Horological Meandering

Recently, I was standing outside an Omega Boutique, browsing the window and a guy (aged approximately 45) and his two friends walked up and started a discussion about watches..... “I don’t want a Rolex” he said ... “They’re for old guys and I’m not 50 yet...  

Vintage too (scary as I am not too knowledgable), only have 16610 since 1989 and 1655 now though I don't plan to hold onto long (have had 16700, 16750, 5513 before) Reason? Hm..all my friends talk about is Rolex for 20+ years, it gets very boring to me to... 

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If there are no waiting list no premium, I think they will swing over to Rolex.. but again, after they bought the Rolex they will for sure look at Omega as second or third watches but eventually they will be wearing their Rolex more often.. hahaha of cors... 

The waiting list and premium, but I think this guy was looking at it from a different perspective. Thanks for giving us your opinion.

In any case, even if they put their names down now, they will be 50 by the time they get their allocation.

It has been going on for decades but public perception can change and the conversation was an interesting insight.

Not me - but I would definitely say the same. I don’t want a Rolex 😀

I didn’t want to name anyone ... Say hi to your two friends ;-))

When most of the space at the boutique or AD is empty, what message it conveys to the buyers? There is a preferential treatment of the valued customers at the cost of younger new customers. Therefore if they feel Rolex is for the old people, they are righ... 

My take is that for a number of reasons, Omega is imo indeed shifting perceptions favorably. Focusing on technical excellence - and innovation, it is imho a modern day Rolex. Workhorses featuring coaxial movements, superlative antimagnetism, longer than a... 

All interesting points. I guess we all don’t like being told “no” by an AD.

You make some very good points. Omega have also been steadily refining various models and the brand image.

1. Rolex is making their steel sports watches unobtainable 2. Every new generation rebels a little bit from the previous generation in taste. As many of us have delighted in watches for 20 years. New watch enthusiasts, who are part of the next generation,... 

Firstly Omega offer excellent steel sports watches that don’t cost $$$$ and secondly Omega have a marketing strategy that is equally appealing to many people.

Perhaps in other places around the world the gap is much closer.

The simplest guess is they were just bragging with each other, along the lines of ‘if I dismiss Rolex then I might look like a real connoisseur in front of my friends’..You should have followed and checked if they had the same conversation again in front ... 

I’m aware that three people doesn’t make a conclusive sample of the market and that’s partially why, I have raised this subject for friendly debate within our community.

... that public perception about these two prestigious brand is changing due to: 1) Rolex policy in the last few years of making their line of sport/tool steel watches unavailable to customers who visit their AD's and Boutiques and who have to search them... 

It’s difficult to know what to add to your comments, as I think that from your personal experience of dealing with both a Rolex and Omega you have summed it up perfectly. No one can deny that Rolex make superb watches but something is definitely working f... 

Agree with you absolutely: Rolex make superb timepieces, beautifuly made and finished and so tough and reliable. Gosh! I love the brand! But I deeply deplore what they are doing with that policiy of not delivering steel tool watches at least in a moderate... 

I also think there was a little self accreditation in the remark about Rolex which is fine. However this conversion is like the Coke/Pepsi, Ford/Chevy, Mercedes/BMW versions with both sides having very valid points. Two different marketing approaches from... 

and generally I agree but do you think that a subtle change is happening ?

To answer your question from my viewpoint, my main Rolex dealer is 3 miles from me and I am in there regularly. They also have the Omega brand and I do not see any shift from Rolex to Omega and the AD’s confirm this to me even with the scarcity of the ste... 

I personally do not see the shift. The stereotype “old” Rolex is always those with fluted bezel and jubilee bracelet. I do not know of anyone who buys an Omega Seamaster or Speedmaster because the Rolex Sub or Daytona are “too old” for them. I believe Ome... 

Thank you for trying to find an answer to this. I agree with your comment about Omega gaining traction in part, due to reading the market correctly and delivering the right product.

Two things come to mind: 1) Rolex took 2 - 3 years to ramp up supply in a very measured way. and / or 2) Political unrest in Hong Kong is hurting the dodgy grey market relationships and watches destined for Hong Kong aren't going there and actually being ... 

My greatest negative towards Omega is that I've had a lot of quality control issues with my pieces, probably only a couple coming clean with no notable defects. I'm talking dust under the crystal, hands alignment issues etc. I hope they were able to impro... 

But I will say that from my personal experience of buying new Omega watches, I’ve never had a single quality control problem.

After so long of marketing by Rolex, Rolex has become mainstream which reuslts in the brand being associated with the status quo which inturn is associated with an older generation. I also think that Omega's advertising is a bit different in its focus whc... 

Both price-wise and design-wise. No need for Rolex to enter into that segment if Tudor continues to perform well.

But Tudor don’t currently sell watch’s in the higher price range to compete with Omega.

