Omega vs Rolex

[taxico]

Rolex watch was make to last. Their advertisement and TV campaigns would feature various 'torture tests' of their own with the famous claim: " It takes a licking and keeps on ticking."

i've been trying very hard to not put my additional views across, but this one i cannot resist...

"it takes a licking and keeps on ticking" - not rolex but timex...

[starrysl]

Lifted from today's TODAY newspaper:

BASEL (Switzerland) - When it came to choosing a new watch, Mr Ma Jun had no hesitation in selecting a US$6,800 (S$9,493) Omega Constellation over a ROLEX.

"Omega's designs are newer and trendier," said the 30-year-old businessman from Hangzhou, near Shanghai. He bought the watch a month ago after seeing advertisements featuring American swimmer Michael Phelps and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.

"ROLEX is old and traditional," he said.

That perception, together with a boom in Asian sales, helped Swatch Group's Omega snatch market share from ROLEX in the US$35 billion Swiss watch industry last year, analysts say. ROLEX, whose cheapest model is almost 60 per cent more expensive than Omega's, has also been hit harder by the United States recession.

Swiss watch exports fell 22 per cent last year, the biggest drop since the Great Depression, as retailers cancelled orders amid the global crisis. But both Swatch Group and Cie Financiere Richemont, the owner of Cartier, have signalled their shipments outperformed the market, leading Mr Rey Wium, an analyst at Nedbank, to speculate ROLEX's shipments dropped more than the market did.

"If these two outperformed, clearly somebody else suffered much more, and we all know it was probably ROLEX," said Mr Wium. "These things are notoriously difficult to gauge, but ROLEX definitely lost out in terms of sales to retailers."

Both ROLEX and Omega are showcasing their latest models at Baselworld, the world's biggest luxury watch trade fair, now taking place in the Swiss city.

Omega is one of 18 brands belonging to Swatch Group, which also produces US$50 plastic Swatches and double-tourbillion Breguet timepieces for mjore than US$700,000. Bank Vontobel analyst Rene Weber estimates Omega's 2008 sales at about 1.48 billion Swiss francs (S$1.96 billion), compared with ROLEX's 4.5 billion francs and Cartier's 1.63 billion francs.

Omega, whose entry-level timepieces cost about US$2,500, gets 35 per cent of sales from greater China, estimates Mr Jon Cox, an analyst at Kepler Capital Markets. ROLEX, whose watches start from about US$4,100, gets about 5 per cent of sales from the region, he estimates.

China, including Hong Kong, .....

(go read )

These two watches are not of the same level, right?

[Watch-connoisseur]

i've been trying very hard to not put my additional views across, but this one i cannot resist...

"it takes a licking and keeps on ticking" - not rolex but timex...

That was the quote I got from THE ROLEX REPORT book that is sold worldwide. Either that book is wrong or you are wrong, but I will leave it at that. Cheers and good day Sir.

[sdchew]

fwah nice, but confirm belly ex

Think time for me to start saving up for this Omega liaoz and push my plans for a Sinn watch further back yet again

Omega Solar Impulse is MSRP 12k before the price increase. You can get it about 9k at the DFS. I was eying this watch before I got my BA GMT. (Wife didn't like the Solar Impulse).

As for Rolex, I have to say its a well known brand. Like one forum poster said, if you suddenly need to run away, illegal boat operators will accept Rolex as payment.

For me, I seriously don't fancy any of the Rolex designs. And it is not due to lack of trying. Spent 1 hour at THG staring at all the Rolex watches on display. Even the Daytona didn't catch my eye. Maybe I need to be older before I'll like it. Every old geezer sitting around in Chinatown seems to have one.

Now Patek Philip... hmm, thats another story.

[taxico]

That was the quote I got from THE ROLEX REPORT book that is sold worldwide. Either that book is wrong or you are wrong, but I will leave it at that. Cheers and good day Sir.

john has been known to make a few mistakes even in his sales... i'll clarify this on VRF.

i was born in USA and grew up there, suffice to say i never associated that tag line with any other brand except timex.

but like you said, either i am wrong or the book is wrong.

will keep you posted.

[taxico]

That was the quote I got from THE ROLEX REPORT book that is sold worldwide. Either that book is wrong or you are wrong, but I will leave it at that. Cheers and good day Sir.

thankfully, i am not wrong.

let me know if you need JB's email address for clarification.

[renaissance_myth]

fantastic read.


regards

[Anton88]

I have 2 Omegas (Seamaster and Speedmaster) and 1 Rolex (SS Datejust) and I get more "Wow" on the Rolex and the following factors might just be the reasons:

1. Brand Heritage - Rolex has a more "illustrious" brand heritage on account of their more storied and colorful history in products (the image of the Explorer in the North Pole or the Submariner in dives sponsored by the National Geographic) and customers (a case of a self-selection - iconic sports figures, celebrities, politicians, businessmen) who are unpaid endorsers of the brand. Of course, one may claim a more upscale image for higher end brands like Patek Philippe but Rolex is the more "accessible" (in terms of price) and practical (sturdy for everyday wear) luxury watch brand.

2. Watch Craftsmanship - as evidenced by the more solidly constructed feel one gets from a Rolex.

3. Corporate Integrity - unlike Omega which is part of the Swatch group, Rolex, like BMW (vs. Mercedes Benz that got subsumed under Daimler Chrysler), has maintained its independence, solid proof of the success of their product and brand and guaranty of the company's continued long-term creativity and craftsmanship.

[A.T.]

The Omega speedmaster with Meteorite is nice. Anyone know how much is it. when will it available?

[diablow]

My first expensive watch MUST be a rolex. 2nd or more purchases can be other brands to explore....that is, if I have money to throw...

[tweedledane]

I suggest Rolex. I feel that the Rolex is better made than Omega plus the fact that Rolex is a much more recognized brand than Omega.

[k00lit]

I'll still go for Rolex watch than Omega.

[Keon]

get both!! but if ur forced to choose only one, then of course Rolex! and btw ur asking this in SG ROLEX OWNERS CLUB forum, you can guess what's the replies gonna be hehe

[Seventh Son]

Bring a Rolex and a Omega to a pawn shop and see which one they take.

[lsk005]

Bring a Rolex and a Omega to a pawn shop and see which one they take.

most or all pawn shop will accept both....