time you put it on, it’ll feel distinctive and remarkable, which is precisely the point.

For more information, check out the watch on Omega’s website. Let me know what you think of it in the comments.