Both Omega and Breitling have a massive following and a rich history in the watchmaking industry. Omega was founded in 1848, while Breitling was established in 1884. There are differences between the two watches, but both watch companies have certain watches they are known for.
Omega watches are more popular than Breitling and provide more value. Their popularity may be due to their overall quality compared to their prices. Both Omega and Breitling are highly praised for being the top Swiss watchmaking brands in the world.
Many public figures have worn Omega. From Buzz Aldrin to James Bond, it is definitely a force to be reckoned with, but Breitling still holds their own as celebrities like Tom Cruise and Bratt Pitt wear Breitling timepieces. Read below and find out more about Omega watches compared to Breitling.
Omega Vs. Breitling: Which Watch is Better?
When searching for a good watch, I would highly recommend that you consider Omega and Breitling. Both types of watches have a reputation for being outstanding and high quality, and as a matter of fact, both brands are on my top recommendations. The following is a comparison of the two different masterful watches.
Omega Watches
Omega watches have been around for over 100 years. Space astronaut Buzz Aldrin famously wore an Omega watch when he landed on the moon. This occurrence prompted the famous line of watches called “Moon watches,” otherwise known as the Omega Speedmaster Professional.
This watch is one of the most important and iconic watches ever made. To this day, Omega is the preferred watch of NASA. The appearance of the Speedmaster has remained about the same as it did in the beginning.
It offers a high-grade rhodium-plated finish. Currently, Omega is working with NASA to create a new Omega Speedmaster Professional for a launch planned for 2030 to Mars.
Omega also has some Hollywood credibility, as seen in the last James Bond film, 007, “No Time to Die.”
Omega watches are dependable for sports and time-sensitive activities. The Omega is also the official timekeeper of the Olympics.
Many famous athletes wear Omega watches, and some even serve as brand ambassadors. Omega produces a great line of chronograph watches and offers precise time measurements. A few of the different sports-related activities in which this watch is worn include the following:
- Diving
- Racing
- Aeronautics
Omega offers a formidable collection of watches. For example, the Seamaster PloProf 1200 m provides 1,200 meters of water resistance. It started as a dress watch for activewear and then became a serious diver’s watch.
As mentioned earlier, the chronograph watches, which have a stopwatch feature, serve well for time-sensitive sports, such as racing. Quartz constellation watches are some of the most accurate wristwatches ever made.
These are battery-powered watches that involve the use of quartz crystals. The battery transmits a charge to the quartz crystal that triggers the quartz to resonate at a high and steady rate. The hands turn at a far more reliable accuracy rate than any other type of mechanical watch.
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Both Omega and Breitling have these types of watches. Omega offers several mechanical watches with the Master Chronometer name determined by two different certificates.
Breitling does not have any watches with the Master Chronometer name. However, they have several quartz watches that have a certified Quartz Chronometer designation. This title means that battery-powered movement is more reliable than other quartz watches.
These movements are referred to as SuperQuartz, displayed on numerous quartz watches from Breitling. As far as Chronometer watches are concerned, Omega watches are considerably better.
Omega’s Constellation line of watches has some unique features. They use Roman numerals; they have a star on the dial and are embellished with accent diamonds. The gold Constellation watches boast a hand-engraved image of the Geneva observatory on the case-back.
Omega produces its in-house movements, which makes it more advanced technologically. This product is part of what makes Omega the better watch, as Breitling has not focused on this feature.
Breitling Watches
Even though Omega has plenty of good things that make them great, Breitling watches are also known for their excellent quality and I personally own a Breitling timepiece (which I absolutely love). However, Breitling uses more externally sourced movements in their watches compared to Omega, which does not give you the best quality for your price.
Breitling has created watches mainly for the use of pilots. The Navitimer is the most well-known watch that Breitling makes. Some of the Breitling target markets include the following:
- Pilots
- Divers
- Doctors
- Nautical professionals
- Search and rescue teams
- Astronauts
Every watch they make is created for a specific purpose in the above professions. For example, the Navitimer, a chronograph watch, has been mechanically altered and improved over the years.
The first Navitimers made were intended for use by members of the Aircraft and Pilot Association. They all had black dials, and then they came out with contrasting subdials.
Breitling watches usually have very busy dials. Both the Speedmaster and Navitimer are chronograph watches. However, the Navitimer watch features a very busy dial, which can be too extensive for some people.
Breitling has many different versions of the Navitimer. Breitling also tends to make larger watches that appeal to specific customers. One of the most impressive Breitling watches includes the Breitling emergency watch.
The emergency watch has a built-in micro transmitter that can broadcast on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency. The signal can be discovered within a range of 90 nautical miles by searching aircraft flying up to 20,000 feet.
