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  1. zcymontmae Dec 11, 2014

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    A good friend just forwarded this article to me and I am just sharing it here. I don't know if this been posted already but it is such a good read for all.


    Good question indeed. The age-old 'Rolex vs Omega'. I am currently the proud owner of both brands (not one, but TWO of each), and this is my take on it:

    I currently own two Omegas and two Rolexes:

    - Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph 9300
    - Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 2500 (45.5mm)
    - Rolex Submariner 116610LN (Ceramic)
    - Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller 116660

    As you can probably tell, I like dive watches a fair bit LOL.

    In my experience, Omegas have very strong product. I'm talking product substance and product quality, as well the engineering in their watches.

    Especially the 2500, 8500 and 9300 co-axial movements: these movements are just astonishingly accurate. Try +1 second fast after 3 months (on my PO 2500). And it does so with little or no daily fluctuations whatsoever, regardless of how I wear my watch throughout the day.

    Both my Rolexes can never compete with or match this performance. In fact during the day it loses a second, then at night it gains a second, then the next day it can lose two seconds. Very erratic! This is much less reliable than an Omega co-axial movement. How you wear your watch throughout the day and what you do has immediate effect on its accuracy, which is kind of disappointing for such an expensive, high-end watch. I would have expected Rolex to do much better than that, and this is one grudge / concern / frustration that I have with Rolex product.

    The Omega Co-Axial movement, based on my experience, is just astonishingly phenomenal; much much better than any Rolex movement I have seen.

    Lets take a look at some Omega vs Rolex product examples.

    In some cases, granted, we are not comparing apples with apples though. However we can still see where Omega has really stepped it up to provide product that is beyond its competitors.

    Take the Planet Ocean Chrono 9300 for example; Omega's nearest competitor to the Deepsea, based on price. This piece is in fact everything that a Deepsea is, and more: it has a chronograph with its own hour + minute subdial, which you could also use as a second timezone, which Rolex doesn't offer in dive watches. Not to mention a sapphire back that enables you to gaze at that gorgeous movement through.

    The only thing this can't do vs the DSSD is dive to great depths, down to 3900m. I'm not a diver, so this doesn't concern me; however respectfully and appreciatively on the other other side of the token, the engineering in the DSSD to enable deepsea diving is nothing less than a major engineering marvel also, something that it has over the Omega.

    Take another example, this time a direct n 'apples with apples' comparison test:

    Next time you get the chance, take a look at a Planet Ocean 8500 (non chronograph that comes in 42mm or 45.5mm), side by side against a 116610LN Submariner. Place them side by side, touch and feel them in your hands. Then you'll see what I mean.

    Similar to a blindfolded wine tasting 'blind taste test', let's do a similar test with these two watches.

    Imagine if both watches had no brands; neither of them were Omega or Rolex, neither of them had any image, status or history associated with them, both were exactly the same price, and you compared them purely on their merits on product as individual watches.

    Both have ceramic bezels, both have date, screw down crown, and steel bracelets. But the Planet Ocean has so much more that the Submariner doesn't:

    - Bigger watch (42 or 45.5mm)
    - Sapphire back, it can dive deeper down to 600m (300 on the Submariner)
    - Has helium escape valve
    - Has domed sapphire crystal
    - Has anti-reflective coating on both sides of its sapphire crystal
    - Its 8500 Co-Axial movement with silicon hairspring and silicon balance wheel runs rings around (pun intended!) the Rolex 3135 with Parachrom hairspring movement.
    - The Co-Axial movement can go as long as 6 years between service intervals
    - The Planet Ocean has factory designed and supplied rubber straps that you can buy as an option!

    The only thing I can think of that the Submariner has over the PO is its magnificent Glidelock clasp and its platinum-blasted indented bezel markers, which I dearly love indeed.

    After this test, based on features I bet most of us would agree that the Planet Ocean is the better watch and would choose the Planet Ocean over the Submariner. It simply has so much more to offer over the Submariner.

    Now lets see how prices currently compare:

    For the price of Rolex Deepsea, you can buy a Planet Ocean 9300, as well as a Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch on top of that, in our country.

    So with Omega you get far more watch (bigger watch, more features + greater movement) with just as good, if not greater quality, for much less $$$. So, now we can see Omega's mentality when it comes to jacking up their price to Rolex levels. And many don't see the justification and cringe at every mention of this idea.

    And this is why:

    IMHO, the only thing that sets Rolex on a higher price band than Omega is its stronger brand.

    The general public perception of Rolex is that it is the hotter brand with the perception that its product is far more superior than Omega, when in fact Omega product is just as good, if not better. Many people are just yet to realise this. And when they do... the sky's the limit for Omega.

