No. Bad.

 

They are different brands, different legacy, different portfolios, etc...

GS makes a great watch, more narrow portfolio and shorter legacy

Omega is.....Omega. One of the foremost brands in wristwatches, maker of the Speedy, synonymous with Bond for the last few decades


Since your question is about the "stronger brand", it is not a competition. Omega is a much larger, stronger brand. GS is a younger brand that has not marketed itself nearly as aggressive as Omega over the years.

 

Not sure they are an either / or. But like all of us, I am biased. Grand Seiko all the way in this comparison. While Omegas are classic, not necessarily inspiring after a few weeks for me.

 

GS - more innovations and breakthroughs in watchmaking. Not dependent on a 50+ year old event for marketing watches even today.

 

Perhaps you should educate yourself on the Coaxial movement. While Omega improved the design of the balance. Grand Seiko chose to replace the balance assembly which many would argue is the true essence or a mechanical watch with a piece of electronics.

 

Omega is easily the stronger brand. They have a few distinct and recognizable designs, marketing skill, brand cache, and a long history. In terms of watchmaking, there are some things Grand Seiko does better, but it's mostly a niche enthusiast brand for the collectors who really care about those few things.

 

Bingo!

 

Both, you just got to plan which one you're getting first.

 

GS is great, but still have long way to grow.

 

Specific to your question, Omega is the stronger brand. The average Joe on the street has never heard of Grand Seiko, but has heard of Omega. GS would be considered a niche brand compared to Omega.

 

I wish somebody braver than me would actually go out with a camera and ask people on the street which luxury brands they know, I think the results would be very interesting. From my experience I don't think the average person would even know Omega. They know Rolex and that's about it.

 

I‘m too lazy and full of Taiwanese beef roll and pea shoots right now to find and upload the gif/meme but to answer your question: why not both?

 

I'm too lazy and full of Taiwanese beef roll and pea shoots right now to find and upload the gif/meme but to answer your question: why not both?

 

GS is the new kid on the block in the US market. I really admire GS's attention to detail, advancements in movement tech, and find their case finishing superior to almost all Swiss watches, but I have yet to find one that speaks to me. If they made a hi-beat diver with similar specs to the Sub or Seamaster, I would be all over that...but they don't.

 

It's really hard to say one is better. I think the history of Omega with the NASA association and everything else puts them a step ahead of GS, but I think GS makes a better watch. I love Grand Seiko because it's a true artisanal product with hand finishing like a Lange or Patek, where as Omegas are mostly machine made on an assembly line. In terms of value I think Grand Seiko completely blows anybody else in the same price range out of the water.

But luxury items are just as much about the emotions they make you feel when you wear them, and to me Grand Seikos feel kind of sterile. Their design language is pretty hit or miss with me as well, I find myself only liking certain models where as I think most of Omega's designs are great. The seamaster 300M and speedmaster are both icons in the watch world, and the aquaterra is beautiful as well.

Then of course you have to give Omega brownie points for being Swiss if you're a snob like I am.

It's really 50/50 for me. Both great brands, both make great watches. Hard to say one is better than the other, but if you put a gun to my head I'd probably take an Omega.

It's funny though because I own a Grand Seiko but don't own an Omega (yet).

 

My issue with GS is simply because most people will think it’s another Seiko. While I don’t buy watches to impress others, it would bother me if my $5000+ watch was perceived as $300

 

My issue with GS is simply because most people will think it's another Seiko. While I don't buy watches to impress others, it would bother me if my $5000+ watch was perceived as $300

Most people will perceiving any watch that isn't a Rolex to be worth $300.

 

Both decent middle-ranking brands. Nothing substantial to separate them.

 

Omega has more stuff to read on the caseback. Not bad for a Swatch.

 

In terms of brand and brand recognition for sure Omega is the stronger.
However, in terms of which has the greater number of watches within their catalogue that I would like to buy, then GS wins out for me (I already have the 1 watch that appeals to me in the current Omega range).

 

Grand Seiko is a great watchmaker, just doesn't like Seiko plastered on the dial of a $5,000 watch like it was a $300 Turtle.

 

I don't think people even know what Grand Seiko is, aside from us of course.

 

I don't think those same people know what omega is either.

stronger brand, others have said it was omega and i tend to agree. Not sure which is better as both have made some innovations and both make nice watches. For me personally the GS line as a whole is rather boring (I really like several individual models but the overall line is not exciting), as they use similar looking cases and handsets and have similar dial layouts with all stick indices and a framed date window at 3 o'clock.

but then omega changes their lineup every 90 minutes, only to release the the same watch again with a minor tweak and new 40 digit model number, so there is that. I guess every omega is a limited edition? I still like mine but it is 74 models old at this point.

 

Omega though GS has picked up a lot in the last couple of years.

 

The Speedy and the Aqua Terra are easily more interesting than anything GS has ever made.

 

Better design selection, I prefer Omega design.

 

I think "better" or "stronger" is too much of a general statement to say anything useful.

Brands have different characteristics such as heritage, technical expertise and production of in-house movements, innovation in the movements, innovation in design, innovation in the proprietary production processes, brand perception and recognition, variety in their product line up, number of iconic/successful models. You can go on and on.
Not only can brands score well on some things and worse on others, but how some of those things are viewed and how much weight they are given to determine which is the "better brand" is entirely subjective.

I think both are great brands. There is no point in trying to rank one ahead of the other. What is more important for anyone interested in these two brands is what appeals to them specifically and go from there.

 

These either or threads are very devisive and normally end in a bloodbath of insults quite often personal.

So as always I will sit firmly on the fence, I have owned Omegas which I thoroughly enjoyed, and would again tomorrow if the money and opportunity arose.

I currently own a GS which I really love, so which is better, neither they are different, which is good.

 

I own 3 Omegas and 0 Grand Seiko at the moment though I will be checking out the Grand Seiko White Birch when it becomes available. I suppose both are comparable but aesthetics-wise, I think Grand Seiko wins. How can anyone beat the aesthetics of Grand Seiko’s Nature of Time watches and the various Seasons-themed watches if you possess an eye for beauty? If you are looking for watches with a soul (not personality which a Jacob & Co or Franck Muller might exude) you will like find yourself attracted to a Grand Seiko rather than an Omega. Pardon me if the above sounds pretentious to anyone.

 

I own 3 Omegas and 0 Grand Seiko at the moment though I will be checking out the Grand Seiko White Birch when it becomes available. I suppose both are comparable but aesthetics-wise, I think Grand Seiko wins. How can anyone beat the aesthetics of Grand Seiko's Nature of Time watches and the various Seasons-themed watches if you possess an eye for beauty? If you are looking for watches with a soul (not personality which a Jacob & Co or Franck Muller might exude) you will like find yourself attracted to a Grand Seiko rather than an Omega. Pardon me if the above sounds pretentious to anyone.

At the end of the day, you vote with your wallet.

 

I do like the GS overall, but some of the textured dials - although aesthetically complex and well done - just come across as gimmicky to me. The styling cues remind me of Japanese versus European cars, the European cars always have to me an in-person presence that the Japanese cars never obtain, even though the Japanese cars often boast superior performance, resale value, and reliability. And of course this is 100% subjective.

 

Are you asking who makes better watches, or simply which one is stronger as a brand?. The first question is significantly harder to answer Imho.
As much as I love Grand Seiko, they are barely known outside of watch enthusiasts. Omega as a brand is 3 times as old, has a rich history, is pretty well known as a luxury watchmaker among the non-WIS general public, and eclipses GS in terms of sales. So for me, purely in terms of brand strength, it's an easy question to answer.