FEATURE

From Apollo 11 to James Bond: 10 Things to Know About Omega


In this 50th anniversary year of the Apollo 11 moon landing, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the first watch worn on the moon, the now-legendary Omega Speedmaster Professional. But there’s a lot more to Omega  — among the best-known luxury watch brands on the planet, and certainly the best known off the planet — than its lunar milestone. From the Olympics to James Bond to the Mariana Trench, not to mention names like Speedmaster, Seamaster and Constellation, the brand has achieved well-deserved rock-star status among watch enthusiasts everywhere. Here are 10 things you should know about Omega.

1. What’s In a Name?

omega watch company name
Look closely: the 1894 movement is engraved with the Greek Omega character.

In 1848, Louis Brandt founded the company that would become Omega in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. In 1877, his sons Louis-Paul and César joined him, and the company name was changed to Louis Brandt & Fils. In 1894, the company produced a new movement that proved to be a global success, thanks to its timekeeping accuracy and ease of repair. The movement was known as the Omega caliber, and its success was such that in 1903, the company name was changed to Louis Brandt & Frére – Omega Watch Co., and the Omega brand name was born.

2. Precision Timing

omega first wristwatch tourbillon
The Omega 30i observatory caliber with 7.5 minute tourbillon regulator. This was the first wristwatch caliber with tourbillon regulator. It broke the record for precision at the Geneva observatory in 1950.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, before quartz and GPS, nations and industries depended on precise mechanical timepieces. To encourage improvements in this field, Observatory trials were held. These chronometric marathons tested timepieces of various types for extended periods, and the winners earned substantial publicity and bragging rights. Top manufacturers competed against each other head to head to win these Superbowls of watchmaking. Omega enjoyed tremendous success at these trials, setting numerous world records. At the 1931 Geneva Observatory trials, Omega won First Prize in all six categories. That same year, the company adopted the advertising slogan “Omega – Exact time for life.” That was not hyperbole, but a claim backed up by decades of Observatory trial results.

3. Exploring the Ends of the Earth

omega at the south pole
After three months of walking, Reinhold Messner reached the South Pole.

Who led the first surface expedition to reach the North Pole? Was it Robert Peary? Perhaps Frederick Cook? How about Ralph Plaisted? Chances are you’re not familiar with the last name, but you should be, because the story of who actually reached the North Pole first via an overland route is a fascinating one. You can read more about it here.

Of the three candidates, Plaisted seems the least likely to claim the title. He was an insurance salesman from Minnesota who was also an avid outdoorsman and snowmobiler. Friends said that if he liked the newly-invented snowmobile so much, he should drive one to the North Pole. And in what sounds like a modern made-for-GoPro story, he did. His party set out on the 412-mile trek from Canada’s Ward Hunt Island, not far from Peary’s start on Ellesmere Island. Riding snowmobiles and armed with Omega Speedmasters and sextants to track their location, they reached their final camp on April 19, 1968, after a 43-day trek. Plaisted’s team was the first to receive independent confirmation that it had actually reached the North Pole, when a U.S. Air Force C-135 flew overhead and confirmed their location.  Today, many historians of polar exploration agree that Plaisted’s party was the first to reach the North Pole by an overland route.

At the other end of the planet, in February, 1990, Arved Fuchs and Reinhold Messner completed what some called the “last possible land journey on earth.” The pair crossed Antarctica on foot. The 1,740-mile journey took 92 days. Enduring temperatures of -40° F and winds exceeding 90 mph, they crossed the Thiel mountains to the South Pole, then continued on to McMurdo Sound on the Ross Sea. Messner’s timekeeper on this journey was an Omega Speedmaster.

4. Speedy in Space

omega buzz aldrin speedmaster
Buzz Aldrin wearing his Speedmaster “Moonwatch” in space.

In the autumn of 1962, a group of astronauts including Walter Schirra and Leroy “Gordo” Cooper walked into a watch shop in Houston looking for watches to use on their upcoming Mercury program flights. They left with Omega Speedmasters, and so began Omega’s history with space exploration.