    For example, wearing a Rolex is regarded as a higher 'status symbol' than wearing an Omega. Especially in Asian countries, where, in the world of business, showing off your status and wearing of luxury goods is a necessity, otherwise you get regarded as a second rate citizen, and will lose out on business opportunities. This is shallow, sad, but unfortunately, true. In China, where wealth is growing at blistering speed, the more expensive the item, the more people will buy it. That's insane to say the least!

    Throughout the years, Rolex has built a bit of a history and heritage, but yet, so has Omega.

    Rolex has transformed itself into an icon through many means, such as James Bond (errrr... haven't both brands been worn by bond now?), through its legendary Submariner, not to mention Datejusts worn by presidents and world leaders, the Daytona 24hr race, Sir Edmund Hilary's climb up Mt Everest with the Explorer, Jacques Cousteau's sea exploration, and not to mention their involvement with deep sea research & development with the Trieste, and now, James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge.

    Omega has built its brand through Buzz Aldrin's famous moon landing with the Speedmaster Professional on, the Seamaster made famous by Bond (of course!), and the Ploprof, also brought to legendary status by Mr Cousteau himself.

    So, what you pay for in Rolex, great product aside, is the brand. Now I wonder: for what I paid on my SubC and Deepsea purchase how much of it in fact went straight to Tiger Woods? Roger Federer?

    So, at the end of the day, it comes down to old notion of "anyone can make a better burger than McDonalds, but look who's got the last laugh?". McDonalds has the last laugh. Their burgers are really, quite ordinary (having said that, I really shouldn't be drawing this as analogy since Rolex watches are anything but ordinary of course!). They are incredibly successful, purely due to their clever marketing and selling techniques that have got them to where they are today, in creating that continual massive public desire and demand for their product. And this, is how Rolex has achieved their brand strength and success.

    Omega's product is just as good, if not better, than Rolex. Unfortunately Omega is perceived to be a second-rate brand after Rolex, when in fact their products are not second-rate at all. All Omega is lacks is the strong brand power that Rolex has got. And this is exactly the reason why Omega is jacking up their prices to be on par with Rolex - to force an elevation of public image and perception to say "Hey look, we're expensive and therefore must be hot and desirable, too!".

    Will Omega eventually attain the image, status, and brand power of Rolex? Who knows? I sincerely wish them all the luck and success in the world. Their product certainly deserves this level of admiration, recognition, respect and success.

    But one thing's for sure: at the moment it certainly is better for all of us, as we are not paying for their brand as much as we are with Rolex. So lets enjoy it while we can.

    "LET"S THE WAR BEGIN"
     
  2. repoman Dec 11, 2014

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    I think the author loses some credibility with this... "during the day it loses a second, then at night it gains a second, then the next day it can lose two seconds. Very erratic!"

    +/- 2 seconds a day, OMG, what f'ing nightmare! (picture Marisa Tomei here)

    I didn't read a whole lot after that. I Iike Rolex and Omega, I don't see it as an either or proposition, nor a competition.
     
  3. NT931 Dec 11, 2014

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    Oh dear me, not another Rolex vs Omega thread. No "wars" please, this is not WUS.

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Nobel Prize Spell Master! Dec 11, 2014

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    Silly article, badly researched and conceived and written. There's so much he misses that it would take a whole other article to correct.

    Because Omega also has celebrity spokesmen and marketing costs. because Omega was not build on the moonwatch, it was already an established brand with great history by then.

    Because watch making and collecting is not based on superficial and shallow factors....

    It is not about the better watch, or even brand. There's so much more than that...passion, sentiment, history, ingenuity....there's an emotional component that you can't get on a blind test. Enjoy your Omega watches, enjoy your Rolex...Maybe get another brand involved.. Good thing is, you don't have to choose one to be the best, there's always tomorrow.
     
  5. jud Dec 11, 2014

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    Buy and wear what you enjoy. There have been times when I did not have a Rolex in my meager collection, but at this time I have more Rolex watches than Omegas. I enjoy them both and am happy I purchased both brands.
     
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  6. SeanO Dec 12, 2014

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    I reckon modern Omega IS built on the moonwatch. Modern Omega is nothing without the moonwatch.

    watchmaking and collecting IS based on superficial and shallow factors

    It IS about the better brand, it's always been about the better brand.
     
    Nobel Prize likes this.
  7. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 12, 2014

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    Omega vs Ford articles always do end up a lot like Ford Vs Chevy (or Ford Vs Holden in Australia) anyone that excludes Omega completely is missing out massively, the Speedmaster is a legend and there's so much depth beyond that, every time I open AJTT I find another watch I never knew they made.

