The Low-Down

The winter Olympics in Beijing is scarcely three months away – it starts 4 Feb 2022, just three days into the Lunar New Year which is arguably the greatest festive season on the lunar calendar for ethnic Chinese everywhere. It’s not too early then to start the drums rolling, and Official Timekeeper Omega has dutifully obliged with a special edition to mark the proceedings: the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Beijing 2022.

Essentially and ‘iced’ version of the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M, the “Beijing 2022” distinguishes itself by eschewing the teak-deck horizontal striping of several other references in the collection for a white ceramic dial with frost-finish pattern. Hands and markers in blue with white Super-LumiNova extend the wintry palette while discreet flashes of red in the quarter minutes and Seamaster name lend balance and a touch of dynamism to the aesthetics.

IMHO

It begins with a great all-round watch: the Aqua Terra has the distinction of being built for the outdoors without the wild-eyed ruggedness that is underdressed in polite company. And for those who continue to value the belief that watches are instruments and tools wedded to function and performance, the Aqua Terra’s acing of every metric in that regard is no small matter: not just COSC chronometer, but METAS tested to leading edge precision, reliability and magnetic resistance that allows it to shrug off everything from golf to errant magnetic fields.

In the case of “Beijing 2022”, it’s not only suitably wintry for the occasion, it is also relatively uncommon for a sports watch, even dressy as it is, to have a ceramic dial. And it’s a fair bet that Omega has read the sentiments right in not making this a limited edition. It’s a patriotic time for the mainland Chinese, and it just wouldn’t seem right if only a handful get to commemorate the teary podium moments with an edition of limited number.

Tech Specs

Movement: Omega 8900, self-winding, METAS and COSC-certified chronometer, magnetic resistance greater than 15,000 gauss, 60 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case: 41mm steel, domed sapphire crystal, white ceramic dial, water resistant to 150 meters
Strap: Steel bracelet
Price: SGD 9,050.00