At the end of the Mercury program the following year, astronauts approached NASA Operations Director Deke Slayton and asked to be issued with watches for use during training and flight. Their timing was perfect, because NASA had just hired a group of engineers to evaluate, test and certify equipment for use by astronauts. NASA eventually tested watches provided by Omega, Rolex, and Longines-Wittnauer. The tests were brutal, designed to test watches to destruction. On March 1, 1965, NASA selected the winner, certifying the Speedmaster reference ST105.003 “Flight Qualified for all Manned Space Missions”.

omega speedmaster iss
Still going strong: a Speedmaster in use outside the International Space Station.

Fast forward to July 21, 1969.Neil Armstrong stepped off the Eagle to become the first human to stand on another world. However he was not wearing his watch. He left it on the Eagle, because the on-board clock was not working. A few minutes later, Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon’s surface, wearing his watch, and the Omega Speedmaster Professional became the first watch to be worn on the Moon.

5. Master of the Sea

omega seamaster
Left, an original Seamaster 300, and the modern reissue with Co-Axial movement.

Omega launched the Seamaster line in 1948 to celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary. That makes it the oldest line in the current collection, which also includes the Speedmaster, Constellation and De Ville. The Seamaster was loosely based on the watches Omega made for the British military at the end of World War II.

In 1957, Omega launched the Professional range of Seamaster watches with the debut of the Omega Seamaster 300. Jacques Cousteau’s team used the Seamaster 300 during its “Precontinent II” experiments in the Red Sea in the summer of 1963 to prove that divers could live in a submerged saturated gas environment for long periods without adverse effects. Military units, including the British Special Boat Service, chose the Seamaster 300 as their official watch.

As divers lived and worked at ever-greater depths, Omega began work on the famous “Ploprof” (PLOngeur PROFessionel, or “professional diver” in English) Seamaster 600, launched to the public in 1970 after four years of research and testing. During the R&D process, Omega tested the PloProf to 600 meters at the factory, and to 1,000 meters off the coast of Marseilles. In September, 1970, three COMEX divers wore the PloProf for eight days, working in the water four hours per day, at a depth of 250 meters. Cousteau’s divers also used the watches off the coast of Marseille during a set of experiments to test the effects on divers working at depths up to 500 meters. To this day, the Omega Seamaster name is synonymous with professional diving. (For our test of the modern Omega Ploprof, click here.) Earlier this year, a prototype Omega Seamaster model broke a record for depth resistance established by its competitor, Rolex, when it descended to the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench, the deepest spot on Earth; click here for the details.

6. Olympic Timing

omega olympic timing
Left, an Omega 1/10th of a second split-seconds chronograph used in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Right, a split-seconds timer fitted in an automatic triggering box at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Omega manufactured its first chronograph in 1898, and within 10 years, the timepieces had been used to measure time at more than 16 sporting competitions. After winning 1st place in all six categories at the 1931 Geneva Observatory trials, Omega’s reputation for accuracy led the International Olympic Committee to appoint Omega as the official timekeeper of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. This was the first time in Olympic history that one brand had been given the responsibility to time all events. The brand supplied 30 high-precision chronographs capable of measuring 1/10th of a second (an Olympics first), all of which had been certified as chronometers by the Observatory at Neuchâtel as well as the National Physics Laboratory in the United States. (The timekeepers at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam used their personal stopwatches.)

Even Omega’s advanced stopwatches did not eliminate Olympic controversy. In five different races, the winner and runner-up were recorded as having the same time. The most famous controversy involved the 100-meter dash and the duel between Ralph Metcalfe and Thomas Edward “Eddie“ Tolan. To the spectators, it appeared that Metcalfe won the race, and the timekeepers’ hand-held stopwatches recorded three times of 10.3 seconds for Metcalfe and two times of 10.3 and one of 10.4 seconds for Tolan. Yet Tolan was declared the winner, in an early Olympic “photo finish.”

A “Chronocinema“ camera filmed the end of each race, and it was used to record times to the nearest 1/100th of a second. The rules at that time stated that the winner was the first runner whose torso completely crossed the finish line, not the one whose torso reached the line first. After reviewing the film, the judges ruled that Tolan had won, fully crossing the line 5/100ths of a second ahead of Metcalfe.

