Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Ultra Light “Armand Duplantis”
The blue and yellow Aqua Terra 150M Ultra Light edition does more than impress; it captures the spirit of Duplantis' incredible victories, making it a meaningful tribute.
Omega, the official timekeeper of the Paris 2024 and 30 Olympic Games before that celebrated this year’s event with several Olympic-themed watches, like the Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 and the Omega Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition. Among other new models that caught everyone’s – well, almost everyone’s attention – was the special edition of the stainless steel 41mm Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M, paying tribute to Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, a Swedish-American pole vaulter, perhaps one of the greatest of all time. During our brief visit to the Olympics last week, we got to spend some time with the timepiece worthy of a champion. Here are our impressions.
The 24-year-old Mondo Duplantis won multiple World and European Championships titles; now he is a double Olympic champion (delayed Tokyo 2020, 6.02m and Paris 2024, 6.25m) and Omega Ambassador since 2020. His spectacular performance in Paris was marked by the clear win with a jump of 6.00m after the American Sam Kendricks couldn´t clear higher than 5.95 m. Duplantis then took the 6.10 m height, thus breaking the Olympic record set at the 2016 Olympics and finally, on his third attempt, he conquered 6.25 m, setting a new world record – you are sure to know all this, but the story is such a great one, it is worth repeating – all while wearing a new, very quietly released titanium Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Ultra-Light. Quietly refers to the brand’s communications only, for the spectators greeted the winning jump – and, by default, the watch Duplantis was wearing – with plenty of noise.
At less than 60 grams (approx. 57), the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Titanium “Armand Duplantis” is impressively lightweight. The 41mm case is crafted from Gamma Titanium, an alloy harder and lighter than the Grade 5 Titanium commonly used in the industry. The case, caseback, and almost fully recessed crown adorned with a yellow logo all feature a matte sandblasted finish, which complements the titanium just as effectively as the satin and polished surfaces seen on the June-released stainless steel Aqua Terra 150M model associated with the champion. The watch offers exceptional wrist comfort with a thickness of 13.5mm and a lug-to-lug measurement of slightly over 49mm. This is due not only to its minimal weight but also to the special yellow and blue rubber strap, which integrates seamlessly into the original lug design and enhances the overall experience of the timepiece.
The design of the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Titanium “Armand Duplantis” is dominated by Duplantis’ home country’s yellow and blue colours. The blue anodized titanium dial, featuring horizontal grooves, is accented with several yellow highlights. The most striking of these is the cylindrical central seconds hand, finished in bright yellow varnish with a white tip inspired by Duplantis’ pole vault. The Seamaster logo and the minute markers at 15, 30, 45, and 60 are also in yellow, consistent with the design of the stainless steel Aqua Terra 150M edition inspired by Duplantis.
The blackened, applied triangular indices point toward the centre and are filled with white Super-LumiNova, matching the finish of the hour and minute hands. The omission of the date window keeps the dial clean and focused, emphasizing legibility. A subtle yet clever touch is the discreetly engraved and “painted over” Ti below the usual Co-Axial and Master Chronometer mentions, subtly highlighting the titanium construction. The Omega logo is rendered in black, harmonizing with the overall aesthetic, and the dial’s execution is impeccable.
The sapphire crystal caseback of the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Titanium showcases the ceramised titanium bridges of the Master Chronometer calibre 8928 Ti. This manual wound movement features dual barrels, each visible through small openings labelled “Barrel One” and “Barrel Two,” and provides a 72-hour power reserve. The movement is anti-magnetic, equipped with a free-sprung balance and a silicon balance spring, operating at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour.
A handy feature, though not immediately apparent, is the time zone function. With the crown pulled out to position 2, the hour hand can be adjusted forwards or backwards in one-hour increments, making it easy to adjust to different time zones.
While the new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Ultra Light “Armand Duplantis” isn’t a groundbreaking release, as it mainly introduces a fresh colour scheme to the Ultra Light series we’ve known since 2019, it remains undeniably impressive. The lightweight design, the tucked-in crown, comfortable strap, high-performing movement, and overall craftsmanship make any Aqua Terra 150M Ultra Light a highly desirable timepiece. The only downside is the steep price tag of EUR 56,900, which puts it out of reach for many. Nonetheless, it’s a great watch to honour a great athlete and the winning spirit.
