omega

Omega is now a brand name that is indispensable in the world of luxury wristwatches. The luxury watch brand, known among other things for the production of highly functional timepieces for divers and astronauts, has enriched the industry for well over 150 years with a successful mix of sporty functionality and aesthetic elegance. The brand is now part of a publicly listed luxury goods group, which also includes Dior, Bulgari, and TAG Heuer – major figures from the world of the rich and beautiful, among whom Omega fits quite harmoniously. Accordingly, an Omega watch on the wrist exudes not only a sense of style and a keen eye for timepieces, but also success, financial freedom, and a love of luxury. An image that the company has truly earned over many decades and now almost two centuries.

The history of what would later become Omega began in 1848 with Louis Brandt, who devoted himself to watchmaking in a small workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, explicitly dedicated to the production of extremely precise watches. He quickly demonstrated his skills and initially made a name for himself in Switzerland. Before his death in 1879, his watches had gained a reputation throughout much of Europe. Brandt's two sons had big shoes to fill when they took over the company. Their ability to live up to the expectations placed on them became evident over the next few years. Following the move to Biel, the first mass-produced caliber was launched in the mid-1880s, impressing critics with its quality.

The next milestone came in 1894: The Brandt brothers launched their proprietary 19-ligne caliber, the "Omega," from which the company's current name derives. With this, they created a movement that was particularly easy to maintain, simple to use, yet immensely precise – an innovation that was well received. By this time, the brothers' watches had already become symbols of precision, making Omega models the logical choice for timekeeping in sporting competitions.

From the early 1900s onwards, Omega watches were increasingly used to measure time at sporting events. These exceptionally accurate watches were ideally suited for this task. The use of these models in sports was finally taken to a new level in 1932. That year, Omega took over timekeeping for the first time at the Olympic Games, which were held in Los Angeles. This marked the beginning of a tradition that continues to this day: To date, Omega has served as a timekeeper at the Olympic Games, as well as the Paralympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games, a total of 30 times.

Even outside of Olympic events, Omega has always maintained a close connection to sport and is always there when every fraction of a second counts. Whether in a wide variety of athletics disciplines, swimming, among golfers, or sailing: Whenever it is necessary to document top sporting achievements with precise timing, an Omega chronograph is the tried and tested choice. In addition to top athletes and competition organizers, sports fans and amateur athletes also choose Omega chronographs and Master Chronometers. While the watches used at the Olympics score primarily for their accuracy, sporting amateurs increasingly appreciate the appearance of the men's and women's watches. With more than one collection, Omega has proven that first-class functionality and elegant design are not mutually exclusive. Quite the opposite: In legendary Omega models, such as the Omega Speedmaster Professional or the Seamaster Planet Ocean, reliable functions and exquisite appearance clearly go hand in hand.

In Omega's case, the path from a small watchmaking workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds to a world-renowned brand has been lined with numerous innovations. Vision and the courage to create something unprecedented seem to be two essential ingredients in the recipe for success of the label founded by Louis Brandt. Reason enough to take a closer look at some of Omega's most groundbreaking achievements.

The Brandt brothers' first major innovation made waves in 1892, almost a century and a half ago: the wristwatch with minute repeater. The master watchmakers behind Omega thus brought a technology to the wrist that had previously been reserved for tower clocks and pocket watches. The watch, which could tell the time acoustically, was—as we now know in retrospect—not something that would become widely accepted. Nevertheless, it completely dispelled any doubts about the skill of Louis Brandt's sons, as integrating the minute repeater into a wristwatch required considerable skill.

The next major innovation came in 1931, in the form of an automatic movement with two weights. The prototype presented by Omega featured a bidirectional winding mechanism, which made the watch more powerful. This sophisticated technology, which would become established in the decades that followed and is still used today, is certainly one of Omega's inventions that had the greatest impact on the watch world. Compared to its next achievement, however, the 1931 prototype seems almost plain again: in 1947, Omega presented the first wristwatch with a tourbillon, thus successfully translating one of the most complex mechanisms in watchmaking into a portable wristwatch format.

In 1999, the company introduced a truly revolutionary development: the Co-Axial Escapement. After more than two centuries of pursuing the same standard in escapement technology, Omega ushered in a true revolution. Since then, the Co-Axial Escapement has enabled a new level of reliability for escapements in watch movements—in keeping with the company's history that led to this achievement.

And in the more recent past, Omega has continued the richness of innovation that has characterized its history. In 2013, the manufacturer introduced the Co-Axial 8508, a movement that can withstand magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. Given the increasing magnetic influences of modern technologies in everyday life, this can be considered a groundbreaking development that demonstrates Omega's ability to combine its tradition of precision with solutions to the problems of our modern age.

In addition to influential inventions such as the Co-Axial caliber and its connection to sports, Omega is also known for its connection to space travel. With its Speedmaster collection, the luxury watchmaker is practically at home in space and can proudly claim to have produced NASA-certified timepieces. The first Omega watch to fly into space belonged to astronaut Wally Schirra and accompanied him on his Mercury mission in 1962. Around three years later, NASA certified the Speedmaster chronographs, thus paving the way for further journeys into space.

