Jump to content

Omega SA

Coordinates: 47°08′37″N 7°15′36″E / 47.14362°N 7.25998°E / 47.14362; 7.25998
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Alohaj50 (talk | contribs) at 20:27, 25 March 2022 (Added mention of Omega+Swatch MoonSwatch collaboration under Recent development. Added "first watch on the moon" point under Notable Moments.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Omega SA
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryLuxury Watchmaking
Founded1848 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (La Generale Watch Co.)
1903 (Louis Brandt et Frère-Omega Watch & Co.)
1982 (Omega SA)
FounderLouis Brandt
Headquarters
Biel/Bienne
,
Switzerland
47°08′37″N 7°15′36″E / 47.14362°N 7.25998°E / 47.14362; 7.25998
Key people
Raynald Aeschlimann, President
ProductsLuxury watches
ParentThe Swatch Group
Websitewww.omegawatches.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 formally 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] which is currently a subsidiary of the Swiss Swatch Group.[1] Omega opened its museum to the public in Biel/Bienne in January 1984.[6][7]

Britain's Royal Flying Corps chose Omega watches in 1917 as its official timekeepers for its combat units, as did the U.S. Army in 1918. Omega watches were the choice of NASA and the first watch on the Moon in 1969 for Apollo 11 mission.[8] In addition, Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, including the controversial games in 1936, 1980, and 2022.[9] James Bond has worn it in films since 1995; other famous Omega wearers, past and present, include Buzz Aldrin, President John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and Prince William.[10][11][12] Omega is currently the timekeeper of the America's Cup yacht race and a main partner of the 2022 Winter Olympics.[13][14]

History

Early history

The workbench of Louis Brandt with a photograph of the founder

The forerunner of Omega, La Generale Watch Co., was founded at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1848 by Louis Brandt, who assembled key-wound precision pocket watches from parts supplied by local craftsmen.[15] He sold his watches from Italy to Scandinavia by way of England, his chief market. In 1894, his two sons Louis-Paul and César developed a revolutionary in-house manufacturing and total production control system that allowed component parts to be interchangeable. Watches developed with these techniques were marketed under the Omega brand of La Generale Watch Co. By 1903 the success of the Omega brand led the La Generale Watch Co to spin off the Omega brand as its own company, and the Omega Watch Co was officially founded in 1903.

Re-organization

Louis-Paul and César Brandt both died in 1903, leaving one of Switzerland's largest watch companies — with 240,000 watches produced annually and employing 800 people — in the hands of four young people, the oldest of whom, Paul-Emile Brandt, was not yet 24.

Brandt was the great architect and builder of Omega.[16] His influence would be felt over the next half-century. The economic difficulties brought on by the First World War would lead him to work actively from 1925 toward the union of Omega and Tissot, then to their merger in 1930 into the group SSIH, Geneva.

Under Brandt's leadership and Joseph Reiser's from 1955, the SSIH Group continued to grow and multiply, absorbing or creating some fifty companies, including Lanco and Lemania, manufacturer of the most famous Omega chronograph movements. By the 1970s, SSIH had become Switzerland's number one producer of finished watches and number three in the world. Up to this time, the Omega brand outsold Rolex, its main Swiss rival in the luxury watch segment, although Rolex watches sold at a higher price point. Around this time it was viewed as Rolex versus Omega in the competition for the "King of Swiss Watch brands". Omega watches tended to be more revolutionary and more professionally focused, while Rolex watches were more ‘evolutionary’ and famous for their mechanical pieces and brand.[17][18][19]

While Omega and Rolex had dominated in the pre-quartz era, this changed in the 1970s during the quartz crisis. That was when Japanese watch manufacturers such as Seiko and Citizen rose to dominance due to their pioneering use of quartz movements. In response, Rolex continued concentrating on its expensive mechanical chronometers where its expertise lay (though it did have some experimentation in quartz), while Omega tried to compete with the Japanese in the quartz watch market with Swiss made quartz movements.[17]

Recent development

Omega Seamaster De Ville, an early "waterproof" watch, with automatic movement and date, in 14k gold

Weakened by the severe monetary crisis and recession of 1975 to 1980, SSIH was bailed out by the banks in 1981.[20] During this period, Seiko expressed interest in acquiring Omega, but nothing came out of the talks.

