OMEGA’s watches, which boast outstanding quality in both function and design, are highly popular and well-known staples as practical watches. These collections, such as the Speedmaster and Seamaster, have attracted fans from all over the world, and there are numerous anecdotes to support their practicality. In this issue, we will introduce you to some of the most popular OMEGA models that you may not have heard about before!
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What is OMEGA?
OMEGA is a long-established Swiss luxury watch brand. It is highly popular in Japan along with Rolex and TAG Heuer, and is supported by a wide range of people of all ages and genders. The brand has a highly recognizable collection of watches, including the Speedmaster, a famous moon watch, and the Seamaster, a diver’s model. By equipping these models with state-of-the-art functions such as the Co-Axial mechanism, the brand continues to evolve its appeal.
History of OMEGA
OMEGA’s origins can be traced back to 1848, when watchmaker Louis Blanc founded a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the heart of the watchmaking industry.
In 1880, he moved his factory to Bienne, where the company’s headquarters are now located. 1985 saw the launch of the “Labrador” lever escapement movement, and in 1894 the brand name was derived. In 1894, the brand’s namesake, the ” Omega ( Cal. 19 ) ” movement was introduced. This movement, which means “ultimate,” boasted an ultra-high precision that was revolutionary for its time and attracted a lot of attention.
In 1932, OMEGA, which had been a worldwide hit since its founding, was selected as the official watch for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. In the same year, Omega launched the ” Omega Marlin “, the world’s first diver’s watch marketed to the general public. Its successor, the ” Seamaster ” of 1948, was adopted as the military watch of the Royal Navy. It also accompanied the “Janus Project,” a deep-sea exploration expedition, and is now part of the main collection of OMEGA watches.
In 1957, the “Speedmaster” was introduced and was selected as the only official chronograph among many wristwatches for NASA’s space program. It became familiar to many fans by the nickname “Moon Watch.
OMEGA has made great achievements in the exploration of both the oceans and space. Its practicality has been recognized worldwide, and since 1932 it has been the official watch of 26 Olympic Games. At present, OMEGA is the Official Timekeeper of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
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In 1999, the company succeeded in commercializing the world’s first Co-Axial mechanism, and in 2007, it introduced its first in-house developed movement in 30 years, the ” Cal. 8500,” and continues to reign as a pioneer in the wristwatch industry.
OMEGA Speedmaster “, the famous moon watch
OMEGA’s flagship product, the Speedmaster, is known as the ” Moon Watch ” because it was carried on the Apollo moon landings. The Speedmaster was originally created for car racing drivers and aircraft pilots.
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The first Speedmaster ” CK2915. The iconic arrow hand on the minute hand was adopted from that time on.
Later, the search for a wristwatch for astronauts in NASA’s space program began. In 1965, the OMEGA Speedmaster was officially adopted by NASA and carried on the Gemini 4 spacewalk, the first in the United States. The Speedmaster was proven to be accurate even in zero gravity, and the following year, 1966, the dial of the Speedmaster was engraved with the word “Professional”.
In 1969, the Speedmaster was the mission watch that accompanied the first mankind to land on the moon during the ” Apollo Project “. During engine trouble, the Speedmaster was used to measure the timing of the reverse thrust. The Speedmaster, which witnessed this feat, has been called the ” Moon Watch ” ever since.
Of course, this anecdote is not the only reason for OMEGA’s iconic status. The basic design of the watch, including the tachymeter bezel, indexes, and the size and placement of the small seconds, has remained virtually unchanged in the 50 years since its introduction, and that is because it is so highly refined.
The high functionality of the watch can be seen in the fact that it has been used for NASA’s manned space missions, not only in the Apollo program but also in the current International Space Station program.
In addition to the basic models, the various derivative collections, such as a jet-black model inspired by the dark side of the moon and a racing model, are also appealing.
Omega Seamaster”, the most fashionable diver’s watch
If the Speedmaster is to the sky what the ” Seamaster ” is to the sea. The most professional diver’s watch currently available can withstand water pressure of up to 1,200 meters.
In 1962, divers from a sunken U.S. airship brought back the only working Seamaster. The Seamaster is also associated with many legends of the sea, such as the eight days of operation at a depth of 250 meters during the Janus Project in 1970, which did not cause any malfunctions. Jacques Mayol, the model for the film, famously wore a Seamaster when he made the unprecedented 100-meter dive.
Unlike the Speedmaster, whose basic design has remained unchanged, the Seamaster has also developed models that incorporate designs that reflect the times: the Seamaster 300 of the 1950s was characterized by a candy-shaped seconds hand called a lollipop hand.
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This early model was only produced for three years, from 1955 to 1977, making it extremely rare.
In the 1970s, the Seamaster Ploprof was introduced for full-scale saturation diving, water resistant to 600 meters, which was revolutionary for the time.
