Rolex, Panerai, Omega: who has the better movement?

[handyhsl]

Hi,

Although this is Rolex forum, can we get an objective comparison (is it possible? ) of the 3 brands' movements: Rolex, Panerai, Omega?

Rolex may be the most desirable among the 3, however it may / may not have the better movement.

I am sure we have a lot of movement experts here..

Thanks!

[landroverking]

IMHO Rolex.

[Jason71]

IMHO, Panerai and Omega haven't been making their respective "in-house" movements long enough to see that they will be as reliable as the Rolex movements that has been tested for many years now. The Omega and Panerai movements may not hold-up as well as they get older, where the Rolex movements are bulletproof for quite a number of years.

Rolex --- Hands down

[The GMT Master]

I think the cal. 8500 offered by Omega is the most impressive movement available in the mid-level luxury sector right now. Beautifully finished, technologically advanced, and, from all reports so far, reliable and incredibly accurate. It's going to take Omega a long way, IMHO

[HL65]

Rolex of course!!

[nauticajoe]

Rolex!

[warrior]

This...I love my Rolexes, but the 8500 rocks.

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

I think the cal. 8500 offered by Omega is the most impressive movement available in the mid-level luxury sector right now. Beautifully finished, technologically advanced, and, from all reports so far, reliable and incredibly accurate. It's going to take Omega a long way, IMHO

[handyhsl]

let's hear some opinions about this one:
http://luxurytyme.com/en/rolex-relat...ex-or-omega-2/

[dsio]

Omega Cal 8500 has a solid reputation for four years with no known issues and superb performance, Rolex Cal 15xx 31xx have a known point of failure in the winding mechanism yet don't care enough to fix it even in the now ~$7.5-8k Subs.

[handyhsl]

Technical explanations will be great:
Rolex vs. Panerai
Rolex vs. Omega
Panerai vs. Omega

[Cabaiguan]

If the 8500 can show robustness in the coming months and years, it will be tops in my book. The power reserve, finishing, accuracy. It's got it all.

[dalip]

Originally Posted by Jason71

IMHO, Panerai and Omega haven't been making their respective "in-house" movements long enough to see that they will be as reliable as the Rolex movements that has been tested for many years now. The Omega and Panerai movements may not hold-up as well as they get older, where the Rolex movements are bulletproof for quite a number of years.

Rolex --- Hands down

This makes sense

[Le Chef]

Define better: Technically advanced? Complication? Finishing? Reliability? Robustness? Different answers for each question.

[Paulie 50]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

I think the cal. 8500 offered by Omega is the most impressive movement available in the mid-level luxury sector right now. Beautifully finished, technologically advanced, and, from all reports so far, reliable and incredibly accurate. It's going to take Omega a long way, IMHO

I can agree with this comment, i have had a couple of Omega's in the past and without doubt they were super time pieces.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

Define better: Technically advanced? Complication? Finishing? Reliability? Robustness? Different answers for each question.

X2. And better is in the eyes of the beholder,while the Rolex movement has a well proved track record over the decades.It still has its Achilles heel in the winding rotor but there are many excellent movements today.This is my short list of outstanding movements that should all easily achieve a daily consistency of three to five seconds or better on the wrist.ETA 2892-A2, ETA 2824/T2, ETA 7750/1,Unitas 6497/8,Omega 2500, 8500, JLC 889/2 , JLC 960, all of the current Rolex calibres, Longines 990 (Lemania 8815), PP 215, PP 240, Zenith 400,Zenith 670, and GP 3100 but there are quite a few more.

[handyhsl]

well, better = technically advanced, finishing, reliability, robustness

not much complication for standard Rolex, Panerai, Omega movements.

[handyhsl]

Originally Posted by padi56

X2. And better is in the eyes of the beholder,while the Rolex movement has a well proved track record over the decades.It still has its Achilles heel in the winding rotor but there are many excellent movements today.This is my short list of outstanding movements that should all easily achieve a daily consistency of three to five seconds or better on the wrist.ETA 2892-A2, ETA 2824/T2, ETA 7750/1,Unitas 6497/8,Omega 2500, 8500, JLC 889/2 , JLC 960, all of the current Rolex calibres, Longines 990 (Lemania 8815), PP 215, PP 240, Zenith 400,Zenith 670, and GP 3100 but there are quite a few more.

what is wrong with the winding rotor, and do all Rolex's movements have that?

