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Originally Posted by RPKESQ
I voted for the Omega. The Swiss watch industry is extremely price-point controlled. Ignoring "killer deals" the retail price reflects several attributes of any given new watch.
1) Cost to manufacture. If truly made in Switzerland (not all Swiss Made labelled watches are) the labor and material cost is fairly uniform for the same skill level and material.
2) Some cost is advertising. This is not wasted, needless cost to the consumer as it raises the public awareness and demand for a watch. Therefore resale value is increased to the consumer. Rolex is the undisputed king in this regard. Rolex produces few cutting edge or advanced designs. But they have spent a fortune on two areas, case finishing and advertising. They are the king of mass produced watch resale value because of it.
3) Residual value. See above
4) Design costs. The CoAxial movement is a monumental improvement in basic watch design (up there with a tourbillion). It does take more effort to produce than a simpler movement.
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1) Every watch labeled Swiss Made must be assembled in Switzerland.
2) Rolex offers incredible advances in materials technology. The watches are tractors, but the materials they create add to durability. Check out their video on their proprietary Everose alloy, which uses a small percentage of platinum to prevent the color from fading over time. Their hairspring alloy is incredibly temperature and anti-magnetic. It's not silicon or diamond as far as cutting edge, but you'll be able to work on it.
And Omega is close to Rolex for celebrity endorsements. How much did it cost to hire Schumacher, Clooney, Brosnan, and Cindy Crawford?
3) Classic Omega watches have residual value, but modern day Omega is just one of the twenty or so brands owned by the Swatch Group, and below four other brands in the company rank of prestige. (Breguet, Blancpain, Glashutte, and Jaquet Droz).
4) George Daniels invented the co-ax escapement and sold/licensced the design to Omega. Early versions, well, didn't run so well. There have been several redesigns. And while a value in a pocketwatch worn vertically a tourbillion serves no purpose on a wristwatch.
So buy what you like. From my experience a modern day Omega is better put together using better materials than a TAG.