Omega SA

Omega SA
Native name
Omega Société Anonyme (SA)
Formerly
  • La Generale Watch Co. (1848–⁠1903)
  • Louis Brandt et Frère-Omega Watch & Co. (1903–⁠1984)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryWatchmaking
Founded1848; 176 years ago (1848) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
FounderLouis Brandt
Headquarters
Biel/Bienne
,
Switzerland
47°08′37″N 7°15′36″E / 47.14362°N 7.25998°E / 47.14362; 7.25998
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Raynald Aeschlimann (President)
ProductsWatches, timing devices and systems
ParentThe Swatch Group
Websiteomegawatches.com

Omega SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.[1] Founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848, the company formerly operated as La Generale Watch Co. until incorporating the name Omega in 1903, becoming Louis Brandt et Frère-Omega Watch & Co.[2][3][4] In 1984, the company officially changed its name to Omega SA[5] and opened its museum in Biel/Bienne to the public.[6][7] Omega is a subsidiary of The Swatch Group.

Britain's Royal Flying Corps used Omega watches in 1917 for its combat units, followed by the U.S. Army in 1918, and NASA in 1969 for Apollo 11.[8] The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is marketed as the first watch worn on the Moon, becoming one of the watchmaker's most iconic models.[9]

Omega is the current official timekeeper of the Olympics, having first done so in 1932,[10] in addition to being the timekeeper of the America's Cup yacht race.[11]

  1. ^ "Omega - Swatch Group". www.swatchgroup.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Brand - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie". www.hautehorlogerie.org. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "10 Things to Know About Omega". WatchTime - USA's No.1 Watch Magazine. January 24, 2019. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "The History Of The Omega Watch Company". HallandLaddco. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "1894: the New Omega 19-Ligne Calibre Inspired a New Company Name". Omega. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "Omega Museum in Biel - Swatch Group". www.swatchgroup.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Omega Museum". MySwitzerland.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  8. ^ Bailham, Lee; Eric Jones. "Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronographs". NASA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Freed, Jeremy (May 3, 2024). "How to Choose the Omega Speedmaster of Your Dreams". GQ. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Highlights of Olympic Timekeeping". Omega SA. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  11. ^ "News - Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America's Cup Chronograph". Monochrome Watches. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.