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 explicitly look at Omega watches as an investment. The focus here is on the performance of the popular watch models.
Important information about the Omega Seamaster
The history of the Omega Seamaster models goes back many decades. In 1948, the first such watch was released, 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 mainly known for being water resistant to depths of 60 meters.
A few years later, in 1957 to be precise, the Seamaster 300 was launched. This toolwatch with a diver's bezel is water resistant to 300 meters, making it 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 meters.
Today, when we talk about an Omega Seamaster watch, we mostly mean a model from the collections that appeared from 1993 onwards. In that year, the Seamaster Diver Professional with skeleton hands, which already adorned the wrist of James Bond, conquered the market. The trademark of this particular watch is the wave-engraved 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 spellbound about whether and when a new edition of the timepieces would be announced. Then in 2018, the time had come: the latest variant of the luxury watches was presented at the Baselworld trade fair. The new models are equipped with sapphire crystal 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. A caliber 9900 movement is installed in these Omega watches, but 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 in hot demand today. First and foremost, the Planet Ocean and Aqua Terra models should be mentioned here.
Omega Seamaster price development
If you want to make a watch investment and minimize the risk of coming out a loser, you can't avoid looking at the price trends of the models in question.
For this, a basic info is of great importance: There is usually a big difference between market price and list price. While the list price indicates at what price a watch is offered by the manufacturer, the market price shows what prices are demanded on the free market. Especially in the case of watches from renowned watch brands, of which Omega is undoubtedly one, the discrepancy between high demand and comparatively low supply often results in market prices that far exceed the list price.
Current price
To get into the topic, let's first take a look at the current prices for Omega's watches. Of course, the models differ in price and value, so in this article we will focus on a few selected watches.
Basically, while Omega's watches are clearly luxury watches, the majority of the Seamaster models can be had for (well) under €10,000. If you take other watch models, for example from Rolex, for comparison, it quickly becomes apparent that the investment in an Omega Seamaster is significantly smaller. And, of course, the potential increase in value is 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 here increased by an average of 15% - values that indicate a lucrative investment business.
Since numerous Seamaster models with coveted reference are chronically sold out and thus cannot be obtained directly from the manufacturer, the watches seem to be able to master the challenge of "value preservation" despite current inflation. Whoever sensed his chance to get hold of an Omega as a bargain at a low price in the near future 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 will once again see what the watch market often reflects: If one is dealing with a popular reference of a renowned brand, one can in many cases conclude the project "value investment" as a winner. After all, luxury watches from Omega have repeatedly proven in the past that high-quality classics usually not only retain their value, but often also significantly increase in value.
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
When asked about how the value of Omega Seamaster watches might develop in the future, it's hard to find a serious, overly precise answer. The reason is that it is impossible to predict with absolute reliability which models - regardless of whether they are new or vintage watches - will increase in value and which ones are more likely to be losers. However, given how the value of Omega's coveted models has behaved over the past few decades, the trend is likely to be in the direction of a further increase in value.
Resale value
Since Omega watches in many cases stand out for their terrific value stability and continued high demand, investors can cautiously expect satisfactory resale values. Depending on the model, it may be worthwhile not to rush into the sale, but to observe the increase in value for the time being and wait for the ideal time to be able to position oneself as the best possible winner.
Price development of used watches
In principle, even a used model can bring good profits and thus represent an attractive investment. The decisive factor here is above all the condition. The better a vintage watch - whether from Omega, Rolex or another established brand - is preserved, the more likely it is to be lucratively resold.
The price development of other Omega watches
Wherever the Omega Seamaster is mentioned, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch must also be mentioned almost automatically. This model is also a real winner from a performance perspective. The Speedmaster Moonwatch is a watch with a tremendous history, as it was involved in the first moon landing. The legendary Speedmaster Moonwatch watch, which is now available in almost countless variants, is virtually the epitome of an icon in the watch world and continues to experience an increase in value in various references, which more than satisfies investors.
Conclusion
The fact is: Whether a chronograph will increase in value in the future is ultimately written in the stars. Our tip: Before investing in a watch, it's worth looking at its historical performance to get a feel for what might come in the future. Taking all the important factors into account, we can conclude that Omega's Seamaster wristwatch could continue to delight collectors and investors with a handsome appreciation in the future. After all, we are dealing with high-quality pieces of a collection whose popularity is matched only by the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch series.