This controversy presaged the need for ever more accurate timers, and methods of determining winners. Omega says that today, timing an Olympics requires several hundred professional timekeepers and data handlers, supported by up to a thousand specially trained local volunteers, all using some 400 tons of equipment, including scoreboards, miles of cables and optical fiber, and state-of-the-art timekeeping and data-handling technology, developed by Omega and adapted to the requirements of each sport. (One year out from the 2020 Tokyo games, Omega has introduced the first of its official Olympics watches; you can see them here.)

7. James Bond and Film

omega james bond
Daniel Craig as James Bond sports an Omega Seamaster in Casino Royale.

Over the years, James Bond has worn a couple of watch brands, but today, none is more closely associated with the storied franchise than Omega. The year 1995 marked two firsts for the famous agent: GoldenEye featured a new James Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, and the Omega Seamaster debuted on his wrist. Since then, 007 has worn Omega in Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and SPECTRE (in which Bond donned a new Omega Seamaster 300). Omega has revealed the official timepiece for the next Bond film, 2020’s No Time To Die; you can read about it here.

When it comes to James Bond wristwatch auction results, Omega Seamaster Planet Oceans hold the top two places. The top watch, used in the filming of Casino Royale, sold at the 2007 Antiquorum OmegaMania auction for CHF 250,250. A Seamaster Planet Ocean used in the filming of Skyfall sold at Christies’ “50 Years of James Bond” sale in 2012 for CHF 236,473.

Omega timepieces have appeared in many other films, including Up in the Air, Salt, War of the Worlds, The Bounty Hunter, The Right Stuff, Event Horizon, Millennium, Jack Reacher, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ronin, Seven Years in Tibet, The Omega Man, and My Fellow Americans.

Of course, one of Omega’s most famous starring roles came in Apollo 13. The film documented the mission with the unlucky number that was cut short by an explosion that deprived the spacecraft of most of its oxygen supply and electric power. The film accurately portrays the astronauts wearing Omega Speedmasters, and the key role the Speedmaster played in getting the crew safely back to Earth. Due to the failure of an onboard electric timer, the astronauts relied on their Speedmasters to time critical burns (powering engines on and off). These burns had to be precisely the right duration to get the spacecraft pointed in exactly the right direction so that it could enter the atmosphere without bouncing off or burning up. The Speedmasters performed flawlessly, and the astronauts made it home safely.

8. The Kennedy Connection

omega john f kennedy
John F. Kennedy wearing an Omega at his inaugural ball.

Official brand ambassadors aside, Omega has proven a favorite of many world leaders and celebrities. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was often photographed wearing his gold Constellation Manhattan. In the aforementioned 1995 film My Fellow Americans, Jack Lemmon plays a former American President. At one point, Lemmon comments on his watch, saying “That’s a Constellation. It was given to me by Gorbachev!”

Pope John Paul II wore an Omega De Ville “Classic.” Elvis Presley was photographed wearing an Omega while in the service, stationed in Germany. Buddy Holly was wearing his white gold ultra-thin Omega when his plane crashed in February, 1959. Ringo Starr wore an Omega Constellation performing on stage with The Beatles.

omega john f kennedy watch
The timepiece JFK received from his friend, and the prophetic inscription.

One of the most famous owners was John F. Kennedy, who wore an Omega at his inauguration as America’s 35th president in January, 1961. The watch had been presented to Kennedy by a friend before the election. The back of the watch bears the inscription “President of the United States John F. Kennedy from his friend Grant.” Today, the watch is housed at the Omega Museum. Click here for more on Kennedy’s Omega watch, and other significant historical pieces.

9. The Co-Axial Escapement

omega co-axial escapement
This image highlights the Co-Axial escapement components.

As we have seen, from its early days, Omega has pursued precision timekeeping. One of the holy grails in this area is a very low-friction escapement. So it is no surprise that when renowned English watchmaker George Daniels developed his now-famous co-axial escapement, Omega would take up the challenge of putting it into large-scale production. Those efforts culminated with the 1999 launch of the Omega Co-Axial Caliber 2500. Omega touted the mechanism as the first practical new watch escapement to be invented in 250 years.

