THE Pre OMEGA ERA

In 1848 the amazing and passionate Louis Brandt took a very small first step into OMEGA empire with the opening of a small workshop in La Chaux- de-Fonds in the Swiss countryside.

In 1879 Louis Brandt dies and the family business passed to his sons Louis Paul and Cesar, they were the ones that took Omega to its next new era creating the empire that we all now know.

In 1880 Omega is moving to Bienne in 119 Route De Boujean that till now is considered as its home. Five years later in 1885 the two brothers is launching the first series of caliber, ” The Labrator”. This technical breakthrough gave the opportunity to Omega to shine like a true star in the watch industry.

In 1892 the first minute repeater came to life by the famous Brandt’s, recreating the pocket watches mechanism into a fine high end wrist watch.

THE OMEGA ERA

1894 was the most important year in the history of OMEGA as it is when OMEGA is actually born through their new extremely accurate new Caliber called OMEGA. It was not only extremely accurate but every component could be replaced by any watchmaker. This new era brought OMEGA to becoming in less than a decade one of the most important watch companies globally.

1905 SPORTS ERA

OMEGA started its official presence in sports, only in 1905 was the official timekeeper for 16 sports events globally as the only choice in terms of accuracy and precision. Two of the main characteristics of OMEGA from the launch of OMEGA Caliber.

1909 gone GLOBAL

In 1909 they are deciding to expand its network globally including six more continents in its expansion strategy. Its amazing watches are becoming a global hit instantly.

1925 ART DECO

In 1925 the first ART DECO series is launched and gets its first award at the ” Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes” in Paris. Its unique timepieces stands out for the amazing and colorful design and special patterns.

1931 RECOGNITION YEAR

In 1931 OMEGA celebrated its unique positioning in the watch industry with a unique award that celebrated the company’s excellence in precision and accuracy. OMEGA chronometer managed to pass 6 out of 6 test in accuracy and set new standards to the industry.

FIRST AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT

It is the second time that OMEGA set the global standards in the watch industry as it prototyped the first automatic movement that used two weights, enabling winding in both directions. This had as a result improving in the most drastic way the winding and later on automatic movement that later on was perceived as the standard in the watch industry.

1932 MARINE

OMEGA is introducing the first watch for divers that was tested in Geneva lake and proved to be waterproof in 73 meters depth and becoming the choice of many divers.

1937 MEDICURE or THE NURSES WATCH

The first watch ever featuring a second big hand that was easy to read, also known as the “nurses watch” as a lot of medical staff was using it due to this special characteristic.

1946 TUBOGAS

In 1946 TUBOGASS was presented, using for the first time pink gold and launching them originally for the French market. Its Parisian designer Maison Brandt Freres with its tubogass bracelet that the model was named after was the most amazing add in the companys Art Deco collection.

1947 FIRST TOURBILLON MOVEMENT

OMEGA once more was ahead of its time as in 1947 is creating the first Tourbillon movement, a quite complex mechanism that was able to eliminate gravity

1948 SEAMASTER

In 1948 following its history in diving watches launching the really successful for the brand SEAMASTER collection that could overcome every challenge the ocean was bringing. Due to its reliability, accuracy and water resistance

1952 CONSTELLATION

In 1952 Constellation is introduced, named after the eight stars representing the eight precision records omega set at the Geneva Observatory and Kew Teddington.

1955 LADYMATIC

In 1955 Ladymatic is presented the first automatic and compact ladies watch, its movement was the smallest automatic movement.

1957 PROFFESIONAL LINE (Speedmaster, Seamaster and Railmaster)

Three iconic watches launched in 1957, the Speedmaster, the Seamaster 300 and the Railmaster. Its is important to note that is also know as The Moonwatch due to its collaboration with NASA in 1962 where astronaut Wally Schirra performed his flight in space with Mercury Sigma 7 wearing his amazing Speedmaster. Three years later in 1965 the only watch that took NASA Cerification was the Speedmaster.

1967 DE VILLE

in 1967 it is launched a simple version of Seamaster the De Ville, combining all the technical characteristic of Seamaster in a simpler version.

1970 Snoopy Award

NASA awarded the SNOOPY AWARD for the outstanding performance of the Moon watch, after this amazing watch in the years to come launched bOmega Speedmaster Professional “Silver Snoopy Award” for its 50th Anniversary 310.32.42.50.02.001 and in 2023 in Collaboration with Swatch, is naming one of the watches “Snoopy”.