Switzerland's other watch making giant Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG (ASUAG - supplier of a large range of Swiss movements and watch assemblies) was in economic difficulty. It was the principal manufacturer of Ébauche (unfinished movements) and owner, through their sub-holding company General Watch Co (GWC), of various other Swiss watch brands including Longines, Rado, Certina, Hamilton Watch Company and Mido.

After drastic financial restructuring, the R&D departments of ASUAG and SSIH merged production operations at the ETA complex in Granges. The two companies completely merged forming ASUAG-SSIH, a holding company, in 1983.

Two years later this holding company was taken over by a group of private investors led by Nicolas Hayek. Renamed SMH, Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie, this new group over the next decade proceeded to become one of the top watch producers in the world.[21] In 1998 it became the Swatch Group, which now manufactures Omega and other brands such as Blancpain, Swatch, and Breguet.

Omega's brand experienced a resurgence with advertisement that focused on product placement strategies, such as in the James Bond 007 films; the character had previously worn a Rolex Submariner but switched to the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M with GoldenEye (1995) and has stayed with the latter ever since until swapping it for the Omega Planet Ocean and Aqua Terra. Omega also adopted many elements of Rolex's business model (i.e. premium pricing, tighter controls of dealer pricing, increasing advertising, etc.) which was successful in increasing Omega's market share and name recognition to become more of a direct competitor to Rolex.[17][22][23]

In March 2022, Omega collaborated with sibling company Swatch, both of which are owned by The Swatch Group, to release a budget version of its iconic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, surprising the entire industry.[24] The so-called "MoonSwatch" is made of Bioceramic, a mixture of ceramic and castor oil, is available in 11 colors, and is priced at $260 / £207[25], well below the $5,250 price (as of March 2022) of the least expensive Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch.[26]

Motto and slogan

One of Omega's company slogans is "Omega – Exact time for life".[27][28] The slogan was developed in 1931 based on the company's historical performance at the Observatory trials.[28]

Watch manufacturing

Notable inventions and patents

Omega Constellation - 18k rose gold - 1958
  • In 1892, Louis Brandt, the founder of Omega, manufactured the world's first minute repeating wristwatch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, which provided the minute-repeating movement.[29][30][31] The 18K-gold watch is now kept in the Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.[31]
  • In 1947, Omega created the first tourbillon wristwatch calibre in the world with the 30I. Twelve of these movements were made, intended for inclusion in the observatory trials in Geneva, Neuchâtel and Kew-Teddington, and they were known as the Omega Observatory Tourbillons. Unlike conventional Tourbillion movement's whose cages rotate once per minute, the 30I's cage rotated one time each seven and a half minutes. In 1949, one of these delivered the best results ever recorded by a wristwatch up to that time. A year later, Omega broke its own record in the Geneva Observatory Trials of 1950.[32]
  • In 1999, after the successful development of Calibre 2500, Omega made history by introducing the first mass-produced watch incorporating the coaxial escapement — invented by English watchmaker George Daniels.[33] Considered by many to be one of the more significant horological advances since the invention of the lever escapement, the coaxial escapement functions with virtually no lubrication, thereby eliminating one of the shortcomings of the traditional lever escapement.[34] Through using radial friction instead of sliding friction at the impulse surfaces the coaxial escapement significantly reduces friction, theoretically resulting in longer service intervals and greater accuracy over time.[35]
  • On January 24, 2007 Omega unveiled its new Calibres 8500 and 8501, two coaxial (25,200 bph) movements created exclusively from inception by Omega.[36][37]
  • On January 17, 2013 Omega announced the creation of the world's first movement that is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 1.5 Tesla (15,000 Gauss), far exceeding the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous movement - a similar movement was used by Daniel Craig as James Bond, though the official collectors watch was labelled as resistant to 15,007 Gauss in honor of the fictional secret agent's codename. Most anti-magnetic watches utilize a soft iron - Faraday cage which distributes electromagnetism in such a way that it cancels the effect on the movement contained within. This type of anti-magnetic case required de-magnetizing procedures of the case. Omega has instead built a movement of non-ferrous materials eliminating the need for such a cage and providing a far greater resistance to magnetic fields eliminating necessity of additional maintenance.[38]
  • In 2015, they introduced the Master Chronometer Certification, which denotes that along with a COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) certification, a movement has also passed a series of eight tests set out by METAS (The Federal Institute of Metrology). Master Chronometer watches have a minimum water-resistance rating of 100 meters, a minimum power reserve rating of 60 hours, an accuracy rating of 0/+5 seconds per day, and are resistant to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. The Master Chronometer Certification debuted on the Globemaster but they now offer it across many more of its watch collections.[39]

