![]() It is this new state-of-the-art facility that Omega creates new pioneering innovations every day.įurthermore, Omega devised the Master Chronometer Certification in 2015 for its watches. Originally headquartered in Biel/Bienne, a new building was created by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban for Omega and its parent company, the Swatch Group in Biel. The Omega manufacturing philosophy has long been a cause of envy in the watchmaking world due to its innovation and designs. Pioneering Innovation, Material, and Design The new millennium also began with the first Omega Boutique in Zurich, and since then, almost 300 Omega Boutiques have been opened around the world in major cities. Due to their usage of smaller contact surfaces requiring less friction and lubrication, this was a significant improvement on the traditional movements. From then on, the stylish Seamaster has kept serving the spy, and Omega became a part of the James Bond universe.Īt the turn of the new century, Omega and inventor George Daniels came up with the first new escapement in watchmaking with the Omega Co-Axial escapement. In 1995, the Omega Seamaster became a natural choice on the wrist of James Bond in the movie, Goldeneye. Kennedy and Cindy Crawford, Omega has proudly entered the 1990s with more innovations, partnerships, sports timekeeping, and features on the wrist of the world’s favourite spy, James Bond. The company also supplied time instruments for the first Concorde in 1969.Īfter a series of launches, challenges, space travels, and notable wearers such as Senator John F. The legacy continues with the sturdy and stunning line of ocean-inspired watches. Remarkably, almost two years before NASA approved the Speedmaster, this watch became the first watch in space when astronaut Wally Schira orbited the earth in the Mercury Sigma 7.Įven before Omega went into space, it innovated timepieces for sea explorers. The iconic chronograph has featured on Buzz Aldrin’s wrist in photographs from the lunar landing in 1969 and has been known as the “Moonwatch” ever since. Omega’s space legacy began with the launch of the Speedmaster in 1957 and its subsequent approval by NASA for piloted missions. The rest of the 20th century was marked by Omega’s astounding achievements, thanks to the brand’s pioneering series-produced calibres that were accurate and known for easy repairs. It didn’t stop there: that year, Omega also launched the Seamaster, which later became the line of watches worn by 007 James Bond. The end of the war saw Omega bouncing back into the mainstream by giving birth to electronic timekeeping for the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Even during the onset of World War II, Omega continued to prove its mettle by manufacturing watches for the British and the Allied forces. It was also in 1932 that Omega advanced its status as the forerunner in horological innovations by releasing the world’s first commercial divers watch, the Omega Marine. However, their greatest sporting partnership began in 1932, when Omega was given duties as the official timekeeper for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. From being the official timekeeper at 16 sporting events in their native land of Switzerland to timing their first precision balloon race across Europe in 1909, the first decade of the 20th century began well for the company. The ushering in of the 20th century saw Omega step into the world of sports timekeeping that continues even today. The year 1895 saw the first publicity of the brand with the name Omega and the iconic symbol. This was the follow-up to Omega’s pioneering innovation in 1892 that resulted in the world’s first minute repeater wristwatch. Then, in 1894, the 19-ligne Omega calibre was born, which also became the company’s namesake. However, the 1885 launch of the first series-produced calibre, the “Labrador,” set a strong foundation for all subsequent innovations. Initially under the new name ‘Louis Brandt & Fils,’ the growing company made some breakthrough achievements in the decades to come. Inspired by their father’s passion for precision engineering and watchmaking, the sons took the company to new heights of success and transformed the watch industry forever. With an ardent passion for precision and accurate watchmaking, the 23-year old’s reputation soon spread beyond Switzerland into the rest of Europe.īrandt’s passing away in 1879 entrusted his sons Louis-Paul and César with the great responsibility of taking forward the family heritage. The illustrious history of Omega has its genesis in the small city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, where young watchmaker Louis Brandt transformed his family villa into a workshop in 1848 by founding La Generale Watch Co. An Extraordinary Legacy of Fine Watchmaking ![]()
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