Rubber B was the first company in the world to develop custom rubber watch straps exclusively for Rolex timepieces, and since then, the company has added several other prominent watchmakers to its product portfolio. Rubber B also creates custom rubber watch bands for watches produced by Panerai, Roger Dubuis, and Audemars Piguet. However, while this article is going to feature one of the companies we’ve already mentioned here – Rolex – it’s also going to involve one of their long-standing rivals – Omega.
The reason that we’re doing a Rolex vs. Omega comparison article is that the two have crossed paths a number of times over the years – and as we’ll see later, have even shared a well-known celebrity endorsement, albeit at different times. The two companies are also well-known for producing some of the most respected dive watches in the world.
In order to figure out who truly produces the superior dive watch, we will be looking at a number of different criteria in order to try and determine a winner.
Rolex vs Omega Round One – Number of Watches to Choose From
Rolex officially has three dive watches in its current product catalog: the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller, and the Deepsea. However, depending on who you ask, some experts will make the argument that the Submariner without the date indicator should be counted as an entirely separate model, which would bring Rolex’s total to four in this particular instance.
While some of these watches are available in more than one color option, Rolex has never been one to offer a plethora of choices in terms of different colors and styles for their watches. Oftentimes, you will be given two or three options to choose from, and you will have to find something within those presets that works for you.
Omega, on the other hand, has taken a completely different approach with regard to their dive watches. While they only offer four official product lines to choose from – the Diver 300M, the Seamaster 300, the Planet Ocean, and the Ploprof – they offer considerably more options in terms of customization.
A casual glance at their website reveals that their watch cases come in a variety of different materials, as well as different colors, and there are several options to choose from when it comes to which type of watch strap you would like. In total, there are 117 different variants of dive watch that you could purchase from Omega. Because of this, Omega clearly wins the first round of the competition.
Rolex vs Omega Round Two – Purchase Price
Another great way to compare these two highly venerated watchmakers is to look at how much it costs to purchase an entry-level version of one of these watches.
The Rolex Submariner without the date indicator, which Rolex classifies as its most affordable dive watch, retails for $8,100 and goes up considerably more from there if you wish to purchase one of its variants. It should also be noted that the demand for this watch is consistently high, so it may be a challenge to actually procure one from a reputable dealer.
The Omega Seamaster 300M, which is the closest comparable watch that Omega offers, costs $4,900 if you choose a rubber strap and $5,200 for the stainless steel bracelet option.
Though Omega is technically the cheaper option in this instance, we are going to call this round a tie because a watch’s price being higher can actually be more enticing to some collectors. As such, the subjective nature of this kind of measure makes it too difficult to officially declare a clear winner in this instance.
Rolex vs Omega Round Three – The James Bond Connection
As we mentioned earlier in the article, Rolex and Omega have shared a very famous celebrity spokesperson at different times. However, he’s not actually a real person, although he is arguably the world’s most famous fictitious character.
The partnership between Rolex and James Bond actually goes back to the initial novels written by Ian Fleming, the first of which, Casino Royale, was published in 1953. In the books, Fleming specifies that Bond is frequently seen wearing a Rolex Submariner, which was notable because Fleming intentionally kept personal details about Bond as vague as possible in many instances.
Sean Connery would be seen wearing this watch in the first seven James Bond films, and Timothy Dalton would also sport one during his final outing as Bond in License to Kill.
Omega would end up being a financial partner in all of the following James Bond films that would be produced afterward, so both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig would be seen wearing Omega Speedmasters throughout their tenures as the world’s most famous spy.
While Omega may be the more recent choice of watch for Bond, his creator originally outfitted Bond with a Rolex timepiece, and the Submariner and Bond are still very much inseparable all of these later in many people’s minds. As a result, we are going to declare Rolex the winner of this final round.
Our Final Thoughts on Rolex vs. Omega Watches
Ultimately, determining which watch would be better for you requires you to figure out exactly what you are looking for in a luxury dive watch. If prestige is your primary concern, Rolex will be a better fit for you, but if being able to customize your watch is more important to you, then an Omega piece is likely going to suit your needs much more effectively.
Are You in Need of a Custom Rubber Watch Band For Your Rolex Watch? Visit Rubber B Today
All of Rubber B’s watch straps are made from 100% vulcanized rubber and are crafted exclusively by experts in Switzerland. Orders are shipped out within 24 to 48 hours of receiving them, and Rubber B also offers shipping options to its international clientele as well.
If you would like to learn more about our complete product catalog and pricing, simply visit the Rubber B website today.
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