Tudor vs. Omega: How They Stack Up in 2025
Omega was already a successful watch brand by the time Rolex was founded in 1908, and it took Rolex about 60 years to start outselling them. Tudor, which was originally a more affordable subsidiary of Rolex, is now technically a sister company owned by the same foundation. They’ve been going decidedly upscale in the past decade. Tudor has distanced themselves enough from their kind-of-former parent company that it’s increasingly common to compare Tudor directly to Omega. While Omega is still more expensive than Tudor on average, the Tudor vs. Omega discussion is now at least a legitimate one. Let’s get into it.
Context of the Tudor vs. Omega Discussion
First of all, I should point out the obvious: Tudor and Omega are the only two watch brands in the world who make “Master Chronometers.” If a dial says “Master Chronometer,” that means an independent Swiss institute known as METAS has certified that the watch will withstand magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss and keep accurate time within +0 to +5 seconds per day.
That’s much more stringent than basic COSC standards (-4 to +6 seconds per day), plus METAS tests complete watches rather than uncased movements. Omega helped create the Master Chronometer standard in 2015, probably with the goal of getting a leg up on Rolex. I assume Tudor’s management team had huge grins on their faces when they, as a brand often regarded as the “little brother” of Rolex, released their first Master Chronometer in 2021.
The top end of Omega’s catalog reaches far higher tiers of gem-setting, movement finishing, and complications than Tudor’s. But if you’re looking for a luxury watch under $5,000, there are numerous worthwhile pre-owned options from both companies, like the previous-generation version of the Omega Speedmaster FOIS or perhaps a Tudor Black Bay Chrono. From about 2005-2010, during the Tudor Hydronaut era, “Tudor vs. Omega” wasn’t even a discussion. Tudor wasn’t sold in the US at that time, and their design, well…lost its way. But Tudor has come on strong in a big way since releasing the Black Bay in 2012.
If “history” matters to you, well, Omega has a well-established history of timing the Olympics and making watches worn in space, while Tudor was essentially founded as a “value brand.” But there are plenty of Tudor military watches with a cool history of their own. Regardless, in this article we’re taking a look at where these brands stand today. Overall, Omega prices themselves slightly higher than Tudor and has a wider range of offerings, especially for ladies. Meanwhile, Tudor is unapologetically focused on men’s sports watches. Let’s break down the key points:
Tudor vs. Omega: Overview
| Tudor | Omega | |
|---|---|---|
| Movement Finishing | Meh. Recent models (e.g., Black Bay Ceramic) show improvement, but still not at Omega’s level | Excellent finishing, often showcased through display casebacks. Can compete credibly with just about anything below the level of A. Lange & Söhne. |
| Complications | Date, day, GMT, chronograph. The only other complication they ever made was a power reserve indicator | Broader range: chronograph, GMT, annual calendar, moonphase, power reserve indicator, and the world’s only chronograph repeater movement (“Chrono Chime“) |
| Price Sweet Spot (New) | $4,500–$6,000 | $6,000-$11,000 |
| Price Sweet Spot (Used) | $3,500 (one of the best brands in this price range) | $4,500 (one of the best brands in this price range) |
| Value Retention | Strong for popular models (Black Bay, Pelagos); sometimes outperforms Omega in resale | Strong for popular Speedmaster and Seamaster variants; average resale values for the rest of the lineup |
| Ladies’ Selection | Limited, with fewer dedicated ladies’ models and smaller case sizes | Broader, with dedicated ladies’ lines and more variety in size, style and material |
| Dive Watches | Black Bay, Pelagos | Seamaster, Planet Ocean |
| Chronographs | Black Bay Chrono, Pelagos FXD Chrono | Speedmaster, Planet Ocean Chronograph |
| GMT Options | Black Bay GMT (practical, robust, vintage styling, in-house movement), Black Bay Pro | Planet Ocean GMT or Worldtimer, Aqua Terra Worldtimer, numerous discontinued options |
| Bracelets/Straps | High quality, often vintage-inspired; options include steel, fabric, rubber, leather | Modern, with advanced materials; more variety, micro-adjustments, higher perceived quality |
| Clasps | Secure, functional, some with on-the-fly adjustment (not as advanced as Omega) | Advanced micro-adjustment systems, more refined and user-friendly clasps |
| In-House Movements | Increasing use of in-house calibers, some METAS-certified; still some Sellita-based | All in-house, Co-Axial, Master Chronometer, METAS-certified, high magnetic resistance |
| Brand Prestige | Historically seen as “junior Rolex,” now respected for value and quality | Longstanding luxury status, space and Olympic legacy, higher overall prestige |
| Innovation | Focused on reliability and robustness, less on cutting-edge tech | First Master Chronometer, first watch guaranteed +0/+2 seconds per day, first chrono repeater |
Tudor Black Bay vs. Omega Seamaster
The direct Tudor vs. Omega comparison we get asked about the most is Black Bay vs. Seamaster. Their specs, sizes and prices (both new and used) are similar, so that makes sense. On the pre-owned market, two of the coolest watches you can buy today for $2,500 are an early 2000’s Bond Seamaster (ref. 2531.80, worn by Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies) and a first-generation Tudor Black Bay (ref. 79220R). Both are powered by ETA movements and are great, reliable everyday watches. But they have very different aesthetics.