Observatory trials

Omega Genève Cal. 613

Observatory trials focused on the science of Chronometry and the ability to make chronometers measure time precisely. Only Patek Philippe and Omega participated every year in the trials. Omega's performances at these competitions garnered the company a reputation of precision and innovation.[40]

For more than a decade (1958 – 1969), Omega was the largest manufacturer of COSC chronometers. Omega developed the slogan "Omega – Exact time for life" in 1931 based on its historical performance at the Observatory trials.[28] Omega's early prowess in designing and regulating timing movements was made possible by the company's incorporation of new chronometric innovations.[40]

The following are some important reference dates for the Omega precision records:[40]

  • 1894: Creation of the famous 19 caliber named Omega. The company is renamed after this famous caliber in 1903[41] from 'Louis Brandt et Frères'. Omega participates for the first time at observatory trials in Neuenburg (French: Neuchâtel). Albert Willemin, the first "regleur de précision" at Omega, regulated the movement.
  • 1911: Albert Willemin leaves Omega and is replaced by Werner-A. Dubois.
  • 1918: Werner-A. Dubois leaves Omega (he joins Paul Ditisheim) and is replaced by Carl Billeter.
  • 1919: 1st Prize at observatory trials in Neuenburg with a 21 caliber. This caliber was slightly modified to become the famous Cal. 47.7 later.
  • 1920: Gottlob Ith replaces Carl Billeter.
  • 1922: Omega participates for the first time at observatory trials in Kew-Teddington (achieved 3rd place).
  • 1925: 1st place at observatory trials in Kew-Teddington with a Cal. 47.7 (95.9 of 100 points ex aequo with Ulysse Nardin); Gottlob Ith regulated the movement.
  • 1929: Alfred Jaccard joined Omega.
  • 1930: 1st place at observatory trials in Kew-Teddington (96.3 of 100 points ex aequo with Movado); Alfred Jaccard regulated the movement.
  • 1931: Omega achieves 1st place in all 6 categories at observatory trials in Geneva; Alfred Jaccard regulated the movements.
  • 1932: Introduction of the first small wrist Chronograph the Omega 28.9 chronograph
  • 1933: A Cal. 47.7 regulated by Alfred Jaccard achieved the precision record at observatory trials. Kew-Teddington; 97.4 points of 100.
  • 1936: Another Cal. 47.7 regulated by Alfred Jaccard achieved the precision record of 97.8 points of 100. Kew-Teddington. This record was not broken until as late as 1965.
  • 1937: 1st place at Kew-Teddington with 97.3 points.
  • 1938: 1st place at Kew-Teddington with 97.7 points.
  • 1939: Creation of the Cal. 30 (the first 30mm caliber).
  • 1940: 1st place with Cal. 30mm at Kew Teddington; movement regulated by Alfred Jaccard.
  • 1943: Launch of the 30mm caliber 30T2 (first rose gold-plated Omega movement).
  • 1945: 1st place with 30mm caliber at the observatory in Geneva; movement regulated by Alfred Jaccard.
  • 1947: Creation of the first Omega tourbillon wristwatch movement (Cal. 30I). Specially developed for the observatory trials (only 12 pieces made).
    The distinctive Omega Constellation day-date model of 1980's generation that was known as "Manhattan", Equipped with quartz movement Cal.1444
  • 1948: 1st place at observatory trial in Neuenburg for 30mm caliber. 1st time non-Swiss companies allowed to take part.
  • 1950: 1st place for tourbillon Cal. 30I at Geneva Trials; regulated by Alfred Jaccard. Joseph Ory joins precision timing department after being Trainer to women timers (regleuse).
  • 1951/2:1st place at the observatory trials in Geneva.
  • 1953: Alfred Jaccard died.
  • 1954: New record in Geneva by Gottlob Ith.
  • 1955: Two new records at Neuenburg by Gottlob Ith.
  • 1956: Gottlob Ith died aged 66 years; Joseph Ory takes over as head of department. Two 1st places at observatory trials in Neuenburg.
  • 1958: New record in Geneva movements regulated by Joseph Ory. Creation of competition Cal. 30GD – a 30mm caliber with better mainspring and higher frequency (25,200 instead of 18,000 vph). This unusual frequency is used again today for the latest coaxial movements.
  • 1959: Two records in Neuenburg and one new record in Geneva; movements regulated by Joseph Ory.
  • 1960: One new record in Geneva, One new record in Neuenburg and also 1st place in Neuenburg. Movements regulated by Joseph Ory.
  • 1961: Two new records in Geneva by Joseph Ory. The first four places for the 'single pieces' category in Geneva are occupied by Omega.
  • 1962: 2nd, 3rd and 4th places for Omega, which decides to create a new caliber.
  • 1963: Two 1st places in Geneva and Neuenburg. Movements regulated by Joseph Ory and André Brielmann.
  • 1964: New record in Neuchatel by Joseph Ory.
  • 1965: Omega occupies 2nd to 9th places (1st place goes to Zenith). Pierre Chopard was tasked to create a new Caliber for the observatory trials. Cal. E11 had a very unusual shape to take a very big barrel and its mainspring. It never entered competition because quartz movements arrived in 1967.
  • 1966: Three new records for Omega (two in Neuenburg, one in Geneva).
  • 1967: Quartz movement Beta 1 (later Beta 21) included in the same category as mechanical movements. Last year that Omega competed with mechanical movements as "old technology" not comparable with quartz. The production watch was released in 1970 as the Omega Electroquartz accurate to 5 seconds per month
  • 1968: Omega enters with a tuning fork movement regulated by André Brielmann for a new record.
  • 1969: Two new records for the tuning fork movements regulated by André Brielmann.
  • 1970: One new record for the tuning fork movement regulated by André Brielmann.
  • 1971: Two new records for the tuning fork movements regulated by André Brielmann.
  • 1972: André Brielmann retires.
  • 1974: Omega Marine Chronometer certified as the world's first Marine Chronometer wristwatch, accurate to 12 seconds per year

