Alternate take on the MoonSwatches: Omega is cultivating future generations of customers. People that buy these things may not be able to afford an Omega at present.... but maybe they get into a MoonSwatch for the time being, come to love the design, and graduate to an Omega when they can.
Thanks Fed! Glad to see you healthy and happy. To me Tudor, Omega and Rolex are all high quality machine made and finished watches and all are reliable. As such however most models are not high horology, hand made, hand finished timepieces like Vacheron, Patek, Moser, etc. So the fact that Rolex is playing hard to get, Omega is killing us with limited versions and Tudor makes honest, reasonably priced watches which however depreciate a lot, doesn’t really matter. Purchase of that tier is purely based on subjective preference. The more desirable the watch, the higher the price. Hence Rolex wears the crown…
I work in a lab, there is a HD microscope by Keyence can even capture images in 3D. I put an OP116000, SMP300m, Seiko SLA and Tudor BB58 blue under the scope and took a HD high mag pic. OP & SLA have the best finishing, SLA applied markers is even better finished than thw OP. SMP300m not too far behind. BB58 is laughable. The hands, especially the snowflake hour hand, I know they are stamped/trimmed out of metal plate but Tudor didnt even bother file/polish the edges, it looks terrible. Then the movements, under HD microscope, 8800 has the best finishing, 8L55 is on par with 8800. 3130 finishing is kinda mediocre. Then lastly the MT has nothing to see, it looks just like an on-the -shelf eta2824/SW200...
Had my Moonswatch for coming up two years and it's taken an absolute HIDING. Its cheap(ish), fun, light and practical for an everyday beater. Moonswatch haters will hate, but it's been a huge success.
Until Tudor grasps the concept of movement finishing, and is able to develop and actually manufacture high horology pieces, there's really no comparison. Case, Point and Example: Omega released the Grand Chime right when this Tudor vs. Omega chatter kicked off. Yes, I do own and appreciate both brands. Omega is simply better watchmaking, hands-down.
If that were ACTUALLY the case, the fanbase would be clamoring for Sellitas across the board. They don't, though, because horology actually does matter.
@lukasmassey8676 I get that they fixed it but they still make the thicc bois. They're not discontinued. The Pepsi gmt and the pro are still comically thick. Only slimmer GMT is the new black bay. I'm a Tudor fan but I think they need to put em on a diet across the line and discontinue the old models.
@lukasmassey8676seamaster aqua terra, 14.2 mm. That's such a marginal difference, you wouldn't even be able to tell which one is thicker only by looking at them
Tudor is longines level and losing badly despite paid pr hypers. Checkout Morgan Stanley figures. For the past 3 yrs it's been dropping annually. Now it's already down to 17th among Swiss watches.
In my book the only problem with the moonswatches really are the plasticy lookalike (grey) models. But when it comes to the more colourful ones or this snoopy one... they aren't even targeted at the same crowd as real Speedmasters. They are Swatches, not cheap Omegas afterall. If any Omega owner is offended by some "kids", in the U.S. sense of the word, sporting a 200 bucks plastic watch that also has the name Omega on them... they got a confidence issue.
To me the difference between Omega and Tudor is the design, not quality. I own both. I don't consider one better than the other. I like Omega for the 38.5mm Skyfall blue Aqua Terra which is a sporty/dressy watch (with a Bond connection) and I like Tudor for the black BB58 which is a vintage inspired dive watch (and it looks like Connery's Rolex from Goldfinger). Tudor does not have a sport/dress model I like and Omega does not have a dive style I like.
I love my Tudor BB58 Bronze Boutique. It's just a step below (away?) from my Rolex DJ in terms of comfort and finish. And far cheaper. The BB maintains a soft gold finish. Because I clean it! Wish I could get more jazzed about Omega. Some of their watches are beauties and almost pulled the trigger on an Aqua Terra. Can't put my finger on it. Maybe I'm just Rolex blind.
what's the deal with Rolex? Do they have the watches but they are just not selling them? I have been on a waitlist for over a year and I have been to many countries Rolex stores and they have none for sale. Yet, I see celebrities, all UFC wearing them. It is making me not like the brand!
@lukasmassey8676Coaxial is by far a better escapement. Rolex combats it with marketing and a lot of people buy into the narrative. Omega is a better more accurate and more precise movement. Tudor has developed a good METAS certified movement but can't seem to do it on a mass scale. Rolex continues to produce average movements hyped up by the sales and marketing team.
@lukasmassey8676you're comparing recommended intervals. Omega increases their through innovation. Rolex increases theirs through marketing. Omega have proven a better precision through METAS. Tudor built a METAS movement but interestingly isn't rolled out, I do wonder why
The coaxial escapement patent expired long ago, and yet none replicated it. It's more a marketing gimmick than something really useful. Problem is that, in it's real implementation, it doesn't reduce wear. The lever impulse pallet and exit pallet slide over the escape teeth resulting in a huge amount of wear and tear within the service interval. The result is that the entire escapement assembly is usually replaced every service. Then, not only the escape teeth still need oil, but oiling them has to be done more precisely than in standard escapements. It requires longer time, and if done incorrectly, it simply locks the watch.
