My Omega 150M Aqua Terra Co-Axial Chronograph Chronometer - Say that 3 times fast....

Every collector loves a well made complicated watch and if it is made by a well respected maker so much the better.  I know that this watch will not be rare or vintage, but I like it none the less.  It also tops out the scale for me on price.  I came across it in a local pawn shop.  I know some people think that pawn shops are full of fake Rolex watches but in honesty they try to never take a fake.  Can’t make an honest buck selling a fake.

The description of the watch is so lengthy but it is a long descriptive name.  It is an Omega Aqua Terra Co-Axial automatic chronograph chronometer.  The watch is as heavy in a way as its long name.  I know that on the Omega site they call it the Aqua Terra 150M or something but that is cutting it way short. But the band on the watch when I got it was nowhere near long.  The watch was just the watch alone when I bought it but the band was only suitable for someone with a 6 inch wrist.  I have a 7 inch wrist, small as it may be, was far too big even for this watch. 

So the impression I have of this watch at first is the imposing size and that unique styled dial.  Omega says it is supposed to remind us of the wood decks of old boats, does not seem to do that for me.  I like it anyways because I tend to not be a boat enthusiast.  The lines are crisp and flawless as one would expect from Omega.  The markings are a bit more complex to ever be called a simple dial.  The markers and hands are filled with a blue glowing lumen material.  The hands are good and sharp in design and very cleanly formed. 

The back has a very nice view of the 3313c movement.  Unlike the Planet Ocean model the Aqua Terra has the crystal to see the quality workmanship of the movement. This is not to be mistaken for the 3313 or 3313b movements.  What sets it apart is an upgrade Omega did to the escapement on the C. They went from a 2 level co-axial escapement to a 3 level to resolve some issues seen on the earlier versions.  Not all saw issues but this step was done to eliminate them. 

 

The movement is based on the F Piguet cal 1285 chronograph and then finished by Omega with its co-axial escapement.  There is debate on how good the Piguet movement is in robustness but from my experience with my watch it has stood up well and without issue.  But then I don’t wear it every day because I have a job where it may get a scratch.  I would not consider a watch of this quality a “beater” watch but I might if I had millions in the bank.