OMEGA

WatchAdvisor.com is glad to introduce you a new series of articles aiming at improving your understanding and knowledge of the watch industry. Each week, we will have the pleasure to present in detail a brand and its collections, and in order for you to pick the watch of your dream, we will also provide a selection of our 10 favorite watches. This week, we cover the brand that reached the moon – OMEGA!

OMEGA in a Nutshell

Founded: 1848 – in La Chaux-de-Fonds, by Louis Brandt

Corporate: Member of the Swatch Group

CEO: Raynald Aeschlimann (Since 2016)

Revenue: CHF 2`100`000`000

Price range: CHF 2`300 – 290`000

Units: 720`000 per year

Employees: > 1`000

Presence: Worldwide

Collection: Men’s & ladies’

What does the Brand stand for?

OMEGA – the brand that aimed for the moon and reached it. On the 21st of July 1969, Buzz Aldrin, one of the three astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, walked on the lunar ground wearing its Speedmaster Professional.

Since its foundation, OMEGA always justified its status of being one of the finest brands of the watch industry. In 1931, the manufacture achieved exceptional performances during the Geneva Observatory evaluations, reaching the first place in all six categories of the contest. Today, OMEGA is still pushing the limits of watchmaking, using new technologies and materials in the manufacture of its in-house calibers and watches.

If you believe in permanent excellence and that being second best is not an option: congratulations! You have found your new favorite watch brand.

About the Models

Constellation

Launched in 1952, the Constellation always has been and still is the flagship collection of OMEGA. The claws on the sides of the case, the engraving representing the Geneva Observatory, and the dolphin hands give the Constellation a unique design and makes it instantly recognizable. It is a watch that can be worn by anybody on any occasion, elegant and timeless.

Seamaster

In 1948, OMEGA introduced the Seamaster, a line that quickly became a benchmark for the manufacture as well as for the whole watch industry. In the 70s, the brand already enabled professional divers to dive with their watches to 600 meters or to use the chronograph pushers even at a depth of 120m.  No other brand was able to offer such extraordinary performances in the field of diving watches.

Being much more than the watch of the most famous English spy, the Seamaster is the perfect daily companion, a versatile watch that will adapt to any situations.

Speedmaster

Launched by OMEGA in 1957, the Speedmaster was back then the first chronograph to display a tachymeter bezel, enabling drivers to calculate their speed. However, it is not this characteristic that gave its mythical aura to the collection. In 1969, after several years of close collaboration with NASA, the Speedmaster became the first watch ever worn on the moon. Today, this model still is a reference for precision, robustness, and design. A truly iconic watch.

De Ville

OMEGA launched in the 60s a solid alternative to its sports watches. The De Ville was initially supposed to be a special edition of the Seamaster line but became an independent, nonetheless important, part of OMEGA’s collection over the years. The De Ville represents the excellence behind the brand, a fine, elegant, and classic watch.

WatchAdvisor’s 10 Favorites

CHF 4’950 (recommended retail price)

Seamaster Diver 300m (Ref. 210.22.42.20.01.002)

CHF 6’500 (recommended retail price)

Constellation Manhattan 29mm (Ref. 131.25.29.20.52.001)

CHF 11’500 (recommended retail price)

CHF 11’200 (recommended retail price)

CHF 5’950 (recommended retail price)

CHF 8’600 (recommended retail price)

CHF 7’950 (recommended retail price)

CHF 19’400 (recommended retail price)

CHF 5’400 (recommended retail price)

CHF 26’500 (recommended retail price)