Omega - not the quality I expected

I know what you're talking about, but I have an orthogonal take.

My handle on here used to be @omeganut.  I had collected Rolex, Breitling, and Omega.  They were...  good.  But, something was missing in my life.  You know what was missing?  Cowbell.

Grand Seiko, my friend.  GS is cowbell.  The moment I went into a GS boutique, and tried GS on the wrist, there was no going back.  I've since sold something like 20 Swiss watches, and now only own GS.

MORE COWBELL!!!

My Omega's feel just fine.  I absolutely love my GS but it has not stopped me from wanting other brands like @HotWatchChick69 has experienced.  I find Omega and GS quality as good if not better than Rolex.  The only thing I don't care for on your watch is the chronograph pushers feel a little soft due to the cam operation.

I have Omega and Rolex.  Rolex doesn't feel any higher quality than Omega.  Talk about a high quality timepiece...The level of detail in this watch is next level.  

Omega is one of my favorite brands, and I personally find them to be fairly comparable to Rolex. 

Omega has a bit of a range. I have a Seamaster 300 titanium, Speedmaster Moonphase and Seamaster AT 150. I also have three GS. The GS have a slightly higher detail finish, but Omega is above the others I’ve directly compared, including Rolex. 

Yeah, I think I know what you mean. There are some Omegas I'll look at online and think they look good. Then when I handle them, I'm left feeling cold and disappointing. The bracelets and straps feel cheap. When I handle a Rolex, IWC or Breitling there's a feeling of substance, if that makes sense. I feel like there's something there that might be worth the money. I just feel kinda meh when I handle an Omega. 

GS FTW 🙌🏼 

It‘s, so far, the only brand I have where I have more than one. 

I have two Rolexes (a Datejust and an Explorer) and three Omegas (a Speedmaster, a Seamaster, and an AquaTerra). I think Omega is, at least, equivalent in quality, and may have a very slight edge over Rolex. I give Rolex an edge in bracelet quality since I think oyster bracelets are the best on the market, and since Omega is only just starting to make microadjusting bracelets. But when you factor in the price difference, Omega is a much better value overall. 

I own none of the watches mentioned above, but I have a theory. 

When we lust after something we build it up in our minds to be perfect, but the reality of the thing can never match our imagination. 

In my case it was a Subaru WRX, I was disappointed with mine the minute I drove it off the lot. The car could have never matched my imagined experience with it, so I ended up selling it. A few months later I bought a Mitsubishi Lancer Raliart, that while slightly mechanically better, was 10000x better in my mind, because it didn't come with the expectation baggage. 

I had the exact same experience. For YEARS I lusted after a Speedmaster Moonwatch and luckily I was able to get one a few years ago.

I didn't connect with it AT ALL. Exactly as you say, something was just 'off'. The pusher quality just wasn't there and felt lightweight, flimsy, delicate...

Plus it kept horrendous time.

I dunno. I MUCH preferred the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Original.

like @KristianG states the expectation bias does screw one up.  I've never seen a new nice rolex as the ones I've seen at work are always curb stomped looking.  and since I'd imagined they must by magical sell a kidney level of desirability they seemed super disappointing

the seamasters I've seen in person at shops (that are also rolex ADs but dont' have any in stock) have looked pimp since no expectation of greatness

Meh. Try a FNGEEN, then talk back to me how your Omegas feel then. I've touched a crap watch hence why I couldn't disparage most of the watches in market today. 

We all have those moments with different watch brands. For me, every Omega I own, I have a nagging issue, that seems to mirror most views:

• Speedmaster - To MegaBob's point, the bracelet leaves something to be desired, which for those that have owned and handled better bracelets, takes away from the experience at this price point.
• SMP300 - After owning the watch above, this is one of the rare watches I refused to buy it on the bracelet.  I feel it is better built than my Speedy. I have nothing to substantiate that, other than it feels more substantial, except for the bezel, which is not great, or even good. How does a $1500 Zodiac have better bezel action than a $5k watch? 
  
  And that is the issue. I own other brand watches (yes including Rolex) where I do not have an aggravating ownership issue. Not that the other brand watches are perfect, but those brand watches I own, do not have as significant a comfort/interaction experience as inconvenient. Again, there are those issues with many other watches I won, which is fine. Would I give up my Omegas? No, in fact I want the AT Terracotta, but I am not going to lie and claim they are perfect. 

• Speedmaster - To MegaBob's point, the bracelet leaves something to be desired, which for those that have owned and handled better bracelets, takes away from the experience at this price point.

Are you referring to the bracelet on older Speedmaster Pro models, or on the current gen 3861?

 The reason I ask is that I have the new 3861 on bracelet, and find it to be one of the most comfortable bracelets I've encountered. If it had an on the fly micro adjust, it would be pretty much perfect in my mind. I've heard good things about it from other owners as well, so I'm really interested in hearing contrasting points of view regarding it.

I have the last gen Speedy Sapphire Sandwich so that is a fair comment. I have only tried on the new one. Like others, I did find it a little jagged, but liked the taper and it was definitely a step in the right direction. Note, that was only to try it on without sizing. Good chance I would feel different if it was sized. 

Lots of great opinions in this thread. Makes me want to visit some Rolex, Omega, GS, & Breitling ADs when I get back to the US to gain my own feel for these brands. No more buying watches based on YouTube reviews or online pictures. If I'm going to shell out thousands of dollars on a watch, I need to experience the watch first.

I can report that I recently visited a #girardperregaux AD and I found the fit and finish to be fantastic. I really liked this #laureato 

Laureato Absolute Ti 230

Thanks for the clarification. I know that when the 3861 versions first came out there was lots of buzz about overly sharp edges, and thought that may have explained your opinion. Those rumors had me initially dismiss the watch, but I happened to stop by my AD for something unrelated and ended up trying it to see for myself if they were really that sharp. When I got to handle it, what I discovered were some edges that could have been more well rounded, but certainly nothing that was in any way uncomfortable. I ended up falling in love with the watch and picked it up as a spur of the moment purchase, which I've never regretted. Over the year and a bit that I've had it, any sharpness to those edges seems to have vanished with wear. 

For me, the moonswatch is a precursor to what owning a “real Omega” feels like; subpar finishing, cheap looking, tries too hard. 

i dont rate Rolex that highly either; basic designs, finishing of Seiko quality but at least their modern bracelets and clasp gets it going for them…. but even that feels outdated already with the likes of Cartier and IWC having tool-less bracelet tech.

GS, and its subsidiaries, are the only brand so far that won me in my head and heart. At the year we are in and looking at how far the brand has come, there’s really nothing left to say to justify their position. 

I agree completely. Handling Rolex and then a comparable Omega, I never saw any clear difference in quality. Especially when Handling higher end pieces. After looking over a yachtmaster, I handled the titanium, gold, and tantalum Seamaster, and was amazed by how it felt, looked, and wore. I seriously considered selling 6 pieces to buy that one, but ultimately passed since I don’t really wear gold much and it felt a little flashy overall for my tastes. I regret that now though since I haven’t seen one in a while.