Ten Years: The Seamaster Aqua Terra 15'000 Gauss

Jones in LA · Jan 18, 2023

January 17th, 2013 was an important date in modern horology: Omega's announcement of a groundbreaking achievement in watchmaking...the creation of a mechanical watch movement (Calibre 8508) capable of functioning normally in a strong magnetic field of up to 15,000 Gauss. This led to the "Master Co-Axial, Chronometer" certification throughout most of Omega's watch lines, and the eventual METAS-certified "Co-Axial, Master Chronometer" designation.

I thought I'd mark the occasion with a Forum roll call for this reference -- if you've got 'em, post 'em!

I'll begin 😀

Jones in LA · Jan 20, 2023

...surely one or more of our active Forum members has a Bumblebee stashed away somewhere...

imranbecks · Jan 20, 2023

I don't have the bumblebee AT. But I do have the AT that came after it with the Master Co-Axial marking on the dial 😀

Aroxx · Jan 20, 2023

I do not own one of these. However, I still have the wrist shot of one from the first and only time I stepped foot in an Omega Boutique in 2016. I was at the mall for other reasons but of course had to stop and check out some watches. This was shortly before I really caught the watch bug and learned some things. Anyway, this watch was the one that really caught my eye that day hence why I tried it on. Still a big fan of this one.

dstfno · Jan 20, 2023

It was also a disaster from a marketing perspective.

You had the 8500 with co-axial on the dial that carried the Si14 balance spring, which was only a bit a-magnetic.
You also had the new 8508 which was a-magnetic, with also only co-axial on the dial
But then you had the "old" 8500 with master co-axial on the dial which was a-magnetic too. Kinda messy and confusing when you were a customer looking at their range.

Anyhow, lovely watch and I like the seconds hand. Had they made it in 38mm I would be all over it.

Jones in LA · Jan 21, 2023

dstfno
It was also a disaster from a marketing perspective.

You had the 8500 with co-axial on the dial that carried the Si14 balance spring, which was only a bit a-magnetic.
You also had the new 8508 which was a-magnetic, with also only co-axial on the dial
But then you had the "old" 8500 with master co-axial on the dial which was a-magnetic too. Kinda messy and confusing when you were a customer looking at their range.

Anyhow, lovely watch and I like the seconds hand. Had they made it in 38mm I would be all over it.

Yes, the nomenclature path from 'Co-Axial, >15'000 Gauss' to "Co-Axial, Master Chronometer" was pretty messy. I like to think of the >15'000 Gauss watch as a Prototype model.

Ten Years: The Seamaster Aqua Terra 15'000 Gauss

Jones in LA

Jones in LA

imranbecks

Aroxx

dstfno

Jones in LA

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