In 2007, Omega launched its proprietary Co-Axial Caliber 8500, citing the escapement’s low friction, mechanical efficiency, and timekeeping performance. The escapement is used in conjunction with a free-sprung balance, the preferred approach for fine watch movements. Omega’s confidence in the Co-Axial is such that every watch delivered with it is a COSC-certified chronometer, and it comes with a four-year warranty.

10. Conquering Magnetism

omega aqua terra 15000 gauss
The Seamaster Aqua Terra > 15,000 Gauss, and the display back made possible by Omega’s unique movement construction.

In 2013, Omega announced the creation of the world’s first movement that is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 gauss, far exceeding the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous movement. Most anti-magnetic watches utilize a soft iron inner case which distributes electromagnetism in such a way that it cancels the effect on the movement. Omega’s approach was to design a movement in which the critical components are fashioned from non-ferrous materials, eliminating the need for an inner case and providing a far greater resistance to magnetic fields. Omega’s approach has the added benefits of allowing a date window on the dial, and a display back. Watches with inner cases can’t offer these attributes because each requires an opening in the inner case. At Baselworld 2015, Omega introduced its own “Master Chronometer” movement, which incorporated its pioneering antimagnetic technology, inside an all-new watch model, the Omega Globemaster. The brand has since gone on to outfit many other models with Master Chronometer movements, including an entirely new line of Seamaster Planet Ocean models in 2016.

(All images courtesy and copyright Omega. Used with permission.)

 This article was originally published in 2014 and has been updated.

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  1. Ernest Peebles

    Interesting article chronicling the history of the Omega watch ⌚ brand. I’m in the process of purchasing a twenty-one year old Omega Constellation.

    Reply
  2. george antonijevic

    I got my seamaster as a birthday present in 1969 before the lunar landing. Still going strong

    Reply
  3. Anthony Pena

    Enjoyed the facts of the omega watch my favorite seamaster 300 M

    Reply
  4. Philip Kandler

    Very good artical on Omega watches, I have a interest in collecting Omega, Most things about Omega are covered threw out the internet,,, I do have a Question about Omega Seamaster Speedmaster case, inside the covers HF Huguenin Freres ACIER, but I can not find info on the stamp GRSA & MRSA which appear in a circle, looks like a captains ship wheel? do you have any info on this stamp or insignia,, Thank You,,, Philip Kandler

    Reply
  5. Javon Brothers

    It has been a great watch but where can I get my watch refurbished?

    Reply
  6. Alison bennett

    I have three omega watches all given at special times in my life. They all need attention. Where can I send them?

    Reply
  7. John Snider

    My Grandfather rocked an Omega Seamaster automatic he bought in 1952. He passed in 2000 and I never gave his watch another thought. Last week(April 28th,2019) my sister came by and gave it to me and explained it might have some value. The watch is in excellent condition and I would never sell it but would like to find out if it has any value worth insuring. I brought the watch to a local jeweler and he was able to determine from the serial number that the watch was manufactured in 1952 and remarked that on condition alone it would be worth seven to eight hundred dollars but that amount could change radically depending on how many were made,ie is it collectible? I’ve searched all over the internet but cannot find one the same. At first glance it appears very plain gold plated with a black leather strap but upon closer inspection it has the 3, 6,9 and 12 in gold with the other numerals as gold dots; aside from this at each of the four numbers is an apparent light green dot(glow in the dark possibly) and each numeral location has the number thirteen through twenty four in small black lettering. The ones that I see that are similar do not have the green dots or black lettering thirteen to twenty four. I’ve worn the watch a few times in the last few days and so far it keeps excellent time. I know without a picture it would be hard to define a price but any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks
    John

    Reply
  8. Randall Pelham

    Omega creates beautiful, accurate and robust watches. Their official service centers are second to none. I feel that Omega watches are highly undervalued. I have 60 year old omega’s, never serviced, that keep chronometer quality accuracy. Unfortunately Omega’s don’t retain their value as they should. The speedmaster being the exception. I think if Omega concentrated their efforts on quality over quantity of models, the brand would benefit greatly.

