No Longer Made: Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 8500 Worn by Daniel Craig In ‘Skyfall’ The first time any James Bond would wear something other than a div

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Classically Sexy But Sleek And Unobtrusive

JAN 02, 2020 — BY ZACH PINA

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/no-longer-made-omega-seamaster-aqua-terra-8500-skyfall/

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Fleming might have chosen Rolex for his now-iconic super-spy, but as the story goes, it was ultimately James Bond who chose Omega, cementing the Seamaster in pop culture lore. But did he really? It’s the classic hypothetical question that watch fans love to argue over: What watch would 007 wear? Brand allegiances and savvy, Oscar-winning costume designers aside (hat tip to the inimitable Lindy Hemming), I’m of the mind that an Omega seems plausible, given the brand’s long history of supplying reliable and affordable watches for the many branches of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. However, I find it hard to believe that a real-life James Bond would have ever chosen a cumbersome 45mm stainless steel Planet Ocean, or even a pure dive watch like the Seamaster 300, for that matter. To me, the quintessential Bond watch operates much like the rest of the agent’s kit — be it a Tom Ford suit, a pair of brogues, an Aston Martin, or a weapon like the pint-sized Walther PPK — each piece is classically sexy but sleek and unobtrusive, capable enough to be adapted to any environment and bent to his will. There are few sport watches in Omega’s catalog that fit this profile better than the second generation Seamaster Aqua Terra (ref. 231.10.39.21.03.001), which made its screen debut in 2012’s Skyfall.

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Also interesting is how, unlike the Speedmaster, which has seen a litany of desirable limited-edition variants released in the last decade that command at or well above their original asking prices, this particular Aqua Terra is one of only several modern Omegas in the Seamaster family (including the inaugural Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquid Metal LE) able to do the same, with its current pricing on the secondary market creeping ever-closer to its original suggested retail price of around $4500 in 2012. Unlike the aforementioned, though, the screen-worn Skyfall reference was a bone-stock general release and not a limited edition in any capacity.

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Discontinued around late 2015 or early 2016, the 8500-series Aqua Terra watches represented the second generation of Omega’s most versatile luxury-sport watch, following the inaugural Aqua Terras which were outfitted with 2500-series Co-Axial calibres and featured a more pared-down, two-dimensional dial reminiscent of transitional Railmaster references. To put the modern 8500 Aqua Terra more in step with its closest competition in the Rolex Oyster Perpetual or Datejust, Omega refined nearly every aspect of the watch, starting with the dial, which was characterized by thick applied white gold hour markers, a framed date window at 3:00, and textured vertical striping designed to evoke the wooden decks of luxury sailing vessels. This Aqua Terra maintained the generous 150-meter water resistance of its predecessor, but the upgrades to the Co-Axial movement increased the power reserve to 60 hours and added a handy quick-adjust hour hand (a boon for frequent fliers like Mr. Bond himself). Lastly, the watch was fitted with a fully brushed three-link stainless steel bracelet and a butterfly clasp, lending it a sleek and refined, but simultaneously restrained, stealthy appearance on the wrist – all of which made it the perfect choice for an international super-spy.
 
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