Is the Co-Axial Omegas future ??

[Tools]

I'm a little torn on the Co-Axial thing.. So far I am not impressed as much as I think I should be...

The first generation are little more than earlier ETA movements with the addition of the more complicated Escapement..

Do you think it is premature for Omega to be dumping the 1120, 1128, or other time proven lever escapement movements for the new offerings of theirs.. ??

Will this help bring Omega closer to Rolex, or push it further away...???

[DSJ]

I think it provides a unique cache in marketing to have the co-axial, but I saw nothing wrong with a movement like the 1120 either.

[spogehead]

I read from 2009/10 all Omega will carry a verison of the new 8500 co-axial 'in house' movement, this is aimed AFAIK directly at Rolex, will they succeed...........

[Numismatist]

Originally Posted by spogehead

I read from 2009/10 all Omega will carry a verison of the new 8500 co-axial 'in house' movement, this is aimed AFAIK directly at Rolex, will they succeed...........

Yes, I agree, co-axial was a first step. I think the 8500 is gonna' be quite something else. This I can't wait to see.

[Perdu]

I would wait for the cal. 8500 too.

[Spare201]

Originally Posted by Perdu

I would wait for the cal. 8500 too.

Calibre in the hour vision, right? It's allright, overpriced IMO. ~6500 in SS on a strap? Rolex/Breitling/Cartier/panerai, have waaaay better product @ that price point.

BTW who wants to see the movement plates on the sides of the watch. IMO the whole sapphire case is cool buuuuuuuuuuuuut Show me something in those windows in the case.

[haakon59]

I think the Co-Axial escapement is a good approach. Omega is close to Rolex right now, in terms of production numbers anyway.

[Spare201]

Originally Posted by haakon59

I think the Co-Axial escapement is a good approach. Omega is close to Rolex right now, in terms of production numbers anyway.

Rolex ships 250,000 + units JUST to N. America EVERY year. I don't see how they are close, on either count. Rolex has more AD's worldwide as well, PLUS Omega just cut out a lot of dealers so they could become more "exclusive".

Just to clarify, I'm not a Rolex fanboy, or a Omega hater. I'm just going from what I know from working for a AD.

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Sorry for the aside. Tools, your obviously a technician, or have a great working relationship with a technician, what is your proffesional opinion of the Co-axial tech?

[Spare201]

I think it is hype... It's something for gearheads to discuss, and talk it up to their buddies and overestimate the function and benefits of having a co-axial escapment. I'll tell you from my experience, as a technician/salesperson @ 2 different AD's, it is IMO; overrated.

Omega has moved to Co-axials because swatch co. wants to establish market prescence as a being a manufacturer, ie their movements for their watches, rather than swatch/ETA movement "kits" being sold to 80% of "swiss made" watch companies.

Cutting third party recipients was the first step. Marketing something to differenciate you from the others in your price bracket is the second step. The only problem is, the Companies who they are attempting to challenge Breitling and Rolex at the same time. This practice of selling movents to everybody filled a void, after the quartz crunch. Stopping this will actually make Omegas main competetors stronger.

I'm sure everyone knows that this "new technology" was offered to Rolex first. Rolex saw no appreciable benefit to implementing it. Omega claims a 10yr service interval, I don't buy it. I saw some of these watches come back 1-3 months down the road for stopping, or erratic timing.

Cliffs: Omega HYPE/technical diatribe, over perceived self importance (Omega) in the highline watch market, Omega's chief competors will be strengthened as a result of the initial response to these movements. BTW one of Omega's corporate personel told us in a training meeting that they intend to overtake Rolex in the next 5-10yrs, I told them: "goog luck with that."