Omega SA

Omega 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
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.[1]

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] Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932[9] and is the current timekeeper of the America's Cup yacht race. Omega was a main partner of the 2022 Winter Olympics.[10][11]

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ "Highlights of Olympic Timekeeping". Omega SA. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Neate, Rupert (November 12, 2021). "Winter Olympics top sponsors 'silent' over China's human rights record". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.