IMEX and Ramon Soler are both Spanish faucet brands, but they play in different price leagues: IMEX focuses on current design and on-trend finishes at a contained price, while Ramon Soler is a long-established mid-to-high-range brand with a strong presence in thermostatic faucets. Which one pays off depends on your budget and your priorities.
If you are renovating your bathroom or kitchen and hesitating between the two, this comparison puts each brand in its place: where each one comes from, how its faucets are built inside, which finishes and ranges it offers, how it behaves on warranty and spare parts and —most importantly— which works out more cost-effective for what you want to spend. The IMEX technical data in this guide is taken from the real product pages of the IMEX catalogue at Merkimarket.
Key facts: IMEX versus Ramon Soler
- Origin: both are Spanish faucet brands with a long tradition.
- Positioning: IMEX, on-trend design and finishes at an accessible price; Ramon Soler, mid-to-high range with brand heritage.
- Specialty: IMEX stands out for its variety of finishes (brushed gold, rose gold, matt black, black gun metal); Ramon Soler is a classic reference in thermostatic faucets.
- Materials: brass body in the bathroom faucets of both brands; stainless steel in several shower and kitchen ranges.
- Cartridge: ceramic, the standard that regulates flow and temperature without drips.
- Warranty: legal minimum of three years for consumers in Spain, plus the seller's commercial warranty.
- Channel: IMEX is very strong in online renovation sales; Ramon Soler has a wide presence in the professional and installer channel.
With this you already have the map; below we develop each point so you can decide with sound judgement.
Black Friday deals on faucets
Before getting into the comparison, here are some IMEX faucet references that are currently on sale at Merkimarket. These are real discounts off RRP, verified page by page:
| Product | Black Friday price | RRP | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olimpo built-in bath/shower tap | 183,56 € | 248,05 € | −26% |
| Pisa tall basin tap (black gun metal) | 152,22 € | 205,70 € | −26% |
| Olimpo tall basin tap (brushed gold) | from 119,09 € | 160,93 € | −26% |
| Art basin tap (metallic black) | 87,75 € | 118,58 € | −26% |
If you are after a quick change of character, the Pisa tall tap in black gun metal is one of those that transform a basin the most; and the Olimpo in brushed gold is the safe bet if you want the brand's signature finish. See all the deals.
Prices and availability as of the publication date; they may vary.
Who each brand is: IMEX and Ramon Soler
IMEX is a Spanish faucet and bathroom equipment brand that has carved out a place in the accessible-design segment. It does not compete to be the cheapest, but to offer current finishes —brushed gold, rose gold, matt black, black gun metal— and brass and stainless steel builds that until recently were reserved for much more expensive brands. In practice, it is a national alternative when you want contemporary looks without going up to premium-range prices.
Ramon Soler is a Spanish brand with far more historical pedigree, well established in the professional channel and in the installer world. Its natural territory is the mid-to-high range: solid single-lever faucets and, above all, a wide thermostatic offer that is one of its hallmarks. Where IMEX plays the card of design at a good price, Ramon Soler plays that of brand prestige and technical specialisation.
Price and positioning: where each one plays
For most buyers, this is the difference that weighs most. IMEX occupies the middle ground: above unbranded DIY faucets and below, in price, references such as Roca, TRES or Ramon Soler itself. An IMEX single-lever basin tap in an on-trend finish usually sits in a contained bracket, and the tall-spout or built-in models rise in proportion to their complexity.
Ramon Soler, positioned in the mid-to-high range, generally starts from higher prices for equivalent products, especially in its thermostatic lines and special finishes. What you buy with that premium is brand track record, a very extensive technical network and a mature thermostatic range. If your priority is to squeeze every euro of the budget while keeping current design, IMEX starts with an advantage; if you value the backing of a historic brand, Ramon Soler justifies it.
Build quality: materials and cartridges
What separates a faucet that lasts from one that drips within a year is not the photo: it is what you cannot see. And here both brands share the right fundamentals.
Body. The bathroom faucets are made of brass in both cases, the reference material for its corrosion resistance and weight; the shower ranges and some kitchen taps use stainless steel. It is wise to be wary of excessively light faucets —of any brand—: it usually betrays zamak interiors in parts that should be brass.
Cartridge. It is the heart of the single-lever tap. Both IMEX and Ramon Soler fit a ceramic cartridge, the standard that regulates flow and temperature with a smooth touch and without drips over thousands of openings. As a replaceable part, a good cartridge extends the faucet's useful life by years, which is why it is worth checking that the brand keeps spare parts available.