The Speedmaster was given the nickname "Moonwatch" in 1969. The story behind it is easy to explain: The Speedmaster Moonwatch was there live when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. It was a moment for eternity that brought enormous fame not only to the astronauts, but also to the Omega Speedmaster "Moonwatch." And in 1970, when Apollo 13, which famously failed to reach the moon, was struck by a meteorite, the Speedmaster played its part in ensuring the crew returned to safe ground unharmed. Today, Omega is committed to sustainability in space and the removal of space debris, collaborating with ClearSpace and Privateer to this end.

You don't have to go to space to see a real Omega in action in its natural habitat – just dive in! The Omega diving watch is also an integral part of the luxury watch manufacturer's repertoire. With all kinds of waterproof models, such as the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra or the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M, Omega provides professional divers and enthusiastic collectors with watches that defy any current.

The accuracy of Swiss watches has long been certified by the Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). For this purpose, the chronometers undergo various tests and are tested for precision over a period of 15 days under challenging conditions. Only watches with mechanical movements produced in Switzerland are eligible for certification.

Approximately one million chronometers receive the COSC certification each year. While this may sound like a lot at first, upon closer inspection, it only accounts for six percent of the timepieces produced annually in Switzerland. While COSC certification is certainly highly informative, a growing number of watchmakers believe it is no longer sufficient on its own to assess modern, technically sophisticated chronometers. Therefore, they have initiated the development of complementary and complementary certifications.

Omega uses the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology, or METAS for this purpose. The METAS certification, which has existed since 2015, consists of a total of eight test procedures with approximately 280 sub-steps and primarily examines the accuracy, durability, water resistance, and robustness in relation to magnetic fields of the watches. Watches that successfully pass the ten-day test series receive the METAS "Master Chronometer Certificate" and are entitled to be called (Co-Axial) Master Chronometers.

Of course, the METAS certification option isn't limited to Omega models. Other brands can also have their products certified accordingly. However, there are a few requirements that determine whether a watch qualifies for METAS certification. For a model to undergo these tests, it must, for example, already be COSC-certified, have a Co-Axial escapement, and be able to withstand at least 15,000 gauss.

A watch that is METAS-certified and calls itself a Master Chronometer is always also COSC-certified, thus meeting standards that exceed those of the Swiss Official Chronometer Control. Omega watches that have met these high standards and are "doubly" certified include some Seamaster Aqua Terra, Seamaster Planet Ocean, Speedmaster (Moonwatch), De Ville, and Constellation models.

High-quality watches that impress with their functions, appearance, and history repeatedly end up on the wrists of world-famous stars, are worn on red carpets, and can be seen in renowned film productions. So it's hardly surprising that in the past, one or two Omega watches have appeared on the world's big screens and found their way into the watch collections of successful celebrities.

The first movie hero that comes to mind when it comes to Omega watches in film is undoubtedly James Bond. In the 2006 blockbuster "Casino Royale," 007 Daniel Craig wears the Seamaster Diver 300M and Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M. The latter model reappeared in "Quantum of Solace" in 2008, this time on a classic stainless steel bracelet. In 2012, perhaps the world's most popular spy celebrated his next blockbuster hit, "Skyfall," this time accompanied by an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra with a dark blue dial. In the film "Spectre," James Bond wears the Seamaster 300 SPECTRE Limited Edition, and in the 2021 film "No Time to Die," he wears the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition – two very special models that belong in every James Bond fan's watch collection!

In addition to James Bond and Daniel Craig, who can also be seen wearing Omega watches outside of the movies, Nicole Kidman, Eddie Redmayne, and George Clooney are among the most famous Omega wearers of our time. They are thus choosing luxurious watches that previously won over John F. Kennedy and Elvis Presley.

Anyone who wants to follow James Bond and many other famous watch enthusiasts and invest in an Omega watch is spoiled for choice. Each collection from the Swiss brand has its own unique characteristics and charm. If you browse through the available collections and examine each watch closely, you'll hardly find a model that doesn't meet the highest standards of design, quality, and craftsmanship. The decision ultimately comes down to personal taste. Omega can cater to almost every preference, as depending on the collection, the models can be very sporty, thoroughly elegant, understated, or refreshingly striking.

Whether as the inventor of the Co-Axial Escapement, the maker of the first watch on the moon, the founder of the Master Chronometer certificate, or as a watch brand trusted by James Bond: the Omega brand has countless facets, each of which could hardly be more dazzling. Over the decades, a small company has evolved into a luxury brand that has produced far more than just an iconic watch model and, with its valuable innovations, has made a significant contribution to the development of the watch industry. Accordingly, every Speedmaster Moonwatch, every Seamaster Aqua Terra or Planet Ocean, every Constellation, every De Ville, and every Omega Vintage watch is a truly special piece of jewelry that tells a truly impressive story.