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Oris vs Omega: Brand Comparison

Posted on January 22, 2021January 22, 2021 by Ethan Richardson

Oris and Omega are two competitive brands known for manufacturing luxury watches in today’s market; watch enthusiasts consider these brands to be the best. Both brands have achieved considerable successes in terms of technology, watchmaking art, and innovations.

Oris and Omega are among the legendary and iconic Swiss watch brands, and because of their outstanding reputations, the two are always compared. In this article, we will compare the two brands and find out the most luxurious among them. But first, let’s take a quick look at the history of both brands.

History of Omega

This well-known brand was established in 1848; the year alone will give you a clue of how reputable it is. It is mostly considered an upper echelon of the watch industry.

Throughout the 1800s, Omega focused on building and spreading its brand with its high-quality handy watches. The company had managed to maintain an incline in its customer trust and reputation in the watch industry.

The brand is well-known for perfecting watchmaking and delivering the most outstanding watches in the market both functionally and aesthetically. In 1932, Omega further welded their name by being the official timekeeper of the Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

In 1948, during their 100th anniversary, the brand introduced the Seamaster, one of their most flagship watch series. The Seamaster is considered one of Omega’s most popular series to date.

In 1962, the brand introduced Speedmaster, another famous watch line and the first to reach outer space when Wally Schirra wore it during the Mercury Sigma 7 mission. In 1969, the brand earned more reputation when an astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, wore it during the historic moon landing. The brand’s reliability and resiliency were further reinforced when the Speedmaster watch played an integral part in the rescue mission of the Apollo 13 crew.

However, the company didn’t hit mainstream popularity until the ‘90s. At that time, Omega becomes the official watch of the 007 franchise, and it was used in the James Bond film. This significantly helped in increasing Omega’s brand recognition.

History of Oris

Founded in 1904, the Swiss-based watchmaking brand forms its reputation exponentially within one year. Within this period, the company further boosted its productivity by expanding its number of employees to over 300.

The company entered the big market in the year 1938 after launching their Big Crown model. A decade later, Oris introduced Oris Caliber 601, their automatic watch, one of their most popular models.

However, they didn’t spend much time in the limelight before the ‘70s came in with the quartz movement technology. This sudden change hit Oris hard as brands like Seiko quickly beclouded it.

Oris didn’t come into the limelight again until the early ‘80s, when the company gained its independence after management buyouts. By 1999, that brand became more popular after launching their automatic BC3 pilot watches. Their modern, accurate, and designer sleek watches helped Oris to get back on track.

Lately, the company has made good prestige with its impressive dive watches. Their signature rotation safety system designed explicitly for divers has made them the number one watch brand to those who engage in water sports.

These days, Oris is one of the most trusted brands in terms of luxury and dive watches. Indeed, their big shift to a new direction has paid off.

An In-depth Comparison Between the Two Swiss Watch Brands

People often argue between the best among Oris and Omega, but better can mean different things to different people: better accuracy, better waterproof resistance, better resale value, or better design. This article will look deeply into the differences between the two renowned, reputable Swiss watch brands.

Oris vs Omega: Brand Recognition

People often argue which brand is more famous between Oris and Omega. Well, the more popular brand of the two is Omega. Of all the Swiss watch brands, only Rolex can best Omega when it came to international recognition. Unlike Omega, Oris is a privately owned company that is not owned by a multinational watch conglomerate. So if you want people to notice your watch and make compliments, choose Omega!

Oris vs Omega: Value

You can get a good mechanical watch from Oris for considerably less than Omega. While many think the value of a watch can be measured from what comes in the box, many variables either add to or take away from the watch’s value.

An excellent way to compare the two brands’ value is how Oris has a two-year warranty, but all Omega watches have a five-year warranty. On the other hand, Oris also offers a lot of value in their watches because you can get more watches to suit your preference.

Oris vs Omega: Resale Value

Which among the two brands have more resale value? Though most of those that can afford Oris or Omega will hardly think of selling their product, it’s good to compare the resale value. The fact is that Omega will deliver a higher resale value. Mostly, when people buy luxurious watches for the first time, they’re looking forward to starting a collection or looking for something good to pass down from generation to generation. Omega is far more reputable and stylish and has a higher resale value.

