zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

Derek,

You're correct. I was only trying to answer the gentlemen's concerns that the 7750 was not a good movement and to explain the logic that some people might use to denegrate this tried and true movement.

Omega and others do of course enhance the basic movement. But again, to many of those who would put it down because its not a manufacture ebauche, that fact doesn't make a difference. (Yes, I know the Swatch group owns ETA and so technically they're in house movements) As an example, I've read criticisms of Franck Muller designs for using modified third party movements in relatively expense watches..

I totally agree with your comments regarding in house movements. I think you'll agree though that there is a segment of the fine watch buying public to which it is very important.

Ego, rather than logic, has a lot to do with it. People who buy expense high end versions of almost any type of product (cars, stereos, etc) often do so in part because of the perception of uniqueness or quality not available in cheaper products. Often, (but not always) this an expensive illusion.

: True, but it is important to note that Omega is
: one of the brands that *does* add their own
: enhancements and more expensive finishing to
: the ETA and Valjoux movements. Many brands
: use them in their stock configuration.

: So a 7750-based Omega--as well as all ETA based
: Omegas--still manage to have unique
: movements, even though they are not entirely
: produced in-house.

: I still think the in-house concept is quite
: overblown in the significance that people
: give it these days. We are talking about
: megacorporation watch companies pumping out
: hundreds of thousands or millions of watches
: a year in large mass production factories.
: If the factory is owned under the same watch
: company name (like with Rolex), people cheer
: it as having virtues of being in-house. Yet
: if the movement factory is owned by the
: parent company of the watch brand (as with
: ETA and Valjoux being owned by Omega's
: parent company, The Swatch Group), people
: criticize it as not in-house movements. And
: some people carry this difference to the
: extent that they seem willing to pay
: HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of dollars more for
: this insanely trivial difference.

: I disagree... most watch buyers don't even know
: this level of detail, so it seldom enters
: into the equation. The resale values of
: Omega watches are good. Your statement above
: might mislead someone into thinking that
: they are not.