7 Amazing Facts About the World-Famous Omega Watches

There are lots of watch brands available in the market today. But what makes a wristwatch worth your time and money? May it be a luxury brand or a regular watch brand, choosing a wristwatch is so much more than getting a timepiece. Through its history and experience, it should have proven its quality and the ability to stand up to the changing times. You can take a look at the Omega Watches, it has such a long and rich history that even watch enthusiasts and watch collectors are already aware of. 

Omega is one of the ultra-coveted luxury watch brands in the world for men and women alike. And how for centuries, Omega has been gracing the world with iconic timepieces that take pride in excellent accuracy and precision. What many people don’t know, however, is Omega watches have been part of many interesting stories from around the world, too. From space missions to Olympic Games, Omega watches have been at the forefront of history, living up to its slogan: “Omega — Exact Time for Life”. To know more about the well-loved luxury watch brand Omega, check out these surprising facts involving the well-loved Omega watches:

1. Omega is a James Bond watch

Everyone who has watched The James Bond movies has noticed its badass collection of Omega watches. One cannot deny the Omega watches compatibility with James Bond. It helps define the character’s fashion style, adventurous soul, and solidity. James Bond started using the Omega watch in 1995. The new James Bond 007 – Pierce Brosnan has worn the Omega Seamaster collection in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and the latest franchise, No Time to Die (2020). Most of the Omega watches that appeared in these movies were sold for overwhelming amounts of money on auctions. 

2. Omega Speedmaster was part of Ralph Plaisted’s North Pole Expedition

American explorer Ralph S. Plaisted and his 4 man team wore the Speedmaster Professional in the North Pole Expedition in 1968. Each of the four watches has an engraved text at the back case “Plaisted Polar Expedition 19-4-1968″. During the mission, a sextant and a Speedmaster were all they had to calculate their exact location. The brave men have proven Speedmaster’s accuracy was perfect by getting a variation of not more than 1 second per day. In addition to that, the adventurous timepiece was able to easily withstand the -52 degrees Celsius during the mission.

3. Omega made watches for the British military at the end of WWII

During World War II, Omega was appointed to create the military watch for the British armed forces. The different Swiss watch brands collection was called “The Dirty Dozen”. The specifications on the material used, design, style, and built were strictly administered due to the tough conditions in military life. Omega made sure that the watches were reliable and durable to any conditions. The watch featured the most advanced functions during that period – shockproof, water-resistant, and antimagnetic.

4. The brand’s timepieces were used in international sporting competitions and earned a reputation for their accuracy

Due to its reputation in accurate and reliable timekeeping, Omega has become the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games. The brand’s legacy of participating in every sport’s competition has proven its prowess in timekeeping technology. Omega is proud to record extraordinary performances in all sports events – capturing every second of the game, recording from start to finish, indicating the winner and loser, and witnessing man’s dreams. Documenting every thrilling second and result in the sports competitions has been part of Omega’s heritage.

5. World leaders and celebrities developed a liking for Omega watches

Omega has not only become famous in the aeronautics field and sports community, some of the renowned leaders, figures, and celebrities have also shown interest in the Omega Watches. The most prominent owner of the Omega watch was John F. Kennedy, the 35th US President. The late president John Kennedy wore it at his inauguration in 1961. It was a gift from his friend Grant for winning the presidential election and now the watch is part of the Omega’s museum in Switzerland. Another state leader who owns an Omega watch was Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet President, who has Omega Constellation Manhattan. Religious state leader Pope John Paul II has worn the Omega De Ville Classic. Omega has also become celebrity favorites like Ringo Starr of the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley

6. Omega has designed an anti-magnetic movement that stunned the world

It has been the brand’s goal to continue innovating its design and functions. One of its remarkable inventions is the anti-magnetic movement, the first of its modernization. It’s a kind of magnetic resistance that exceeded the levels achieved by previous inventions. The non-ferrous materials used provided a greater receptivity to magnetic fields. “Master Chronometer” was introduced in the market in the new model – Omega Globemaster.

7. Last but not least, it’s the first watch man has ever worn on the moon

The Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to reach the moon. Astronaut Walter Schirra wore it in the ‘Sigma 7’ mission in 1962. Schirra bought the Speedmaster for his use during the escapade. After the successful mission, the watch became popular and was officially certified by NASA for all space missions. That’s when the Speedmaster earned the title “Moonwatch.”

Final thoughts

Performance is Omega’s brand character. Through the years, it has proven its efforts in improving the watch performance and design. Omega watches not only look good on the outside but on the inside, too, including the rich history that surrounds the watch brand–from being the first watch worn on the moon to be a James Bond watch, one will take pride in wearing an Omega watch and feel like they’re part of the amazing stories that happened involving the iconic timepieces. If you’re ready to shop your new Omega watch today, head over to WatchShopping.com to view a wide array of luxury watches.