    Reply
  9. Bickers Clark...

    I have an Omega watch quartz, made in Japan, on the inside is miyota Co unadjusted , no jewels. keeps good time, back of stainless steel case is much worn..is this watch of any value. I would like to know please as I am now 88yrs and have cancer and would not like to see it thrown in the bin when I have gone.. Kind regards Bickers Clark

    Reply
  10. My wife gave me a Seamaster pro chronometer for my birthday a bunch of years ago. I have seldom seen a more classic looking watch. A lot of watches these days fill up the dial with extra stuff. The Seamaster pro has a clean dial and is clearly the most classy thing about me.
    Mine is running a little bit slow so I am looking for a place to get it regulated. But over all, I am extremely happy with the Seamaster.

    I confess that at one time, I lusted after a Rolex. My personal opinion is that the Rolexes are over priced but at the same time, when compared side by side to the Omega, the Rolex looks cheaper.

    I wonder if Omega will come out with a GPS synced watch? I admit to looking fondly at the F900 though.

    Reply
  11. Great read! Especially the clarification on “who” wore the first watch on the moon. And the “multiple” intermittent burns on A-13 (the movie just showed an extended burn). I’m on my 5th Omega including two collectables. the 007 and the Tintin. They are my Go-To watch

    Reply
  12. Richard Ashley

    Back in 1968 my brother, then 21, returned to England from Mallorca where he had been working. Within a week he was killed in a road accident wearing his lovely Omega Constellation. It was an automatic C shape in stainless steel with a silver grey dial and bricket bracelet. He had bought it new the previous year in Italy and it was his pride and joy.
    His friend who was with him at the time of the accident picked up all the bits of watch from the road after having tried to save his life and then helped to put him in the ambulance.
    I was 19 at the time and it was the worst day of my life.
    His friend later handed me a bag with all the bits of smashed watch in and told me he thought my brother would want me to have them.
    After some months I decided I would like to get an estimate to have the Omega mended so that I could wear it in his memory and sent all the bits to Watches of Switzerland in London with a letter explaining what had happened.
    A month went by with no word from Omega but then a parcel arrived. I opened it to find my brothers beautiful watch fully repaired and ticking away! I was so delighted but also worried that when I opened the invoice it might be more than I could afford but I would get the money from somewhere.
    I need not have worried because the invoice, after listing all the repairs and new parts, had a total cost of ZERO!
    I wrote to Watches of Switzerland immediately to thank them so much and wore the watch every day for the next forty years. At this point the Omega required a full service and a new bracelet but it is still the same watch my brother loved and I will keep it for the rest of my life.

    Reply
  13. My wife bought me my Omega Seamaster Titanium 1957 Retro version 2 years ago. Calibre 8400. I absolutely love this watch. Accuracy, durability, bullet proof watch is excellent and I did have it in for service and to Omega’s credit they did an excellent job. I have a Breitling Avenger GMT II and think this watch is also bullet proof but my next watch will be another Omega, either a Planet Ocean or a Constellation Globemaster. I truly think Omega makes an incredible calibre.

    Reply
  14. Mike Ek

    I just got my Seamaster Planet Ocean and love it. I selected it for the history of Omega company, and the Seamaster model. Also, as a diver and a James Bond fan, it was the obvious choice.

    Reply
  15. Roy Gregory

    Fabulous report. I love everything about watches. Thank you.
    Roy.

    Reply
  16. Christopher Heick

    I have an old seamaster I have pic I could send it does not have the omega symbol is this a sign of a fake

    Reply
  17. Stefan Kandulski

    I was posted to Germany from 68 to 71 and during that time bought two Omegas .One in the first few months I got there .While shopping in Dortmund I found a Store Front with an amazing display of Watches . Inside , I found an array of High End watches at prices that were to good to believe . A Speedmaster caught my eye and the price was managable .The second was just before I left Germany ,I bought it in Frankfurt ,a beautiful 71 De Ville .It was stolen a week before I left . The Speedmaster lasted me til 1975 ,while I was working at Ford Canada Talbotville .Coffee break one Midnight shift ,I looked down to check the time .It was 12.00 exactly and that was not the right time .I took the watch off and in doing so noticed that the back was not there , never felt it fall . Took it took it to a watch shop in London Ontario that handled Omega .Told it wasn’t wort fixing , so left it there telling him he could shove his Omega products where the Sun don’t shine . Bad luck with Omegas or what ? Will I ever buy another ? Not likely , when I can buy a Seiko for a couple of Hundred that looks better and keeps better time . Never had the back fall off any of my Seikos since 1980 and that first Seiko is still running perfect on the wrist of a friend that bought it in 95 .I now own a half dozen Quartz Seikos & none has ever failed Me .