1997 JAMES BOND

In 1997 Tomorrow Never Dies, James Bond is wearing a Seamaster Diver 300M.

1999 Co Axial

In 1999 the inventor George Daniels is developing Co- Axial, the new watch from Rolex that uses smaller contact surfaces and produces less frictions.

2010 LADYMATIC

In 2010 Ladymatic returns back in production with a new Co-Axial movement

Want to learn more about Rolex History? Check out our article that describes how everything started.

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GERALD GENTA

THE INCREDIBLE GERALD GENTA

Behind Gérald Genta , is hidden one of the most interesting and creative minds in the history of watchmaking. Borned in Geneva, Switzerland (1 May 1931 – 17 August 2011) was the creator for many lines for IWC, Omega, Universal Genève, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. In all his life Gérald Genta had a mission, to overcome all the challenges creative or technical and achieve the extraordinary. In all his life he constantly reinvented himself therefore his creations were always unique. This unique ability allowed him to work throughout his career with the most important watch masterpieces were for Patek Phillipe the famous Nautilus, Cartier Santos Octagon as well as for Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.

GERALD GENTA AND Audemars Piquet Royal Oak

One of the most important partnerships that defined the future of Audemars Piquet was the collaboration with Maestro and the creation of one of the most iconic watches for the brand, Royal Oak. In 1970, they reached out in order to design a new watch . It was Inspired by a vintage diving helmet attached to the rest of the suit with screws, the model was sketched in just one night. The designer transferred the octagonal shape to the design of this piece, keeping the screws on the bezel. The Royal Oak was the first luxury sports watch that was ever made from steel and changed forever the perception of this metal and its position in luxury watches.

Universal Geneve The Polerouter

One of the first collaborations of the creative and young at the time Gérald Genta was with Universal Geneve when in 1954 was assigned to create a watch that would celebrate the historic flight from Copenhagen to Los Angeles via the North Pole, called the Polerouter.

IWC the ingenieur REF 1832

IWC Ingenieur SL, was launched in 1976 as the leader model of the SL collection, a collection of luxury sports watches with cases and bracelets made of stainless steel. The watch featured a bold aesthetic that was presented with a screw-on, round bezel with five recesses, a special pattern on the dial and an integrated steel bracelet with H-links. The Ingenieur SL was nicknamed “Jumbo” for its extra impressive case size. Although its design was unique as in many cases of innovative design the public was not ready to appreciate it therefore only a little more than 1000 pieces were produced during the following years.

Omega Constellation

In 1959, Omega appointed Maestro to create a new strategic for the Constellation range one of the most important collection for Omega. It was his creative approach that played a crucial role to the rebirth of Constellation. This collaboration was really important for him as well as from that point he was perceived as a “star designer”.

Patek Phillipe “The Nautilus”

In 1976 Phillippe Patek appointed Maestro to design a new watch, named Nautilus that is till now considered the most well known watch for Patek Phillipe. Nautilus was inspired by the nautical world and took its name as a tribute to Captain Nemo’s submarine in Jules Verne’s novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. Maestro creative mind conceived and illustrated this watch in a papaer napkin at a restaurant in just 5 minutes.

GERALD GENTA brand

In 1969, along the other partnerships and collaborations Gérald Genta created his own brand. 1977 can be considered as a very important milestone in his journey to watchmaking as he launched THE AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR. He was the first not only to create a perpetual automatic calendar and sealed his reputation as an innovator.

THE ULTRA-THIN MINUTE REPEATER

In 1981 Maestro introduced his first ultra-thin Minute Repeater with an impressive 2.72mm thickness. His new entrance emphasised to the importance of style in watches with unique dials crafted from white onyx, engraved bezels, and moon phases made from Lapis Lazuli. At the end of 1981 a perpetual calendar complication was added.

THE GEFICA SAFARI

In 1984 created a limited edition mens watch after receiving a request from three important clients that wanted a watch for safari, amazing Gérald Genta created The Gefica Safari.

THE DISNEY COLLECTION

In 1984 with a playful approach to the watch industry created a watch that few would dare to introduce, The Disney Collection. This line now plays an important part of the brands DNA that reflects his liberal and creative spirit that for many broke the rules of the till now conservative watch world.

In 2000 Bvlgari acquired the Gérald Genta brand until 2011 when the ownership passed to LVMH Group.

Want to learn more for the history of watches and its founders? Check out our article about HANS WILSDORF The amazing Rolex Founder

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OMEGA History SINCE 1848