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I have to admit my new Seamaster 300m is a better watch than my Submariner

R
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I have a Rolex GMT Master from 1986 and a Dual-Tone "bluesy" Submariner from 1998 - both very nice watches. Two weeks ago, I tried an Omega for the first time and purchased a new Seamaster 300m (with the grey dial.) After wearing it for 2 weeks, I have to admit the Omega Seamaster is a better watch than the Rolex Submariner. Both are beautiful watches. The build quality on the Omega is just as impeccable as the Rolex and both have in-house movements, but the technology (co-axial and METAS cert) and accuracy (+1sec/day!) on the Omega is much better. A minor point - the wooden presentation box for the Omega is light-years better than the cheap boxes that Rolexes come in. After 2 weeks, there is no question in my mind that the Seamaster is a better watch than the Submariner.

So impressed am I with the Omega that yesterday I traded my precious 35-year old GMT Master for a new Speedmaster Moonphase (blue dial). The Speedy should be shipping today. 馃榾

Rolex clearly has it over Omega with their marketing. (But so does Mercedes Benz; however if you want a superior car with better reliability and performance than MB, get a Porsche with does very little advertising.) Very, very few Rolex aficionados know that Omega cleaned Rolex's clock in the NASA torture trials (I didn't know until researching it.) Yeah they may know that Omega has the "moonwatch", but very very few know that Rolex also submitted an entry (an entry that failed the very first test, the thermo-vacuum test.)

It's interesting that apparently Rolex will not permit its' ADs to also carry Omega - at least I've never seen an AD that also carried Omega.) I guess Rolex is afraid that a head-to-head comparison will sway some customers.

What a breath of fresh air buying the Omega. No silly games and you can actually buy an Omega. I still very much like my "bluesy" Submariner ..... just not as much as my Seamaster. 馃槈
 
dstfno
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It's hardly fair to compare a modern watch to one that was being produced over 20 years ago. The current 300m is also miles ahead of its first incarnation (in tech at least).
 
tubeamps
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I just picked up a new Globemaster at my AD, and they are also a Rolex dealer.
 
Owlsu
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I'm pretty sure people also said that it was the original Seamaster 300m from the mid 90's which was the watch that forced Rolex to step up their bracelet quality and make significant improvements to match what Omega was doing for less than half the price, whilst still offering a sapphire crystal and 300m water resistance alongside the workhorse 1120 ETA movement that was practically equal in real world use to a Rolex 3000 movement of the time. All those 90's Submariner's generally had over a Seamaster of the same time period was a better bezel, applied white gold indices and the brand name.

Much of the same can be said about the current Seamaster and Submariner (at least 114060) where besides the better bracelet on the Submariner with its excellent tool free adjustment, there's very little between them besides massive price difference.
 
blufinz52
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What a wonderful 1st post. 馃槜
 
llvhhui
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Some people buy the watch. Some buy the brand. I have some friends that have a Rolex only policy. Whatever makes people happy I guess.
 
E
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If you set aside price, most would want the Sub. Like if someone offered you a new Sub or a new Seamaster 300 for free, and the only stipulation is that you can never sell it or gift it, but you can wear it for the rest of your life then it gets donated to charity. Of course you take the Sub.
 
R
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Owlsu Owlsu
Much of the same can be said about the current Seamaster and Submariner (at least 114060) where besides the better bracelet on the Submariner with its excellent tool free adjustment, there's very little between them besides massive price difference.

Interestingly, many people prefer the bracelet adjustment on the Seamaster, saying it's easier to adjust than the QuickGlide adjustment on the Rolex.

BTW - I took the Seamaster into the Rolex AD to have bracelet links removed, which he did for free to his credit. I believe it was the first time the AD manager had seen the new Seamaster in the flesh ... and he was impressed. He also was blown away by the Omega presentation box. I did ask him to put me the list for a new stainless GMT Master II, which he did. Who knows though? I could be dead before my name comes up.

