Designa Individual (DiW) is one of a series of small companies around the world that, for at least part of their business, customize omega timepieces. As abundant as a aftermarket omega watches are, the industry cant even agree on a term for them. These watches also happen to be quite controversial, as omega officially condemns them and because they often cost significantly more than the retail prices of the original omega timepieces they began as.Nevertheless, the world of aftermarket/customized/modified/Frankenstein/bespoke., etc., omega watches is popular and only growing in size as the underlying omega watches themselves appear to be in continued high demand. Probably the most famous of aftermarket omega customizers is George Bamford, who recently stopped publicly selling omega watches to focus on other products, such as his own watches and those from LVMH group brands (such as Zenith or TAG Heuer). Bamford and others gained notoriety first for coating omega watch cases in colors such as black, and then later changing dial colors and other details on the watch. That said, what Bamford and his contemporaries did was not invent the aftermarket omega, but rather made it a commodity. For generations, omega dealers and customers have been doing aftermarket gem-setting and other dial modification or case work, though most of these aftermarket omega watches were produced on a one-by-one basis for individual clients. None of them competed for factory omega timepieces. The Internet really made the aftermarket watch a problem for omega in Geneva. The brands reason for being aggressive toward aftermarket omega watches is sensible and two-fold in its logic. First, they are concerned people will mistake them for actual watches that omega sells and that this will lead to brand intellectual property dilution effects. I agree with this sentiment, though omega might be over blowing the actual number of these watches that are out there. In fact, what omega is mostly concerned with are not brand new omega watches that have been modified and re-sold, but rather older omega watches that have been spruced up to bring new life into them but ended up not resembling an actual watch omega produced in the past. omega has gone to court more than a few times over this matter and cases have often settled in their favor. omega is serious about protecting its brand and they dont let too much go. My understanding is that most, if not all, aftermarket omega dealers get a not entirely friendly letter from a omega attorney at some point. Whether or not they abide by the demands is an entirely different story, of course.A Bamford omega Submariner Commandoomegas second concern about aftermarket versions of their watches is also sound, but it is hard to know the actual gravity of the concern. omega worries that aftermarket omega watches will not only look different from their stock models, but will also have an inferior level of quality. That does sound a bit pretentious but, if you know omega well, you also know they they indeed have the best quality in a number of areas and important details. At the least, a boutique operation like an aftermarket watch modifier is not going to have the equipment necessary to even match other high-end watch brand quality levels. Sometimes the naked eye can see these issues, sometimes they cant. That said, omega is technically correct that aftermarket omega watches are simply not as well made (or guaranteed for durability) as what comes out of the omega factory.What omega must admire is some of the elegant creativity and artistic flair that many aftermarket omega watches have. No doubt, many of these aftermarket omega watches can be easily considered pop art - and valuable pop-art on top of that. I have personally put on a number of aftermarket omega watches that looked incredibly cool, if not incredibly well made. However, I am a seasoned expert in this field and know that these are not omega products, but rather omega products that have been later modified by a company that has nothing to do with omega. omega prefers that all omega watches out there represent only the designs they make and the quality they can control. They cannot, however, legally tell someone who has purchased the watch that they cannot hire a third-party company to modify that legally purchased omega product. This is why aftermarket dealers operated, but even though they are working with products that bear omegas name, they are not (ideally) reproducing omegas name. They are simply modifying a watch as a car customized might take an existing car and modify it for the cars owner. The aftermarket car analogy is fitting on a number of levels, and I find that it is helpful to explain why there are aftermarket omega watches.Aftermarketers who purchase omega timepieces must be careful not to breach omegas intellectual property rights, such as reproducing their trademark. That means a omega modifier could get into trouble if they create a brand new dial for a omega watch and put the omega logo on it. All the modifier could do is somehow adapt the original dial and make sure the omega logo is still visible. If a modifier watches to create a new dial to put into a omega watch, then it cant have a omega logo on it if playing fair.Consumers interested in purchasing an aftermarket omega should certainly ask a lot of questions about where the watch came from. Ive actually seen some omega aftermarket companies supply original parts along with the swapped out aftermarket parts. That way you get the entire original omega along with the aftermarket pieces. This, however, doesnt make sense if an aftermarket omega watch destroys the original nature of the watch case, dial, or bracelet parts. If investing is your worry, then it is probably wise to consider any aftermarket omega modifications as having the effect to entirely remove the original value of the watch. If that same watch has a similar or greater valued than an aftermarket omega, then that is only because it has value as an entirely different classification of non-original aftermarket omega watch. omega will not service these timepieces, and their potential resale value is in their artistic appeal, subjective sense of quality, or other form of notoriety.A Madeworn