Reference Numbers

Before 1962 it was a simple alphanumeric code of two letters followed by four digits. Between 1962 and 2007 Omega used the Mapics system, consisting of two letters followed by either six or seven numbers. The PIC system started in 1988, running concurrently with Mapics, and featured an arrangement of eight numbers in three groups (XXXX.XX.XX).[42]

Finally, today we have the PIC14 structure, with 14 digits in six groups.

Environmental rating

Top 5 gold producing nations

In December 2018, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released an official report giving environmental ratings for 15 major watch manufacturers and jewelers in Switzerland.[43][44] Omega, along with 7 other manufacturers including Patek Philippe, Breguet and Rolex, was given the lowest environmental rating as "Latecomers/Non-transparent", suggesting that the manufacturer has taken very few actions addressing the impact of its manufacturing activities on the environment and climate change.[43][44]

There are concerns over the lack of transparency in manufacturing activities and the sourcing of precious raw materials such as gold, which is a major cause of environmental issues such as pollution, soil degradation and deforestation.[43][44] The situation is especially serious in the developing countries which are also top producers of gold, including China, Russia and South Africa.[45][46][47][48] It is estimated that the watch and jewelry sector uses over 50% of world's annual gold production (over 2,000 tons), but in most cases[quantify] the watch companies[example needed] are not able to or are unwilling to demonstrate where their raw materials come from and if the material suppliers use eco-friendly sourcing technologies.[43]

Notable models

Main article: List of most expensive watches sold at auction
  • The Omega wristwatch Ref. H6582/D96043 (1960) once owned by Elvis Presley was sold in auction by Phillips for 1.812 million US dollars in Geneva on May 12, 2018, making it the most expensive Omega timepiece ever sold at auction.[49][50] The watch was manufactured in 1960 and was sold by Tiffany & Co. in 1961.[50] The watch was presented to Elvis Presley as a gift from RCA Records on February 25, 1961, to commemorate his remarkable achievement of having sold 75 million records.[49] Petros Protopapas, the director of Omega Museum, later confirmed that the Museum was the winning bidder.[51]
  • The Omega Stainless Steel Tourbillon 301 was sold in auction by Phillips for around 1.43 million US dollars (1,428,500 CHF) in Geneva on November 12, 2017.[52] It was then the most expensive Omega timepiece ever sold at auction.[53][54]
  • In March 1965, the Omega Speedmaster was declared “Flight Qualified for all Manned Spaced Missions."[55] On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon wearing his Omega Speedmaster watch.[56] The model of the first watch on the Moon is the Omega Speedmaster 105.012.[57]

Notable patrons and owners

Seamaster 120M Analog-Digital "Multifunction" was introduced in 1998 and discontinued after few years, Fitted with Omega Cal.1665

Brand ambassadors

Unlike others, Omega have strict procedures in the selection of their brand ambassador and only choose a small number of successful celebrities or individuals deemed suitable to carry the title.[58][who?]

