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Recent Omega Negativity
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josiahg52
·I am sorry to read this as I am usually in agreement with you.
Perhaps my perspective is due my interest in watches is renewed, and perhaps more modern/recent.
As I have said earlier in this thread, I have always felt Rolex is aspirational. Part of this is because their watches have a timeless way about them. Style if you will, where a Sub looks like a Sub, a DayDate looks like a DayDate so on, and always will. The same is true for their bracelets.
I admit the quality of the Rolex bracelets have probably improved immensely over the years, but my experience has only been with the modern models and they have all been great. The point here is the Rolex bracelets have not changed in appearance much over the years and their recognizability has made them iconic.
Omega, IN MY OPINION, does not have bracelets that are attractive, so TO ME, the fact they haven't changed much isn't a positive. They are certainly not timeless, and perhaps this is partially why most Omega watch models are considered "strap monsters" (nobody likes the bracelets they come with).
In my case, my motivation for buying the most recent no date Seamaster diver was motivated by the fact that it did not come with the very tired-looking "tank track" bracelet (too busy, very 90s). Because I never felt their bracelets were part of an overall "Omega" look, I always thought they could be better, at least from an aesthetic perspective.
On the Speedmaster Pro, the bracelet has had so many little changes over the years, it is impossible to feel the design is one for the ages. The current Speedy bracelet, while comfortable looks like it was designed by ChatGPT. Personally, I like the flat-link style that came on my 321.
I guess at the end of the day, I think one company makes nice looking bracelets and the other does not. I am hoping the one that does not recognizes the low-lying fruit in designing nicer looking bracelets. For me, this would increase the number of Omegas in my watchbox.
YMMV
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ErichPryde
··Seamasters ForeverDo you not realize that for years Rolex bracelets were some of the worst out there, and pretty much any brand, including
I've heard a couple of sources credit the Brosnan bracelet for pushing Rolex towards a better bracelet. I don't know exactly how true this is but the SMP being chosen for James Bond is probably responsible for a lot of rhe perceived competition.
So... it's again a tough boat for Omega. The SMP Is iconic; and that includes its bracelet. There is just a crowd that doesn't like the iconography.
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ErichPryde
··Seamasters ForeverAll you had to say is that you prefer the look of the bog standard Rolex bracelets that have only recently aspired to be as good in quality as Omega's bracelets over the unique and actually iconic high-quality bracelets that Omega has been producing for decades.
For me it goes to show just how incredibly powerful the legend is. I have spoken to people on other forums that have argued that rolex's bracelets have always been the market standard to aspire to. The facts don't seem to matter.
You cannot win against a legend that is not based in reality and I sincerely hope Omega will not try
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI've heard a couple of sources credit the Brosnan bracelet for pushing Rolex towards a better bracelet. I don't know exactly how true this is but the SMP being chosen for James Bond is probably responsible for a lot of rhe perceived competition.
So... it's again a tough boat for Omega. The SMP Is iconic; and that includes its bracelet. There is just a crowd that doesn't like the iconography.
The meme posted about may indicate that people on Reddit who participate in the Rolex sub don't think about Omega, but you can bet that Rolex themselves do. To believe otherwise would be incredibly naive.
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blufinz52
··Hears dead people, not watch rotors.The meme posted about may indicate that people on Reddit who participate in the Rolex sub don't think about Omega, but you can bet that Rolex themselves do. To believe otherwise would be incredibly naive.
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josiahg52
·I mean, Omega is Rolex's competition. If I didn't have Omega, or the Swatch catalog, I might have been forced to buy a few Rolex. But I probably couldn't. Rolex watches are pleasant and well made, just not for me.
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josiahg52
·And about bracelets, there are a few companies that offer pretty darn good bracelets for the money that look FANTASTIC on the Seamaster and Speedmaster. No, they don't say Omega but having worn a US 1450 and Forstner flat link and 1450 on my green Seamaster, they're perfectly suited for the Omega. You're not getting a tapered Bond bracelet nor is Omega going to make a bespoke one for you. I'd be tickled if they did a riff off of the tapered Speedmaster styled bracelets and fit them to the Seamaster but then, that wouldn't quite match the aesthetic of the skeleton hand Seamaster. Bring on sword hands! In my opinion.
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Pastorbottle
·I am sorry to read this as I am usually in agreement with you.
Perhaps my perspective is due my interest in watches is renewed, and perhaps more modern/recent.
