Omega SA is a Swiss luxurywatchmaker based inBiel/Bienne, Switzerland.[1] Founded by Louis Brandt inLa Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848, the company formerly operated asLouis Brandt et Fils[2] until incorporating the nameOmega in 1903, becomingLouis Brandt et Frère-Omega Watch & Co.[3][4][5] In 1984, the company officially changed its name toOmega SA[6] and opened its museum in Biel/Bienne to the public.[7][8] Omega is a subsidiary ofthe Swatch Group.
The workbench of Louis Brandt with a photograph of the founder
In 1848, Louis Brandt founded the company that would become Omega in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. He assembled key-wound precision pocket watches from parts supplied by local craftsmen.[13] He sold his watches from Italy to Scandinavia by way of England, his chief market. In 1877, his sons Louis-Paul and César joined him, and the company name was changed to Louis Brandt & Fils. In 1894, his two sons Louis-Paul and César developed their own in-house manufacturing and total production control system that allowed component parts to be interchangeable. Watches developed with these techniques were marketed under the Omega brand of Louis Brandt & Frere. By 1903, the success of the Omega brand led Louis Brandt & Frere to rename their company to the Omega Watch Co.[14][15]
Louis-Paul and César Brandt both died in 1903, leaving one of Switzerland's largest watch companies — with 240,000 watches produced annually and employing 800 people — in the hands of four young people, the oldest of whom, Paul-Emile Brandt, was not yet 24.[16] The economic difficulties brought on by theFirst World War led Paul-Emile Brandt to work in 1925 towards the union of Omega andTissot, then to their merger in 1930 into the groupSSIH,Geneva.
Under Brandt's leadership and Joseph Reiser's from 1955, the SSIH Group continued to grow and multiply, absorbing or creating some fifty companies, includingLanco and Lemania, manufacturer of the most famous Omegachronographmovements. By the 1970s, SSIH had become Switzerland's top producer of finished watches and third in the world. Up to this time, Omega outsoldRolex, its main Swiss rival in the luxury watch segment, in the race for "King of Swiss Watch brands", although Rolex sold at a higher price point. Omega tended to be more revolutionary and more professionally focused, while Rolex watches were more ‘evolutionary’ and famous for their mechanical pieces and branding.[17][18][19]
Pocket watch, made in the 1970s
While Omega and Rolex had dominated in the pre-quartz era, this changed in the 1970s during thequartz crisis, when Japanese watch manufacturers, such asSeiko andCitizen, rose to dominance due to their use of quartz movements. In response, Rolex continued concentrating on its expensive mechanical chronometers where its expertise lay (though it did have some experimentation in quartz), while Omega tried to compete in the quartz watch market with its own quartz movements.[17]
Training glove from the Apollo program with Omega watch inOmega museum in Biel
Weakened by the severe monetary crisis and recession of 1975 to 1980, SSIH was bailed out by banks in 1981.[20] During this period, Seiko expressed interest in acquiring Omega, but nothing came of the talks.
Switzerland's other watch making giantAllgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG (ASUAG), supplier of a large range of Swiss movements and watch assemblies, was in economic difficulty. It was the principal manufacturer ofÉbauche (unfinished movements) and owner, through their sub-holding companyGeneral Watch Co (GWC), of various other Swiss watch brands includingLongines,Rado,Certina,Hamilton Watch Company andMido. After drastic financial restructuring, theR&D departments of ASUAG and SSIH merged production operations at theETA complex in Granges. The two companies completely merged forming ASUAG-SSIH, a holding company, in 1983.
Omega production and logistics building in Biel, Switzerland
Omega experienced a resurgence with advertisements that focused on product placement strategies, such as in theJames Bond 007 films; the character had previously worn aRolex Submariner but switched to theOmega Seamaster Diver 300M withGoldenEye (1995), and later an Omega Planet Ocean and Aqua Terra. Omega adopted many elements of Rolex's business model (i.e. premium pricing, tighter controls of dealer pricing, increasing advertising, etc.), which succeeded in increasing Omega's market share and name recognition to become a direct competitor to Rolex.[17][22][23]
In 2019, Omega licensed its name and branding to Marcolin for a collection of men's and women's optical frames and sunglasses.[24]
In March 2022, Omega collaborated with sibling companySwatch, both of which are owned by The Swatch Group, to release a budget version of its iconic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch.[25] The so-called "MoonSwatch", available in 11 colors, is made ofbioceramic (a mixture of ceramic and castor oil) and priced at $260 / £207,[26] well below the $5,250 price (as of March 2022) of the least expensive Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch.[27]
As of 2024, Omega's boutique network includes more than 350 stores across the World.[28]
18k rose gold Omega Constellation, 1958Seamaster 120M Analog-Digital "Multifunction" was introduced in 1998 and discontinued after few years, fitted with Omega, Cal. 1665.
