Rolex vs Omega vs Tudor: Which Should You Buy?

Three great choices

Rolex, Omega and Tudor are three of the most popular first luxury watch brands, and you can't really go wrong with any of them. The best choice depends on the model you love, your budget and what matters most to you.

Rolex

Rolex is the best-known luxury watch brand in the world, famous for the Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master II and Datejust. Its watches are certified "Superlative Chronometers", tested in-house to within -2/+2 seconds a day once cased, and come with a five-year warranty. Popular steel models can be hard to find at retail, and many hold their value well on the pre-owned market.

Omega

Omega has a rich history in sport and space: the Speedmaster went to the Moon and the brand has long timed the Olympic Games. Many Omega movements are certified Master Chronometers by Switzerland's METAS institute, which tests accuracy and resistance to strong magnetic fields. Omega also offers a five-year warranty and often more variety at a given price than Rolex.

Tudor

Tudor was founded by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf as a more affordable sister brand. Today it makes its own manufacture movements, offers a five-year transferable warranty, and is loved for the Black Bay and Pelagos lines. For many collectors, Tudor is the sweet spot between price, history and build quality.

How to choose

• Want the most recognizable icon and strong resale? Rolex
• Love space history, technical movements and variety? Omega
• Want heritage and quality at a more approachable price? Tudor
• Most important: pick the specific watch that makes you smile every time you look at it