Historic events

The Omega Speedmaster, or "Moonwatch", selected by NASA for all the Apollo missions

Space exploration

Main article: Omega Speedmaster Professional

The selection of the "Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph" for American astronauts was the subject of a rivalry between Omega and Bulova.[59]

All subsequent crewed NASA missions also used this handwound wristwatch. NASA started selecting the chronograph in the early 1960s. Automatic chronograph wristwatches were not available until 1969. Even so, all the instrument panel clocks and time-keeping mechanisms in the spacecraft on those space missions were Bulova Accutrons with tuning fork movements,[citation needed] because at the time NASA did not know how well a mechanical movement would work in zero gravity. [citation needed]

First watch on the Moon

The Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch on the Moon, worn by Buzz Aldrin. Although Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong was first to set foot on the moon, he left his 105.012 Speedmaster inside the Lunar Module as a backup because the LM's electronic timer had malfunctioned. Aldrin elected to wear his and so his Speedmaster became the first watch to be worn on the moon. Armstrong's watch is now displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.[60] Aldrin's was lost. He mentions in his book, Return to Earth, that when donating several items to the Smithsonian Institution, his Omega was one of the few things that was stolen from his personal effects.[61]

In 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph, the Omega company unveiled the commemorative Speedmaster Professional Chronograph Moonwatch. The watch had the distinctive features of the first hand-winding Omega Speedmaster introduced in 1957. It was sold in an edition of 1,957.[62]

Sponsorship

NCIS

In the US television series NCIS, lead actor Mark Harmon wears an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean with supporting cast member Michael Weatherly wearing a matching version. In both cases, this is the stainless steel model with orange bezel and black dial.

Need for Speed

Omega is the official timekeeper for the video game Need for Speed II, released on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation in 1997.[63]

Kojak

In the US television series Kojak, lead actor Telly Savalas wore a gold-plated Omega Time Computer One, the first mass-produced LED watch.

James Bond

The Omega Seamaster, a deep diving watch. The second crown (at 10 o'clock) is a helium release valve to allow helium out of the watch after diving at great depth. The watch is similar to that shown in recent James Bond films, in which this valve is transformed into improbable hidden gadgets.

Omega has been associated with James Bond movies since 1995. That year, Pierce Brosnan took over the role of James Bond and began wearing the Omega Seamaster Quartz Professional (model 2541.80.00) in the movie GoldenEye. In all later films, Brosnan wore an Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer (model 2531.80.00). The producers wanted to update the image of the fictional "super-spy" to a more distinctly sophisticated "Euro" look.[64]

Another possible reason for the change from the Rolex Submariner that Bond had previously worn was a change in the business environment surrounding modern films and product placement. Omega was eager to participate in high-profile co-promotions/product placement opportunities, especially the James Bond franchise, to further its brand image/awareness. It accomplished this by supplying products and finance (something that the conservative Rolex company avoids, presumably because it sees no benefit for itself).[65]

For the 40th anniversary of James Bond (2002) a commemorative edition of the watch was made available model 2537.80.00 (10,007 units). The watch is identical to the model 2531.80.00 except the blue watch dial had a 007 logo inscribed across it and also machined into the caseback. The band also had 007 inscribed on the clasp.[66]

Daniel Craig, the current James Bond since Casino Royale, also wears the Omega Seamaster: the Seamaster Planet Ocean (model 2900.50.91) in the first part of Casino Royale, and the Seamaster Professional 300M (model 2220.80.00) in the latter part (from travelling to Montenegro). He even goes so far as to mention Omega by name when questioned by Vesper Lynd. In connection with the launch of the film, Omega released in 2006 an 007-special of the Professional 300M, (model 2226.80.00) featuring the 007-gun logo on the second hand and the rifle pattern on the watch face, this being a stylized representation of the gun barrel sequence of Bond movies.[67]