In 1892, Louis Brandt, the founder of Omega, manufactured the world's firstminute repeating wristwatch in collaboration withAudemars Piguet, which provided the minute-repeating movement.[29][30][31] The 18K-gold watch is now kept in the Omega Museum inBiel/Bienne, Switzerland.[31]
In 1947, Omega created the firsttourbillon wristwatch calibre in the world with the 30I. Twelve of these movements were made, intended for inclusion in the observatory trials in Geneva, Neuchâtel and Kew-Teddington, and they were known as the Omega Observatory Tourbillons. Unlike conventional Tourbillion movements whose cages rotate once per minute, the 30I's cage rotated one time each seven and a half minutes. In 1949, one of these delivered the best results ever recorded by a wristwatch up to that time. A year later, Omega broke its own record in the Geneva Observatory Trials of 1950.[32]
In 1999, after the successful development ofCalibre 2500, Omega made history by introducing the first mass-produced watch incorporating thecoaxial escapement — invented by English watchmakerGeorge Daniels.[33] Considered by many to be one of the more significanthorological advances since the invention of the lever escapement, the coaxial escapement functions with virtually no lubrication, thereby eliminating one of the shortcomings of the traditional lever escapement.[34] Through using radialfriction instead of sliding friction at the impulse surfaces the coaxial escapement significantly reduces friction, theoretically resulting in longer service intervals and greater accuracy over time.[35]
On January 24, 2007, Omega unveiled its new Calibres 8500 and 8501, two coaxial (25,200 bph) movements created exclusively from inception by Omega.[36][37]
On January 17, 2013, Omega announced the creation of the world's first movement that is resistant tomagnetic fields greater than 1.5Tesla (15,000Gauss), far exceeding the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous movement - a similar movement was used byDaniel Craig as James Bond, though the official collectors watch was labelled as resistant to 15,007 Gauss in honor of the fictional secret agent's codename. Most anti-magnetic watches utilize a soft iron -Faraday cage which distributes electromagnetism in such a way that it cancels the effect on the movement contained within. This type of anti-magnetic case required de-magnetizing procedures of the case. Omega has instead built a movement of non-ferrous materials eliminating the need for such a cage and providing a far greater resistance to magnetic fields eliminating necessity of additional maintenance.[38]
In 2015, they introduced the Master Chronometer Certification, which denotes that along with a COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) certification, a movement has also passed a series of eight tests set out by METAS (The Federal Institute of Metrology). Master Chronometer watches have a minimum water-resistance rating of 100 metres (330 ft) (the 2022 Speedmaster '57 is a Master Chronometer with 50 metres (160 ft) water-resistance),[39] a minimum power reserve rating of 60 hours, an accuracy rating of 0/+5 seconds per day, and are resistant to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. The Master Chronometer Certification debuted on the Globemaster but they now offer it across many more of its watch collections.[40]
Observatory trials focused on the science of Chronometry and the ability to make chronometers measure time precisely. OnlyPatek Philippe and Omega participated every year in the trials. Omega's performances at these competitions garnered the company a reputation of precision and innovation.[41]
For more than a decade (1958–1969), Omega was the largest manufacturer of COSCchronometers. Omega developed the slogan "Omega – Exact time for life" in 1931 based on its historical performance at the Observatory trials.[42] Omega's early prowess in designing and regulating timing movements was made possible by the company's incorporation of new chronometric innovations.[41]