Oris vs Omega: Craftsmanship and Innovation

Have you been wondering which among the two respected brands have the best innovations and craftsmanship? Omega is among the first, if not the first, in significant innovations in the watch industry. It has made the most progress in fighting the foe of a mechanical watch: electromagnetic force (EMF), which is the most known hazardous thing for an analog timepiece.

Omega offers a level of magnetic resistance that no other brand offers, not even Rolex! Likewise, Omega has received recognition from third-party testing facilities for mechanical movement, a certification from COSC and the Master Chronometer designation from METAS. This means that Omega watches offer outstanding accuracy, expected water resistance, and resistance against the harmful effects of magnetic fields.

Oris vs Omega: Brand Prestige

You might have heard people arguing on which among the two reputable watch brands is more prestigious. Well, the prestige of a brand has a lot to do with its history, positioning, and brand marketing. The more you market your business, the more it is recognized, and the more prestigious it will be. Omega is an older and more predominant brand; it has been in the limelight even before Oris opened its business’s first door. And since then, Omega has been at the forefront of the watch industry.

Oris vs Omega: Water Resistance

In this aspect of water resistance, Omega reigns over Oris. Oris does have dive watches, but it’s important to remember the Omega Seamaster. While Oris has excellent diving watches, the Omega Seamaster has better water resistance than Oris watches.

While Oris diving watches like the Oris Aquis are equipped for extreme diving expeditions, the collection offers considerable water resistance for light diving and is limited to water resistance between 100 meters to 1,000 meters. The Omega Seamaster Ploprof has a water resistance of 1,200 meters/4,000 feet (1.22 kilometers) of water.

Oris vs Omega: Mechanical Movements

Both Omega and Oris makes good mechanical watches. But there are still variations between the mechanical movements each brand offers. While Oris uses only mechanical calibers in their timepieces, Omega offers both mechanical and battery-powered quartz movement.

Oris vs Omega: Conclusion

By now, I think you’ve finished analyzing and have fully made your mind about the best among the two reputable Swiss watch brands. While both Oris and Omega are high-class and prestigious brands, Omega has better brand recognition, higher average resale value, unbeatable craftsmanship and innovation, high water resistance, and a perfect mechanical movement. Omega is the watch that will make a fashionable statement and earn the wearer compliments. Oris is still a good brand, but when compared to Omega, Omega comes out ahead.

Longines vs Omega: Brand Comparison

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Ethan Richardson

In today’s world, and as ever before, a luxury watch is essential to a watch connoisseur. It is expected to last a lifetime and work impeccably in contrast to any other competitor. People want to spend their money on something that can stand the test of time and deliver the best and most reliable watch that they can ever hope for. One does not go into the market to buy multiple luxury watches. Every luxury watch has its qualities, but the truth is that just one perfect watch can last you forever. You need to find the timepiece that will meet your expectations regarding the basic functions, design, and quality. The best place to buy luxury watches, similar to those mentioned in this article, is Exquisite Timepieces.

Today, we will be comparing the two renowned luxury watch brands, Omega and Longines. In terms of collections and technology, both brands have won hearts all over the world. They have achieved what any classic luxury watch brand is expected to. The brands have reliable watches, attractive designs, and top modern facilities embedded in their products. Both brands care deeply about customer satisfaction and how they can best appeal to today’s generation and their lifestyles.

Of course, choosing a watch is ultimately based on personal tastes and preferences. However, we will clear the air between Omega and Longines and determine which brand is better for buying luxury watches. We will dive deep into the designs, manufacturing, models, price points, and more. So buckle in and take notes for your next luxury watch purchase.

Beginning with the Basics

Both Longines and Omega are Swiss brands creating luxury watches for people all over the world. Both are recognized as trustworthy and classy brands that can be relied on in terms of watch build and design. Omega is recognized in the seventh position as the world’s most famous Swiss luxury watch brand. In comparison, Longines holds a place at the 24th position on the same scale. Omega is also the world’s second-most recognized Swiss watch brand, and Longines is fifth. While these rankings say a lot about Omega’s popularity in comparison to Longines, the latter is also a very well renowned and loved brand for luxury watches. These statistics fall mainly into the mechanics, working, and the recognition for each brand.

