Breitling or Omega?

[outlaw biker]

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I'm hoping to get a credit note for somewhere between £1500 and £2500 at the weekend (probably closer to the lower figure at a guess), and am hoping to spend it on a decent watch. If it were cash I'd shop elsewhere and get something a bit unusual, but it looks like my choices are only going to be between Tag Heuer (which I don't want), Omega and Breitling.

So for that sort of money it looks like I can get one of the following:

Breitling Superocean SS
Omega Professional Chronometer Seamaster SS
Omega Speedmaster Chronograph SS
Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer Co-Axial SS
Omega Seamaster 007 Limited Edition SS
Omega Planet Ocean Seamaster SS


Any opinions?

[Winton]

Go to a decent jewellers and try them all on - you'll know exactly which one you like most

I happen to prefer Omega over Breitling, but any preferences you get are just those - preferences. Watches are so personal, that until you get each of those models (which, incidentally, would all make a great choice) on your wrist, you'll never know...

And going out for the day to try watches on remains one of life's greatest pleasures.....

[outlaw biker]

I suppose one of the biggest worries I have is that I don't want to buy a watch that everyone automatically assumes is a fake Plus, I want something thats going to age well.

[swanny71]

Quinny said:

Well I just treated myself to this and absolutly love it

Its an Omega Speedmaster Date.

A friend has a Brietling, not sure what model, and he wants to sell it as its difficult to read the dial.

I also have a Tag Aquaracer but the Omega just feels nicer

I recently got one of these but with a black dial. Love mine too and it definately feels like a quality piece of kit.
Love it in blue Quinny (great taste in cars too)

Edited by swanny71 on Wednesday 16th July 23:58

[outlaw biker]

I agree...problem is, like I say, I wouldn't buy any of these given a free choice. I'm returning an engagement ring and will likely be given a credit note to buy something else from them instead. If it were cash I'd probably go for something vintage.



I'm quite tempted by the 007 one. But it seems to be a price premium for the logos, with no extra functionality. No chronograph, lasers or anything.

My favourite is the orange Planet Ocean...but this may look horribly tasteless next week.

[outlaw biker]

P.S. I like that watch too Quinny...but its just too similar to a blue Seiko one I have somewhere.

[okgo]

outlaw biker said:

I agree...problem is, like I say, I wouldn't buy any of these given a free choice. I'm returning an engagement ring and will likely be given a credit note to buy something else from them instead. If it were cash I'd probably go for something vintage.



I'm quite tempted by the 007 one. But it seems to be a price premium for the logos, with no extra functionality. No chronograph, lasers or anything.

My favourite is the orange Planet Ocean...but this may look horribly tasteless next week.

As you may have seen in my thread, I have had a personal battle with omega and have settled on the black planet ocean with orange numbers

Nice watch, should age fine, and it can look great with a black and orange rubber strap or the silver one too

[cyberface]

outlaw biker said:

I suppose one of the biggest worries I have is that I don't want to buy a watch that everyone automatically assumes is a fake Plus, I want something thats going to age well.

Then get an Omega because the Breitlings are readily available as *perfect* replicas from China, using the same movements, accepting the same spares, able to be serviced by the same dealers, etc. I know I've shown a bit of bias against Breitling on this forum, but believe me, the replicas available are utter perfection. Which means, if you really like a particular Breitling, get the replica as they are identical mechanically (automatic movement models only, perversely... I think Breitling make a special quartz movement that is ultra-accurate... and is not 1:1 replicated anywhere, because quartz is less desirable and cheaper... funny old world).

Also, frivolously, Breitling like their adverts with Scientologists who proclaim to be professional pilots. Omega watches went to the Moon and NASA didn't modify them. Credibility check? Omega.

