Opinion on Omega?
Discussion
I've got one of these.
Manufactured in 2001 as I recall.
I bought it six years ago, not serviced it, wear it a lot and it looks great.
Hasn't lost a penny in value from when I bought it either - from what I can see on Chrono24 etc.
I also own a Rolex GMT Master II with the black ceramic bezel. That watch picks up scrathes and swirls like crazy especially, of course, on the PCLs.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Rolex. It's nowhere near as legible as the Omega. In fact when the hands cluster anywhere near the 3 oclock position and cyclops it can be very hard to read the time at a glance. I would rate the Omega as the much better watch.
That said, most of the newer seamasters seem a big too large and flash for me. At 40mm mine is perfect - it's one of the few watches in my collection I would not sell.
Manufactured in 2001 as I recall.
I bought it six years ago, not serviced it, wear it a lot and it looks great.
Hasn't lost a penny in value from when I bought it either - from what I can see on Chrono24 etc.
I also own a Rolex GMT Master II with the black ceramic bezel. That watch picks up scrathes and swirls like crazy especially, of course, on the PCLs.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Rolex. It's nowhere near as legible as the Omega. In fact when the hands cluster anywhere near the 3 oclock position and cyclops it can be very hard to read the time at a glance. I would rate the Omega as the much better watch.
That said, most of the newer seamasters seem a big too large and flash for me. At 40mm mine is perfect - it's one of the few watches in my collection I would not sell.
AlexC1981 said:
I like Omega's generally, but the PO is probably my least favourite. Have you seen the Seamaster 300 re-issue? I think these look superb. Better proportioned at 41mm, less text on the dial, aged look lume, more versatile colour 
This would look great on a brown strap.
(googled image)
Now that is lovely! This would look great on a brown strap.(googled image)
GC8 said:
Opinion on Omega watches: too expensive.
They may be. But there are a lot of discounted models around. I bought one in Dubai some years ago for about half the UK price. They can be cheaper in Spain, which is where mine came from, saving €500. It had the warranty tags so no problems with service in the UK. Also, if they are kept in good order with all the tags and box they retain a lot of value.
It's hard to generalise but some Omegas from the USA can be more expensive than in Europe, even buying pre-owned.
Then, there's Ebay probate sales.
Omega tend to put their prices up at the end of the year, forecasting a 10% price rise this year.
Google pic of mine:
GC8 said:
UK price used to be half the UK price. It is this profiteering which has upset me.
Very true I bought a Sinn856utc a few years ago (five?) and sold it at the start of this year - to a nice chap in HK.Original receipt showed £995 and I managed to sell it for £1,000. This is because the list price of a new one is now up at around £1,600 so chap thought he was getting quite a bargain.
Same watch being produced no new movement or anything, it's identical. 60% price increase - I'm sure Sinn's manufacturing costs and wage bill haven't seen anything like that rise.....I also seem to recall inflation being pretty low across Europe as well.
GC8 said:
UK price used to be half the UK price. It is this profiteering which has upset me.
How much of that is profiteering, how much is inflation and how much is exchange rate?I suspect that the distribution price for Omegas is set in Swiss Francs and the Pound is worth considerably less against the Franc today than it was say, 10 years ago.
I bought my Speedmaster Professional in September 2004 and the price today is more than double.
However, after taking into account the movement in exchange rate the price has only increased by 27%.
Retail Price Index inflation over the same period is 40%.
ralphrj said:
How much of that is profiteering, how much is inflation and how much is exchange rate?
I suspect that the distribution price for Omegas is set in Swiss Francs and the Pound is worth considerably less against the Franc today than it was say, 10 years ago.
I bought my Speedmaster Professional in September 2004 and the price today is more than double.
However, after taking into account the movement in exchange rate the price has only increased by 27%.
Retail Price Index inflation over the same period is 40%.
It's a good point and I'm also riding the Omega dividend buying a Seamster in '04 for similar money, which I could offload for more than I paid.I suspect that the distribution price for Omegas is set in Swiss Francs and the Pound is worth considerably less against the Franc today than it was say, 10 years ago.
I bought my Speedmaster Professional in September 2004 and the price today is more than double.
However, after taking into account the movement in exchange rate the price has only increased by 27%.
Retail Price Index inflation over the same period is 40%.
However I always saw Omega as a reasonably priced alternative to the usual suspects but short term you would take a hit on residuals.
A friend bought the GMT PO and I think he paid £5400, the standard PO has creeped up over the years (I know they revised it) but now when they're on par with Rolex on price (and for me) its an obvious choice what to go for and it isn't the Omega, you only need to look at a second hand GMT II v PO GMT and see how much demand there is for them.
They're expensive for what they are no.
I have a Seamster Professional Chronometer 300M that was bought for me as a 21st Birthday pressie by my parents. I really like is elegance and its simplicity in its design, even if it does look a bit chunky/heavy. Since having it serviced aver a year ago, I have hardly warn it and has become a dress watch, which I know is sad. So my daily watch is a Victorinox Night Vision II (Quartz). It is lighter and more subtle on the wrist i think. Plus i like the features it has, blue light to tell the time, an LED torch and when you press the button at a certain frequency the LED with strobe.
SMP1 by Darren Hughes, on Flickr
VICTORINOX1 by Darren Hughes, on Flickr
SMP1 by Darren Hughes, on FlickrVICTORINOX1 by Darren Hughes, on Flickr
ralphrj said:
GC8 said:
UK price used to be half the UK price. It is this profiteering which has upset me.
How much of that is profiteering, how much is inflation and how much is exchange rate?I suspect that the distribution price for Omegas is set in Swiss Francs and the Pound is worth considerably less against the Franc today than it was say, 10 years ago.
I bought my Speedmaster Professional in September 2004 and the price today is more than double.
However, after taking into account the movement in exchange rate the price has only increased by 27%.
Retail Price Index inflation over the same period is 40%.
I am less in touch with current pricing, as theyre simply too expensive for me to buy on a whim now.
GC8 said:
ralphrj said:
GC8 said:
UK price used to be half the UK price. It is this profiteering which has upset me.
How much of that is profiteering, how much is inflation and how much is exchange rate?I suspect that the distribution price for Omegas is set in Swiss Francs and the Pound is worth considerably less against the Franc today than it was say, 10 years ago.
I bought my Speedmaster Professional in September 2004 and the price today is more than double.
However, after taking into account the movement in exchange rate the price has only increased by 27%.
Retail Price Index inflation over the same period is 40%.
I am less in touch with current pricing, as theyre simply too expensive for me to buy on a whim now.
Omega are one of my favourite brands, but there's unquestionably been a lot of profiteering, along with the move towards boutiques and away from independents to control pricing.
It feels like they're trying to move the brand upmarket towards Rolex levels, the new packaging is a HUGE leap over old, but can't justify £500+ price rises on its own!
There ARE significant deals to be had though, and at these prices the watches still offer good VFM IMHO.
It feels like they're trying to move the brand upmarket towards Rolex levels, the new packaging is a HUGE leap over old, but can't justify £500+ price rises on its own!
There ARE significant deals to be had though, and at these prices the watches still offer good VFM IMHO.
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