Marcus Hanke's field test of the Omega Aqua Terra in the Sahara desert provides a compelling real-world assessment of its durability and performance. Originally published elsewhere, Hanke's decision to republish it on WatchProSite makes this valuable content accessible to a new audience. His detailed account challenges initial expectations about the Aqua Terra's suitability for extreme conditions, offering insights into its robust engineering.
The post on the Seamaster in the wild reminded me of a brief article I once wrote on the Aqua Terra's performance during a trip through the Sahara desert. I could not find that article neither here, nor on the thePuristS site, and considered it lost. However, a search via Google produced some links to it, and it apparently is buried somewhere among the old materials of the PuristS, but not here at PuristSPro.
If you don't mind, I would like to republish it here:
In 2002, I had the opportunity to test some watches during a trip through the Algerian Sahara desert. The watches were given to us for that purpose by the manufacturers, and represented a wide spectre from multifunctional quartz (Tissot T-Touch, Casio GPS) to more or less classic mechanical timepieces (Sinn, Limes, Omega). I was very astonished, when Omega sent me a brand new AquaTerra to participate in this test.
This watch seemed to be fully out of place, since it was so thin, appeared very elegant, and had these fine, polished markers and hands. I replaced the steel bracelet with a simple black leather strap from Glycine, since it was a condition that the strap could be adapted to different persons without tools.
Somehow, I expected the Omega to fail, confronted with heat, dust, sand and massive vibrations. Additionally, I did not think it would be legible enough at night or in adverse lighting conditions.
Strangely, I was to be proved the contrary. Part of the test was that every watch should spend at least one day on the wrist of our motorbikers. These two crazy men 
dashed over stones and sand, mostly standing on the footrests, in order to reduce the strain on their backsides. You can imagine that 12 hours rattling and vibrating on their wrists is not a nice treatment for mechanical watches. What astonished me, was the result: While all mechanical watches lost their normal accuracy after such a day, to regain their normal rate only after two or three days, the Omega behaved as if never anything had happened: It had just the same +2 seconds rate, as it had all the other days.
Additionally, the AquaTerra proved to be the most legible watch of all, even compared with the new Sinn 756 chronograph. The real test was not in the night, or in bright sunshine, but in the time between: In dawn or dusk. You know the situation in a cinema or theater? You want to know the time, but somehow, the ambient light is not strong enough to see the details on the dial, but too strong to overshine the luminous mass on hands and markers. The same problem was encountered at the campfire: You just could not see any detail on that Sinn's dial; nor I could on any other watch - except the Omega. Not because of its luminous parts, which are not very large. But due to the faceted, highly polished markers and hands, every faint shine light is reflected, making hands and markers stand out clearly against the black dial. Even bare starlight was enough to read the time at a glimpse.
The only thing which was not undestroyable enough was the polished case, which, of course, became massively scratched after but three weeks of desert digging.
Leaving that aside, I would take this watch for an adventure trip anytime. And additionally, it serves as an elegant dress watch. It was really nice to see that Omega built a fine, elegant watch, which does not have to fear rough treatment.
Regards,
Marcus About the HEUER Professional 200m Diver Ref. 756
HEUER Reference 756
The HEUER reference 756 represents the brand s entry into dive watch production, featuring a rotating diving bezel and 200-meter water resistance. Produced in 1979, this 28mm reference occupies a compact position within HEUER s sports watch offerings of the period.
The stainless steel case measures 28mm in diameter and houses an automatic AS 5103/ETA caliber movement delivering 38-42 hours of power reserve. The watch features a unidirectional diving bezel and has been fitted with a sapphire crystal replacement. The timepiece is completed with a rubber strap appropriate for underwater activities.
This reference appeals to collectors seeking HEUER s dive watch production from the late 1970s. The compact 28mm case size and diving specifications distinguish it within the brand s catalog. The AS 5103/ETA movement represents HEUER s reliance on established Swiss movement suppliers during this production period, offering collectors an accessible entry point into the brand s sports watch heritage.
Specifications
- Caliber
- AS 5103/ETA
- Case
- Stainless steel
- Diameter
- 28 mm
- Water Resist.
- 200m
- Crystal
- Sapphire crystal (new)
About the Breitling Breitling AVI Ref. Ref765
The Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition is a faithful homage to the original Co-Pilot Ref. 765 AVI, a pilot's chronograph from the mid-20th century. This re-edition is part of Breitling's historical re-issue program, aiming to bring back significant designs from its archives with modern manufacturing standards while preserving vintage aesthetics.
This chronograph features a 41mm stainless steel case, characteristic of its era, with a bidirectional rotating bezel. It is powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09, a hand-wound chronograph movement. The dial layout includes a 15-minute counter at 3 o'clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock, and a running seconds sub-dial at 9 o'clock, replicating the original design.
The Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition is significant for collectors due to its commitment to historical accuracy, from the dial typography and sub-dial configuration to the case dimensions. It appeals to enthusiasts of vintage pilot's watches and those who appreciate manually wound chronographs with a strong connection to Breitling's heritage.
Specifications
- Caliber
- Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09
- Case
- Stainless steel
- Diameter
- 41mm
- Dial
- Black
- Water Resist.
- 30 meters
- Crystal
- Hesalite
About the IWC Ref. Sinn756
The IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Spitfire, reference IW387804, is a distinguished member of IWC's pilot watch collection, known for its blend of aviation heritage and refined aesthetics. This model is characterized by its balanced proportions and a design that pays homage to the iconic British Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, offering a more elegant take on the traditional pilot's chronograph.
Encased in steel, the IW387804 features a 43mm case, a size that offers a substantial wrist presence while remaining wearable. It houses the IWC-manufactured Caliber 89365, an automatic flyback chronograph movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch. This movement provides a power reserve of 68 hours and operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The dial is typically an ardoise color with a sunray brush finish, complemented by applied Arabic numerals and hands with luminescent material.
For collectors, the IW387804 represents a significant evolution in IWC's pilot watch offerings, particularly with the integration of an in-house flyback chronograph movement. Its 43mm case size was a welcome departure from larger models, appealing to a broader range of enthusiasts. The combination of its technical prowess, historical inspiration, and versatile design makes it a notable reference within the modern IWC catalog.
Specifications
- Caliber
- 89365
- Case
- Stainless Steel
- Diameter
- 43 mm
- Dial
- Ardoise
- Crystal
- Sapphire
