We can freely start this story by saying that Omega watches are legendary. The Omega name has been around for over a century, founded in 1848. by Louis Brandt in Switzerland, named Omega – a title that didn’t take too long to become a synonym for success.
Much like Rolex, Omega too is one of the most famous luxury watch brands in the world, and much like Rolex, it has more than a few historical achievements under its belt. From the exploration spanning to the ends earth, lunar landing, mastering the Olympics, and coming up with a new caliber there is little Omega hadn’t achieved.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, the Omega watches are considered to be one of the most luxurious brands in the world when it comes to wristwatches worn as accessories, not to mention that timeless design of their collections has launched it among the style and fashion favorites.
In order to genuinely understand what Omega watches are all about, let us take a look at the Omega company history, and how it all began for one of the world’s greatest watchmaking companies.
Omega company history outline and the rise of Omega watches
Omega company history is at the same time the Omega watch history, but here’s a catch – the Omega company at first started out as Louis Brandt & Frere. During the first thirty years of its existence, the company was operating as a modest business, that is until the death of the original founder Louis Brandt in 1879.
Brandt was inherited by his sons, who made the first significant milestone for Omega in 1885. – that being the creation and release of their first mass-produced caliber called the Labrador, after which the first minute-repeating timepiece quickly followed.
Two years later the, the brothers launched the 19-line Omega caliber – a product that caused a ruffle throughout the watchmaking industry, the main consequence being the company changing its name into Omega Watch & Co and the emergence of the Omega brand.
Omega watches provide “exact time for life”
“Exact time for life” is a slogan that pretty much sums up everything that Omega watch company stands for.
Before quartz and GPS era, during the 19th and 20th century the watchmaking industry was struggling regarding the development of the precise mechanical timepieces. In order to make improvements in this field, the Observatory held trials that served to test the precision of the up and coming timepieces.
These so called chronometric marathons have tested numerous timepieces over an extended period of time, with the winners relishing in publicity rights. These trials reassembled some of the greatest timepiece manufacturers of our time, pitting them against each other.
Now, here is where the Omega watch company has proven its quality and supremacy in terms of chronometric precision – Omega watches have won First Prize in whopping six categories, setting numerous world records, proving that the slogan “Exact time for life” is everything but a hyperbole.
The Omega watches who conquered the Earth’s ends
Yes, Omega watches were part of the world’s greatest achievements more than once, especially regarding the exploration of the “planet’s ends”. A man called Ralph Plaisted set out on over a 600 km long trek going from Canada’s Ward Hunt Island, on a snowmobile. Him and his party were “armed” with Omega Speedmaster watches and sextants used to track their location.
They’ve reached their final camp on April 19, 1968. after a trek that lasted 43 days. Plaisted’s journey was confirmed to be the first to reach the North Pole by any overland route, which was also independently established by the U.S. air force flew over the area.
On the other hand, or, better said, the other end of the Earth in 1990. Arved Fuchs and Reinhold Messner have accomplished what was dubbed as the last possible journey on earth – the crossing of Antarctica on foot. They’ve managed to endure the 2800 km journey that lasted 92 days, putting up with harsh winds and temperatures of -40 degrees C. During this voyage, Messner’s timekeeper was none other than Omega Speedmaster.
The first watch on the moon
That’s right, Omega watches even participated in space exploration.
NASA’s Mercury program flights included Omega Speedmaster watches for the astronauts’ use during the program. When the program ended in the following year, the astronauts asked to be issued with watches they could wear during training and flight.
This was one of those perfect timings in history, since NASA has just hired a group of engineers who would evaluate, test and certify the equipment that was to be used by astronauts during flight. NASA had a few watch manufacturers timekeepers tested, Omega being one of them, with the tests designed in the most brutal manner possible.
Ultimately, on March 1, 1969., NASA finally selected the winner and certifying the Speedmaster ST105.003 as qualified for space missions. It was worn by Buzz Aldrin who was the second human being to stand on the surface of the other world (Neil Armstrong left his watch on board), thus making the Omega Speedmaster Professional the first watch to be worn on the moon.
Omega Seamaster – the sea overlord
The Omega Seamaster line was launched in 1948. to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Omega company, and today is deemed as one of the classic, as well as the oldest collections, together with the infamous Speedmaster, Constellation and De Ville.
Omega Seamaster was roughly based on the Omega watches made for the British army at the end of the WWII, with the Omega Seamaster 300 having its debut in 1957. It was “tested” by none other than famed Jacques Cousteau in his “Precontinent II” experiment that served to prove that divers could survive in a submerged saturated gas environment in the Red Sea.
