Omega Seamaster performance

Apr 12, 2023by Sabine Meding
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The Omega Seamaster watch collection is undoubtedly one of the most famous collections ever created by the Swiss luxury watch brand. While there is absolutely no question that an Omega Seamaster is a sought-after collector's item, in this article we will specifically look at Omega watches as an investment or a valuable asset. The focus is on the value development of the popular watch models.

Important information about the Omega Seamaster

The history of the Omega Seamaster models goes back many decades. The first such watch was released in 1948, but it had little in common with what we know today as Seamaster watches. It was a dress watch with a leather strap, which was best known for being waterproof to depths of 60 m.

A few years later, in 1957 to be precise, the Seamaster 300 came onto the market. The tool watch with a diving bezel is water resistant to 300 m and is therefore a practical accessory for professional divers. This model was topped by the Seamaster Ploprof, which was introduced in 1970 and is water resistant to depths of 600 m.

When we talk about an Omega Seamaster watch today, we usually mean a model from the collections that were released from 1993 onwards. That year, the Seamaster Diver Professional with skeleton hands, which had already adorned James Bond's wrist, conquered the market. The trademark of this special watch is the wave-decorated dial, which is framed by a case with a tachymeter.

For a long time there was little news about the Seamaster wristwatch and watch collectors speculated about whether and when a new edition of the timepiece would be announced. In 2018 the time had finally come: the latest version of the luxury watches was presented at the Baselworld trade fair. The new models are equipped with sapphire glass and a caliber 8800 movement and impress with an immensely accurate co-axial escapement. In 2019 the Seamaster 300 M product series also received a new member with a 44 mm case. These Omega watches feature a caliber 9900 movement, and the co-axial escapement is once again impressive.

As watch enthusiasts know, apart from the classic Seamaster, there are other Omega watches from the famous collection that are still highly sought after today. The Planet Ocean and Aqua Terra models are particularly worth mentioning here.

Omega Seamaster price development

If you want to make a watch investment and minimize the risk of coming out of the investment as a loser, you cannot avoid looking at the price developments of the models in question.

A basic piece of information is very important here: there is usually a big difference between the market price and the list price. While the list price indicates the price at which a watch is offered by the manufacturer, the market price shows the prices demanded on the open market. Especially with watches from renowned watch brands, which Omega undoubtedly belongs to, the discrepancy between high demand and comparatively low supply often results in market prices that far exceed the list prices.

Current price

To get into the topic, let's first look at the current prices for Omega watches. The models naturally differ in price and value, which is why we will focus on a few selected watches in this article.

Omega watches are definitely luxury watches, but the majority of Seamaster models are available for (far) less than €10,000. If you compare other watch models, such as those from Rolex, it quickly becomes clear that the investment in an Omega Seamaster is much smaller. And of course, the potential for increasing the value in numbers is also comparatively small. In percentage terms, however, there has been a significant increase in the value of the classic Omega Seamaster watch. Between 2016 and 2018 alone, market prices increased by an average of 15% - values ​​that indicate a lucrative investment business.

Since numerous Seamaster models with coveted references are chronically sold out and cannot be purchased directly from the manufacturer, the watches seem to be able to master the challenge of "maintaining value" despite current inflation. Anyone who sensed their chance to get an Omega as a bargain at a low price will probably be disappointed.

Historical increase in value

If you look at the development in the value of Omega timepieces over the past years and decades, you can once again see what the watch market often reflects: If you are dealing with a popular reference from a renowned brand, you can often come out on top with the "investment" project. In the past, luxury watches from Omega have proven many times that high-quality classics are not only known for maintaining their value, but also for increasing their value significantly.

It is often of secondary importance whether the watch is made of gold and platinum or "only" stainless steel. Other factors are often more important for the development of value over time, such as the "inner values" and the reputation that a chronograph has.

price development in the coming years

It is difficult to give a serious, precise answer to questions about how the value of Omega Seamaster watches might develop in the future. The reason: It is not possible to predict with absolute reliability which models - whether new or vintage watches - will increase in value and which will be losers. However, considering how the value of the coveted Omega models has behaved over the past few decades, the trend is likely to be towards further increases in value.

resale value

Since Omega watches often stand out for their excellent value stability and consistently high demand, investors can cautiously expect satisfactory resale values. Depending on the model, it may be worth not rushing into selling, but rather observing the increase in value and waiting for the ideal time to position yourself as a winner.

price development of used watches

In principle, a used model can also bring in good profits and thus represent an attractive investment. The most important factor here is the condition. The better a vintage watch is preserved - whether from Omega, Rolex or another established brand - the more likely it is to be sold lucratively.

The price development of other Omega watches

Whenever the Omega Seamaster is mentioned, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch almost automatically has to be mentioned. This model is also a real winner from the perspective of value development. The Speedmaster Moonwatch is a watch with a huge history, as it was part of the first moon landing. The legendary Speedmaster Moonwatch, which is now available in countless versions, is the epitome of an icon in the world of watches and continues to experience an increase in value in various references that more than satisfies investors.

Conclusion

The fact is: Whether a chronograph will increase in value in the future is ultimately up in the air. Our tip: Before investing in a watch, it is worth looking at its historical value development in order to develop a feeling for what might come in the future. Taking all the important factors into account, it can be concluded that the Seamaster wristwatch from Omega could also delight collectors and investors with a considerable increase in value in the future. After all, we are dealing with high-quality pieces from a collection whose popularity is only rivaled by the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch series.

Über den Autor

Authors | Sabine Meding

Authors | Sabine Meding

The broad topic of horology has always interested me, especially how multifaceted and diverse the world of watches is. I love writing about the different brands and models and can no longer imagine life without watches.
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