One of the most popular and mainstream watch brands on the planet that I am a big fan of is Omega. They have a rich and deep horological history, and their timepieces are nothing short of exquisite, which explains their high price point and prestige. However, vintage Omega watches can surprisingly be relatively inexpensive compared to other timepieces.
| Reasons Why Vintage Omega Watches Are Cheap |
| 1. Smaller Case Diameter 2. Omega Watches Used To Be Much Cheaper 3. Large Supply 4. Relatively Low Demand 5. Watch Condition |
Read on to view the rest of this article where I dive deeper and explain exactly why vintage Omega watches are relatively cheap.
1. Smaller Case Diameter
One of the first reasons why vintage Omega watches are cheap is that they generally have a smaller overall case diameter. Because of a smaller case diameter, it takes less material and time to make the timepiece, which explains their relatively inexpensive price point.
I found this out after doing my initial research about vintage Omega watches. As I looked on the market for vintage Omega watch models made in the 1900s like the “Seamaster”, I found that their watch diameter ranged anywhere from 33-millimeters to 35-millimeters and generally cost less than $1,000, which is significantly less compared to watches nowadays: watches now are usually around the 38-millimeters to the 42-millimeter range with some timepieces being 44-millimeters and up.
The difference is small – only a couple millimeters in case diameter- but for watch sizes, even just a couple of millimeters bigger or smaller makes a humungous difference in the manufacturing process and directly influences the price of the watch. Generally speaking, the bigger the timepiece, the more expensive it is to produce and the longer it takes to manufacture.
With vintage Omega watches, compared to watches now, I found that they are generally smaller in case diameter – meaning they are easier to craft – which explains their cheaper price point.
2. Omega Watches Used To Be Cheaper
Another reason why Vintage Omega watches are cheap is that they used to be produced and sold at a substantially cheaper price than today.
As I did more research about vintage watches, I found that back in the late 1800s and the early 1900s, wristwatches were sold for as low as under $100: Omega was part of this. But due to inflation, overall improvements made to watches, and the overall increased popularity of watches as a whole, prices increased over time.
However, vintage Omega watches from the past still remain relatively inexpensive because of their large supply, smaller size, and other factors that impact their price.
3. Large Supply
The third reason why vintage Omega watches are cheap is that there is simply a large supply of them. Since there is a large supply of them, it means they are not limited or rare compared to other watch models.
As I was doing my own research about vintage Omega watches, I found that during the early 1900s when luxury wristwatches started to become extremely popular, Omega started producing over 100,000 watches a year, which made them one of the largest watch manufacturers known to man.
If vintage Omega watches had less supply, then they would be much rarer and sought after, which would increase their prices drastically. Nonetheless, their large supply is a big reason why they’re at a cheap price.
4. Relatively Low Demand
Since vintage Omega timepieces have a large supply, it also means that they are low in demand due to the principles of economics. Omega watches are inexpensive nowadays because there is lower demand from the general public.
One of the most basic economic principles is the laws of supply and demand. It states that when there is an increase in supply and demand remains the same, then there is a decrease in price and a decrease in demand.
This is exactly what is happening with vintage Omega watches: since the supply of vintage Omega watches is high, the prices of them have decreased and are relatively inexpensive compared to other vintage watches, which has also decreased the demand of vintage Omega watches as a whole.
5. Watch Condition
A massive factor that plays a role in vintage Omega watches being inexpensive is the condition they’re in. Used watches are priced significantly less than brand new watches, and most vintage Omega watches are in used condition or they’re not in the most optimal condition possible.
As I scoured the watch market for vintage Omega watches, I found that basically all of them, were either in used condition or were heavily serviced to combat the passage of time. Because of this, vintage Omega watches are cheaper and more affordable.
If you have ever wondered about the pros and cons of having a luxury watch, I have written the post just for you. I have published an article that discusses all of the pros and cons of pre-owned watches. You can view the post by clicking here.
My Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I believe that vintage Omega watches are absolutely fantastic to have as collectible timepieces to show your appreciation of horology and the Omega brand or show your dedication and love of watches to others. However, if you’re looking for a long-term timepiece that you can wear for years and years that will look stunning on your wrist, then I recommend saving your money and buying a newer timepiece.
Wearing a vintage Omega watch can look really cool. Having a high-end luxury brand name on your wrist at an affordable price can be appealing, but vintage Omega watches are less durable and reliable than a more recently-made watch. On top of that, a vintage Omega watch may need much more servicing if it’s worn often.
If you’re looking for the best of the best timepieces to have for your own collection, I have a specific resource page just for you. I have a page talking about all of the high-end watch brands I recommend along with some tips on what to look for when buying a luxury watch. If you want to check out that page, click here.