So what does this mean for you? Well, if you wear an Omega watch, it is more likely that it will get noticed wherever you go. On the other hand, a Longines might not attract attention in comparison to Omega. This is mostly due to the branding and marketing strategies used by Omega to popularize their image and products. They have various advertising campaigns that run internationally for extended periods, and hence, get noticed by a larger public audience.

However, Longines makes excellent watches as well. For a smaller price tag and a bit less recognition, you can still get a great watch from Longines. With all of that popularity of Omega, though, there are a few added features that add to the price tag, ultimately making it tick the box of popularity and reliability at the same time.

Omega vs Longines: Price Ranges

This is the category where Longines wins the hearts of the public, with a smaller price tag than Omega. While there is nothing wrong with making a big investment in a luxurious and gorgeous watch, people do tend to purchase Longines timepieces just for the price tag at times. As Longines watches are still high-quality, this adds up with the benefits of a smaller price tag when pitted against a slightly more expensive brand like Omega.

But in all the truth, Omega is the brand to go for. It falls right in the middle of Rolex, an expensive luxury watch brand, and Longines, the more affordable competition. Omega provides a healthy balance between the two. With its heftier price tag, you do not merely reap the benefits of the brand’s popularity, but also the aesthetics, great wear, impeccable designs, and timeless quality.

The most affordable Longines watch is the Conquest Quartz, 43 mm, 33 mm, or 29.5 mm, priced at $800. However, Longines is known to create watches with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to $16,500, like the Longines Weems Second-Setting. This product falls perfectly in the luxury category. By all means, Longines is a great brand to buy luxury watches from. Speaking in terms of luxury alone, we cannot say for certain that Longines falls into the realm of luxury watches like Omega or Rolex. It does have a few products with a price point of luxury watches, but in terms of getting a watch from a true luxury watch brand, Omega is the place to go.

For Omega, their entry prices are about $2,750 for the Aqua Terra Quartz 30mm for ladies and 38.5mm for men. It is clear that Longines is much more affordable, but let’s take a look at what makes Omega a better yet pricier luxury watch brand.

The Longines mechanical watches are great with a chronograph, as they do more than tell you the time. However, Omega comes with COSC certified chronometer movements, such as the Speedmaster Moonphase. This gives Omega the highest designation a mechanical watch can have the ability to hold, and it is also the most accurate and reliable watch than any other mechanical watch you can find on the market. Looking at these perspectives, you can put two and two together and conclude how Omega’s price points are justifiable for their immaculate watches.

Omega vs Longines: Resale Values

Resale value cannot be determined simply by looking at a watch on hand. It depends on the model, the year, the buying price, the watch’s condition, original documents, and warranties. Many different aspects play a significant role in determining a watch’s resale value. All that aside, Omega has better resale value for its watches anywhere in the world. It might be because of its popularity, which is excellent as their popularity reigns due to the quality and reliability of Omega watches.

Omega vs Longines: Features

While, for the most part, both brands offer comparable features in their watches, there are a few aspects where it is accurate to say that Omega does make better luxury watches. They provide better water resistance on their dive watches and the impeccable accuracy of their COSC certified Chronometers. They are also the only brand that offers timepieces that have COSC certified Chronometer designation. Omega is also a holder of the METAS certified Master Chronometer designation.

Their renowned CoAxial escapement is loved as it requires minimal service in return for an extended warranty period. The Si14 silicon balance spring is a prime component of Omega watches as it is highly resistant to magnetic waves compared to the standard balance springs found in other watches. The value in their sale prices is no doubt equal to the quality. Therefore, it is understandable that the general public leans more towards Omega for a reliable, lifetime luxury watch.

Why Would Someone Still Choose Longines Over Omega?

We have established that Omega is the better brand to buy luxury watches. However, one might still be attracted to Longines watches because of the appearance of the watch. They may like the design that Longines offers more than Omega’s design. Another factor could be the slightly lower price ranges Longines offers. They have no doubt very affordable watches for excellent quality.

Why Choose Omega as Your Luxury Watch Brand?

If you are looking for a respected and renowned brand with functional and valuable watches, Omega is the brand to choose. If you are willing to pay a bit more for added value and the extended warranty period, Omega is the brand for you. The classic and beautiful designs of Omega are one of the key features that attract most watch enthusiasts to Omega. With the right information and research as given through this article, you will never skip over an Omega watch for another brand.

