Opinions on watch brands are up and down in the world of watches.
Brands that were considered the top of the line and luxury in the past may be seen as mid-range in the present.
With the ever-evolving world of horology, it’s easy to see why opinions change like the wind.
However, two brands that have remained consistently great are Omega and Bulova.
Omega is considered one of the best luxury brands one can get their hands on, while Bulova is one of the prime examples of a “mid-range luxury” watch.
But while most think these two brands belong on completely different tiers, one might be surprised by how well a mid-range brand like Bulova compares to Omega.
We put these two companies head-to-head in this Bulova vs Omega comparison.
See more: The best Bulova watches your money can buy
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A Brief History Of The Brands
One of the reasons these two companies have stayed on top of the watch world is because of their rich and unique histories.
We take a quick and brief look at these histories in this section.
A Brief History Of Omega
See my favorite list of Omega watches here
Omega watches began as a small workshop in Switzerland established by Louis Brandt in 1848.
The shop gained a solid reputation from customers all around the world and when Brandt passed away in 1879, his sons carried on his vision by bringing Omega watches to the top of the watch world.
It didn’t take long for Omega to reach the heights it enjoys today, as in 1894, the company released its 19-watch line, the Omega Caliber, which put the brand on the map, and it hasn’t faded away since.
It’s no secret that Omega watches have incredible precision.
In 1905, their timepieces were the official timekeepers for the Olympic Games, and since then it has been used by sporting events all around the world to keep accurate time, with almost unrivaled precision.
In 1948, Omega broke ground again with their Seamaster watch, which took the world by storm and slowly turned into one of the most sought-after timepieces.
Up until now, having an Omega Seamaster is a big deal, as its reputation of being one of the best watches is still present, and it doesn’t look like it will be fading away any time soon.
Related: Bulova watches vs Citizen watches
A Brief History Of Bulova
See my favorite list of Bulova watches here
The brand had much humbler beginnings than one might think.
Bulova started out as a simple jewelry store in New York in 1875.
It was under a different name then, the J. Bulova Company, which was named after its founder, Joseph Bulova.
However, soon after the store opened, the company began producing its own clocks and pocket watches, which became very popular, very quickly.
And in 1911, the company was able to open a plant solely dedicated to manufacturing their watch components in Biel Switzerland.
By the 1920s Bulova established itself as a high-quality and reliable watch brand, and it was in 1923 that the company changed its name to the Bulova Watch Company.
Since its inception, Bulova has been known for innovation.
But their most famous innovation was probably the Accutron, which opened the door for quartz watches all around the world (but we’ll dive deep into that later).
It was these innovations that established the brand as one of the top luxury watch brands of the time, but they have since fallen off from that reputation.
Nowadays, Bulova sits right below the luxury line, but they’ve been inching their way forward with recent innovations like the Precisionist, which was a technology developed after the company was acquired by Citizen in 2008.
Related: Bulova watches vs Seiko watches
Strong and Weak Points Of Each Brand
Both Omega and Bulova have their unique strengths and weaknesses, which we take a look at in this section.
Bulova
Bulova’s strength is creativity and innovation.
The company has been known to create new and unique watches that have changed the way we look at watches.
Take one look at the company’s catalog and you’ll see that they are not scared to experiment.
That’s how the company produced the first electronic watch, that kept time better than any timepiece during its era.
Aside from that, they also aren’t scared to play around with unique designs, which has brought us a wide and varied collection of great looking watches that have adorned the wrists of many different people around the world.
That being said, it’s this experimentation that may also be their biggest weaknesses.
There are definitely timepieces which Bulova has fallen short on, and that has caused the brand to take a step down from their reputation of being a luxury brand.
While some goofy designs have caused Bulova to fall off a bit, they have been making a comeback recently with their recent collection that has been slowly bringing their reputation up again in recent years.
Omega
The gravity that comes with an Omega watch is probably the brand’s biggest strength.
Having an Omega timepiece on your wrist usually connotes great taste and class.
This is just one of the perks of having a luxury timepiece, aside from the other benefits such as superior timekeeping and timeless designs.
However, being a luxury brand means that Omega timepieces come with a hefty price tag.
Omega timepieces aren’t everyday watches that everyone can buy at any time.
These watches require preparation and research to buy since they are pretty large investments.
But while they are expensive, it’s no secret that they are definitely worth the price they’re being sold at.
Notable Technologies Of Each Brand
Both brands have innovated and created technologies that were a step ahead of the rest, we take a look at these technologies in this section.
Bulova Accutron
This has been mentioned a couple of times earlier in the article, and that’s just because Bulova’s Accutron innovation is worth the attention.
In the 1960s, all watches relied on a mechanical movement.
For the most part, that worked fine, however, these movements tend to lose a couple of minutes a day.
So if you forget to rewind the piece, you might end up with inaccurate time readings.