Before the introduction of the see-through back, the back of the watch was decorated with a relief of a ” sea horse “. The sea horse, the guardian god of the sea in Greek mythology, is the symbol of the Seamaster, which boasts a high level of water resistance. It is still used on some models today.
Since the late 1970s, Omega had long distanced itself from the development of models with high water pressure resistance exceeding 300 meters. However, the Seamaster Planet Ocean, introduced in 2005, was the first high-precision model in more than 30 years to feature water resistance to 600 meters. Combined with a large case that met the needs of the times, the watch gained high popularity and remains one of OMEGA’s mainstay products to this day.
The Seamaster 300, released in 2014, reissues the design of the initial model. While equipped with the latest Co-Axial movement, the classic design blended the old and new.
OMEGA Seamaster is James Bond’s favorite watch
The Seamaster also serves as a “Bond watch” and has shone on the wrists of Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig since the release of “GoldenEye” in 1995 and through the latest film, “Spectre. James Bond proved that the Seamaster is a fashionable watch that is perfectly suited to a suit and tie, even though it is a sports watch.
The luxurious elegance of the ” Omega Constellation
Omega tends to focus on sports-oriented models such as the Speedmaster and Seamaster, but its luxury-designed watches are also full of charm. The Constellation, which means “constellation,” is distinguished by its star at 6 o’clock and elegant claws.
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In addition, the ” Day-Date ” models will have a full display ” day window ” and ” date window “. The traditional case design and dial design are a perfect match.
The “Omega De Ville” dress watch with a classic design
The De Ville is one of the most classic watches in OMEGA’s lineup, but it was originally part of the Seamaster series.
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The ” Seamaster De Ville ” from 1965. Even back then, it was hard to believe that it was a diver’s watch.
The De Ville was created as a thin version of the Seamaster, but its simple windshield became so popular that it was spun off into its own line in 1967. It became OMEGA’s fourth series to be included in the collection. As the name of the watch means “street corner,” the design of the De Ville blends in with everyday lifestyles.
What is the Co-Axial escapement that OMEGA put into practical use for the first time in the watch industry?
Inside a mechanical movement is a component called the “escapement,” the most frequent control system in the movement, which moves several tens of thousands of times per hour, causing constant friction and requiring periodic lubrication.
The Co-Axial mechanism is designed to minimize this friction by placing two escapement wheels on the same axis, a technology invented by George Daniel in 1974 and put into practice by OMEGA in 1999. This eliminates the need for lubrication and allows the watch to maintain its accuracy without overhaul (overhaul cleaning) for about 10 years.
OMEGA’s in-house movement
Although OMEGA has long been engaged in integrated in-house production since its establishment, for a while after the late 1970s, it adopted movements from other companies such as ETA, partly because of its backbone as a member of the Swatch Group. In 2007, after five years of development and two years of testing, OMEGA unveiled its first in-house movement in 30 years, the ” Cal. 8500 “.
This 100% OMEGA-made movement, including the baseplate and decoration, was equipped with a revolutionary Co-Axial escapement. In addition, the redesigned Seamaster Planet Ocean, launched in 2011, is equipped with a new movement, with a power reserve of approximately 60 hours and a balance spring that is resistant to magnetic fields and shocks.
In 2013, OMEGA introduced its latest movement, Cal. 8508, which is capable of withstanding magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. The problem of antimagnetic resistance has plagued watchmakers for centuries. Instead of using a protective case inside the watch as in the past, OMEGA has solved this problem by using iron-free materials for the movement itself.
Introducing OMEGA’s classic models
OMEGA ” Speedmaster Professional
Omega’s iconic “Speedmaster” model holds the title of Moon Watch. Its universal design and outstanding functions are loved by people of all ages.
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OMEGA “Speedmaster Racing
The Speedmaster was originally a watch for motor sports drivers. The racing model is a tribute to the original Speedmaster, and has a different look and feel from the original Speedmaster.
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OMEGA “Seamaster Planetocean
The Seamaster Planet Ocean, a top-of-the-line diver’s watch, is water resistant to 600 meters and has a luxurious design, which was used by 007 in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall.
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OMEGA “Seamaster Aquaterra
Despite being a diver’s watch, the Aqua Terra also has a somewhat classical impression. The Aqua Terra has a simple dial design accented with vertical stripes, is water resistant to 150 meters, and was used in the 007 series, including “Skyfall” and the latest “Spectre” movie.
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OMEGA “De Ville
“De Ville” means “city or town.” As the name suggests, this series is urban and highly jeweled. The Co-Axial mechanism makes this a practical dress watch in the OMEGA tradition.
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OMEGA “Constellation Globemaster
Equipped with OMEGA’s technologically advanced ” Cal. 8900 ” movement, this dress watch combines quality and practicality. In addition to the classic design, the fluted bezel with engraved vertical grooves doubles the sense of luxury.
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