Complaint Review: Montres Omega

Omegas are rubbish mall watches Dec 13, 2003 - 01:23 AM

You're just paying for slick marketing and celebrity endorsements. Omega would like you to believe their movements are their own, but for the most part are SLIGHTLY modified ETA's. Adding one extra jewel and modifying the auto winding mechanism of an ETA 2892 hardly justifies calling them their own - completely deceiving. At least IWC extensively re-engineers and re-works ETA's to the point where they can HONESTLY call them their own calibres. Bracelets and casework, although finished OK, scratch so easily as if the metal is full of microscopic porosities.

As a matter of fact, there was a post sometime ago stating Omega uses cheaply casted parts versus the superior method of machining from solid metal used by the big "R". This would explain why so many people complain about how soft the metal seems. Omega bracelets may look tough to an uninformed observer, but the truth is that they have mediocre torsional strength due to the skinny pins holding their bracelets together. Someone had tested a Seamaster bracelet versus a Sub bracelet under torsional loads and found the Omega bracelet fell apart with ease.

IMHO their designs are bland at best and worse in real life (exception being the Speedmaster Professional), especially the Aqua Terra's and Railmaster. They can't hope to compete with the corresponding watches that they are trying to take market share from - namely Datejust and Explorer I. As a matter of fact my dealer, which carries both brands, said Aqua Terra's are completely overlooked by the general buying public and seen as "a bland imitation of the real thing". And the ridiculous "this and that celebrity choice" silliness to try to sell their watches these days.

Omega must think people are pretty transparent with that type of marketing which focuses nothing on the watch. I mean, one ad shows the black on black Seamaster as Brosnan's choice, then another ad says the DeVille chrono is his choice, and now all of a sudden the Railmaster is his choice! What's up with that??? That type of marketing just sums up what Omega is all about these day... very little substance compared to their past glory days and more of a fashion watch for the everchanging fashion needs of those celebrity following crowds.

Tom
New York, New York
U.S.A.