    Reply
    • The watch repair man ripped you off my friend. Do you have any idea what a ’71 speedmaster is worth? I’m sure he was quite pleased when you told him to keep the watch… lol

      Reply
    • I’m sorry my friend, but the back doesn’t just fall off of am omega speedmaster. Sounds like you bought a counterfeit watch. “The prices were too good to believe”….think about it. Even if your story is true, a watchmaker would not have told you that the watch wasn’t worth fixing. I call BS all the way around.

      Reply
      • The repairer might say it wasn’t worth repairing if he knew it was counterfeit.

        Reply
    • Big Al Svid

      Come on! .. an Omega case back falls off just like that, and a watch smith tells you it is not worth fixing and you just give it to him? … BS!

      Reply
  18. James B

    Bought a “new” old Seamaster 300 Limited edition three weeks ago. It is +7 seconds after 18 days. I’m pretty darn happy with this watch! The family has 4 Omega watches and will probably have more. Thanks Omega and the staff (Jake, Will, and Colton) at the Bellevue, WA Bravern Boutique.

    Reply
  19. Brad S Ferguson

    I am looking for a Seamaster I saw in a Grand Cayman. It has the date at the six window, blue face and strap, and was designed for Andy … I can’t recall the last name. It was retailing for about $4,500. Pls advise where I may find this watch in Austin, Tx. Thank you.

    Reply
  20. gerald pitzl

    Omega Speedmaster watches were not used in navigation on the Plaisted Polar Expedition 1968. I used Hamilton chronometers exclusively. The Omega story was hatched in 1968 by the owner of the Canadian film company that recorded the expedition.

    Gerald R. Pitzl — Navigator , Plaisted Polar Expeditions 1967m and 1968

    Reply
  21. diverdude

    Not a watch enthusiast until lately, but I thought I would mention here,,,, I have owned / worn an Omega Seamaster for a good 25 years. Never missed beat,,, haha,,, I’e just been in these forums lately because I wanna buy a new watch with a leather band, the seamster hurts my wrist some, from everything I’ve ever read,, it seems to buy another Omega. DeVille I think is what they call it,, expensive for me, but if I wear another 25 years,,, haha,,, be cool to pass down two really solid examples of horology.

    Reply
  22. Horatiu

    Just bought a globmaster annual calendar.Im so happy,looks great.

    Reply
  23. I got my POC one year ago and it’s just stunning. I wear it every single day, it takes +5seconds/week, and I just can’t love it more.

    That said, I’ve got my eyes already on my new goal: A Speedy Moonwatch with hesalite glass. And the next, a Globemaster. I just couldn’t get enough Omegas…

    Reply
  24. Ian Woollard

    I love the new Planet Ocean with the master coaxial movement and am seriously considering it as my first high end watch. The only other contender is a Rolex Submariner but so far the Omega is winning.

    Reply
  25. Michael Kauffman

    Great article – thank you. Just bought the Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black (black), caliber 8906. I absolutely LOVE this watch! For me, it is the perfect combination of aesthetics, precision engineering and diving watch qualities. Accuracy after one week is within 1 second. I hesitated to purchase because of the price, but I’m very glad I did it. Nice work, Omega!