Omega released a second James Bond limited edition watch in 2006. This was a Seamaster Planet Ocean model with a limited production of 5007 units. The model is similar to what Craig wears earlier on in the film; however, it has a small orange colored 007 logo on the second hand, an engraved caseback signifying the Bond connection, and an engraved 007 on the clasp.[68]

In the 2008 movie Quantum of Solace, Craig wears the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean with a black face and steel bracelet (42mm version). Another limited edition was released featuring the checkered "PPK grip" face with the Quantum of Solace logo over it.[69] The third limited edition release from Omega came in 2012. This model was based on the Planet Ocean Ref: 232.30.42.21.01.004. It featured a textured dial with the 007 logo at the 7 o'clock position, and a 007 decorated rotor visible through the case-back.[70]

In 2015 two commemorative models were produced for the 24th Bond film, Spectre: the Omega Seamaster 300m master co-axial Ref: 233.32.41.21.01.001. 7007 units were produced, and came with a NATO strap as well as the standard bracelet. The watch also featured a bi-directional bezel with a world timing scale rather than a diving scale present on the standard 300m.[71] The second timepiece for the film was the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m master co-axial Ref: 231.10.42.21.03.004. The watch was decorated with a textured dial based on the Bond family coat of arms, as well as with a rotor resembling a bullet and gun barrel with "James Bond" inscribed.[72]

Sports sponsorship

Speedmaster Racing, Michael Schumacher Edition of 2000, with his signature engraving on the backside.
Omega scoreboards during the 2012 Olympic Games.

Omega has frequently been the official timekeeper for the Olympics, beginning with the 1932 Summer Olympics. It was the official timekeeper for the 2006 Winter Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics, and 2010 Winter Olympics.[73] In 2008, Omega brought out an Olympic edition with its logo on the second hand. Olympic swimmer and multiple gold medalist Michael Phelps is an Omega Ambassador and wears the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. Omega is also the official timekeeper for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[74] In 2014 Omega became the official timekeeper of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The brand was a Worldwide Olympic Partner at the 2016 Summer Olympics. After the 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed due to COVID-19, the Tokyo Station's Olympic countdown clock, made by Omega, which was displaying the number of days until the Games, and a local tourist attraction, was halted and switched to show the current date and time.[75]

This partnership will continue at least until 2032.[76]

Omega constructed and maintained a monochrome video scoreboard for Milwaukee's County Stadium, the former home of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers, which was in use from the board's construction in 1980 until the stadium's closure in 2000.[77]

Providing support to Emirates Team New Zealand and representing the team's official watch, in 2007 Omega introduced the Seamaster NZL-32 chronograph, with the name suggested by the name of the boat that won the America's Cup in 1995. The watch was developed in cooperation with Dean Barker, skipper of Team New Zealand and Omega Ambassador.[78]

On July 1, 2011 Omega became the official timekeeper of PGA of America through the signing of a five-year agreement that was to carry through 2016. The brand also sponsors the Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega European Masters.