In strictly constructive terms, the distance between the two is not abysmal: both use brass and ceramics. The price difference responds more to brand positioning, the breadth of the technical catalogue and the finish than to an abrupt jump in materials in the basic single-lever tap.
Design and finishes: IMEX's strong card
Here IMEX flexes its muscle. Besides classic chrome, it offers brushed gold, brushed rose gold, black gun metal and matt black, with PVD treatment on the coloured finishes —the one that best withstands daily cleaning without losing tone—. This chromatic variety, with full matching ranges across basin, bidet and shower, is precisely what many classic brands only offer in their high ranges.
Ramon Soler has also modernised its offer with current finishes, but its historical strength is the solidity of the technical catalogue rather than the exuberance of colours. If your renovation revolves around a specific on-trend finish and you want everything to match —tap, waste and visible trap— without paying a premium price, IMEX usually solves it with more options and a better price.
Range and specialisation: thermostatics and track record
If there is one area where Ramon Soler feels at home, it is thermostatic faucets: a wide range honed over years and highly valued in the installer channel. For a shower where anti-scald safety and temperature stability are priorities, it is a weighty argument.
IMEX, for its part, has strongly expanded its shower offer —thermostatic columns, built-in sets, bars and hygienic showers— and combines it with the same policy of on-trend finishes at a contained price. It is not just basins: its catalogue covers basin, bidet, shower, kitchen and matching accessories. For a complete bathroom renovation where you want aesthetic unity across all pieces, IMEX's breadth by series is very practical.
Warranty, spare parts and service
When buying faucets in Spain it is worth being clear about two things. The first is the legal warranty: for products acquired by consumers, Spanish law recognises a minimum of three years against lack of conformity, to which each seller can add its commercial warranty and its spare-parts service. This applies equally to IMEX and Ramon Soler.
The second is the availability of spare parts. Always keep the model reference (the page code): it is what you will need to order a cartridge or a handle years later. Ramon Soler, by its implantation in the professional channel, has a very extensive technical network; IMEX bets on online sales with spares locatable by reference. In both cases, the practical key is to note the faucet's code on installation day.
Comparison table: IMEX vs Ramon Soler
| Criterion | IMEX | Ramon Soler |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Accessible design, value for money | Mid-to-high range, historic brand |
| Indicative price | More contained | Generally higher |
| Finishes | Very wide (gold, rose gold, matt black, black gun metal) | Current, focus on technical catalogue |
| Body material | Brass / stainless steel | Brass / stainless steel |
| Cartridge | Replaceable ceramic | Replaceable ceramic |
| Strong point | On-trend finishes and price | Thermostatics and brand track record |
| Channel | Online renovation sales | Professional and installer |
Which pays off for your budget
- Tight budget with a taste for design: IMEX is the rational choice. You get brass, a ceramic cartridge and on-trend finishes at a price that leaves room for the rest of the renovation.
- Complete matching bathroom: advantage for IMEX thanks to the breadth of series that dress basin, bidet and shower in the same language and finish.
- Priority on thermostatic showers or brand backing: here Ramon Soler gains points, especially if you work with a trusted installer and value its technical network.
- Smart buying: in campaigns such as Black Friday, the price difference widens in favour of IMEX without giving up proper materials.
Ready to see it in product? Explore the full IMEX faucet catalogue, take a look at the Olimpo basin tap in brushed gold and, if you want to dig deeper into the brand, our definitive guide to IMEX faucets and the IMEX vs TRES comparison will help.
Frequently asked questions
Is IMEX or Ramon Soler better?
There is no absolute winner: it depends on the budget. IMEX offers a better design-to-price ratio and a huge variety of finishes; Ramon Soler brings brand track record and a very mature thermostatic range. For most renovations on a measured budget, IMEX pays off more.
Are both brands Spanish?
Yes. Both IMEX and Ramon Soler are Spanish faucet brands of long tradition, though with different positionings: IMEX in value for money with a focus on design, and Ramon Soler in the mid-to-high range with a strong professional presence.
Does IMEX faucetry last as long as a high-range one?
In the basic single-lever tap, the durability difference is smaller than the price suggests: both use brass and a replaceable ceramic cartridge. The key to it lasting is maintenance and having the replacement cartridge, which depends more on use than on the brand.
Where to buy IMEX faucets online?
You can buy the IMEX catalogue at Merkimarket.com, with the various series, finishes and accessories available and shipping throughout Spain.
Article written by the editorial team at Merkimarket. IMEX technical data (materials, cartridges and finishes) taken from the IMEX catalogue pages at Merkimarket. Ramon Soler's positioning is described in general terms; price ranges and availability may vary. Check each page for current information in Spain.
