OMEGA’s history as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games dates all the way back to 1932 and the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be the 29th time that the historic Swiss watch manufacturer has fulfilled this prestigious role. Over the years, there have been a number of different special edition OMEGA Seamaster watches that celebrate the brand’s ongoing relationship with the world’s most prestigious sporting event, and some of the latest additions to join the catalog are two new Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 models crafted from solid 18k yellow gold that draw their inspiration from the highest honor you can receive as an athlete: the Olympic Gold Medal.
OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 Gold Watches
OMEGA Aqua Terra Gold Tokyo 2020 Edition Key Features:
– Reference Number: 522.53.38.20.03.001 (38mm); 522.53.41.21.03.001 (41mm)
– Case Size: 38mm; 41mm
– Materials: 18k Yellow Gold
– Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds, Date Display
– Dial: Blue Ceramic w/ Laser-Engraved Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Emblem Pattern
– Bezel: Fixed, 18k Yellow Gold, Smooth Style
– Crystal: Sapphire (Domed w/ Anti‑Reflective Treatment on Both Sides)
– Movement: Caliber 8801 (38mm); Caliber 8901 (41mm) – Co-Axial, Master Chronometer Certified
– Water Resistance: 150 Meters / 500 Feet
– Strap/Bracelet: Blue Alligator Strap w/ Gold Fold-Over Clasp
– Retail Price: $17,800 (38mm); $18,500 (41mm)
– Availability: Special Edition (Non-Limited)
About the OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Collection
In addition to being OMEGA’s oldest line of timepieces that is still in production today, the Seamaster is also the brand’s most diverse collection. Originally, the “Seamaster” name applied to a range of water-resistant dress watches but over the years, it has become most closely associated with OMEGA’s various dive watches. However, in addition to an incredibly wide assortment of professional divers, the Seamaster collection is also home to a number of other water-resistant models including the Aqua Terra.
First introduced in 2002, the OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra is intended to be the brand’s go-anywhere do-anything timepiece that is equally at home on land as it is in the water (hence its “Aqua Terra” name). Unlike a dive watch that is specifically designed for underwater use and scuba diving applications, OMEGA Aqua Terra watches do not have rotating timing bezels and at first glance, they could almost be mistaken for slightly sporty renditions of more classically styled dress watches. However, despite their refined appearances, all OMEGA Aqua Terra models feature screw-down crowns and case-backs and offer users a more-than-adequate 150 meters (500 feet) of water resistance.
Due to the widespread appeal of the Seamaster Aqua Terra platform and the versatility that it offers OMEGA’s design teams, the collection frequently serves as the basis for the brand’s various special releases and limited-edition watches. Alongside special edition models that celebrate everything from James Bond and the sport of golf to OMEGA’s charity work with the GoodPlanet Foundation, there have also been a number of Olympic-themed Aqua Terra models, and these new 18k yellow gold editions are the latest special releases to commemorate the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Aqua Terra Watches Inspired by the Olympic Gold Medal
Those familiar with OMEGA’s various Olympic-edition watches may find these new Aqua Terra models rather familiar, as they largely follow the same format as a limited-edition model that was released back in the summer of 2019 during the countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Alongside a white Planet Ocean that pays tribute to the flag of Japan was a stainless steel Aqua Terra with a blue ceramic dial that featured a laser-engraved pattern inspired by the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games emblem. While that stainless steel edition was limited to just 2,020 pieces, these new 18k yellow gold versions are not limited by production numbers and instead will remain part of OMEGA’s catalog for a limited amount of time.
Just like the limited edition stainless steel model, the new yellow gold watches feature a blue ceramic dial with a laser-engraved Tokyo 2020 Olympics emblem pattern. However, while the hand and hour markers are rhodium-finished on the steel version, they are crafted from yellow gold on these new editions to perfectly match with their yellow gold cases. Additionally, just like the stainless steel edition, the display case-backs of these solid gold watches are adorned with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games logo.
18k Yellow Gold Cases
Beyond the different case materials, one key difference between the limited-edition stainless steel model and these new yellow gold ones is when it comes to the internal movements found inside them. Despite the different movements, all three of the Tokyo 2020 Aqua Terra watches are METAS-certified Master Chronometers and feature silicon balance springs and Co-Axial escapements. While the steel edition is powered by the Caliber 8900, the new models are powered by either the Caliber 8801 or Caliber 8901 (depending on case size), and both movements feature solid 18k Sedna gold rotors and balance bridges for a more elevated and luxurious appearance.
Lastly, OMEGA’s decision to make these two Tokyo 2020 Aqua Terra watches in solid 18k yellow gold is anything but a random decision or simply an easy way to differentiate them from the existing stainless steel edition. Widely considered to be the highest distinction that a professional athlete can achieve, a gold medal represents the ultimate prize at the Olympic Games and is often the single greatest accomplishment of the recipient’s career. While the dials are inspired by the logo of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the stunning 18k yellow gold cases of these new Aqua Terra watches serve as an ever-present reminder of the ultimate prize that all of the Olympic athletes will be competing to earn this summer at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
OMEGA Aqua Terra Gold Tokyo 2020 Watches in Two Sizes
It is important to note that there are two different sizes of the new 18k yellow gold Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 edition. One of them features a 41mm case diameter and it is (more or less) the solid yellow gold version of the stainless steel model that was released back in 2019. However, the other is a 38mm version that largely follows the same overall design aesthetic, but builds upon the updated 38mm platform of the Aqua Terra, which features softer overall lines with its oval-shaped indexes and circular date window.
Due to their different case sizes, the two 18k gold Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 watches feature different movements, and as a result of this, they do offer slightly different performance features. While both movements boast Master Chronometer certification and all of the magnetic resistance that is associated with METAS-certification, the Cal. 8901 offers users a 60-hour power reserve and includes a convenient time zone feature for on-the-fly adjustment of the hour hand, while the Cal. 8801 offers a 55-hour power reserve and foregoes the time zone feature in favor of a more-standard quickset date.
While the limited-edition stainless steel version of the Seamaster Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 was accompanied by an official retail price of $6,300, these two solid gold editions cost $17,800 for the 38mm version and $18,500 for the 41mm model. Additionally, both watches come with a special Tokyo 2020 presentation box and are accompanied by OMEGA’s full 5-year warranty.
*All images courtesy of OMEGA.
For those interested in the Aqua Terra Tokyo 2020 Special Edition or any other model within the collection, our in-depth OMEGA Aqua Terra buying guide is an essential resource. The guide offers a comprehensive overview of the various Aqua Terra options, with a special focus on the limited edition Tokyo 2020 timepiece. By delving into the diverse case sizes, materials, dial colors, and complications available across the Aqua Terra line, as well as the distinctive features of the Tokyo 2020 Special Edition, potential buyers can make an informed choice and discover the ideal Omega Aqua Terra watch that aligns with their personal taste and needs.