The distinctive Omega Constellation day-date model of 1980's generation that was known as "Manhattan", equipped with quartz movement, Cal. 1444
Notable dates for the Omega precision records:[41]
1894: Creation of the 19 caliber named Omega. The company is renamed Omega fromLouis Brandt et Frères in 1903[43] Omega participates for the first time at observatory trials in Neuenburg, Albert Willemin, Omega's first "regleur de précision", regulated the movement
1919: 1st Prize at observatory trials in Neuenburg with a 21 caliber, this caliber was slightly modified to become the Cal. 47.7
1922: Omega participates for the first time at observatory trials in Kew-Teddington, achieves 3rd place
1925: 1st place at observatory trials in Kew-Teddington with a Cal. 47.7 (95.9 of 100 points ex aequo with Ulysse Nardin), movement regulated by Gottlob Ith
1930: 1st place at observatory trials in Kew-Teddington (96.3 of 100 points ex aequo with Movado), movement regulated by Alfred Jaccard
1931: Omega achieves 1st place in all 6 categories at observatory trials in Geneva, movements, regulated by Alfred Jaccard
1933: A Cal. 47.7 regulated by Alfred Jaccard achieved the precision record at observatory trials at Kew-Teddington, achieved 97.4/100 points
1936: Another Cal. 47.7 regulated by Alfred Jaccard achieved the precision record of 97.8/100 points at Kew-Teddington, record not broken until 1965
1937: 1st place at Kew-Teddington with 97.3 points
1938: 1st place at Kew-Teddington with 97.7 points
1940: 1st place with Cal. 30mm at Kew Teddington, movement regulated by Alfred Jaccard
1945: 1st place with 30mm caliber at the observatory in Geneva, movement regulated by Alfred Jaccard
1948: 1st place at observatory trial in Neuenburg for 30mm caliber
1950: 1st place for tourbillon Cal. 30I at Geneva Trials, regulated by Alfred Jaccard
1951: 1st place at the observatory trials in Geneva
1952: 1st place at the observatory trials in Geneva
1954: New record in Geneva by Gottlob Ith
1955: Two new records at Neuenburg by Gottlob Ith
1956: Two 1st places at observatory trials in Neuenburg
1958: New record in Geneva movements regulated by Joseph Ory
1959: Two records in Neuenburg and one new record in Geneva, movement regulated by Joseph Ory
1960: One new record in Geneva, one new record in Neuenburg, and 1st place in Neuenburg, movement regulated by Joseph Ory
1961: Two new records in Geneva by Joseph Ory, the first four places for the 'single pieces' category in Geneva are occupied by Omega
1962: 2nd, 3rd and 4th places for Omega
1963: Two 1st places in Geneva and Neuenburg, movement regulated by Joseph Ory and André Brielmann
1964: New record in Neuchatel by Joseph Ory
1965: Omega occupies 2nd to 9th places
1966: Three new records for Omega (two in Neuenburg, one in Geneva)
1968: Omega enters with a tuning fork, movement regulated by André Brielmann for a new record
1969: Two new records for the tuning fork, movement regulated by André Brielmann
1970: One new record for the tuning fork, movement regulated by André Brielmann
1971: Two new records for the tuning fork, movement regulated by André Brielmann
1974:Omega Marine Chronometer certified as the world's first Marine Chronometer wristwatch, accurate to 12 seconds per year
Before 1962 it was a simple alphanumeric code of two letters followed by four digits. Between 1962 and 2007 Omega used the Mapics system, consisting of two letters followed by either six or seven numbers. The PIC system started in 1988, running concurrently with Mapics, and featured an arrangement of eight numbers in three groups (XXXX.XX.XX).[44]
Finally, today we have the PIC14 structure, with 14 digits in six groups.