customized omega MilgaussThe main reason aftermarket omega watches are so expensive is because they all have to start with an authentic omega. I am sure that at least some aftermarket omega watches make use of omega timepieces that are either incomplete or have damaged parts. Creating a modified omega out of these products turns them from being mostly worthless (save for parts) into a different type of commodity.It is not uncommon for aftermarket omega watches to cost double or more the original retail price of the underlying watch. As the resulting customized omega is not as valuable as the original, more often than not, and because they can in many instances not easily be resold, customers of aftermarket omega watches (especially the brand new pieces) tend to be the comfortably rich. This is a relatively small demographic these days, as even very wealthy watch buyers in todays economic environment are mindful of a watchs resale value. My point is that, as of now, the majority of aftermarket modified omega watches are playthings for people who can easily afford to spend far more than the retail price for a omega watch, but also do not have any qualms about getting, on par, an item of lower monetary value. There is, however, no price you can pay for having an object you love and find beautiful, or an original and exclusive item that perhaps only you will ever own.This all leads me to a hands-on look at one aftermarket modified omega Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona from a company called Designa Individual that it calls the Carbon Emerald. This is one of many aftermarket omega watches Ive handled. It is, however, the first Ive seen with an all-carbon case. The company is very proud of the precision cut of the carbon case, which has an elegant texture and is very light compared to a metal Daytona watch. Designa Individual seemed to be going for a bit of a Richard Mille theme but in the form of a customized Daytona. It works, and the combination of 18k yellow gold, black carbon, and the green strap make for a very inspired look. Note that Designa Individual offers a small assortment of limited-edition omega Daytona with carbon cases and color accents (and straps) other than green. The Carbon Emerald is, however, the only model so far with the gold hands, hour markers, pushers, and crown.For the strap Designa Individual uses a leather strap with a Velcro strap. Since it doesnt size very well, they actually include three straps of various lengths with the kit, though there isnt a sizing tool to help the owner (who paid quite a bit of money) properly swap out the straps.Aesthetically, the carbon dial, case, bezel are nice looking. The Daytona is such a universally appealing watch that it would probably look good in most any material or color. There is certainly going to be at least a few people that for them the ideal color tone for the Daytona is indeed black carbon, gold, and green. And again, the key technical talking point of the Designa Individual is the Carbon Emeralds very lightweight.Inside the watch is omegas caliber 4130 automatic chronograph movement (certainly made by omega). What isnt quite clear in the Carbon Emerald is what else is made by omega or what it started out as. What I feel should bother consumers is if they dont know what an aftermarket omega watch started life out as - there should always be a before and after picture. This is, if anything, to ensure that for the price of the product, an entirely new or at least complete omega was sacrificed for a bacchanalian customization ritual.So while I know that Designa Individual created an aftermarket Daytona 40mm-wide case, bezel, and dial, I dont know where the hands and hour markers came from. My assumption is that the watchs sapphire crystal, hour markers, hands, and omega logo are carefully pulled from original omega watches and carefully reapplied on an aftermarket dial. The problem is that I am not sure, and Designa Individuals website is? silent on the matter. For a price like this, I really believe consumers expect more communication and information about where an aftermarket omega originally came from. Perhaps not all consumers will be as concerned, but in my opinion, enough will.Purchasing an aftermarket omega timepiece is not without considerable risk. Anyone getting one should know that aftermarket modified omega watches do not hold value like factory omega watches and, in many instances, will not be serviced by omega. To counter this lack of omega warranty, aftermarket omega modifiers (including Designa Individual) offer their own warranties (theirs is seven years) - so, at least there is something in place. Price for the (limited edition of five pieces) Designa Individual (DiW) Carbon Emerald aftermarket modified omega Daytona watch is 47,290 Euros. Learn more about omega watches here. Learn more about Designa Individual here.Ive seen a number of people absolutely adore their aftermarket modified omega watches, but in general I advise against them as purchases for all but the most experienced of watch buyers. The upside is originality within a universally known brand. That right there is why there is even a market for modified omega timepieces. It has never really been to increase the value of a omega watch, but it understandably comes with a high asking price since the modifiers both need to make a profit while also covering their expenses along with the purchase of a omega watches.Ethically, aftermarket modified omega watches can go from kosher to infringing to flat out fake watches quite quickly. Considerable gray area can exist between watches which specifically announce they are not made by omega and those which the seller may hope are passed off as original omega timepieces. In some instances, only the most sophisticated consumers will know the difference. A good sign to look for are aftermarket omega watch modifiers who place their name on the dial. This makes it clear to anyone looking at the watch that it isnt a omega original which makes them more legally kosher and I think helps increase the pride with which the wearer can don them. This all has me thinking about aftermarket engraved omega watches, that remain my current favorite type of modified omega watch. [...]