Grand Seiko vs Rolex: Brand Comparison

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Ethan Richardson

Grand Seiko and Rolex are both big names in the global watchmaking industry. The two brands compete in the luxurious watchmaking segment. However, this is not enough to make a comprehensive comparison between the two brands. Grand Seiko and Rolex both offer different value propositions to their buyers. Rolex rules when it comes to brand awareness, while Grand Seiko takes the crown in craftsmanship.

Having a Rolex watch goes beyond just wearing a luxurious watch. The brand represents a celebration of professional achievement and a declaration of one’s social status. Owning a Rolex watch goes just beyond having an elegant timepiece, but it is more related to what the brand describes as “living an experience.” The brand has several partnerships, which support challenging scientific innovations and endeavors. These scientific innovations have been significant milestones in watchmaking history. The brand describes their collections as “Every Rolex tells a story.”

When looking at Grand Seiko, you see a different approach. This Japanese watchmaking brand focuses more on confidence attributed to offering the best craftsmanship in the watchmaking industry. Grand Seiko hasn’t hired any brand ambassadors or influencers. Instead, the brand has been primarily focusing on coming up with the best watch for its buyers. The Grand Seiko uses a specification sheet as its number strategy when marketing its collections. With a foundation dating back to the 1960s, the brand has worked hard at coming up with great innovations and creations in watchmaking craftsmanship.

Grand Seiko vs Rolex: History

What is the history behind Grand Seiko and Rolex?

Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko made its debut in 1960. The Japanese brand had a determination to excel in all segments of the watchmaking craftsmanship. Seiko, the parent company, had already gained much popularity at the end of the quartz crisis. With the ability to specialize in quartz movements, Seiko was able to achieve affordability to most of their models. When coming up with watch models for the Grand Seiko collection, Seiko focused on easy to wear models, durability, and values of precision. The Grand Seiko Caliber 3180 movement used in the first Grand Seiko model was the first to meet the standards of excellence and be compliant with the Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche des Montres. Since 1960 the brand has shown ever-improving mechanical skills in watchmaking, winning awards in Geneva and the Grand Seiko calibers, becoming some of the world’s best watch movements.

Rolex

At the young age of 24, Hans Wilsdorf had a vision for the Rolex Company, founded in 1905. Hans Wilsdorf wanted to prove to the global watchmaking industry and watch connoisseurs that his watches were elegant in style and promised reliability. Wilsdorf equipped his models with innovative movements, which were manufactured by a Switzerland Bienne-based watchmaking company. In 1910, Rolex got the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision. Nine years later, the company was based in Geneva, and its dials were encrypted with the brand’s iconic crown logo. Rolex created its first waterproof watch in 1926. Shortly after, it created the first timepiece to have an automatic date on the dial. Rolex has continued to set the standards of excellence high for other Swiss luxurious watchmaking brands.

Grand Seiko vs Rolex: Style & Design

It’s crucial to have a detailed analysis when looking at the two brands’ styles and designs. Grand Seiko has a classic looking luxurious timepiece, but when you look at Rolex, the brand screams of luxury and elegance in every essence. However, a closer look at the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat and the Rolex Datejust, you will notice varied aesthetic and technical differences, making the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat superior in craftsmanship. Both of these brands produce very high-end and exquisite watches.

Grand Seiko has been exploring new designs and styles. Recent models come in new styles and are introduced with fantastic new dials. The brand has been fully utilizing the Shizukuishi Watch Studio, which has a savoire-faire in watchmaking craftsmanship, far superior to Rolex’s. The Grand Seiko production stage can be described to be at the stage of a boutique level. The brand enjoys tens of thousands in production.

The models produced by Grand Seiko offer the highest refinement when it comes to mechanical performance and case finish. The Grand Seiko Spring Drive technology and Zaratsu polishing are just some of the top tier design and styling hallmarks, making the Japanese brand stand out as a luxurious watchmaker. This has shown the brand’s long-term commitment to offering watches that target the finest watch connoisseurs. Grand Seiko models’ build quality exceeds many luxurious watchmaking Swiss brands and is at par with some of the top Swiss high-end luxury watches.