Yes, I am also aware that Omega replicas are pretty good these days.... but the co-axial movement is not generic, whereas the Breitling 7750s are

[Millionair]

Yet again cyberface thinks he's the font of all knowledge about watches... how about you just let others buy what they want without giving your opinion dressed up as fact eh? You seem to be obsessed about any company who uses a modified ETA movement, banging on about fakes and stuff... give it a rest will you, you're becoming boring

[Winton]

cyberface

Small point of fact - JT holds a full Commercial Pilots License as well as type ratings on the 747, 707 and many others. In fact, a few years ago, he painted his 707 in the original QANTAS livery and took it on a world tour, flying into many of the world's busiest airports.

[phumy]

outlaw biker said:

I agree...problem is, like I say, I wouldn't buy any of these given a free choice. I'm returning an engagement ring and will likely be given a credit note to buy something else from them instead. If it were cash I'd probably go for something vintage.



I'm quite tempted by the 007 one. But it seems to be a price premium for the logos, with no extra functionality. No chronograph, lasers or anything.

My favourite is the orange Planet Ocean...but this may look horribly tasteless next week.

By the looks of it, you really dont know what you want, although you do, but then you always have an excuse why you shouldnt buy it. FFS man get a grip, set your mind to something and go for it, make a decision and do it.

[lowdrag]

I don't think you really can go very far wrong with any of your options - just try them on and see which one looks right in your opinion. I've worn a Breitling Superocean for many years and it hasn't dated one bit, but then neither will a PO but I have reservations about the orange bezel - it smacks of marketing and form over function.

[marlinmunro]

outlaw biker said:

I suppose one of the biggest worries I have is that I don't want to buy a watch that everyone automatically assumes is a fake Plus, I want something thats going to age well.

Have a sea master bought in 1991 worn every day, spent 3 years in Caribbean so the watch was in the sea and sand a lot. Also my job was manual Landscaping and tree cutting. What I am trying to say is the Omega will take some stick and after a factory service came back like new.

ps it only coast 450 back in 91 and I will be buried with it!!!!!!

[Bill Carr]

Millionair said:

Yet again cyberface thinks he's the font of all knowledge about watches... how about you just let others buy what they want without giving your opinion dressed up as fact eh? You seem to be obsessed about any company who uses a modified ETA movement, banging on about fakes and stuff... give it a rest will you, you're becoming boring

Well I find his posts interesting so

Edited by Bill Carr on Thursday 17th July 11:32

[jamieboy]

Quinny said:

As a bit of a newby to the game, I like to read Cyberfaces posts on the subject.

I find his knowledge of the different brands and movements very interesting.

No disrespect to either you or anyone else, but if you only know a little bit about a subject (any subject) then it is easy for someone who may only know a little bit more to appear as though they know everything.

Quinny said:

But being a bit of an individualist, I will always buy what I like at the end of the day.

For me, that's the only way to go about things.

[cyberface]

Millionair said:

Yet again cyberface thinks he's the font of all knowledge about watches... how about you just let others buy what they want without giving your opinion dressed up as fact eh? You seem to be obsessed about any company who uses a modified ETA movement, banging on about fakes and stuff... give it a rest will you, you're becoming boring

This is the internet. Don't take it seriously. I put enough smileys in my posts to make it clear that I'm not taking myself seriously, so I have no idea why you would. In fact I know nothing more about watches than I've learnt from reading this forum and opening up a few. Now you, a 'Millionair' must be superior, with such a superior-sounding username, no?

Winton said:

cyberface

Small point of fact - JT holds a full Commercial Pilots License as well as type ratings on the 747, 707 and many others. In fact, a few years ago, he painted his 707 in the original QANTAS livery and took it on a world tour, flying into many of the world's busiest airports.

