When it comes to the world of luxury watches, there are some brands that just stand out thanks to their unique style or their reputation for precision. TAG Heuer and Omega are two such brands. The storied timepieces have firmly planted themselves as some of the best luxury watch brands on the market, but which is the better of the two?
The answer will depend on several factors. Namely, what your preferences are and what you’re wanting out of your timepiece. With that in mind, let’s do a comparison of these two luxury watch brands to see which one comes out on top.
TAG Heuer is a brand that started way back in 1860. Edouard Heuer founded a watchmaking business in Saint-Imier, Switzerland before moving to Biel. The innovative Heuer invented watch technologies like the oscillating pinion, which changed chronographs forever. In 1902, Charles and Jules Heuer would take over the business, creating a dashboard chronograph that was fitted to the dashboards of cars and airplanes. This would be the beginning of TAG Heuer’s close ties to the world of motorsports. Fast-forward to the 1960s and the brand was fully integrated into the world of racing. They became known for their innovation and their indelible mark on chronograph technology.
Omega’s roots can be traced back to Switzerland in 1848, where Louis Brandt was creating watches in the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Louis would move to Biel before registering the name Omega in 1903. Omega would eventually combine with Tissot to form the Swatch Group in 1983. Omega carved their name out by making incredibly precise watches that would time Olympic events and be worn by the likes of Elvis Presley and 007. Of course, they’re also known for being the first watch on the moon.
When it comes to style, TAG Heuer is very influenced by racing and motorsports. The watch is intrinsically tied to this world, and their watches speak to that aesthetic. The TAG Heuer Monaco is possibly one of the best examples of this. Of course, TAG Heuer’s craftsmanship is top-notch as well, as you might expect from a company that associates itself with a sport that accomplishes great engineering feats of its own.
Omega is known for a wide variety of styles. They can range from sporty to classic, and there is likely an Omega to suit anyone. When it comes to craftsmanship, Omega is certainly in the upper echelon. As mentioned, Omega is known for being so precise that they’ve been used to keep time at the Olympics. You can certainly trust the quality of an Omega timepiece.
TAG Heuer is known for their innovations to the chronograph, but various watches from their lineup have complications that any watch enthusiast would love to have. Features like GMT functions, tourbillon, and racing tachymeters are all options for TAG Heuer timepieces. For movements, there are both automatic and quartz options available.
Omega is also known for their technical innovations, particularly their invention of the minute repeater. Automatic timers were another wristwatch innovation by Omega. One of their most recent achievements was a watch that could withstand up to 15,000 gauss of magnetism. Omega has watches with both automatic and quartz movements.
Both TAG Heuer and Omega have a variety of watch collections in their catalogue. As far as variety and quality goes, the two brands are fairly close. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular models in the Omega catalouge:
The Constellation – The Constellation is a chronometer model from Omega that has a wide variety of styles to choose from. The design includes four claws and a Geneva Observatory medallion on the back.
The Speedmaster – The Speedmaster is another chronograph series that is most known for being the first watch on the moon. The Moonmaster model is highly coveted.
The Seamaster – The Seamaster is one of the most popular diving watches in the world. They have a variety of Seamaster styles available with a range of water resistance, depending on the type of diving you do. The Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep can reach impressive depths of 15,000m.
The DeVille – The DeVille is one of Omega’s most exquisite dress watch lines. The DeVille has options for men and women.
Let’s take a look at some of TAG Heuer’s best work:
The Formula 1 – The Formula 1 is a great entry-level watch for the brand. The Formula 1, as the name would suggest, has a racing-inspired design.
The Carrera – The Carerra’s design is inspired by race car dashboards. There is a wide range of styles for the Carrera.
The Monaco – The Monaco is the most famous of the TAG Heuer watches and is instantly recognisable by its square chronograph. It famously appeared in the film “Le Mans” worn by Steve McQueen.
The Aquaracer– The Aquaracer is a great diving watch from TAG Heuer and it’s also one of its more affordable options. It has a water resistance up to 500m.
Both TAG Heuer and Omega have been producing timepieces long enough that you can find models with just about any material or precious metal you can imagine. However, you’re likely to find a bit more variety in this category with Omega.
TAG Heuer primarily uses stainless steel in their watch designs, which is an intentional design decision to give most of their catalogue a very sporty look.
As far as pricing and value go, you’re going to find a wide range with both of these watches. However, the average price of both is relatively comparable. You can get a TAG Heuer for as little as £1,500 or upwards of £60,000. Omega has the same upper range, but you can expect them to be priced a little higher on the low-end, usually starting at around £2,000.
As for an average price, you can usually find a decent used model of either watch for anywhere between £5,000 to 8,000. The watches are both incredibly well-made and they hold their value well, with some purchases even increasing in value over time.
The most important factor in the Omega vs TAG Heuer debate is: which watch do you prefer?
Your personal style and preferences will always be the first and most important consideration when you’re shopping for a luxury timepiece. A luxury watch is a purchase that should make you feel great, and you shouldn’t choose one brand over another just because of the preferences of someone else.
Once you find that luxury watch that you know would look perfect on your wrist, that’s the one you should take home.
Are you ready to find the best watch for you? BQ Watches can help. In addition to having an extensive inventory of TAG Heuer and Omega watches, we have a wide variety of other luxury brands as well. You can find Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Patek Philippe, and much more when you shop at BQ Watches. We have all the best pre-owned watches at the best prices.
If you’re not sure which watch is the right choice for you, don’t hesitate to consult our expert team. We’re happy to talk to you about your preferences and find a watch that will perfectly suit you. Also, if you have a specific watch in mind but don’t see it in our inventory, just let us know. We can source watches as well. We’d love for you to come visit our London showroom sometime to see what we have in store, or please enjoy browsing our online inventory to find the watch for you.
