The History of OMEGA: What Makes the Brand World-Famous
If you are investing in a high-end watch, there are plenty of options from the 60+ brands available at Feldmar Watch Company. When searching for that perfect watch, you’ll find that each brand seems to offer something slightly different and unique. One brand worth considering is OMEGA, one of the most recognized watch brands in the world. A famous watch manufacturer well respected in luxury watches, OMEGA has a rich history and iconic timepieces with each piece telling a part of the OMEGA story.
Humble beginnings
The first proto-OMEGA watches were made in 1848 in a small watch shop in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland by Louis Brandt. Originally branded as Louis Brandt & Fil, these watches were sold to customers around the world during the 30 years after the business was founded. In 1879, when Brandt passed away, his sons stepped in to continue what their father started.
The launch of OMEGA
In 1885, the company released its first mass-produced caliber movement, called the Labrador. Subsequently, they released the first minute-repeating timepiece in 1892 and two years later, the 19-line OMEGA Caliber was launched. This sequence of achievements helped the brand to establish its place in the watchmaking industry. To take advantage of the popularity of these highly-regarded movements, the company rebranded itself as OMEGA Watch Co.
The Olympic Games partnership
Capturing the market for sport timing at various events throughout Switzerland, OMEGA soon set its sights on other targets. In 1932, OMEGA established its iconic partnership as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games with the Tenth Olympiad held in Los Angeles. One of the longest-standing partnerships, OMEGA’s deal is still one of the most valuable sponsorships in the world. This partnership continues to the present day, with OMEGA having participated in over 20 Olympic Games.
OMEGA Seamaster
In 1948, the Seamaster was introduced to celebrate OMEGA’s 100th anniversary and in 1995, appeared on the wrist of Pierce Brosnan in the hit James Bond film, GoldenEye. It was this appearance that made the watch brand the official watch of Bond. The Seamaster is now one of the world’s most symbolic watches, forever associated with 007 and the slick adventures of the world’s most famous spy.
OMEGA Speedmaster
OMEGA made history once again when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on his Mercury Sigma 7 Mission in 1962., making his timepiece the first OMEGA watch to enter space. Three years later, the Speedmaster received a significant endorsement from NASA when they certified it as the official chronograph for American space missions. When the US landed men on the moon in 1969, the OMEGA Speedmaster was there – Buzz Aldrin wore it as he walked on the lunar surface. And when the Apollo 13 mission heroically avoided catastrophe, the Speedmaster was an integral part of the mission crew’s tools, calculating speeds, distances, and timings to help the astronauts return safely to earth. Today, OMEGA and space programs worldwide continue to work together.
Conclusion
There are many available luxury timepieces to choose from, but you can expect to turn heads and make a lasting powerful impression with an OMEGA watch. A brand rich in history, OMEGA has a legacy that establishes it as one of the greatest watch brands of the world.
Feldmar Watch Company, Inc. is an OMEGA authorized dealer. We take pride in providing exceptional service for over 100 years. Browse our collection to see the complete lineup of our luxury watches for sale!
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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