The Omega wristwatch Ref. H6582/D96043 (1960) once owned byElvis Presley was sold in auction byPhillips for US$1.812 million inGeneva on May 12, 2018, making it the most expensive Omega timepiece ever sold at auction.[45][46] The watch was manufactured in 1960 and was sold byTiffany & Co. in 1961.[46] The watch was presented to Elvis Presley as a gift fromRCA Records on February 25, 1961, to commemorate his remarkable achievement of having sold 75 million records.[45] Petros Protopapas, the director of Omega Museum, later confirmed that the museum was the winning bidder.[47]
The Omega Stainless SteelTourbillon 301 was sold in auction by Phillips for around US$1.43 million (1,428,500CHF) in Geneva on November 12, 2017.[48] It was then the most expensive Omega timepiece ever sold at auction.[49][50]
In March 1965, theOmega Speedmaster was declared “Flight Qualified for all Manned Spaced Missions."[51] On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon wearing his Omega Speedmaster watch.[52] The model of the first watch on the Moon is the Omega Speedmaster 105.012.[53]
The Omega Speedmaster, or "Moonwatch", selected by NASA for all the Apollo missions
First worn byMercury astronautWally Schirra in 1962, the "Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph" was chosen by NASA to become the only chronograph certified for use on all missions since 1965.[54]
The selection of the "Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph" for American astronauts was the subject of a rivalry between Omega andBulova.[55]
All subsequent crewed NASA missions also used this handwound wristwatch. NASA started selecting the chronograph in the early 1960s. Automatic chronograph wristwatches were not available until 1969. Even so, all the instrument panel clocks and time-keeping mechanisms in the spacecraft on those space missions were BulovaAccutrons with tuning fork movements,[56] because at the time NASA did not know how well a mechanical movement would work in zero gravity.[57][58]
The Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch on the Moon, worn byBuzz Aldrin. Although Apollo 11 commanderNeil Armstrong was first to set foot on the Moon, he left his 105.012 Speedmaster inside theLunar ModuleEagle as a backup because the LM's electronic timer had malfunctioned. Aldrin wore his, making his Speedmaster the first watch worn on the Moon. Armstrong's watch is displayed at theNational Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.[59][60] Aldrin's was stolen; he mentions in his 1973 book,Return to Earth, that when donating several items to theSmithsonian Institution his Omega was one of the few things stolen from his personal effects.[61]
In 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph, Omega unveiled the commemorativeSpeedmaster Professional Chronograph Moonwatch. The watch had the distinctive features of the first hand-winding Omega Speedmaster introduced in 1957. It was sold in an edition of 1,957 pieces.[62]
As of May 2019[update], the record for the deepest normally functioning experimental diving watch is held by the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional after reaching a (revised) depth of 10,925 m (35,843 ft) ±4 m (13 ft) of seawater during a descent to the bottom of the "Eastern Pool" of the Challenger Deep by theFive Deeps Expedition.[63][64] Two of these watches were attached to the outside of the Deep-Submergence VehicleLimiting Factor: one on each of the main vessel's robotic arms and an additional one on theultra-deep-sea landerSkaff.[65] Due to a technical problem the watch fixed to the ultra-deep-sea lander stayed on the bottom for two days before it and the lander were salvaged from an unrevised depth of 10,927 m (35,850 ft).[66][67] The normal surface air filled watch case is made of (DNV GL certified) forged grade 5Titanium alloy (same as the hull of the DSVLimiting Factor) has a 55 mm (2.17 in) diameter and is almost 28 mm (1.10 in) thick and has been tested and certified for up to 1500 bar/15,000 m (49,213 ft).[68]
In the US television seriesNCIS, lead actorMark Harmon wears anOmega Seamaster Planet Ocean with supporting cast memberMichael Weatherly wearing a matching version. In both cases, this is the stainless steel model with orange bezel and black dial.
In the US television seriesKojak, lead actorTelly Savalas wore a gold-plated Omega Time Computer One, the first mass-produced LED watch.
James Bond
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean worn byDaniel Craig in the 2008 movie Quantum of Solace
Omega has been associated with James Bond movies since 1995. That year,Pierce Brosnan took over the role of James Bond and began wearing theOmega Seamaster Quartz Professional (model 2541.80.00) inGoldenEye. In all later films, Brosnan wore an Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer (model 2531.80.00). The producers wanted to update the image of the spy to a more distinctly sophisticated "Euro" look.[81] Omega was eager to participate in the high-profile product placement opportunity to further its brand image and supplied the watches.[82]
For the 40th anniversary of James Bond (2002) a commemorative edition of the watch was made available model 2537.80.00 (10,007 units). The watch is identical to the model 2531.80.00 except the blue watch dial had a 007 logo inscribed across it, machined into the case-back, and inscribed on the clasp.[83]
Daniel Craig, then-current James Bond sinceCasino Royale, also wears anOmega Seamaster: the Seamaster Planet Ocean (model 2900.50.91) in the first part ofCasino Royale, and the Seamaster Professional 300M (model 2220.80.00) in the latter part (from travelling to Montenegro). He mentions Omega by name when questioned byVesper Lynd (potrayed byEva Green). With the launch of the film in 2006, Omega released a 007-special of the Professional 300M, (model 2226.80.00) featuring the 007-gun logo on the second hand and the rifle pattern on the watch face, based on thegun barrel sequence of Bond movies.[84]
TheOmega Seamaster, a deep diving watch. The second crown (at 10 o'clock) is ahelium release valve to allowhelium out of the watch after practicingsaturation diving at great depths. The watch is similar to that shown in recent James Bond films, in which this valve is transformed into improbable hidden gadgets.