Controversy

2022 Olympics

Omega faced activist pressure to withdraw from being the official timekeepers of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, especially after numerous governments adopted diplomatic boycotts. After the International Olympic Committee selected Beijing to host the Olympics numerous governments enacted diplomatic boycotts over human rights violations, in particular China's repression of Uyghurs and other minorities which some countries have designated as a genocide.[79] Omega defended its continued role as the official time keeper of the Olympics by stating its policy to "not to get involved in certain political issues because it would not advance the cause of sport in which our commitment lies."[80] Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932 including the controversial 1936 and 1980 Olympics which also saw widespread boycotts over human rights concerns.[81][82]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Omega - Swatch Group". www.swatchgroup.com. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  2. ^ "Brand - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie". www.hautehorlogerie.org. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  3. ^ byWatchTime, Written (2019-01-24). "10 Things to Know About Omega". WatchTime - USA's No.1 Watch Magazine. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  4. ^ "The History Of The Omega Watch Company". HallandLaddco. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  5. ^ "1894: the New OMEGA 19-Ligne Calibre Inspired a New Company Name | OMEGA EN®". Omega. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  6. ^ "Omega Museum in Biel - Swatch Group". www.swatchgroup.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  7. ^ "Omega Museum". MySwitzerland.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  8. ^ Bailham, Lee; Eric Jones. "Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronographs". NASA. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Highlights of Olympic Timekeeping". Omega SA. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  10. ^ "オメガ・ウォッチ: JFK's Omega Wristwatch acquired for the Omega Museum". オメガ・ウォッチ. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  11. ^ "OMEGA Watches: Planet OMEGA". OMEGA Watches. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  12. ^ Wolf, Cam. "One Big Change in a Biden White House: A New President's Watch". GQ. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  13. ^ "News - Omega Seamaster Diver 300M America's Cup Chronograph". Monochrome Watches. 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  14. ^ Neate, Rupert (2021-11-12). "Winter Olympics top sponsors 'silent' over China's human rights record". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Omega: the first 100 years". Omega Museum.
  16. ^ Richon, Marco. 2007 Omega: A Journey through Time.
  17. ^ a b c "Rolex Vs Omega: Which Should You Buy?". Blowers Jewellers. 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  18. ^ "Comparative Review of the Omega Seamaster Professional Model2254.50.00 VS. The Rolex Submariner 16610 | Luxury Tyme: The Rolex Reference Page". Luxury Tyme. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  19. ^ "Comparative Review of the Rolex Sea-Dweller VS. Omega Planet Ocean". The Seamaster Reference Page. 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  20. ^ Conklin, David W. (2006). Cases in the Environment of Business: International Perspectives. SAGE. ISBN 9781412914369.
  21. ^ According to the DowJones Market Bulletin of January 18, 2008.
  22. ^ "Bonding With Time – The Wristwatches of James Bond". Jamesbond.ajb007.co.uk. 2006-06-29. Archived from the original on 2011-12-14. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  23. ^ http://www.swiss-watch-guide.com/the-most-popular-swiss-watch-brands/ [dead link]
  24. ^ Evans, Jonathan (March 24, 2022). "The Omega x Swatch 'MoonSwatch' Brings the Speedmaster to the Masses".
  25. ^ White, Jeremy (March 24, 2022). "Omega and Swatch's $260 MoonSwatch Looks Out of This World".
  26. ^ "MOONWATCH PROFESSIONAL CHRONOGRAPH 42 MM 311.33.42.30.01.001 Steel on leather strap".
  27. ^ byWatchTime, Written (2018-10-17). "10 Things to Know About Omega". WatchTime - USA's No.1 Watch Magazine. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  28. ^ a b c "Art, Culture & Luxury". Omega: a Cultural Icon – Blog. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  29. ^ Brunner, Written byGisbert (2018-07-12). "7 Milestone Omega Watches, from 1892 to Today". WatchTime - USA's No.1 Watch Magazine. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  30. ^ "Audemars Piguet | Innovation: Tradition & Avant-garde". Audemars Piguet - Le Brassus. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  31. ^ a b Tan, Timmy. "The world's first wristwatch minute repeater: Still sound | TIMEWERKE". Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  32. ^ "OMEGA Watches: The Collection". OMEGA Watches. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  33. ^ Omega Co-Axial 2500
  34. ^ See Europa Star technical notes.
  35. ^ Woodward, P (August 2004). "Performance of the Daniels Coaxial Escapement" (PDF). Horological Journal: 283–285. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-08-07. (archived August 7, 2004)
  36. ^ "OMEGA Watches: Planet OMEGA". OMEGA Watches. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  37. ^ "Computerized Machines Aid Human Watchmakers". International Herald Tribune. 5 September 2012 – via The New York Times.
  38. ^ Omega Watches, OMEGA announces the first truly anti-magnetic watch movement
  39. ^ "OMEGA". Bob's Watches. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  40. ^ a b c "PuristSPro - Official PuristSPro Reviews of luxury Wristwatches for Collectors & buyers". PURISTSPRO - Wristwatch News, Reviews, & Original Reports.