Over the years, Rolex has upgraded and updated its models. They communicate even minor product changes to continue being the best at making luxurious watches. Omega seems to be the other brand that has followed this strategy of revolutionized communication. Rolex is a large scale high-end manufacturer with in-house calibers that are not only aesthetically less refined but technically competent as well.

Grand Seiko vs Rolex: Pricing

With as little as $5,300, one can buy a Grand Seiko watch mode like the Grand Seiko ref: SBGR055, which has automatic movement. Grand Seiko also has mid-ranged luxurious models like the Grand Seiko Snowflake, which costs around $5,000. The top-end models from Grand Seiko have higher price tags, like the Grand Seiko Spring Drive watch ref: SBGC221 priced around $9,300 and a more costly Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36,000 Professional 600m Diver’s watch ref: SBGH255 priced at around $12,000.

Compared to the Japanese brand, Rolex has more expensive watches. Most of the models from Rolex cost double or triple the price of top-end Grand Seiko models. In the 1960s, Rolex became a status symbol, and it was when the Grand Seiko sub-line was being born. Lower end models from Rolex like the Air-King and Explorer (ref: 214270), have a much higher price tag when compared to the Grand Seiko’s Sport watch collection, which has durable cases and rugged aesthetics. The most expensive Rolex watch retails at close to $30,000.

Indeed, the two brands are priced differently depending on their buyers’ various value propositions. The Rolex vintage models have a higher demand compared to the Grand Seiko vintage models. This has caused the Rolex vintage models to have very high prices, both new and pre-owned, unlike their Japanese counterparts. This immense popularity and demand for vintage Rolex models have increased the Rolex brand’s desirability in the global market. Grand Seiko is a young brand. It’s hard to predict which of their first collections will be highly sought after in the future. This will be greatly determined by how much the Grand Seiko brand is willing to invest in this watch collection sector.

Grand Seiko vs Rolex: Conclusion

Grand Seiko has worked hard to attain its current status as a top global luxurious watchmaking brand. This can be attributed to the fact that Seiko (the parent company) had created an extensive portfolio of affordable watches since it was founded in 1881. Seiko models have varied price range, spanning from simple models priced at just a few hundred dollars to prestigious designs found in the Grand Seiko collections, which cost thousands of dollars. Therefore, it’s evident that Grand Seiko, a luxurious brand of Seiko, would be compared to a bigger luxurious global brand, the Rolex.

Grand Seiko and its Swiss counterpart, Rolex, have both specified in refining their art of manufacturing their in-house mechanical movements. These two brands have very popular models, which offer very impressive features to buyers: Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36,000 Professional 600m Diver’s watch, Grand Seiko Snowflake, Grand Seiko Black Ceramic Spring Drive Chronograph GMT, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Submariner, and Rolex Datejust. You can buy all these watches at Exquisite Timepieces. You can buy both new and pre-owned models of Grand Seiko and Rolex watches at Exquisite Timepieces.

Depending on a buyer’s preference for style and functionality, the two luxurious brands stand out. It narrows down to what you prefer as a collector, if you are more inclined to the refined state of the art in-house movements presented by Grand Seiko or if you like the prestigious and luxurious status brought about by owning a timepiece like the Rolex Paul Newman Daytona. Whether you prefer Grand Seiko or Rolex, you can purchase both new or pre-owned models of your preferred brand at Exquisite Timepieces.

Longines vs Oris: Brand Comparison

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Ethan Richardson

Every watch enthusiast desires to choose the best timepiece in terms of functionality and looks. Watch lovers go for the watch that has a superior design and style. When shopping for watches, enthusiasts will notice the various elegant timepieces produced by Swiss powerhouses. With so many brands and models available in the market, it can be hard to decide which one is the best. Searching on the internet is a time-consuming task, and no one has the time to do so. But don’t worry, we have done all the hard work for you.

If you are interested in purchasing extremely luxurious watches offered by Oris and Longines, you must be confused about which is the best one. To clear your confusion, we have provided you an in-depth comparison of the two renowned Swiss watch brands.

Longines vs Oris: Resale Price

There isn’t a significant difference between the resale value of Oris and Longines watches. If you expect to get more value from your watch than its purchase cost, you will probably be disappointed as that’s not the case with these brands. But when it comes to selling a pre-owned watch, you will find Longines falls behind Oris, but it also depends on your watch’s condition. If your watch is old and has had many repairs, you might not get the price you expected. If you have kept it pristine, you can confidently demand the price of your own choice from the buyer. The resale price depends on how well you take care of your watch.

