omega watch
In the world of high-end, luxury, and high-quality brands, Omega is one of the trusted watch brands in the whole world. They are known for their reputation as high-precision and high-quality wristwatches that keep ticking for more than a century. Because Omega has been in the industry for more than a century, it achieved many things such as praise and honors from influential people and made various innovations that made them who they are today.
You might know their iconic models such as the Speedmaster and Seamaster. There are many reasons why Omega is dominant when it comes to luxury timepieces. But, how much do you know about this Swiss brand watch? I’m sure you are here to know more about this prestigious luxury brand. This article compiles 10 interesting facts about Omega and their watches. Find out how many things you have missed out on.
Louis Brandt & Fils
The company started in 1848 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Louis Brandt but back then, Omega was not yet the company name. In 1877, the two sons of Louis Brandt joined the company and they renamed the company Louis Brandt & Fils. Twenty years later, the Brandts received a huge success that made them decide to re-brand their company as Omega.
Omega watch in outer space
Yes, you read it right. The Omega watch, specifically the Speedmaster, was the first-ever watch on outer space. On the 3rd of October 1962, Walter Schirra wore his Omega Speedmaster on the Mercury Sigma 7 mission. He orbited the earth six times and on that mission, he was using his Omega Speedmaster. This only proves that Omega watches can exceptionally perform on and off the Earth.
The NASA testing
During the 1960s, there were tons of accelerating space programs. Omega was one of the four luxury brands that were invited for NASA certification. The Omega Speedmaster went through years of rigorous testing. Out of the four watches tested, the Omega Speedmaster was the only watch that survived and certified as the only wristwatch suitable for space. Up to this day, the Omega Speedmaster Professional is still the only watch certified by NASA.
The first-ever watch worn on the moon
That’s right. Another outer space encounter. This is the most well-known fact about Omega history. We all know that Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969, but he wasn’t wearing his Omega watch when he was walking on the moon. Buzz Aldrin, on the other hand, was wearing his watch when he stepped out of the spacecraft. He was wearing the Omega Speedmaster Professional. After the landing of Apollo 11, the Omega Speedmaster Professional became known as the Moonwatch.
James Bond’s favorite watch
Who doesn’t know Bond, James Bond, right? If you are a die-hard fan of the most famous fictional spy, this is not the first time you read this. Omega watches, particularly the Omega Seamaster Quartz Professional, was the brand choice for the role of James Bond. They featured a lot of Omega watches in the James Bond movies including the Seamaster Planet Ocean. Omega celebrated the 50th anniversary of James Bond in 2013 that they even released a special edition timepiece, the Seamaster Diver 300M.
The Geneva Observatory in 1931
The hard work paid off when Omega received first place in all six categories of the Geneva Observatory in 1931. It is a competition where they are testing the accuracy of a timepiece. The Geneva Observatory determines the accuracy of a timepiece by stringent testing. Omega is committed to making a high-quality wristwatch, which remains up to this day. Because of this, Omega is known as one of the top watchmaking in the world.
Official Olympics timekeeper
The success of Omega in the Geneva Observatory opened the door for Omega to work with the Olympics. Omega became the official timekeeper of the Olympics. In 1932, Omega was the official timekeeper of the Los Angeles Olympics that made them the first-ever watchmaker company assigned as the timekeeper in all aspects of the game. Eighty-nine years later, Omega is still the timekeeper of the Olympics.
The Omega Seamaster
Omega introduced and distributed, the Marine, the world’s first-ever dive watches in 1932. The Marine had an adjustable clasp so that the wearers could fit the watch comfortably. They successfully tested the Marine in Lake Geneva at a depth of 73 meters. Five years later, they tested again and found out that it could last up to 135 meters. Omega wanted an improvement, that’s why they launched the Omega Seamaster in 1948. Now, the Omega Seamaster is the company’s symbol of success and excellence.
The Silver Snoopy award
The Silver Snoopy award by NASA symbolizes success. This award is for astronauts for their remarkably outstanding performance and mission success of human space flight missions. Omega received the Silver Snoopy award in 1970 as a mark of gratitude for their contribution after the successful return of the Apollo 13 crew. Omega created a special timepiece for the celebration of its 50th anniversary of the award. The Silver Snoopy award is an outstanding achievement and it is a special honor to receive one.
Omega’s famous wearers
Omega watches are the ideal choice when it comes to a high-quality and high-precision wristwatch. James Bond is not the only one because there are numerous celebrities and influential people that love wearing Omega watches. Some of the famous individuals who have worn Omega watches are Ringo Starr, Elvis Presley, George Clooney, St. John Paul II, and many more. But the most important person who wore an Omega watch was the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He wore an Omega watch during his presidential inauguration in 1961.
Conclusion
For more than a century, Omega has achieved so many great things. These interesting facts are the manifestation of how Omega as a company and as a luxury brand is still in the industry of watchmaking. There are great reasons why Omega is one of the most sought-after luxury brands in the whole world. Aficionados and watch collectors would not invest their time and money over Omega watches for nothing.