Military boating units also chose Omega Seamaster 300 as a part of their official gear, but, as the divers began reaching the greater depths, Omega started testing the new model – Seamaster 600 called Ploprof (PLOngeur PROFessionel in French, meaning “professional diver”).
This model was yet again tried out by Cousteau’s, as well as COMEX divers, with both groups working in the water for more than a few hours a day, on depths from 250-500 meters. Thanks to these experiments, Omega Seamaster is now synonymous with professional diving.
That Omega watches are limitless proves the simple fact earlier this year, Omega manufactured a prototype Omega Seamaster watch that descended to the deepest known part of the planet – the Mariana Trench.
The official timekeeper of the Olympics
Omega watches keep proving their reliability, time and time again. Omega company manufactured its first chronograph in 1989., and within a span of 10 years the company became responsible for time measuring at more than 16 sporting competitions.
But, some time before the production of their first chronograph, Omega’s reputation for accuracy lead for the company to be proclaimed as the official timekeeper at the 1932. Los Angeles Olympics. This was the first time in history that one brand was gratified with such a responsibility.
This first time the brand provided 30 high-precision chronographs capable of measuring 1/10th of a second. Today, the timing of Olympics requires a few hundred professional timekeepers and data handlers, not to mention over a thousand specially trained volunteers, all of which have to provide the most precise and accurate measured time during each competition.
James Bond wears an Omega watch too
Everyone is familiar with the James Bond franchise and his unsurpassed sense of style. Over the years, Agent 007 has worn multiple watch brands, but none of them is so closely related with him such as Omega.
Omega watch debuted on his wrist in the year 1995. – the Omega Seamaster worn by then new James Bond – Pierce Brosnan, and since than was worn in multiple movies featuring famous agent, including the latest one – Daniel Craig. Many of the Omega watches that appeared in these movies were sold for the fabulous amounts of money on auctions.
Apart from James Bond movies, various Omega watches have appeared in many other movies, the well known being: Salt, War of the Worlds, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ronin, Seven Years in Tibet etc., but the most famous role definitely belongs to Apollo 13 movie.
This film documented the almost tragic mission, when it was cut short due to the explosion that deprived the spacecraft from oxygen and electric power. The crew had to rely on their Omega Speedmasters in order to get back to Earth safely. The Speedmasters were instrumental in timing the critical burns that were supposed to point the spacecraft to in the right direction.
Needless to say that the Omega watches didn’t fail and that thanks to them, the astronauts made it home safely.
Omega watches are president and celebrity favorite
It’s safe to say that many of the world leaders and celebrities love Omega. Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev used to wear his Omega Constellation Manhattan, while Pope John Paul II wore De Ville Classic.
Aside from the state and religion leaders, the famous rock stars didn’t go anywhere without their Omega watches such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Ringo Starr of the Beatles.
Another world leader, and probably the most famous owner of the Omega watch was John F. Kennedy, who wore it on his inauguration in 1961. The watch was gifted to Kennedy before the election, and the inscription on the back reads: “President of the United States John F. Kennedy from his friend Grant”. Now this watch is stored in the Omega museum in Switzerland.
Omega movement that defeated magnetism
That Omega watches are among the first when it comes to innovation is old news. In 2013. Omega announced the creation of a new movement – the kind that exceeded the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous movement invented.
Omega company designed a movement that in which the critical components are made from non-ferrous materials, providing a much greater resistance to magnetic fields.
In reflection to this, in 2015. Omega company has introduced its own “Master Chronometer” movement, which incorporated Omega’s pioneering antimagnetic movement inside the new model – Omega Globemaster, the first of many timepieces sporting the new technology by Omega.
Omega luxury watches in Porto Montenegro
Omega luxury watches are a legacy of the innovative watchmaking, but mainly they present a heritage of a brand that draws its inspiration from the achievements only few brands in the world can boast with.
Omega watches have conquested space, dived to the bottom of the ocean, participated in the journeys to the Earth’s ends, and unconditionally supported our favorite secret agent.
If you happen to be a guest in Porto Montenegro, the watches known for their precision, durability and reliability are available in Excelsior Boutique located in Ozana building, the place that also features other luxury Swiss watchmakers, apart from the Omega.
This exclusive high-end boutique is just a place for you to experience the best kind of luxury shopping available to you in our luxury marina, with the help of the highly experienced professionals who tend to your every desire.
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