Battle of the Watch Brands: Omega vs. Rolex

There are many notable brands in the world of luxury watches, and Omega and Rolex are two of the best. They both have a longstanding commitment to excellence, tradition, and innovation, and they create long-lasting, high-quality watches. If you’ve decided to purchase a new luxury watch, you may be wavering between Omega and Rolex. While both are excellent companies, they each have pros and cons. Depending on your style, needs, and desires, one may be a better fit for you than another. When comparing Omega vs. Rolex, you can look at their respective histories, reputation, innovation, and value for money.

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History

Both Swiss brands have a long history in the watch-making business. Omega, originally called Louis Brand et fils, opened its doors in 1848 and changed its name to Omega in 1903. Since then, Omega has gained a reputation as a high-quality watchmaker, supporting the war effort during WWI by supplying the Royal Flying Corps (U.K.) and the U.S. Army in 1917 and 1918.

Its reputation has continued to grow, helped by becoming the official Olympic timekeeper in 1932. In 1969, Buzz Aldrin wore an Omega Speedwatch CK2998 during his first moonwalk. An Omega Moonwatch, as the Speedwatch became known, has been worn by astronauts on every subsequent lunar mission.

Although Rolex doesn’t have the honor of sending a watch to the moon, it also has a long history full of achievements. Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, Rolex was the first company to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision. Rolex made innovation a priority, racing to create the world’s first water-resistant watch. In 1927, an English swimmer wore a Rolex watch while swimming across the channel. When she reached France, her Rolex was unharmed, still functioning optimally after 10 hours in the water.

Although Omega has partnered with the Olympics, Rolex has also maintained close ties with athletes, consistently researching and designing new watches for drivers, divers, yachters, and mountaineers. Today, Rolex has a collection of professional watches, which includes the New Submariner, Cosmograph Daytona, Sea Dweller, Yacht Master, and the Explorer.

Rolex’s dedication to creating watches for extreme sports was recognized in 2012 when they became the official time-keeper for Formula 1. Both brands have a history of staying at the forefront of watch innovation, partnering with athletes, professionals, and scientists to ensure everyone has a functioning watch regardless of where they go.

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Dedication to Innovation

Both Rolex and Omega have repeatedly shown a commitment to innovation. Rolex’s Sea Dweller is water-proof up to an impressive 1,200 meters. Thanks to its patented helium escape valve, it can function despite the pressures present in deep waters, with the new Sea Dweller working up to 3,900 meters below the surface. Other watches in the professional collection have designs innovated for specific extreme sports, making them highly effective as well as stylish.

Recently, Omega has added a co-axial component to their watches—a new technology that makes their watches more precise and longer-lasting than watches that use other technologies. Since 1999, Co-Axial and Omega have become interchangeable, and nearly all their watches use this innovative technology.

Which brand you choose depends on what you need your watch for. If you want to wear it diving or while swimming, then choose from one of the popular Rolex watches for men designed for that purpose. However, if you’re more interested in a watch with precision timekeeping technology, Omega’s Co-Axial watches might be the better choice.

Value for Money

A luxury watch is an investment, and you’ll want to ensure your investment is worth it. Rolex watches are a more expensive purchase due to their high-quality materials, individual craftsmanship, and the value of the brand. Omega watches are priced lower, although they do use premium materials.

Another question for investments is how long they’ll retain their value. Although there’s no guarantee, Rolex watches are well-known for re-selling at a similar or only slightly lower price than new. Some models have even sold for higher than the original if they were discontinued and experienced a sudden burst in popularity.

Omega does not have the same reputation for resale. However, if you are purchasing your watch to wear, it doesn’t necessarily matter how much you can resell it for. Whatever watch matches your personality, lifestyle, and fashion sense is the best choice for you, whether it’s Rolex or Omega.

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Shop All Luxury Watches

At Luxury of Watches, we have a wide selection of Omega and Rolex watches for men and women. Whether you want to take advantage of these watches’ fantastic longevity and purchase a pre-owned piece or prefer to buy a brand-new model, you will find your new watch on our website. All our sales include a Certificate of Authenticity, and many are covered by a 5-year warranty.

There is no one answer to the question of Omega vs. Rolex. If you’re unsure which brand is the best fit for you, reach out to our customer service team, and we will be happy to help you choose the ideal watch for your lifestyle.