As I have said earlier in this thread, I have always felt Rolex is aspirational. Part of this is because their watches have a timeless way about them. Style if you will, where a Sub looks like a Sub, a DayDate looks like a DayDate so on, and always will. The same is true for their bracelets.
I admit the quality of the Rolex bracelets have probably improved immensely over the years, but my experience has only been with the modern models and they have all been great. The point here is the Rolex bracelets have not changed in appearance much over the years and their recognizability has made them iconic.
Omega, IN MY OPINION, does not have bracelets that are attractive, so TO ME, the fact they haven't changed much isn't a positive. They are certainly not timeless, and perhaps this is partially why most Omega watch models are considered "strap monsters" (nobody likes the bracelets they come with).
In my case, my motivation for buying the most recent no date Seamaster diver was motivated by the fact that it did not come with the very tired-looking "tank track" bracelet (too busy, very 90s). Because I never felt their bracelets were part of an overall "Omega" look, I always thought they could be better, at least from an aesthetic perspective.
On the Speedmaster Pro, the bracelet has had so many little changes over the years, it is impossible to feel the design is one for the ages. The current Speedy bracelet, while comfortable looks like it was designed by ChatGPT. Personally, I like the flat-link style that came on my 321.
I guess at the end of the day, I think one company makes nice looking bracelets and the other does not. I am hoping the one that does not recognizes the low-lying fruit in designing nicer looking bracelets. For me, this would increase the number of Omegas in my watchbox.
YMMV
Literally speaking timeless is not a quality one would want in timepiece as their whole purpose is about time!
🤣
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4011021
·Regarding Omega Vs Rolex.
I always liked that Omega was not as expensive. It seemed to be a smart choice for people who wanted a nice watch, could buy something more expensive but didn't want to look as if they were trying to show how rich they are.
If the prices keep rising, Omega might lose that.
I always liked that Omega was not as expensive. It seemed to be a smart choice for people who wanted a nice watch, could buy something more expensive but didn't want to look as if they were trying to show how rich they are.
If the prices keep rising, Omega might lose that.
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blufinz52
··Hears dead people, not watch rotors.Worried? That wasn't what the cute little meme was about...
I asked "What, in your opinion, does Rolex think about Omega?" Instead of answering the question, you replied "You really don't think Rolex cares about the competition?"
Do you have an opinion what Rolex thinks about Omega, or were you just trying to get in a dig about the meme?
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Felix_La_PuBelle
·The first "watch influencer" I came across on YouTube was Archie Luxury. He made me aware of the Speedmaster almost 15 years ago. I have no idea if he is still around. It was kinda of tough to listen to him after about 5 minutes.
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Davidt
·Regarding Omega Vs Rolex.
I always liked that Omega was not as expensive. It seemed to be a smart choice for people who wanted a nice watch, could buy something more expensive but didn't want to look as if they were trying to show how rich they are.
If the prices keep rising, Omega might lose that.
I agree with this. Part of the allure of modern Omega to me was that they produced watches of equal or greater quality than others such as Rolex, but for less money. They were for people who preferred substance, history and quality over branding, ostentation and grandstanding.
They’ve being losing this edge recently.
Edited:
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ErichKeane
·This thread is so much past the need for this, we should all be banned for not doing it yet. Ya'll are all on notice.
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ErichPryde
··Seamasters ForeverDo you have an opinion what Rolex thinks about Omega, or were you just trying to get in a dig about the meme?
Omega has been a pretty big competitor for Rolex since the 90s and throughout covid, and did gain ground. Rolex taking a bit more market share hardly means that they still are not aware of the fact that Omega is seen as the direct Sports competitor below them.
I doubt Rolex is actively concerned with losing ground to omegavthis year, but that is not at all the same thing as seeing them as a competitor and being aware that they have to stay ahead of them.
Edit: a cursory glance the data suggests that Rolex's greatest competitors From Below over the last decade have been pretty consistently Omega and Cartier, and Cartier just recently became the larger of those. I think that it's highly unlikely that Rolex included a sapphire case back on a recent release by chance ( not to mention the coincidental design elements of that particular reference). Rolex has widely expanded the colors available in their ceramic bezels since the 6 series was released, and I also don't see that as coincidence. These are responses to the variety that Omega gives the customer.
Whatever they may say they think about omega, like any good company, Rolex is responding to omega's designs and choices. But, like any good Market leader, the fact that they don't treat Omega vocally as an actual competitor increases their legend.
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