Longines vs Oris: Watchmaking

Longines and Oris, both Swiss watchmakers, are well aware of the art of making timepieces. Typically, mechanical watches are more challenging to craft as compared to other types of watches. With that being said, Longines offers quartz and mechanical watches. On the other hand, Oris has only produced mechanical watches.

People who are more into sports should choose a Longines watch because they have several classy sports models. Their Hydroconquest series and Longines Conquest collection are two of the most well-known sports watches. Generally, you will find their sports watches more refined than Oris’. Plus, in comparison to Oris, they have almost 400% more models for ladies.

Oris has the red rotor as their signature design in the watches. The Flagship Heritage and Heritage Classic collections are one of their top-rated collections of classic watches. Top of the line Longines timepieces are found to be intensively refined classic watches featuring extra mechanical complications. Diving enthusiasts can opt for their sporty, top-shelf models that are designed with their needs in mind.

Longines vs Oris: Precision and Accuracy

The COSC tests watches to certify precision and accuracy. COSC stands for Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres, and it is also known as the Swiss Institute of Chronometry.

To attest to the timepieces’ precision and accuracy, COSC does several tests on the watch movement. If they pass all of their tests, the caliber, the mechanical movement gets the Chronometer label as a reward. It also receives a COSC certificate that attests its accuracy. If a caliber can’t get an accuracy of a least -4/6 seconds daily deviation, the watch is not accurate and precise enough. Such a high score is perfect for a mechanical watch. But with the COSC testing, the price of the watches also goes higher. That is why some brands do the testing by themselves to lower the price tags of their models.

You can see the Chronometer tag clearly shown on the dial of Oris and Longines watches, proving that both of the brands are certified by the COSC. Some of the most accurate Longines watches are included in the Longines Record collection. Whereas Oris has some awesome chronometers as well in their watches, such as Oris Artelier Chronometer Date

Longines vs Oris: Longevity

Oris and Longines watches are renowned for their longevity. But in terms of maintenance, Oris models are recommended because Longines watches demand more repairs and services. A Longines watch cannot handle daily wear and faces some challenges to hold up in a harsh environment. Oris is designed just for such extreme conditions, especially their high-end sports watches. It means that you can take your Oris watch with you on adventures and vacations. No matter how rough and tough the activities are, Oris watches can easily sustain all of them. Activities like diving need a highly durable sporty watch like an Oris sports watch.

Longines vs Oris: Popularity and Brand Value

In terms of brand popularity, Longines takes the lead. It is a rich brand and is known for crafting luxurious watches for ages. No other brand has more brand value and brand popularity than Longines, except for a few Swiss brands, including Chopard, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Omega. A report revealed that Longines is the fifth most famous Swiss watch brand on the planet. It gives a great idea about their popularity.

In contrast, Oris is a less famous brand. It is not even present in the top 50 Swiss brands, but Longines is included in this top 50 list. However, that doesn’t mean people aren’t aware of the brand. Not many private Swiss watchmaking companies have the brand recall of Oris. They have made a name in the watchmaking industry and are known for their luxurious and classy timepieces. But it is a luxury brand for only those customers who invest no more than $500 in a model. People who are more into spending five or more figures on a watch won’t find Oris a luxurious brand. Their watches fall into the more attainable, lower watch market, or less luxurious brand category. Oris watches are perfect for watch enthusiasts on a budget.

Longines vs Oris: Cost

You can find entry-level watches for no more than or around $1,000 from both the models out there. Oris and Longines watches are referred to as value luxury models

In terms of cost, Oris watches have added value in their least expensive models in contrast to Longines’ cheapest watches. The reason is that Oris features a self-winding automatic mechanical movement in their least expensive model. Hence, you will find a price of $600 or $700 for an entry-level watch by Longines. It has inexpensive quartz movements, justifying the lower cost of their cheapest model.

Longines vs Oris: Water Resistance

Before discussing the brands’ water resistance capability, it is crucial to have a good idea of what we mean by water resistance. To ensure the warranty claim and its durability, you should take good care of your diving watch.