    Reply
  26. George Joannou

    Great article about the history of Omega. As a owner of the Seamaster 300 Pro with 1120 movement and the limited edition Seamaster 300 Master Coaxial Spectre Watch let me share my thoughts on what I think of the brand. Firstly the 1120 movement was very accurate for 6 years on average only gained 2 seconds a day . Took it in for first service came back less accurate , gained 4 seconds a day and back of case scratched by service technicians. The Master Coaxial limited edition kept very accurate time for about six months then started gaining time greater than 5 seconds a day. Had Omega regulate it and now it gains anywhere between 2 to 4 seconds a day. Have had the limited edition Seamaster 300 MC watch now for 11 months very disappointed in the accuracy of the movement. My old 1120 movement way more accurate before the butchers at Omega Service got hold of it.
    Sorry fellow Omega owners but I am being totally honest with my experience as an owner of two Seamaster watches and also my experience with Omega Service. Next watch will be a Rolex.

    Reply
    • Michael

      George, I get your points but surly if you really want accuracy you need a radio controlled Casio quarts, mine are always accurate to nano seconds a year and only cost £50. The point of the watches you comment upon is that they are hand build machines that have cogs and springs and balance wheels all in minute form. To be honest a Rollex, Omega or Partek will just about perform the same (given natural variation even from watch to watch of the same brand and type) chronometer will be -1 to + 6 seconds a day. A master Chronometer will be more accurate, but still the cheep casio will be more accurate. Please just enjoy your lovely watches you will have worked hard for them, do not get too hung up on accuracy when wearing them. I do not know many walks of life where a watch being 6 seconds fast will cause major problems.

      Reply
      • I totally agree. One should be realistic about what you can expect from a mechanical watch.

        I also had a very bad experience with Omega’s service centre for vintage watches in Bienne Switzerland. Although their pricing is very affordable my Omega Flightmaster was returned after 6 months with 5 errors, including very deep circular scratches all around the lugs on the underside of the case. I was so shocked that I decided not to add any more Omega’s to my collection.

        Reply
  27. Alan MacKenzie

    I bought a Rolex sub and was disappointed with it, so bought a speedy in 1984 never looked back since. Been wearing a seamaster 300 for 20 years all day every day never been serviced. two weeks ago I bought myself a seamaster PO 600 not gained or lost a second in that time, remarkable.

    Reply
  28. Albert Kotzé

    While one has to acknowledge the superior achievements of Omega watches, the service I received from the company on the restoration of my Flightmaster was a sign that there is much room for improvement. The watch was returned to me with light marks across the bezel, deep circular scratches under the lugs, a new internal bezel with paint missing on one of the numbers and the wrong colour chrono hands. On enquiry other collectors and an agency in my country confirmed that Omega service leaves a lot to be desired.

    Reply
    • Doug Hageman

      I hope this has improved-I have a pre-moon Speedmaster Professional in for an estimate now because of damage from a local watch repair shop.

      Reply
  29. Alan Pickney

    I bought a Seamaster PlanetOcean, Blue Dial TITANIUM, I September, it runs 6 seconds fast at the end of 30 days, that’s 1.5 seconds per week, or 0.3 sec per day, the 8500 movement is great.

    Reply
  30. Surprised no comments on the 15,000 Gauss shown in last picture. What’s your thoughts and opinions. Novelty or the real deal?

    Reply
  31. Rudy C

    Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Titanum Blue color is the best and only watch I wear you guys should check that one out you won’t be disappointed

    Reply
  32. meir bsrac

    Whith all due respec- Omega was “only” god rliable watch. onely last 20.years it became mor soffisticated. Also som Of their wathes cost much mor than other well knowm watches ( to my opinion) .wathes should be appriciated by complication, craft, appearance and other important factors to become ” precius” ( sory, spelling..) I love omega but …

    Reply
  33. Dr. Paul Masters

    One thing about the Omega Seamasters that I never see mentioned and that is that the luminous feature is far brighter and longer lasting than other brands and that includes the Rolex Submariner. I have both watches and put side by side at night the Omega is much easier to read from sunset to sunrise.

    Where Rolex is superior is the date magnification. Date windows are hard to read on Omegas. Step up Omega on this point and you’ll leave Rolex in the dust sales wise.