I will give Rolex credit for one thing: they are certainly an investment watch. To wit,
- I was able to trade my GMT Master that I paid all of $750 for new in 1986, for a $10,000 watch yesterday, equal exchange no money due.
- I purchased the bluesy Submariner (used) in April 2020 for $7100 (the owner was anxious to sell). A little over a year later it's worth around $12k
 
Larry S
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Pictures or it didn鈥檛 happen.
 
gbesq
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For me, it's not a matter of Rolex not making a very good watch. They do. It's just that I find their business and marketing practices so galling that it's offensive and I refuse to patronize a company that does business that way. Aside from that, I just don't find Rolex styling attractive. Yes, Rolex marketing and resale value are second to none, but when you compare apples to apples it's very hard to ignore that Omega frankly makes a better watch that is readily available for 1/3 less.
Edited:
 
R
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Larry S Larry S
Pictures or it didn鈥檛 happen.

Here's my GMT Master that I traded in for the Speedy. Was complete with both boxes, papers, original hang tags and manual. (Yup, that's my web site.)

https://www.iphonepics.info/rolex

And here is my receipt from the Omega AD:

Items SERIAL # Price
Speedmaster Moonphase Co-axial Master Chronometer Chronograph 304.33.44.52.03.001*
SKU: 210000015702
Category: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch
Tag: 30433445203001
Employee: Nick
83282646 1 $10600.00
Trade In Credit*
SKU: 210000007795
Category: Trade In Credit
Rolex 16750 GMT Master II Pepsi
Serial 8566805 *
Employee: Nick
1 $-10600.00
Subtotal $0.00
Total Tax $0.00
Total $0.00
rolex
 
Larry S
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R rcdancer
Interestingly, many people prefer the bracelet adjustment on the Seamaster, saying it's easier to adjust than the QuickGlide adjustment on the Rolex.

BTW - I took the Seamaster into the Rolex AD to have bracelet links removed, which he did for free to his credit. I believe it was the first time the AD manager had seen the new Seamaster in the flesh ... and he was impressed. He also was blown away by the Omega presentation box. I did ask him to put me the list for a new stainless GMT Master II, which he did. Who knows though? I could be dead before my name comes up.

I will give Rolex credit for one thing: they are certainly an investment watch. To wit,
- I was able to trade my GMT Master that I paid all of $750 for new in 1986, for a $10,000 watch yesterday, equal exchange no money due.
- I purchased the bluesy Submariner (used) in April 2020 for $7100 (the owner was anxious to sell). A little over a year later it's worth around $12k
It鈥檚 your money, but I鈥檇 not have done that deal.
 
R
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Larry S Larry S
It鈥檚 your money, but I鈥檇 not have done that deal.

I had the watch appraised by Sothebys. Rolex used prices have taken a bit of a dip. They appraised my GMT Master between $12k-$15k. The only way you will get that price though is via private sale which I was not anxious to do. I solicited some offers from dealers before doing the trade. Had 2 offers for $9k and 1 offer for $10.5k. The Omega AD was fair in the trade.
 
Scooterino36
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E Edgeworth
If you set aside price, most would want the Sub. Like if someone offered you a new Sub or a new Seamaster 300 for free, and the only stipulation is that you can never sell it or gift it, but you can wear it for the rest of your life then it gets donated to charity. Of course you take the Sub.

Why?
 
Dan S
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Larry S Larry S
It鈥檚 your money, but I鈥檇 not have done that deal.

Looks like a white-gold-surround 16750. But yes, the dealer still did very well given the typical AD discounts we see applied to Omega watches.
 
R
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Dan S Dan S
Looks like a white-gold-surround 16750. But yes, the dealer still did very well given the typical AD discounts we see applied to Omega watches.
No. It was a stainless steel.
 
Dan S
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R rcdancer
No. It was a stainless steel.

I'm referring to the dial markers. It's known as a WGS dial, not a matte dial with simple painted lume plots. At least that's what it looks like in the tiny photo. If it's a matte dial 16750, then the dealer did extremely well.
 
Larry S
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R rcdancer
I had the watch appraised by Sothebys. Rolex used prices have taken a bit of a dip. They appraised my GMT Master between $12k-$15k. The only way you will get that price though is via private sale which I was not anxious to do. I solicited some offers from dealers before doing the trade. Had 2 offers for $9k and 1 offer for $10.5k. The Omega AD was fair in the trade.
I hate thinking about watches this way because they are not investments and if you like what you traded for more than what you traded, good for you. The problem I have with the deal is the exchange of an appreciating asset with possible upside, for one with a lower cost basis, that was depreciated as soon as you left the store and will stay that way. I get that you didn鈥檛 want to do a private sale though.
 
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