Oris features a rotating bezel ring in its top-notch diving watches. Time markers can be set using the bezel when diving. Their dive watches also feature a screw-down winding crown. It seals the case that prevents the water from reaching inside of the case body. Oris ProDiver Pointer Moon is the perfect example of an excellent dive watch from Oris. It comes with a case that has a water resistance of 3,280 feet or 1,000 meters. Divers can take a lot of help and information from its feature of displaying seconds, minutes, hours, and tidal range that coincides with the moon’s phase.

On the other hand, people who are very adventurous and look to go deep in the water should not choose Longines models. The Hydroconquest series by Longines comes with a water resistance of only 1,000 feet or 300 meters. Although not suitable for diving, Longines models are perfect for showering, swimming, and light snorkeling.

Longines vs Oris: Conclusion

We have benchmarked Longines and Oris against each other to determine their qualities. From the above discussion, we can say that Oris watches give a sportier vibe, whereas Longines watches have a minimalist style. Plus, Oris watches are more suitable for tough environments and rough use. They are sturdier than Longines watches. Longines is more famous than Oris, but both are well-known for their classy and luxurious watches. On special occasions, you would prefer to bring out your Longines watch. While going on holidays on an island, you would go for Oris sport watches to have fun in those deep diving activities. Both Longines and Oris are excellent brands, but they are well-suited for different activities.

Panerai vs IWC Watches: Brand Comparison

Posted on January 17, 2021January 22, 2021 by Ethan Richardson

IWC and Panerai have both made significant contributions to the horology industry. Panerai and IWC have been producing amazing watches for a long time. Some watch connoisseurs might even say that the two brands are equally matched. However, when you have a closer look at the two brands and some of their models, you will notice that they aren’t the same. Comparing the two brands sheds more light on what each brand is offering to the global watchmaking industry.

Both two brands take pride in their top-tier quality and highly innovative craftsmanship. They have gained a spot in the wall of fame of high-end luxurious watch brands. Panerai, an Italian brand, has a strong reputation for producing stylish timepieces. The Panerai watches offer impeccable functionality combined with unique designs. Panerai brand has even made collaborative models with big global names like Ferrari. IWC has also embraced the same strategy focusing more on functionality and design. The two brands indeed have an interesting comparison, but then each brand seems to have something unique, which significantly elevates the brands from each other

Panerai Brand

Panerai, officially known as Officine Panerai, was founded by Giovanni Panerai in 1860. The Italian luxurious watchmaking brand has been operating for more than a century, making great contributions to watches’ craftsmanship. The company started operating as a small watch shop in Florence, Italy, close to the famous Ponte Alle Grazie Bridge. When Giovanni Panerai set up the Panerai shop, it operated as a watch workshop and showroom. The Panerai brand made a significant contribution to Florence’s horology industry by being the first watchmaking school.

Panerai moved its central operation headquarters to Piazza San Giovanni in 1890. Shortly after that, the helm of the company was taken by Guido Panerai, who was the grandchild of Giovanni Panerai. Guido Panerai expanded the repertoire of the company in line with the expansion of the Orologeria Svizzera brand. The move proved to be very productive; the Panerai brand even signed a major partnership with the Royal Italian Navy. The partnership was facilitated with the introduction of the radium-based gunsights. The famous Panerai Radiomir watch collection was produced during this period.

The global watchmaking industry has also been graced by excellent collaborative timepieces from the Panerai brand, like the Panerai Scuderia and Panerai Granturismo. The two models were created from a partnership that Panerai had with Ferrari. The Panerai brand has continued its success and growth in the global horology industry. In 1997, Panerai was bought by the Vendome Group, currently known as Richmond S.A. The brand’s main headquarters was moved to Geneva, Switzerland after the Vendome Group acquisition. The brand maintained its production of high-quality timepieces despite the monumental move in the company.

Soon after, Panerai started producing its in-house watch movements, which was a significant milestone. Panerai has continued to maintain its desire to change the global landscape of watchmaking. The Panerai Carbotech, one of the recent watch models from Panerai, shows the innovative craftsmanship embraced by the brand is still intact.