I am not that knowledgeable about Rolex and so this is just what I have noticed

I myself was one of this guy’s back in the day, at the beginning of this hobby. I was a huge Omega fan, and under no circumstances would wear or buy a Rolex. Now that all changed , and I just can’t like Omega... To me it’s just the feel of the watch , the... 

but the fact that the three young men care to mention the brand they don't want is a Rolex tells me that is a win marketing wise for Rolex. I also suspect they will come around once they have the means.

Many of us own both brands and see good points in both, I don’t think it comes down to “the means”.

but I do feel that it applies in this instance.

Use the term in a demeaning way. Thanks for making your point. It’s all in good spirit.

But actually might know a little about everything. I used to be that guy 20 years ago. I felt that Rolex was for people trying to prove something and to be noticed. But after doing this for so long and owning FPJ, ALS, Patek, Panerai, Omega, Richard Mille... 

I was standing in front of a Wempe window when a group of young boys pushed me out of the way to ogle the Rolex. I think the brand will continue to appeal to young people because it is what their idols wear and has become a symbol of having arrived. Watch... 

Posting on this subject.

goes I don't think Rolex is or ever has been superior. Maybe the opposite if anything and with the adoption of George Daniel's co-axial excapement Omega surged ahead. That allowed Omega to extend warrantees to 5 years forcing Rolex to follow suit. In the ... 

...  

What’s your opinion about the subject in hand ?.... it would be great to have your opinion.

...quite successful at marketing that idea. However, Rolex has come up in the past few years with improved movements which are great at keeping time accurately. Then there is the issue of warranty which both brands have extended. All of the above in terms... 

BUT only for few models Rolex is a bette4 investment. However I think that a few years now Omega has improved considerably and the speedmaster and Seamaster would match the Daytona and submariner. Personally I do not liKe the “unavailability” of certain r... 

for work, pretty much exclusively. From personal experience, the Coaxial movement is fragile in comparison. When I'm going to be incommunicado for a few weeks, I almost always have an Explorer 2 on my wrist. ...  

exceptionally accurate. More accurate than my (modern) Rollies. However you have made an excellent point and its one I have heard many times about Rolex movements. Pros and Cons to each!

and I enjoy wearing that Speedmaster for casual use now. It's comfortable, versatile and accurate. Wasn't a hit, though, as far as I could tell at the time and I have no idea what did the damage. That said, my work is tough at times.

How did you manage to do that to an Omega,.. did you drop it ?

how that happened. No, it was not dropped. Just my usual routine wear. Admittedly, my work can get quite tough but I certainly did not knock the watch against anything any harder than normal. It was doubly unfortunate as I was seriously considering a Plop... 

I believe both are excellent brands and it’s all about personal taste.

I dont know. I can tell that I dont have Rolex because there is no one (steel) that I like. However right now I am to buy an Omega.

What model Omega will you buy ?

It was presented here by Nilomis 4 years ago. if anyone is interested his photos are superb. I was in Geneve last weekend, I saw it and... love at first sight. By the way, I am 52 years old. Cheers.

My age is 45. I am almost there to buy an Omega Seamaster 300. Today i ask my boss for free days, to enjoy in all rest my new purchase. No hurry, just enjoy the watch. An Omega seamaster 300 holiday. If i plan a holiday for a watch, than that watch means ... 

What’s your thinking on the question in my post about this subject ?

do you think that after many years a shift in brand perception is gently moving in favour of Omega ?

There are too may iterations of the Speedmaster, and Seamaster, for that matter. The Moon watch is an icon, and aspirational at its price point. But, Rolex dominates the market in this realm of iconic, aspirational models. The shortage of stainless steel ... 

. . . when a relatively young guy (30-ish) walked in with his wife and kid. He just needed a battery, so I said to my watchmaker, "Please take care of this gentleman first." The young man smiled, said "Thanks!", and then asked, "What's that watch you're w...  

Unfortunately, that's quite typical these days.

In the words of the late great Oliver Hardy.... “I have nothing to say” ...  

...on Timezone, around 2001.

. . . ;-) . . .

Although I get why they were making those comments. Some people just don’t get the Rolex appeal. I’ve to admit that I’ve had quite a few Rolex in the past, from the sports models to the OP but for one reason or another could never really bond with it. The... 

Thanks for making your point of view on this subject. The Seamaster 300 is a great watch with a long history behind it and as you say very wearable. This doesn’t detract from the fact that Rolex makes great watches.

I do like them: their looks, quality and reliability. But I never wear them so I don't have any now. As for the question posed by Scarlet-again, with Rolexes mostly unavailable, and with the high quality and generally fair pricing of corresponding Omegas ... 

Thanks for giving your view on this. You summed it it for me.

Spring and Fall as well. I mean Autumn! Autumn!

I was In Harrods last night. They receive 10-20 GMT’s per year and claim to have the largest allocation. You will need to probably spend tens of £1000’s to be considered foe one.