Rolex had already gained a great reputation for manufacturing wristwatches that could meet the demanding conditions of the ocean. Well, owing to new experiments with saturation diving – a method in which helium is used to replace nitrogen in the air mixture, enabling commercial divers to work at deeper depths and stay down longer – a new type of dive watch was needed, one that could survive the unique rigors of this kind of deep-sea diving.
The manufacture of this fake Rolex Sea-Dweller lasted into the early 1980s, during which time it underwent several minor changes. For the first ten years of its production, Rolex made the Sea-Dweller with both the Submariner and Sea-Dweller names printed in red ink on its dial. These “Double Red Sea-Dweller” watches frequently had their dials replaced by Rolex Service Centers with later-era versions that had all white text and lacked the Submariner name entirely. As a result of this practice, original “Double Red” dials have become quite rare and valuable among collectors today.
The extended periods of time spent in pressurized chambers would force helium molecules into the cases of the divers’ watches. Upon decompression, the trapped helium would expand, often generating enough force to cause the crystals to pop off their replica watches. The Rolex’s solution to this problem was the Sea-Dweller, which incorporated a gas release valve into the side of the case, allowing trapped helium to safely exit the watch during decompression. Although several early prototype Sea-Dweller watches were manufactured, the Rolex Sea-Dweller made its official debut.
Even though it is not necessary to track down a Double Red Sea-Dweller, it has become much harder to find one with its original dial still in pristine, unaltered condition. This special Double Red Sea-Dweller has succeeded to survive all these years without its dial sustaining any inadvertent damage from bent hands, moisture intrusion, or careless watchmakers. Besides, the tritium hour markers have developed a rich, patina, which only adds to this watch’s well-preserved, unmistakably vintage aesthetic.
The Double Red Sea-Dweller was the first commercially available iteration of Rolex’s most capable line of professional sports watches and marked a lot of firsts – both for the Rolex brand and the dive watch industry as a whole. It has made the replica Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller a true classic and a common target for serious collectors looking to own an iconic piece with its rich history, timeless design, and unmistakably vintage aesthetic.
Omega launched a large number of new Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M models last year, which offered easy-to-miss, albeit important changes to the brand’s premier sports lifestyle dres’s watch. Sport-style dres’ fake watches are important in many markets such as the USA, where elegance, as well as masculinity, are the main factors of interest for many consumers. Let’s take a close look at just one of some versions of the updated Aqua Terra timepieces here.
While some of us think of hardcore dive replica watches when they consider the replica Omega Seamaster collection, the more casually-themed Aqua Terra better represents the first Omega Seamaster watches. At the time the Seamaster wasn’t a serious sport watch, but was rather a sportier dres’ watch that a “well to do father could wear while playing with his children and not worry about getting wear or experiencing some shock.” Therefore, from the beginning, the Seamaster was a luxury lifestyle item and not the serious diving instrument that versions of the Seamaster later evolved into.
As a sportier timepiece, the Seamaster Aqua Terra will easily handle most of what a wearer could throw at it. 150m of water resistance easily allows for even recreational diving, and the chunky metal case is robust enough to put up with its share of abuse and wear. The dial also happens to be highly legible, with enough lume for a clear view in darker environments. Generally speaking, the Seamaster Aqua Terra is a very capable sport watch though it intends to be a status-symbol dres’s watch at what are almost entry-level prices from the brand.
However, lots of people admire Omega for Speedmaster chronographs and Planet Ocean divers, models such as the Aqua Terra and other models are those which Omega intends for the wrists of professionals needing a handsome timepiece for urban or business professional needs. It’s supposed to be just sporty enough to suggest an active lifestyle (or an appreciation thereof), but with an elegance that lends itself well to more formal attire.
The interesting thing is that the fake tag Heuer’s latest marketing for the Aqua Terra sees its wearers (some of which are the brand’s celebrity ambassadors) on boats, traveling, and generally doing things one might not consider work, but rather leisure. This lends itself well to attractive visuals, but the replica Omega’s point is more that people who wear Aqua Terra watches regularly reward themselves for working hard – and this makes the Aqua Terra a timepiece for hard-working professionals.
The Omega replica has long since wanted the Aqua Terra to rival some of Rolex’s similar sporty/dressy timepieces ranging from the Milgauss to the Datejust. Today the Aqua Terra is more directly a competitor of the Milgauss – even though Omega is clearly more prolific with its design choices and even has different size options.