Aqua Terra - optimus classis

[tribe125]

Good things about my new Aqua Terra:

• Smart but not sleek. Handsome but not flashy. Mature but not stuffy. Distinctive but not contrived.

• Both classic and modern, meaning long-term as well as immediate appeal.

• An ideal size, 38.5mm, if you think the Datejust is either too big or too small.

• Delightful detail when you look for it, just a touch of class when you don't.

• The rear view is as pretty as a picture.

• Not a dress watch and not a sports watch - just a 'watch, gents' in the classic manner.

• Relatively affordable, given its upper crust credentials. Even more affordable if purchased from a grey dealer, like this one.

• It's got a tiny piece of George Daniels in it.

• Super-sophisticated in slate grey.

• Makes a Datejust look like your Auntie Nora.

I could go on - there's the white gold, the independent hour hand (so obvious, so rare, so convenient), the depth rating, the 60-hour power reserve, the nifty date window, the restrained bracelet, the landmark horology...







There are no bad things, but some might prefer 20mm lugs (although 19mm looks right), and some might like micro-adjustment on the clasp (although 3mm increments are possible by juggling the links). And maybe 12.84mm is near the limit for a three-hander - not much thicker than a Datejust, but within a human hair of a Speedmaster Pro. There's also one thing that's a characteristic rather than a flaw - the hour hand can look short when light doesn't strike the bevelled tip of the hand.







For my money, the Aqua Terra is the best of its up-market and all-purpose kind. No matter how deep your pockets, it leaves you with very little reason to hanker after anything else.

It's a handy watch. You could wear it continuously for the rest of your life and always be wearing the right watch. You could take it for granted but still be conscious of something classy on your wrist. You can be less bothered about other watches because you've got this one. You can take quiet pleasure in its quality. It's complete.







Size, colour, strap.

The medium model suits my 7.5" wrist and I like the idea of case and movement being a natural fit. Had I been the designer, my first draft would have been of the medium version.

Grey is relaxed and versatile. As in architecture and interior design, grey allows features to be prominent without throwing them into sharp relief. Grey likes a bit of harmony.

I did think about trying a strap, but the case height probably favours the bracelet. Good - no pondering, no chopping and changing.