  41. ^ "FIRST 100 YEARS - omegamuseum.com". Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  42. ^ "Complete Omega Serial Numbers Guide". The Watch Standard. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  43. ^ a b c d "Environmental rating and industry report 2018" (PDF). World Wide Fund for Nature. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  44. ^ a b c swissinfo.ch, S. W. I.; Corporation, a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting. "Swiss luxury watches fail to meet environmental standards". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  45. ^ Vidal, John; Guest, graphic by Pete (2015-08-15). "How developing countries are paying a high price for the global mineral boom". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  46. ^ "China needs to get to grips with its gold mining pollution crisis". www.chinadialogue.net. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  47. ^ Einhorn, Dom (2015-02-09). "Mining in Russia: An economic boost or an environmental threat?". Born2Invest. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  48. ^ "South Africa has failed to protect locals from gold mine pollution: Harvard report". MINING.com. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  49. ^ a b "Elvis Presley's Omega Sells For $1.8 Million, Setting A New World Record For An Omega". Phillips. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  50. ^ a b "Phillips: CH080118, Omega". Phillips. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  51. ^ "SJX Watches". watchesbysjx.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  52. ^ "Phillips: CH080217, Omega". Phillips. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  53. ^ November 12, Jon Bues; 2017. "Auction Report: Omega Stainless Steel Tourbillon Achieves CHF 1,428,500 at Phillips, Making It The Most Expensive Omega Ever Sold". HODINKEE. Retrieved 2019-01-22. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ Revolution (2017-11-13). "New Record Set for Most Expensive Omega Wristwatch Sold to Date at CHF 1,428,500". Revolution. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  55. ^ Cusano, Claudia (2015). "The First Watch on the Moon: the Omega Speedmaster".
  56. ^ "The first watch worn on the moon". Summer 2009.
  57. ^ SWISSWATCHEXPO (AUGUST 7, 2020). "Which Omega Speedmaster Went to the Moon?". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "Swiss Luxury Watch Manufacturer". OMEGA Watches. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  59. ^ Alan A. Nelson, "The Moon Watch: A History of the Omega Speedmaster Professional", NAWCC Bulletin, February 1993.
  60. ^ Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronographs Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, 2004.
  61. ^ Alan A. Nelson, "The Moon Watch: A History of the Omega Speedmaster Professional", NAWCC Bulletin via [1], February 1993 issue (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  62. ^ "New Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch - a Piece of Space History". Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  63. ^ "Need for Speed II SE, GameFAQs Reader Screenshot: A Ford Indigo in Need For Speed 2 SE". GameFAQs. NoMercyKing. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  64. ^ "James Bond Numbered Edition: The New Platinum-Gold Omega Seamaster Archived 2021-02-28 at the Wayback Machine", theluxuryhut.com, 2020-08-14 (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  65. ^ "The 007 Connection", chronocentric.com (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  66. ^ Lara Magzan, "The business of Bond...James Bond", CNN/Money, 2002-11-25 (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  67. ^ Devin Zydel, "Omega Presents James Bond Exhibition in Geneva Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine", Commanderbond.net 2007-01-06 (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  68. ^ Devin Zydel, "Omega Casino Royale Limited Series Planet Ocean Watch Announced Archived 2009-07-08 at the Wayback Machine", commanderbond.net 2006-11-05 (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  69. ^ Omega "[2] Archived 2014-04-08 at the Wayback Machine"
  70. ^ "Omega Co-Axial 42 mm". OMEGA Watches. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  71. ^ "Omega Seamaster 300 SPECTRE Limited Edition". Bond Lifestyle. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  72. ^ "Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Limited Edition". Bond Lifestyle. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  73. ^ "Official Timekeeper Omega unveils the Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock", Olympic.org, 2007-02-13 (retrieved on 2007-02-21).
  74. ^ "OMEGA Watches: Planet OMEGA". Archived from the original on 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  75. ^ "The countdown clock is clicking again for the Tokyo Olympics". USA Today. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  76. ^ "IOC and official timekeeper Omega extend global Olympic partnership to 2032". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  77. ^ Prigge, Matthew J. (September 26, 2016). "The County Stadium Scoreboard: Big, Ugly and Misunderstood". Shepherd Express. Retrieved May 13, 2018. By the time the team was preparing to move into Miller Park, the County Stadium was the only park in baseball without a color board.
  78. ^ "New Omega Seamaster - Developed In the Regatta Spirit". Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  79. ^ Mather, Victor (2022-02-06). "The Diplomatic Boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Explained". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  80. ^ "The U.S. government is boycotting the Beijing Olympics over human rights. Coke and Airbnb are still on board". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  81. ^ "1936: OMEGA Timed the Performances of Olympic Runners | OMEGA US®". Omega. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  82. ^ Sevastopulo, Demetri; Germano, Sara; Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew; Ahmed, Murad (2021-05-06). "Olympics sponsors duck questions over Beijing 2022 as boycott calls grow". Financial Times. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omega_SA&oldid=1079250365"