Omega released a second James Bond limited edition watch in 2006, a Seamaster Planet Ocean model with a limited production of 5007 units. The model is similar to what Craig wears earlier on in the film; however, it has a small orange colored 007 logo on the second hand, an engraved caseback signifying the Bond connection, and an engraved 007 on the clasp.[85]
In the 2008 movieQuantum of Solace, Craig wears theOmega Seamaster Planet Ocean with a black face and steel bracelet (42mm version). Another limited edition was released featuring the checkered "PPK grip" face with theQuantum of Solace logo.[86] The third limited edition release from Omega came in 2012, based on the Planet Ocean Ref: 232.30.42.21.01.004. It featured a textured dial with the 007 logo at the 7 o'clock position and a 007 decorated rotor visible through the case-back.[87]
In 2015, two commemorative models were produced for the 24th Bond film,Spectre: the Omega Seamaster 300m master co-axial Ref: 233.32.41.21.01.001. 7007 units were produced and came with a NATO strap, as well as the standard bracelet. The watch featured a bi-directional bezel with a world timing scale, rather than the diving scale present on the standard 300m.[88] The second timepiece, the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m master co-axial Ref: 231.10.42.21.03.004, was decorated with a textured dial based on the Bond family coat of arms and a rotor resembling a bullet and gun barrel with "James Bond" inscribed.[89]
For the Craig’s final film as James Bond,No Time to Die (2021), Omega once again made a special edition of Omega Seamaster for the film, which based from Seamaster 300 that previously used by Brosnan, but with all the case material made from Grade 2 titanium, rather than the usual stainless steel from the basic models, then the color that chose is brown, and also there’s featured the “broad arrow” British military logo on the front and the engraved back of the case.[90]
Omega has frequently been the official timekeeper for the Olympics, beginning with the 1932 Summer Olympics. It was the official timekeeper for the2006 Winter Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics, and2012 Summer Olympics.[91][92] In 2008, Omega released an Olympic edition watch with the Olympics logo on the second hand. Olympic swimmer and multiple gold medalistMichael Phelps is an Omega Ambassador and wears the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. In 2014, Omega became the official timekeeper of the2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The brand was a Worldwide Olympic Partner at the2016 Summer Olympics. After the2020 Summer Olympics were postponed due toCOVID-19, the Tokyo Station's Olympic countdown clock, made by Omega, which was displaying the number of days until the Games, and a local tourist attraction, was halted and switched to show the current date and time.[93] This partnership will continue at least until 2032.[94]
Speedmaster Racing,Michael Schumacher Edition of 2000, with his signature engraving on the backside
Providing support toEmirates Team New Zealand and representing the team's official watch, in 2007 Omega introduced the Seamaster NZL-32 chronograph, named after the boat that wonAmerica's Cup in 1995. The watch was developed in cooperation withDean Barker, skipper of Team New Zealand and Omega Ambassador.[96]
In December 2018,World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released a report assigning environmental ratings to 15 major watch manufacturers and jewelers in Switzerland,[97][98] and Omega was given the lowest environmental rating, "Latecomers/Non-transparent", suggesting the manufacturer has taken few actions addressing the impact of its manufacturing activities on theenvironment andclimate change.[97][98]
Omega faced activist pressure to withdraw from being the official timekeepers of the2022 Beijing Winter Olympics after numerous governments enacted diplomatic boycotts overhuman rights violations (in particular China's repression ofUyghurs and other minorities, which some countries have designated as a genocide).[99] Omega defended its continued role as official time keeper of the Olympics by stating its policy to "not to get involved in certain political issues because it would not advance the cause of sport in which our commitment lies."[100]
^"10 Things to Know About Omega".WatchTime - USA's No.1 Watch Magazine. January 24, 2019.Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 2, 2019.
^Prigge, Matthew J. (September 26, 2016)."The County Stadium Scoreboard: Big, Ugly and Misunderstood". Shepherd Express.Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. RetrievedMay 13, 2018.By the time the team was preparing to move into Miller Park, the County Stadium was the only park in baseball without a color board.
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