To counteract this, Bulova created the world’s first fully electronic watch that used a resonating tuning fork to keep time.
This resulted in the best timekeeping of era, with the watch only losing around a minute a month.
This technology really put Bulova on the map and set a new standard for timekeeping in the horology world.
Bulova is now part of the Citizen Watch Company. The company relaunched the Accutron line as its own brand in 2020.
Omega Seamaster
The Seamaster is one of Omega’s most popular timepieces, and the Ploprof took the incredible technology of the Seamaster even further.
The Ploprof was a dive watch designed for professionals.
It was a dive watch that could withstand close to anything, which is why it’s been used by the best divers all around the world.
It featured a lock for the bezel and the crown of the watch, which made it able to go as deep as 600m underwater.
Nowadays, there are watches that can match that, but back then it was almost unheard of to have a watch that strong.
Interestingly, as time passes and both the Omega Seamaster line and Bulova Accutron technology become more and more established, there seems to be some confusion regarding which technology is which. We receive many inquires for “Omega Seamaster Accutron”, which illustrates the situation perfectly. Not only is Accutron technology not found in Seamaster watches, but comparing the two is challenging as well. One is a remarkable technology for accuracy, and the other is the benchmark for dive watches.
Notable Timepieces
In this section, we put some of the premiere timepieces from both brands head to head.
Bulova Moon Watch Lunar Pilot vs Omega Speedmaster
One of the closest battles these two brands ever fought was the moon watch race.
The race itself was won by Omega, as the Speedmaster was worn by Buzz Aldrin on his trip to the moon, but Bulova was close by with their Lunar Pilot that saw its time on the moon shortly after that.
Due to the way both of the brands have evolved over the years, the Speedmaster is looked at as the more prestigious model, but watch experts all around the world would say that the Bulova model holds up just as well.
The design of the Speedmaster would be instantly recognized by any watch enthusiast, as it’s simply a classic timepiece.
With its large, easy to read face, and deep contrast on the dial, it’d be hard to miss the Speedmaster.
The moon watch, on the other hand, looks a bit different, as most of the components of the watch sport a nice, deep black color, while the case itself is made of quality stainless steel.
Choosing between the two would be a pretty hard choice for anybody.
The Speedmaster definitely has more of a formal look, which is to be expected from a luxury brand like Omega.
The Bulova model has more of a casual vibe with its leather strap.
For those who need a dress watch type of look and have are willing to shell out the money that an Omega piece requires, the Speedmaster might be your best bet.
But the Moon Watch is a great and cheaper alternative for those looking for a more flexible timepiece.
Bulova Marine Star vs Omega Seamaster
The Seamaster is the go-to dive watch for luxury watch collectors.
It was one of the first true dive watches that could keep time under any circumstance.
It’s also one of the most iconic timepieces in horological history.
Competing with the Seamaster is a pretty tough task, as it was a timepiece worn by just about anyone, including James Bond.
Up until today, Seamaster watches are powerful dive watches worn by professionals in the field.
Omega put a great amount of thought and innovation into developing the water-resistant qualities of the Seamaster, while also paying close attention to quality design, which has made this watch one of the classiest and timeless watches you can get your hands on.
The Marine Star may not have the same prestige as its Omega counterpart, but most of you might be surprised at how well the watch holds up.
The Bulova Marine Star is a bit louder than its counterpart, as it has brighter color combinations and a more modern style to it.
The watch also has great functionality, as divers all over also use this watch when going on expeditions.
By using a deep blue tone for the Marine Star models, Bulova was able to create a nautical feel with the timepiece that only takes a quick glance for one to notice.
Of course, this is just a testament to Bulova’s skill in designing quality fashion pieces that are also highly functional.
Choosing between these two watches will all depend on your priorities.
Just like with any luxury watch, the Omega Speedmaster costs a lot, so if you’re on the hunt for a budget-friendly dive watch, it might be best to look the other way.
But if you choose to invest in Omega, you’ll have one of the most iconic dive watches on the planet, one that can be passed down from generation to generation.
In choosing the Marine Star, you’ll find that it’s one of the best affordable dive watches available today.
These watches can be worn almost anywhere, as they are classy enough to pair with a suit and casual enough to wear on a Tuesday.
It’s really all up to you.
Conclusion
Any watch enthusiast will instantly say Omega is a better brand.
And that isn’t too much of a lie since Omega brings with it prestige and class that only a few other brands can match. Omega sells its watches through authorized distributors.
However, if affordability and functionality are your priority, it might be easy to say that Bulova takes the cake in this comparison.
This is because they offer stylish, high quality, and great functioning watches at an accessible price. Bulova has an official store on Amazon.
There isn’t anything wrong with choosing one brand over the other, as long as its a choice you’re comfortable with.
And if you’re comfortable with the watch on your wrist, there should be absolutely no reason to complain.