The emergency watch has helped save people’s lives. It has assisted people in situations like natural disasters.
The Caliber 01 inside the Chronomat is the most accurate chronograph movement watch, as it is a column-wheel chronograph with vertical coupling. It also contains a state-of-the-art power reserve.
It can be a good watch for industrial timekeeping because it shows the minutes in decimal format. The watch has a modern, sleek appearance. It works great as an all-purpose sports watch.
The Chronomat series, the Chronomat B01, is the first watch to feature B01 in-house movement. The Pink Gold Chronomat B01 has 100m water resistance, and the steel watches have 500m.
As you can clearly see, Breitling has a wide range of well-crafted watches that are versatile, useful, and equipped with helpful functions.
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Material and Design Comparison
When you’re comparing two different watch brands, it is also helpful to compare the different designs and materials each brand uses. Breitling and Omega both have unique and distinct designs, and one brand may have a look that is more catered to your own style.
As far as the actual materials go, you really can’t go wrong with either Omega or Breitling in my opinion. Both brands go the extra distance to make sure their timepieces are equipped with the best materials possible. Breitling and Omega use high-quality precious metals such as stainless steel, gold, aluminum, titanium, and more.
However, when it comes down to style and design, you get two completely different types of watches.
So what kind of look do you get when you buy a Breitling? Here are some characteristics you get:
- Flashy
- Bold
- Complex dial design
As I’ve owned my own Breitling for several years, I have noticed that it is one of my boldest and most stand-out watches due to the vibrant metals and the intricate dial design. If you’re someone who wants to stand out more and show off your timepieces, Breitling is a fantastic brand to consider to add to your collection.
On the other hand, Omega offers a different type of look and design compared to Breitling. With Omega watches, here’s the kind of look you get:
- Sporty
- Classic
- Vintage
Omega has found massive success and growth around their sports watches, which is why so many of their most popular watches have a sporty look. On top of that, Omega offers a more classic and vintage design compared to Breitling. If you’re someone looking for amazing everyday watches with a classic and sporty look, Omega is one of the best watch brands to buy.
Brief Overview of Both Watches
Breitling and Omega are part of the top 50 most renowned Swiss brands of watches in the world. Breitling is at the number 41 spot, while Omega takes spot number 7. Omega is more iconic because of its contribution to history, with the Moonwatch and the Seamaster.
Omega tends to have more accurate in-house and outsourced movements. Breitling is more focused on the bolder designs on their watches. The main draw of Breitling is that you can customize the strap style you prefer when you buy it.
Omega also likes to experiment with different materials, such as liquid metal and various types of gold. Because Breitling utilizes externally produced movements to a more significant degree than Omega, Omega is better in terms of actually getting the watch you pay for.
Below is a chart illustrating the difference in prices between three Omega watches compared to three Breitling watches:
| WATCH BRAND | WATCH NAME | WHERE TO BUY | PRICE |
| Omega | Globemaster | Omega | $ 7,200.00 |
| Omega | Diver 300M 007 Edition | Omega | $ 9,200.00 |
| Omega | Dark Side of The Moon | Omega | $ 15,600.00 |
| Breitling | Navitimer | Breitling | $ 9,350.00 |
| Breitling | Super Chronometer B01 44 | Breitling | $ 23,650.00 |
| Breitling | Premier B25 Datora 42 | Breitling | $ 25,650.00 |
Omega is the more affordable brand compared to Breitling: on the second hand market, the average price for Omega is $2,381.90, and Breitling costs $3,311 on average. Omega watches provide a more classic and sporty look, while Breitling has a more flashy and bold design.
The warranty on the watch indicates whether the company can stand behind the quality of their watches.
Omega offers a five-year warranty compared to Breitling’s paltry two-year warranty. More repairs are seen with the Breitling watch, which adds to the overall cost. However, Breitling does offer a five-year warranty on their in-house movement-powered watches.
Omega chiefly uses in-house movements, which is not a problem for them. Since Breitling does not have many in-house powered watches, it is an indication their watches are lower in overall quality. This feature may be the reason why Omega watches sell better than Breitling watches.
Conclusion
Both Omega and Breitling are two powerhouses within the luxury watch industry, and they are both highly respected, to say the least. If you are looking for a watch with reliable top, quality movements, Omega is the watch for you in my opinion. Breitling and Omega both have different watches that serve various purposes.
The Omega has the Speedmaster, while Breitling is known for the Navitimer watch. After prudent consideration, you can see that the Omega timepiece may be a better overall deal for the customer than Breitling, even though Breitling holds their own against other brands.
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