Not everyone is a fan of Tudor’s faux-rivet bracelets (the bumps on the bracelet are just glued on–not functional), whereas Omega’s “Bond bracelet” has become a bit of a fan favorite. Though it came before the days of micro-adjust clasps, the push-button release on those old Bond Seamasters is very crisp and satisfying. When it comes to choosing a neo-vintage Tudor Black Bay vs. Omega Seamaster, really the choice should come down to whichever one you think looks coolest. If you’re looking at new models, though, the Omega is a bit more expensive.
The current list price of a stainless steel Omega SMP300 starts at $5,900 with a rubber strap, which is $1,375 more than the equivalent Black Bay. Pre-owned, however, they both tend to sell within a few hundred dollars of the $4,000 mark. So, on the one hand you could say the Tudor retains its value better, but you could also say the Omega is a better value secondhand. The Omega has objective upgrades like a ceramic bezel insert, sapphire caseback, and greater water resistance (300m vs. 200m from the Tudor). The Tudor has 70 hours of power reserve vs. the Omega’s 55, however. If you’re buying at actual market prices, I’d personally give the edge to Omega on this one.
| Specification | Tudor Black Bay (2025) | Omega SMP300 (2025) | Tudor Black Bay 79220R (2012-2016) | Automatic Omega “Bond” Seamaster (1993-2006) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Name | Black Bay | Seamaster Diver 300M | Heritage Black Bay | Seamaster Professional 300M |
| Reference Number | 7941A1A0NU (Black insert) 7941A1A0RU (Burgundy insert) | 210.30.42.20.01.001 (Steel bracelet) 210.32.42.20.01.001 (Rubber strap) | 79220R | 2531.80 |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Case Diameter | 41 mm | 42 mm | 41 mm | 41 mm |
| Case Thickness | 13.6 mm | 13.7 mm | 13 mm | 11.5–12 mm |
| Lug-to-Lug | 49.2 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 47 mm |
| Bezel Insert | Aluminum | Ceramic | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire | Domed sapphire w/ AR coating | Domed sapphire | Flat sapphire |
| Movement Caliber | Tudor MT5602-U | Omega 8800 | ETA 2824-2 (no date) | Omega 1120 (ETA 2892-A2 base) |
| Beat Rate | 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz) | 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | 28,800 vph (4 Hz) |
| Movement Functions | Hours, min, sec | Hours, min, sec, date | Hours, min, sec | Hours, min, sec, date |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours | 55 hours | ~38–40 hours | 44 hours |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters | 300 meters | 200 meters | 300 meters |
| Bracelet/Strap | 3-link/5-link steel, rubber | Steel “Bond” bracelet | Steel oyster, leather, fabric | 9-row steel “Bond” bracelet |
| Caseback | Solid stainless steel | Sapphire display | Solid stainless steel | Solid stainless steel (Seahorse) |
| MSRP (May 2025) | $4,525–$4,850 | $5,900-$6,200 | N/A | N/A |
| Market Value (2025) | $3,850 | $4,100 | ~$2,500 | ~$2,500 |
Quick-Adjust Clasps
Tudor’s T-Fit clasps and Omega’s micro-adjust clasps are both highly regarded among collectors. Nowadays many luxury watch buyers expect a way to quickly make small adjustments to their bracelet sizing, and both brands deliver in this department.
The T-Fit offers a slightly larger range of maximum adjustment (up to 8mm vs. 5-6mm on most Omega models) but Omega’s micro-adjust clasps are about 1mm thinner and have slightly better finishing. Surprisingly, Omega doesn’t have a brand name for theirs; they just refer to it as a “comfort adjustment setting” most of the time.
