My take .....
I'm not a watch maker, I buy watches based on function, looks & price. We are talking about comparing 30 or 40 year old movements here. So these are NOT new. these have had many many MANY hours of service & use. I don't read too much about movement "A" being a lemon or movement "B" being much superior.
So how would I compare movements ? Assuming they have the same features .... If one isn't more acurate / easier to work on / A comparable price to service ...... the movements are pretty mush the same ( for me ) I don't care how plastic is in it, what kind of finish is on the movement, whether the "upper toggle widget spring" is better engineered or not. It's like 2 guys comparing Conrods in there engines. If they both work, neither have problems, both are comparable on price & longevity, they are basically as good as each other.
I think ANY movement which as survived 30 - 40 years & is still usable ( or serviceable at a reasonable cost ) has proved itself to be a "good" movement.
I'm comfortable with my choice of watches ( & therfore implicitly movements ). They represent good value for Money ( IMHO ). I don't try to tell others what they should do / buy / collect. It's their choice & they should make it ( Albeit hopefully an informed choice after reading threads like this one ).
Finally, if Omega DID make cheap movements in the 70's, I take my hat off to the engineers / Managers at that time. They are there to make a product that generates profit. They have done so. And as I said above, 30-40 years later the product is STILL running without any major problems.
S.