    Reply
  34. charbel zod

    Hi I have a collection of watches but the best among them is the omega first watch worn on the moon tanx

    Reply
  35. Two things:
    Space watch claim:
    Everyone forgets that Omega is the second runner in the space watch race,
    First watch in Space = Sturmanskie
    First watch in outer space = Strela
    Current ISS approved timepieces = Fortis
    To add to that all time measuring equipment on board Apollo missions was made by Bulova
    So the space claim is bogus!
    In addition to that Omega shamelessly robbed Serbian swimmer Cavic of his medal and awarded it to their protege Phelps in Beijing Olympics in 2008. Bottom line, I would never buy Omega!

    Reply
    • Space claim is not bogus at all. Speedmaster was and is still used in space as the official and only certified EVA-watch by NASA and the Russian Space Agency, that is when the watch is exposed to the extremes of outer space: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Inside your space vehicle you can use whatever you want, outside you will wear the one and only and the only watch you will ever need: the Speedy Pro.

      Reply
    • With regards to the Phelps – Cavic issue: swimming is the only place where the athlete stops the time himself on the touchpad in the Olympic pool. Not a single person in the whole world, not even Cavic himself has ever disputed Omega’s results in that race, or in any other race. Omega is the official timekeeper because of its expertise and experience. Just live with it. If you had any Omega you would be able to enjoy how extremely precise even a mechanical watch can be. Omega’s list of records and accomplishments in the world of watches and timing is simply endless.

      Reply
  36. Chris C.

    My OMEGA 2014 Seamaster 300 m accuracy is -3 seconds per….WEEK! Awesome.

    Reply
  37. The first Tourbillon wristwatch was made by Ernest Lipmann frères (LIP) Besançon ~ 1930 (OMEGA Saga ,
    Marco Richon 1998)

    Reply
  38. The first Tourbillon wristwatch was made by Ernest Lipmann frères (LIP) Besançon ~ 1930 (OMEGA Saga, Marco
    Richon,1998)

    Reply
  39. Love the Speedmaster Moonwatch, but I do love it more if Omega produce a new version and make some improvements on it, in according to the original detailed to add the date function, hand wound improve to automatic, plastic change to sapphire crystal, black dial change to white dial. That’s exactly a 42mm stunner.

    Reply
  40. james smith

    A high end watch like omega can last you for years and years. Quality watches like omega can withstand wear and tear. These watches require very little maintenance. Lots of retailers Sell omega watch. If you are looking for the best quality watch, you should buy an omega watch.

    Reply
  41. Bravo…..terrific review. My first “adult” watch was an Omega in 1976 and more
    recently a Seamaster. My first Omega has never been worked on and keeps perfect time.

    Reply
  42. Reading this article makes me fell good, lot’s of interesting facts and the people, events that only
    spin the image of Omega and it’s wonderful history. Makes me want to go to my watch case and
    take out my Omega 300 pro.

    Reply
  43. Debashish

    My love affair with Omega started when I was barely 8 years old, after my granddad bought 2 Omega Seamasters during 1958 and it is still growing strong.

    Anyway, loved your lovely article on Omega!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  44. Lewis Wolf

    I bought an Omega Speedmaster in 1961 and last year gave it to my son. I brought it into Omega in NYC because it needed to be restored. The watch works (manual wind), but the chronograph buttons need cleaning. The whole watch needs cleaning.

    Omega said that they would have to send it to Switzerland because the Caliber 321 is to complex to refurbish it in the USA.

    They estimated a cost of over $1,000 and I was wondering if it is worth sending it back.

    Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • $1,000 is not out of line for a watch being sent to Switzerland; I myself have spent more than that. However, there are competent watchmakers in the US that can repair chronographs, and for a lot less, especially if it only need a cleaning. Chronos require a specialist; most watchmakers do not work on them. That said, your Speedmaster 321 is a highly desirable model that should hold its value. I have one, too. You can ask a dealer in vintage watches for a recommendation.

      Reply
    • Friedrice

      The caliber 321 is a column wheel chronograph. It is highly prized and is sold for more than the current moonwatch models. That being said, not a lot of watchmakers would service a column wheel chronograph watch as it is more complicated than a caliber 1861 and 1863. If they said they can, chances are they are lying.

      The 1000 dollars spent on the watch is well worth it as the watch can easily be sold for 5 times that.

      Reply
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