    Similarly the Rolex Submariner, GMT-Master and Daytona are great watches and you're missing a lot if you ignore them. I still wear my 1680 Sub and 116520 Daytona a lot, especially the Daytona as its one of my favourite daily wear pieces and Trev used to wear an 116200 Rhodium dial Datejust. I'll also point out that even Dennis at one point had a GMT-Master and even Mike had a Daytona.

    Lets all just get back to hating Hublot and find some common ground :)
     
  8. TNTwatch Dec 12, 2014

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    It's naive to deny the role of brand perception. All the "passion, sentiment, history, ingenuity" are values of a brand. Hans Wilsdorf had already sold a lot of watches before creating the brand Rolex, but he did anyways.

    On the other hand, what are the modern Rolexes built on? Is there any achievement better for a Swiss watch than the moonwatch? With so much quality reputation I've heard about the Swiss watches, I'd have thought quite a few of them would have no problem passing any kind of tests conceivable, but just a single one? ::confused2::
     
  9. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 12, 2014

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    Ash, should we take it you've has a Damascene conversion regarding Cartier ?
     
    NT931 likes this.
  10. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 12, 2014

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    I like the Cartier Crash now, that's the only exception
     
  11. citizenrich Metal Mixer! Dec 12, 2014

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    That ain't an "article". It's some random average guy trying to brag about the top 4 watches guys buy to impress the impressionable. Rolex sells about as many Subs each year as Ford sells Fiestas.

    We get it. Make sure you wear the most shiny one to your next high school reunion. Have fun!
     
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  12. TNTwatch Dec 13, 2014

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    Did you mean a lot or just a few?

    "The Fiesta has sold over 16 million units since 1976,[2][3][4] making it one of the best selling Ford marques behind the Escort and the F-Series."
     
  13. citizenrich Metal Mixer! Dec 13, 2014

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    My snarky remark (Sorry!) was meant to point out that a new stainless steel sub is as rare as a Ford Fiesta.

    Look, I'm a Rolex whore as much as the next manwhore but some random dude writing what's basically a B- term paper just to show off that he's got a couple each of some modern steel Rolex and Omega divers is boring drivel.
     
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  14. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 13, 2014

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    Hey, compared to most of the internet B- term paper standard is pretty good going :)
     
    citizenrich likes this.
  15. styggpyggeno1 ΩF Enforcer ....and thread killer Dec 13, 2014

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    Wellcome to fanboy country (google fanboy if necessary). The most boring country in the world.
     
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  16. Nobel Prize Spell Master! Dec 16, 2014

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    I respect that opinion but I disagree. I can tell you I was aware of Omega Seamasters way before I was of the Moonwatch. My brother being a Pilot was attracted to the moon watch off the bat, I was not. I actually growing up (ignorant or not) always saw Omega as a working mans watch, and Rolex was impressive to me as a kid but then I learned to hate it. Now, I was slowly educated into the historic value of the moon watch and even the brand, I also with time got my respect and love for vintage Rolex back (I have a 5512) . So, outside of the connoseurs I don't think Moonwatch made omega...not more than Bond. I would make a very uneducated guess that Omega sells less Sppedmaster pro and moon watch watches than Seamasters (If someone actually knows please pitch in.) And historically probably constellations too.

    In any event, a Brand that was over 10 years old by the time someone took it to the moon I don't think it can be built on a Moonwatch. On the same token, the reason an Omega watch was within the selection of top model watches to "test" for endurance and potential as an Astronauts watch must've had plenty of legitimacy by then.
     
  17. detect Oct 18, 2019

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    Great article and so true.

    I have both brands and agree with every word.
     
  18. michael22 Oct 18, 2019

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    But... what about Gshock?
     
  19. Donn Chambers Oct 18, 2019

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    There are only 3 reasons an Omega Seamaster is "better" than a Rolex Submariner (note: this is only for new models):

    1. It is cheaper
    2. You can actually buy one from an AD without waiting for years
    3. The movement is more anti-magnetic

    There is only 1 reason a Rolex Submariner is "better":

    1. Rolex watches have become a commodity and can be sold for little or no loss, and in some cases, make significant gains depending on the model.


    All other rationales and arguments for one being "better" than the other are subjective and a matter of taste.

    Take these 4 factors out of play and they are pretty equivalent dive watches.
     
  20. CPRwatch Oct 18, 2019

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    This thread should be retitled , McDonald’s V Burger King . Anyway before the bun fight begins I own both & personally have no overall preference as I like the taste differences. A517EAFD-50BA-4262-AA86-2D696BCCC88F.jpeg