Breitling or Omega
Author
Discussion

mutt k

Original Poster:

3,964 posts

267 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
I know PHers like their watches so here's a dilemma I need help with. Mrs K :cloud9: is buying me a nice watch to celebrate a major anniversary :cloud9:. I have long wanted a Breitling Aerospace i.e http://www.breitling.com/en/models/professional/aerospace/ but I am also taken by the Omega Seamaster i.e http://www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=282&ref=25318000&no_cache=1

Which one do I go for? Setting aside any price differences, does anyone have experience of either of these watches in terms of reliability/servicing/desirability?

M

Kinky

39,944 posts

298 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega Omega et al.

I could go on .....

K

princeperch

8,272 posts

276 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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dont own either myself but I do like the look of the omega...

dazren

22,612 posts

290 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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I'd take the Omega. The one you have linked to has a mechanical movement which is good.

DAZ

speedtwelve

3,546 posts

302 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
The Aerospace is a nice watch, but the Omega's a timeless classic and built like a brick $hithouse. Most Breitling's are too overstated for my taste.

Given the choice I'd have a Speedmaster rather than a Seamaster...

ST

apache

39,731 posts

313 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
Omega, but I may be biased

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Bond wannabee or watch connoisseur...?

Breitling, but I may be biased



Owned an Aerospace for seven years, wear it every day and it takes the punishment. It's been knocked about by me wearing it, hit by a cricket ball, dropped, scuffed against things (they lose, it's titanium) and it's cost me around £150 so far for a full service and new battery in that time).

In fact the watch was sent to Zurich for three weeks (wasn't amused I must admit) and stripped and rebuilt. I even got a letter from the man who (claims) to have built my watch.

Been invited (and attended) airshows and a Bentley "do" as a result. Which is nice.

Never owned an Omega...

clubsport

7,413 posts

287 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
Having had the Omega with the mechanical movement for the last ten years, it is a no brainer...The Bretling looks garish and the Roly tries too hard...Omega is a sensible understeted reliable choice.

alexkp

16,484 posts

273 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
Omega definitely - I have several and they are very high quality watches (probably better than my Rolexes and others, and also better value).

I have a Seamaster, which is very nice - however if you really want to own a cool one have either the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, or this, the very sexy new Omega Planet Ocean (very big and chunky and with the new co-axial movement).

www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=557&no_cache=1

I'm always happy to help with any watch advice - post here or email.

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]


Blimey, and Clubsport said the Breitlings can be garish!

alexkp

16,484 posts

273 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
Podie said:

anonymous said:
[redacted]



Blimey, and Clubsport said the Breitlings can be garish!


Breitlings are a bit coarse IMHO, the Planet Ocean looks fabulous in real life. I'm going to buy one.

KITT

5,345 posts

270 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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From those 2, I'd say Omega

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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alexkp said:

Podie said:


anonymous said:
[redacted]




Blimey, and Clubsport said the Breitlings can be garish!



Breitlings are a bit coarse IMHO, the Planet Ocean looks fabulous in real life. I'm going to buy one.


Perhaps. Some of them are a tad too fussy for my liking, but the Aerospace is actually quite understated. It does however excel when used "in the field" - simple, effective ergonomics, and you can even operate it with big gloves on...

It may be the settings on theis screen, but the Planet Ocean does look VERY orange. I have no doubt that it's a cracking watch though.

aspender

1,405 posts

294 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Additional vote for the Omega Planet Ocean. As a Seamaster owner, I'm trying to justify upgrading for my 30th Birthday in November!

Edited to add - I wouldn't have it with the orange leather strap shown in the link above though. Steel or titanium for me. Definitely with the orange bezel though.

>> Edited by aspender on Tuesday 9th August 21:34

alexkp

16,484 posts

273 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
Podie said:

alexkp said:


Podie said:



anonymous said:
[redacted]





Blimey, and Clubsport said the Breitlings can be garish!




Breitlings are a bit coarse IMHO, the Planet Ocean looks fabulous in real life. I'm going to buy one.



Perhaps. Some of them are a tad too fussy for my liking, but the Aerospace is actually quite understated. It does however excel when used "in the field" - simple, effective ergonomics, and you can even operate it with big gloves on...

It may be the settings on theis screen, but the Planet Ocean does look VERY orange. I have no doubt that it's a cracking watch though.


If I was to have any Breitling it would probably be the Aerospace, but may I recommend this if you like hybrid analogue/digital watches?

It is the Omega Speedmaster Mars Watch:

www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=297



PJLarge

480 posts

276 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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As a Breitling Aerospace owner, I'd say buy the Omega. I'm not overly impressed with the quality of my Breitling, it's been back to the factory twice in three years.

Phil.

alexkp

16,484 posts

273 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
PJLarge said:
As a Breitling Aerospace owner, I'd say buy the Omega. I'm not overly impressed with the quality of my Breitling, it's been back to the factory twice in three years.

Phil.


That's very honest of you Phil, as people can be very touchy about their watches.

The reality is that Breitling are not as well made as Omega (TBH Rolex aren't generally as well made as Omega and cost a lot more comparitively). Omega also have some of the very finest movements in the watch world.

I collect watches and sometimes buy and sell to rotate the collection. I can honestly say buy an Omega and I am pretty sure you will never regret it.

PJLarge

480 posts

276 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]


I don't see my Aerospace as anything special anymore as I've kind of lost interest in it. I didn't expect a £1400 watch to have to be returned to the factory once let alone twice so early into its life. The first time I just put it down to a duff battery but the second time the watch just went completely dead. Normally the display will start flashing, indicating the battery is low which is what the watch did the first time round. I was pretty concerned when one morning it was not doing anything at all with no warning. The three to four week trip back to the factory adds insult to injury but in the jewellers defence they went out of their way to help me and the watch hasn't cost anything to revive it either time. It does go to show that you should at least buy from a reputable source no matter what you buy - I'm not sure I'd have had a leg to stand on had I bought from the Canaries or some internet retailer. I bought mine from a small family owned independant and I'll certainly use them again, just not another Breitling!

Phil.

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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Phil, great shame

Echo buying from a good dealer though.

cyberface

12,214 posts

286 months

Tuesday 9th August 2005
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I had a Seamaster chrono which kept piss poor time and was really not up to the expectation of the marque. My speedmaster (one of the schumacher limited editions) is however beyond reproach re: timekeeping and also a very compact and light watch. Definitely worth looking at if you're not a fat-wrist Panerai type.

I would not agree that Omega watches are better made than Rolex, especially not on the reliability / longevity criterion... from my experience, but YMMV.

In this case I'd definitely plump for Omega's speedmaster... it's a good, well engineered and reliable movement. If you're spending this much cash then you may as well get a decent piece of engineering!!