Omega Labelled Crystals

Evitzee · Jul 3, 2021

So if we get in the wayback machine and go back to the 50's what is the reason Omega started marking the crystals? Were the Omega designs different enough that the generic crystals of the day weren't sufficient? There weren't many collectors back then so it wouldn't have been for the end user. I bet <1% of the owners ever wondered if the crystal they got from their overhaul was a genuine Omega one. Curious as to Omega's rationale.

gatorcpa · Jul 3, 2021

Evitzee
So if we get in the wayback machine and go back to the 50's what is the reason Omega started marking the crystals?

For the same reason they do it today.

The branded crystals are usually better quality than generics. But the brands charge more for them and make a higher profit.

Go compare branded and non-branded auto parts today. The difference in both price and quality is substantial.

You get what you pay for.
gatorcpa

Evitzee · Jul 3, 2021

gatorcpa
For the same reason they do it today.

The branded crystals are usually better quality than generics. But the brands charge more for them and make a higher profit.

Go compare branded and non-branded auto parts today. The difference in both price and quality is substantial.

You get what you pay for.
gatorcpa

I understand the quality issue, that's not my question. If a repairer in the 1950's used a cheaper generic crystal how would the owner of the watch know? There were no collectors back then. He wouldn't have a clue about the Omega mark on the crystal, and wouldn't be looking for it unless there was an advertising campaign to inform the public. They just wore their watches and had them repaired when they stopped running, they didn't take a magnifying glass out to check for something they didn't even know existed. And dials were routinely refinished, too. Perhaps repairers were told to inform the owner of the watch that a genuine Omega crystal was used in the repair. So that was my question as to why Omega started the marking, it's either for the end user or for the repair industry. Omega didn't start doing it for no reason. I can see why they do it today with people running around checking crystals for the mark, but 70 years ago?

Archer · Jul 3, 2021

Evitzee
I understand the quality issue, that's not my question. If a repairer in the 1950's used a cheaper generic crystal how would the owner of the watch know? There were no collectors back then. He wouldn't have a clue about the Omega mark on the crystal, and wouldn't be looking for it unless there was an advertising campaign to inform the public. They just wore their watches and had them repaired when they stopped running, they didn't take a magnifying glass out to check for something they didn't even know existed. And dials were routinely refinished, too. Perhaps repairers were told to inform the owner of the watch that a genuine Omega crystal was used in the repair. So that was my question as to why Omega started the marking, it's either for the end user or for the repair industry. Omega didn't start doing it for no reason. I can see why they do it today with people running around checking crystals for the mark, but 70 years ago?

You are assuming that the end user is the only person this matters to, or the only person it would be marketed to. Watchmakers were also marketed to, and this is when every small town had several, not like the scarcity we have today. Brands competed for purchases of parts, and there was value in knowing that the parts you bought were designed to fit right the first time. This mark would tell you that your local supplier (where all parts were bought from at the time) was sending you genuine parts that would be guaranteed to fit, saving you the time and trouble of having to order multiples and seeing which one fit properly.

Omega certainly isn't the only brand to do this by the way...

gatorcpa · Jul 3, 2021

Evitzee
If a repairer in the 1950's used a cheaper generic crystal how would the owner of the watch know?

Probably 99% of people wouldn’t know.

However, then as now, you had some repairers who were factory authorized who used parts supplied by Omega and some who were equally qualified, but did not normally use branded parts.

Evitzee
I can see why they do it today with people running around checking crystals for the mark, but 70 years ago?

They had people with OCD 70 years ago, too. They just called it something else.
gatorcpa

Omega Labelled Crystals

Evitzee

gatorcpa

Evitzee

Archer

gatorcpa

Similar threads

Omega Ladies Dynamic Crystal Replacement?

Speedmaster Crystals

OJ 680 14k Gold Private label Omega Marine

Omega 176.007 crystal and inner bezel question

Omega 2933-1 Crystal Help

Correct crystal size for Omega Suverän 2400-1