[Art 1]

Rolex, Omega then Panerai.

[www777]

The omega 8500 is pretty impressive. That being said the rolex has been proven over the longest period of time. Rolex for me.

[dsio]

One thing Rolex could do to really make an actual difference, more than the paracrom hairspring nonsense, is upping the power reserve to be on-par with the daytona. The decisive factor is you need to be able to take it off the wrist Friday afternoon, and put it on again Monday morning without it stopping.

That is a businessman's requirements for his daily watch. The Rolex power reserve doesn't cut it, the YM2 and Daytona pull it off, and the Cal 8500 does. Do that, and you've given the 31xx a significant and real upgrade that has a genuine value.

[handyhsl]

other than the proven track record, i am sensing that 8500 is better in all other areas than the comparable Rolex's movement?

[East Bay Rider]

Better is subjective. I know folks love their Omegas but there are other watches I'd consider buying first.
In the end buy the watch that moves YOU, not what others deem 'better'.
BTW, my personal observation is that Omega doesn't seem to hold it's resale value as well as Rolex so unless you plan to own it forever that may be something worth considering.
YMMV

[spuds]

Originally Posted by dsio

One thing Rolex could do to really make an actual difference, more than the paracrom hairspring nonsense, is upping the power reserve to be on-par with the daytona. The decisive factor is you need to be able to take it off the wrist Friday afternoon, and put it on again Monday morning without it stopping.
That is a businessman's requirements for his daily watch. The Rolex power reserve doesn't cut it, the YM2 and Daytona pull it off, and the Cal 8500 does. Do that, and you've given the 31xx a significant and real upgrade that has a genuine value.

Good point Sir!

[handyhsl]

got that. a better (even objective) movement does not mean a better watch.
watch has a movement, case, design, bracelet, resale value, history, etc.

but let's hear more opinions about movements..

[GEO_79]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

I think the cal. 8500 offered by Omega is the most impressive movement available in the mid-level luxury sector right now. Beautifully finished, technologically advanced, and, from all reports so far, reliable and incredibly accurate. It's going to take Omega a long way, IMHO

[padi56]

Originally Posted by dsio

One thing Rolex could do to really make an actual difference, more than the paracrom hairspring nonsense, is upping the power reserve to be on-par with the daytona. The decisive factor is you need to be able to take it off the wrist Friday afternoon, and put it on again Monday morning without it stopping.

That is a businessman's requirements for his daily watch. The Rolex power reserve doesn't cut it, the YM2 and Daytona pull it off, and the Cal 8500 does. Do that, and you've given the 31xx a significant and real upgrade that has a genuine value.

Well all Rolex oyster still have a winding crown and thats what its for winding the watch and setting date time.I would always recommend a full manual wind once or twice a week even if worn.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by handyhsl

got that. a better (even objective) movement does not mean a better watch.
watch has a movement, case, design, bracelet, resale value, history, etc.

but let's hear more opinions about movements..

Just curious.

What's your end game here? Are you looking for very technical info to assist with a buying decision you are trying to make?

If a movement is within COSC, is that enough for you?

[dsio]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well all Rolex oyster still have a winding crown and thats what its for winding the watch and setting date time.I would always recommend a full manual wind once or twice a week even if worn.

I do wind my sub every day, just because I enjoy doing it, but from a purely utilitarian standpoint, a professional gentleman with a Datejust needs to be able to pick it up without manually setting the time, or owning a winder. The reason JLC, GO, IWC, etc are running 8 days manual wind movements with power reserve displays is that for many people the weekend, or even longer is "watch-off".

Its just a really nice benefit that the Daytona can be taken off for a weekend, while the non-chronos cannot. Compared to the engineering and marketing waffle that went into the paracrom hairspring, matching the Daytona would be a real selling point to me.

Hell, the Sub's only historic dive watch competitor, the Fifty Fathoms has a 5 day power reserve.

[wilfreb]

Originally Posted by handyhsl

other than the proven track record, i am sensing that 8500 is better in all other areas than the comparable Rolex's movement?

the 8500 may be better but only on specs, not in the wild ''yet'', the rolex movements are time test as the king of robustness, plus Rolex quality standarts are much higher that the Omega, look at the cal 2500.

[NAVY]