More on Omega:
Tudor Black Bay Chrono vs. Omega Speedmaster Professional
Now let’s take a look at Tudor’s most popular chronograph vs. Omega’s most popular chronograph. The Omega Speedmaster has been iconic for over 50 years, whereas the Tudor Black Bay Chrono first debuted in 2019.
There used to be a ton of Tudor chronograph models, but now only the Black Bay Chrono and Pelagos FXD Chrono remain.
Let’s break down the specs of the current Tudor Black Bay Chrono against the popular “Sapphire Sandwich” version of the Omega Speedmaster Professional.
| Spec | Speedy Pro “Sapphire Sandwich” | Tudor Black Bay Chrono |
|---|---|---|
| Model Name | Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional | Black Bay Chrono |
| Reference Number | 310.30.42.50.01.001 | M79360N (Black insert) M79360B (Blue insert) |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Case Dimensions | 42 mm width, 13.2 mm thickness, 47.5 mm lug-to-lug | 41 mm width, 14.4 mm thickness, 49 mm lug-to-lug |
| Movement Caliber | Omega Caliber 3861 (Manual-winding, Co-Axial Master Chronometer) | Tudor MT5813 (Automatic, COSC) |
| Movement Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph (30-min, 12-hr counters) | Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph (45-min counter), date |
| Screwdown Crown & Pushers | No | Yes |
| Power Reserve | 50 hours | 70 hours |
| Water Resistance | 50 meters | 200 meters |
| Bracelet/Strap | 5-link stainless steel bracelet (polished/brushed, “sapphire sandwich”) | 3-link rivet style or 5-link steel bracelet, both with T-fit clasp |
| MSRP (2025) | $7,300 USD | $5,950 USD (add $100 for 5-link bracelet) |
| Market Value | $5,750 | $3,800 |
If you’re looking for an everyday beater, the screwdown crown and pushers and superior water resistance of the Black Bay Chrono make it a good choice. I have one and enjoy it a lot, but some people gripe about the thickness (14.4mm for the current generation). You definitely feel it on your wrist.
The Speedy Pro is just over a millimeter thinner, which doesn’t sound like much, but it does make a difference in wearability. And while the Breitling B01-based movement inside the Tudor is rock solid, the finishing and winding feel of a modern Speedy are a notch above in my opinion.
Movements
Let’s take a look at the movement inside an Omega Super Racing Speedmaster. Watches with the Omega 9920 movement have the Spirate System and are guaranteed to keep time within +0 to +2 seconds per day. That’s nuts–nobody in the luxury watch industry guarantees a tighter timekeeping tolerance. So, while Tudor is making most of its new releases Master Chronometers, Omega has already reached a “next level” that has gotten surprisingly little attention.
Omega no longer uses mechanical ETA movements at all, but Tudor still has some Sellita-based watches (like my 41mm Tudor Royal) at the lower end of their lineup. And at the high end, Omega made wristwatch history with the world’s first “Chrono Chime” watches in 2022, which chime the elapsed chronograph time. That’s an absolutely insane complication, which is why Chrono Chimes retail for over $500,000. Tudor doesn’t have any “flexes” that come anywhere near that level, but then again, that’s never what their brand has been about. The movements on the Black Bay Ceramic are about as nice as Tudor movements get.
What’s Next?
Omega has quietly been streamlining their lineup in recent years, reducing the redundancies of the complications they offer. The Deville, Aqua Terra, Constellation, and Seamaster 300M Diver (“SMP300”) were all offered as both GMT’s and chronographs, for instance. Now none of them are offered with either complication (well, I guess the Aqua Terra Worldtimer counts as a GMT). I expect both brands to continue to trend slightly more upscale.
Inevitably, it seems, the entire Tudor lineup will be Master Chronometers with in-house movements. But by then, Omega will probably have rolled out the Spirate System to more of their watches. After all, Tudor isn’t even one of the top 10 luxury watch brands, but Omega is fighting to retake Cartier’s #2 spot.
No amount of horological innovation matters, though, if customers aren’t excited by the design of your watches. It may seem like I’m favoring Omega heavily in this article, but I do think Tudor has made more “hits” in the design department in recent years. So while I don’t expect “Tudor vs. Omega” to be a truly equal comparison anytime soon…I’m still on the waiting list for a turquoise Tudor Black Bay Chrono.
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