Oh, I know he's a serious aviation enthusiast - you don't buy your own 707 for the hell of it unless you like flying do you? But he flys for FUN, it's not his 'profession', it's his hobby - I just found that particular Breitling advert incredibly pretentious, and funny as a result. That's all. You've got to admit that NASA taking the Speedie to the Moon without extensive modification (or any modification if the story is believed) is a damn sight more real-world credible than being associated with a Scientologist actor who plays with planes for fun, surely? (though JT's dedication at getting rated on all those passenger jets for no reason other than for fun is pretty impressive, I'm still not sure I'd want to be flying with him though )

[The Leaper]

Quinney,

Following marlin's post above, I too have had a Omega Seamaster for quite a while. It's the JB model (first edition) and quartz. It's been everywhere I've been and I regard it as being indestructible. It's been serviced twice. So, I can recommend the Seamasters and have no worries about its ruggedness

R.

[mel]

The Leaper said:

Quinney,

Following marlin's post above, I too have had a Omega Seamaster for quite a while. It's the JB model (first edition) and quartz. It's been everywhere I've been and I regard it as being indestructible. It's been serviced twice. So, I can recommend the Seamasters and have no worries about its ruggedness

R.

Ditto, I've had a Seamaster auto titanium for years and I'm probably one of very few people who have taken it down to 100m+ (no chance of the 300 they're rated to) top rate watch and probably "asks" for a service every 6-7 years when it starts gaining a minute or so a day, again I class it as indestructible. One minor point when they service the titanium version they don't re finish the strap in the same way they do the st/st where they polish it up like new, the titanium version just age wears and looks better as it gets older IMO

[cyberface]

Quinny said:

jamieboy said:

Quinny said:

As a bit of a newby to the game, I like to read Cyberfaces posts on the subject.

I find his knowledge of the different brands and movements very interesting.

No disrespect to either you or anyone else, but if you only know a little bit about a subject (any subject) then it is easy for someone who may only know a little bit more to appear as though they know everything.

No offense taken, but the point I was trying to make, was that just because someone has an opinion on lets say Brietling thats less than favourable and that person is seen as being pretty knowledgable on such things
It would make no difference whatsoever to me. I'd buy what I like, because I like it, and other peoples opinions count for very little, be they an expert or not.
But thats not to say I'm not interested in their opinion, because I am

And that's the point - buy what you like regardless of what other people - especially on the internet - say. Unless you have a fixation about a particular aspect, and you weren't informed about it (for example if you were to hate paddle shift autos and had your heart set on a BMW M5 estate with manual gearbox - only to find out here that they aren't offered in that configuration by UK dealers, or something like that).

And another well balanced post (i.e. not a gratuitous flame) to remind everyone not to take my posts on watches seriously. I write a lot of drivel and a little bit of sense - because at the end of the day I'm an enthusiast, just like I'm a car enthusiast. And all enthusiasts have their preferences, dogmas and blind spots.

I'm always very happy to be corrected when I'm wrong - as it means I learn and know more next time round Simply reminding me that I'm no expert isn't adding anything useful, I already know that. Hell, I only opened up my first watch a few months ago, and dismantled my first movement a couple of months ago! Just trying to add some discussion other than the 'what watch shall I buy' threads.

But at the least I can claim to show some interest in what these little engines on our wrists are - rather than a soulless statement of purchasing power, or even the herd instinct to follow fashion (and yes, I've been guilty of both in the past).

To the Breitling lovers - I'm not a hater, not by a long chalk. I was truly interested in what you could actually *do* with a Navitimer, for example - that wasn't a troll - and I have learnt at least that they were issued as real military pilot's watches at one point. I think their current advertising is vulgar but I'm not a hater, so don't be so sensitive. I like all watches with either mechanical movements or 'interesting' movements (including battery powered, so long as they're interesting).

[Dr JonboyG]

cyberface said:

. I think Breitling make a special quartz movement that is ultra-accurate... and is not 1:1 replicated anywhere, because quartz is less desirable and cheaper... funny old world).

Interesting to hear! I have a Colt Quartz that was a present and which I wear as my every day watch, and it is indeed COSC certified, but I thought that all quartz watches would be.