Here is a question from a Novice. Go gentle on me. Obviously there are Iconic designs, and we all love the Omega Seamaster...and it would be strange if we did not also like the Rolex Submariner as they share a lot of design qualities. Taking aside that there is only so many ways to do something right I think there is, just on this forum pictures, ample proof of diving watches that are less related that these two. Although it is true that some vintage Omega do look like some Vintage Jaeger and IWC...but to keep to simple, on "this" type of design with the round luminous 5 minute markers, Black Bezel, asymmetric case etc. who's is the the leader and who is the follower, Rolex or Omega? or was the design from someone else entirely? (The two pics have been snatched from a google search for reference)
And I guess, just to make it more fun. what other examples are there of watches that closely resemble each other?
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was the grandfather of the black bezel dive watch. http://people.timezone.com/jmerino/history50.pdf
Ha!, thank you. That's a new one for me. Looking it up now on Google. What year did they come up with he design?
Making a comparison strictly with respect to the Seamaster and the Submariner, a quick google search shows the first Seamaster was launched in 1948, while the first Submariner followed a few years later, introduced in 1954. So, the Seamaster came out of the shell first. Now, looking at the design of the dials on these two early models we see two very different styles - and with respect to their current and more modern counterparts, it looks like Omega followed Rolex's original dial design. good looking Sub I might add!
I just don't like the Bezel on the new Rolex SM models. it's a little too thick and present for my taste. Compared with the 1953 model above which is perfect
+1 on that count. My liking of the sub ended when the 116610 and the other six-digit reference variants replaced the previous five-digit reference 16610, ect. :-( 16610 on left...116610 on right
+1. The new models (whether Exp, GMT2, or Sub) just don't do it for me. The thicker lugs, maxi dial... No thanks.