IWC Brand

The International Watch Company (IWC) was founded in 1868, shortly after Panerai was founded. Just like Panerai, the IWC watch brand comes with plenty of rich history in the watchmaking industry. The brand has continued to maintain its long heritage and traditions while embracing modern innovations and inventions in horology. IWC’s history shows a connecting thread in each era, which shows the brand’s adaptability to the ever-changing trends in watchmaking.

Being a Swiss-based company, IWC faces stiff competition from other Swiss luxury watchmaking brands. IWC has adopted a unique strategy in watchmaking. IWC uses a different approach; the brand has embraced an American style, which is more daring than the conservative nature embraced by most Swiss luxury watch brands. The brand also embraces diversity in their models by focusing their production in six watch type markets. IWC offers different watch types, from dive watches to dress watches.

IWC managed has turned out to be one of the top watchmaking companies. Initially, the brand produced pocket watches. The brand has faced several challenges in joining the elite Swiss luxurious watchmaking brands in the world. The brand had difficulty standing out during the rise of wristwatches in the market. It wasn’t until 1930 that the IWC brand managed to find the missing mark in their models. The same year, the band released its first models in their watch collections. Some of their famous pilot watches include the Classic, Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupery, Top Gun, and Spitfire.

Watch Comparison: Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days vs. IWC Portuguese Automatic Chronograph

A brand comparison is not complete without comparing elite models from the two brands. IWC has more diversity by producing various watches, unlike Panerai, which limits its watch models to just a few watch types. The models are both men’s watches made from stainless steel. They both have black dials. However, the IWC Portuguese Automatic Chronograph 40.9mm has two sub-dials, while the Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days 44mm has one sub-dial. The Automatic Chronograph comes with crocodile leather (black alligator), while the latter comes with two straps (rubber strap and black calfskin leather with beige leather stitching). The crocodile leather strap comes with a folding buckle, while the Marina 8 Days bracelet comes with a tang clasp (Pin Buckle).

The models use different watch movements, the IWC Automatic Chronograph using IWC Calibre 79350 with an automatic/self-winding movement, and the Marina 8 Days using a Panerai in-house Caliber P.5000 with a manual winding movement. The two models both have fixed bezels and use the scratch-resistant and anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The IWC has used a solid back case on the Automatic Chronograph, while Panerai has used a see-through case back on the Marina 8 Days. The Marina 8 Days has a much higher water resistance level of 300 m/984 ft than the IWC Automatic Chronograph with a water resistance level of 30 m/98 ft. Again, Panerai takes the lead with the Marina 8 Days, which has a power reserve of 8 days/192 hours, while the Automatic Chronograph has a power reserve of just 44 hours.

Warranty

The two brands offer the same package when it comes to warranty. When buyers register their watches during the famous International Limited Warranty period, they enjoy an extended warranty period. This offer is available for both brands. Both Panerai and IWC have a two-year limited warranty from the initial purchase date. With the International Limited Warranty period, buyers get to enjoy an extended warranty period on both brands. The two brands have independent programs that buyers need to register under to enjoy the extended warranty. For IWC, the program is MY IWC, and for Panerai, it is PAM.GUARD. Buyers who registered in either of these programs enjoy additional six years in the two-year warranty, so the new warranty now lasts for eight years.

Conclusion

The two brands are competitive. Despite being very close in price, Panerai tends to have a higher resale value on most of its models than the IWC models. When looking at the two brands’ watchmaking history, it’s evident that the two brands compare favorably. The two brands also have similar qualities when it comes to the quality of watch movement features.

The conclusion of whether one brand is better than the other is very subjective, depending on one’s personal preference. The pricing of the two brands is very different. Panerai has models that are much more expensive than the IWC brand. The Panerai models sell double the market price compared to IWC.

Despite being more expensive, Panerai proves to be a better brand. The brand prides itself on having a rich history with the Royal Italian Navy and producing high-quality dive watches. The Panerai Radiomir and Luminor have turned out to be iconic models with their robust tank-like dials. The Panerai Submersible watches have also improved the reputation of the brand. IWC hasn’t been left behind; it has thrived in improving its level of watch variety. The brand’s vintage dress watch and classy dress timepieces are highly regarded. The Panerai brand stands out because its watches have a high resale value among watch connoisseurs.

There are different Panerai and IWC watch models available at Exquisite Timepieces. You can decide to either buy new or pre-owned models from the two brands.