Aqua Terra Blue Teak - rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum, and hoping to benefit from your experience and help please.

I'm in the market for a new watch and have decided I would like to go for a Seamaster Aqua Terra, and top of my short shortlist is the Blue Teak reference

220.10.41.21.03.004.

I have been to several AD's, and tried on a few different Aqua Terra's. I thought I'd like one of the newer ones with the more modern bracelets with mirco adjust such as the black lacquer or the shades in Atlastic Blue but I keep coming back to the Blue Teak one on the stainless steel bracelet.

These more modern ones are great...however for me the black lacquer AT was a little too dressy/smart. And I'm not not drawn so much to the Atlantic Blue either, again with the polished bracelet but especially the 38mm size. These are both beautiful timepieces in their own right, but not what I'm after right now.

The other watches in my modest collection are a Tag Heuer Twin Time ( with a white/cream dial) and a Tudor Black Bay Ceramic (with a black dial, of course). So I am very excited to get my first Omega, and I'd like it to be something a little different to what I currently have, in terms of watch style and dial colour. The blue teak AT seems to tick all those boxes.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I like the blue teak AT on the stainless steel bracelet. I haven't worn this type of bracelet for many years, but it seems to suit this watch beautifully and it's big enough for my 19.5 cm size wrist. I have not seen the blue teak AT on the rubber strap yet in any AD's , I have tried the rubber strap on a black teak AT, and it was super comfortable.

I would like to ask owners of the blue teak AT, what is your experience with the stainless steel bracelet and/or the rubber strap?

My only decision on watch choice at present is do I get the blue teak AT on the stainless steel bracelet or the rubber strap.

Lastly, can anyone recommend Omega AD's in the south of UK ( I live near Southampton) who are good to deal with in terms of % discount off of RRP and/or who throw something else into the deal .e.g. rubber strap ?

I know I can get 15% off RRP from grey dealers, but would rather purchase from an AD. A few AD's so far have offered 10%, but of course I'd like to get more if possible.

Thanks all for any help and advice in advance.

I normally always favor the bracelet for watches, but the current generation Aqua Terra is the exception. I think the rubber strap really makes the AT a special piece. If you don't need the watch to serve duty as a dress watch, go with the rubber strap. You can always add the bracelet down the line (and oddly, the rubber strap and bracelet are comparable price wise).

I say this as someone who has owned every generation of the AT.

I don't live in the UK so I can't help you with AD's.

Not true with the AT rubber strap. Very nearly as expensive as the bracelet.

I’ve been pondering getting an AT for my collection too. Originally I thought I wanted the black lacquer version because of the dial and the nicer bracelet. Then I saw one in person and I agree with the assessment that it was a bit too dressy for a sport watch. I liked the idea of a rubber strap with deployant clasp AT but I couldn’t find the right color combo. Then I saw one with a black teak dial and black rubber deployant strap. Perfect. It’s the latest addition to my Omega collection. So my recommendation is, obviously, get the rubber strap. While I generally like bracelets I do not like PCL at all and that was the main reason I hadn’t pulled the trigger on an AT before now. It looks great with the rubber strap and much less dressy. Highly recommend the rubber strap.

With most watches you are correct. The bracelet is much more expensive. But with the AT that is not true. That's my point.

The AT is largely considered a GADA watch but for me, it leans more towards dressy than sporty and as such, it struts itself better on the bracelet but it is a truly versatile watch. Having owned several ATs, I have both bracelet and strap for them. If buying new from an OB, you can usually talk them into throwing in a free strap if you buy it on the bracelet (although you'll still have to buy the clasp and metal inserts and like 502 to Right mentioned, it's a pricy undertaking with this one). Whether it's better on bracelet or strap will depend on the setting where you'll be wearing it on any given day.

The black lacquer dial is quite spectacular but perhaps even dressier than its teak counterparts. When I first saw it at my local OB, the sparkle of so much polish under the weird lighting really turned me off but later I picked up a pre-owned one and it looked completely different in natural light. I was truly mesmerized by it. I was considering getting the case brushed like the teak dial models but sold it. I have regretted that decision - I'm probably going to end up sourcing it again.

Like others have mentioned: If you can't get both the bracelet and strap at the time of purchase, it's cheaper to source the strap later - especially if you can find one on the secondary market.

On the other hand, the blue dial is very captivating. Dial color is strictly a personal choice and I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

I wanted to like the simplicity of the lacquer dial but the overall aesthetic of the lacquer version with the PCL bracelet just didn’t do it for me. Great watch but not what I was looking for. Too dressy. OTOH, I think the black teak dial is a lot more understated and I didn’t expect that. It really tones down the overall look of the watch and the rubber deployant strap sealed the deal for me. The teak pattern is more noticeable in the green, blue and white dials IMO. I think if the OP chooses the blue teak dial with the blue rubber strap he/she will be very happy with that choice.

As much as I like my AT I think it would look better without the steel end links. They’re not a deal breaker by any means and they do give it an easily recognizable design element but I’d rather it was just a solid rubber strap. In person they’re not quite as noticeable as in photos.

I can understand that. Different aesthetic for different tastes. I'm more drawn to glossy dials myself but the only AT I still have is the Skyfall 41mm. To me, it's the best dial of all ATs.

I'm mostly a bracelet guy but I really like the AT strap. I go out of my way to fit it on any watch I am able to. Just a few examples:

Wow, the rubber AT strap looks great on all those watches.

How do you find that rubber strap for comfort, especially in hot weather?
Would you expect it to last and be in good condition including the stitching etc. etc. for a fairly long time, like 4 or 5 years?
Can it be used for swimming without causing any damage to the strap?

Sorry for all the questions, appreciate your experience and advice.

You mention you're a braclet sort of guy normally. Funnily enough I'm not, but I am strangely drawn to the braclet on the AT ( despite the lack of micro adjustment for the blue teak AT). I might well get it on the stainless steel and treat myself to the blue rubber strap too. I'm just thinking about that a bit more, as the rubber strap does look amazing and I might just buy it on the rubber strap. A first world problem 😀

Thanks for sharing those great pictures.

Buy the watch on the bracelet. This is my 2254.
Then get a rubber strap, deployant clasp is highly recomended. This is a fake AT strap, dont waste your money on something like this. It was totaly ruined after a year mostly in a drawer.
Other rubber straps are cheap, have fun. This is a citizen strap.
Or a bit more formal, a Hirsch guttaperka strap, cheap and durable.
The AT will certainly look good on a nice leather strap and do not forget a NATO strap, cheap and fun!

The AT is probably the best GADA watch of them all, with a few strap its the ultimate GADA watch.

Thank you. Yes I will almost certainly follow your sound advice of getting it on the bracelet and also get the Omega rubber strap and deployant clasp. Make even more of a GADA watch 😀 , as you say.

I have owned my AT straps for about 4-5 years now, if not longer. They are very comfortable and they are holding up great. I have often worn them while swimming, fishing, hiking, etc. No fading, no obvious deterioration and stitching is still intact. I can't say the same for several generic counterparts I have bought, including some fairly expensive, vulcanized rubber replacements.

Keep in mind that they are offered in different lengths.

Excellent, appreciate all the info. They sound great.

I wasn't aware they are available in different lengths. Good to know too, thanks very much.