I would add that the "elastic element escapement" (like the oscillator of the Frederique Constant calibrer 810) is a huge innovation. The biggest one in mechanical watchmaking since the invention of lever escapement.
The monolithic oscillator is the biggest advancement in mechanical watchmaking since the lever escapement. We are just at the start, but probably even the 360 hertz of the Accutron are reachable in a purely mechanical watch.
Bingo, I think this is where the question ultimately was coming from. As a stand-in for a Submariner the new Tudor BB black is probably better for most than an SMP300 and it's also probably even sold at the same AD you need to establish purchase history to get the Sub. However if you're evaluating the watch and its brand history, finishing and movement on its own merits then you may come to a different conclusion.
Best recent innovation and something more brands will have in 5 years: their version of Cartier’s easy bracelet change system and tool less link adjustment. At least I hope so.
Omega vs Tudor vs Rolex... I've never heard of this nonsense. I mean price wise it could be, for some models, but from an horology standpoint not at all. To a non trained eye looking for the best bang for buck, none of the three should be taken in consideration. Maybe Omega has some models that give the sensation of being a bargain, but they are genuinely not, being overpriced for what they offer. Rolex does the same, putting absurd price tags on machine mass produced watches, well built and durable, but in high horology territory without any objective right to be there. And finally Tudor, mocking Rolex heritage and selling overpriced Skodas to people who'd like unattainable Audis. So, from my perspective, not one of them add a significant value to their watches except for the Speedmaster. It has surely something to say but Omega is milking that poor cow too much.
Snoopy absolute Terd, Agreed! Shopping at the mall I witnessed for the white dial version lines at the local store more than 300 souls, yes I counted. Fans even rolled out what seemed like a fish out of water disoriented grandma's for the extra flip factor! Later those in line after being told all were sold out reported when asked only what seemed to be no more than 50 souls waiting over 3 hours actually got a watch. The would-be fans of the brand are the ones that truly deserve the applause, for not storming the store and for restraining from pounding the staff after being bamboozled like that. I did not visit the local mall where the same store launched the blk dial version this week until the next day and asked neighboring stores who confirmed a complete repeat of the S^%& show at previous launch. I guess some people just don't learn, 😕. A line from a Dana Carvey comedy special from way back when comes to mind, about kids when they want a toy at the store harrassing the parents who all they seem to hear is "get that worthless piece of plastic", 😃.
TUDOR WILL NEVER CATCH OMEGA 😂😂😂😂 STOP THE CAP 🧢 😂😂😂😂😂 TUDOR ONLY OFFERING IS THE BLACK BAY AND THAT IS A POOR MANS SUBMARINER 😂😂😂😂😂😂 TUDOR SALES WERE ALSO DOWN LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAVE THE BLACK BAY 58 AND THAT IS A AVERAGE WATCH 😂😂😂😂😂
😂 you mean releasing old Rolex designs 😂 Losing to longines so badly. Checkout Morgan Stanley figures .. they're now down to 17th among swiss watches despite the multi Year concerted effort to prop up Tudor's image 😂
Tudor ranked 15th in terms of sales, behind the likes of Hublot. Comparing it to a brand that ranked third? And Omega develops high complications, Tudor high case sides. Finally, omega has its own designs. Tudor is little more than a homage brand to the Rolex back catalogue. Show me a popular Tudor that cannot be directly compared to a Rolex? Fine, you want Rolex vibes, but can't afford so go for Tudor. You are paying for branding ultimately for a lot of these watches. Grand Seiko finishing can be compared to holy trinity. JLC and others achieve high complications. As for Tudor? Given its lowly ranking in terms of sales, and it's high prominence in sponsorships ( like Rolex but different sports) it will no doubt become popular. It has a long way to climb in terms of sales to challenge Omega. Will it ever shake off poor mans Rolex? Maybe, Skoda managed to turn it's reputation around under VW and with Rolex groups investment in marketing may well get there. But they need to successfully move Rolex further up first, which you can see, with its focus on gold/ platinum etc as a way of doing so.
Tudor's black bays have really nice bezel action and great performance on the movements. Omega fit and finish on the case/dial, on a, Seamaster or Planet Ocean, sinks Tudor easily. They both have their strong points, but Omega looks and feels significantly more luxurious on the wrist. That said, Omega can't seem to get the GMT right. Also a huge demerit against Omega, is how long the Planet Ocean has languished without an update.
I have NEVER heard a Tudor fan compare his watch with an Omega. But I am English and we are super polite and educated over here. (Can I apologize about writing a word in block capitals)
The Omega Snoopy moonwatch with an ETA movement and a moon phase is far from junk. It is an entry-level model that has seen huge increase in the aftermarket sales arena. I just sold one on eBay for $785 and many are selling for much more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
