Omega

Founded: 1848
Based in: Biel, Switzerland
In our catalog: 21 watches from $3,600 to $15,300

Omega has more famous moments than any other watch brand. Its Speedmaster went to the Moon, its Seamaster is on James Bond's wrist, and it has timed the Olympic Games since 1932. It's also a technical leader: its co-axial escapement and Master Chronometer certification set new standards for accuracy and resistance to magnetism.

History

Louis Brandt started assembling watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848. His sons moved the company to Biel and in 1894 launched a movement called the Omega, which was so successful that the company took its name in 1903. Omega became the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games in 1932.

In 1948 it launched the Seamaster, and in 1957 the Speedmaster, the Seamaster 300 and the Railmaster. NASA tested several watches in 1965 and chose the Speedmaster, and in 1969 Buzz Aldrin wore one on the Moon. In 1999 Omega introduced the co-axial escapement, designed by English watchmaker George Daniels, and in 2015 launched Master Chronometer certification, tested by the Swiss federal metrology institute (METAS). Omega is the biggest brand in the Swatch Group.

Signature models

Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional: The Moon watch, with a hand-wound chronograph movement, in hesalite or sapphire versions.
Speedmaster '57 and Speedmaster CK2998: Vintage-inspired Speedmasters.
Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon: A black ceramic Speedmaster.
Speedmaster Racing: A sportier Speedmaster with a racing dial.
Seamaster Diver 300M: The Bond watch, with a wave-pattern dial and a helium escape valve.
Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition: A titanium version made for the Bond films.
Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M: A versatile everyday watch with a teak-pattern dial.
Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M: A larger professional diver.
Seamaster 300 Heritage: A modern version of the 1957 diver.
Seamaster Ultra Deep: Based on the watch that went to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 2019.
Constellation: A dressy watch with "claws" on the bezel.
Railmaster: An antimagnetic field watch.
De Ville: Classic dress watches.

What it's known for

Omega's Master Chronometer movements are accurate and highly resistant to magnetism. The brand offers a huge range of styles, and the 2022 MoonSwatch collaboration with Swatch brought the Speedmaster design to a new audience.

Price and positioning

Most Omegas cost $3,500 to $15,000, with gold and complicated pieces higher. It's the brand most people cross-shop with Rolex, and the big difference is availability: you can walk into an Omega boutique and buy a Speedmaster or Seamaster. Pre-owned prices are often well below retail.

Omega watches in our library

Omega De Ville Prestige ($3,600 to $4,300)
Omega Constellation 28 Quartz ($4,700 to $5,200)
Omega Railmaster ($5,300 to $5,600)
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ($5,900 to $6,400)
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 34 ($6,000 to $6,400)
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 38 ($6,200 to $6,700)
Omega Constellation 39 ($6,400 to $6,900)
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M 41 ($6,600 to $7,200)
Omega De Ville Trésor 40 ($6,700 to $7,200)
Omega Speedmaster CK2998 ($7,000 to $7,500)
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Hesalite ($7,100 to $7,600)
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M ($7,500 to $8,000)
Omega Seamaster 300 Heritage ($7,600 to $7,900)
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Sapphire ($8,100 to $8,400)
Omega Speedmaster Racing ($8,300 to $8,800)
Omega Speedmaster '57 ($9,700 to $10,300)
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer ($10,000 to $10,500)
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition ($10,500 to $11,300)
Omega Seamaster Ultra Deep ($12,600 to $13,100)
Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon ($13,400 to $14,000)
Omega Seamaster Ultra Deep Titanium ($15,300)

Vintage Omega watches

Omega Constellation Pie-Pan 168.005 (pre-owned, $2,000 to $4,000)
Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022 (pre-owned, $6,500 to $10,000)
Omega Seamaster 300 165.024 (pre-owned, $7,000 to $14,000)
Omega Speedmaster 105.012 Pre-Moon (pre-owned, $12,000 to $20,000)

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