7 Milestone Watches By Omega
6 min read
Over the years, Omega has released an impressive portfolio of watches. The watchmaker sent timepieces to the moon and to the depths of the ocean. It was sported by the world’s most sought-after spy, James Bond, and even singer Elvis Presley couldn’t help falling in love with it. In its rich, nearly 200-year legacy, the watchmaker has designed numerous watches. Here, we list some of the most iconic ones.
NASA’s official watch for manned space missions, the Omega Moonwatch rose to fame when Buzz Aldrin wore it on the moon in 1969. The original stainless steel "Moonwatch" was powered by Calibre 321 and boasted the intricate column-wheel. Omega’s Moonwatch is one that has been to space more than any other timepiece. It is also water-resistant up to 50 metres. Additionally, with all the fuss that marked the recent Omega and Swatch collaboration, the MoonSwatch, one thing is clear: the charm of an Omega Moonwatch is timeless and transcends generations.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, or the “James Bond” watch
This is one of the most popular watches from Omega. It was first introduced in 1993 and has been a fan favourite ever since. After all, it is 007’s trademark watch. The Omega “James Bond” Seamaster Diver 300M was first introduced in the movie GoldenEye (1995). The watch features a unidirectional bezel, a date window at 3 o’clock, and luminous hands and markers. It is water-resistant up to 300 metres and powered by the OMEGA Calibre 1538, which boasts Quartz precision movement. With a battery life of 42 months, this is one of the most noteworthy Omega watches.
Omega Constellation
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Constellation timepiece which was first introduced in 1952. Before the Speedmaster took the spotlight in 1957, Constellation ruled the roost in the horology universe. It was designed with an elegant “pie-pan” dial and featured a unique star at 6 o'clock. With eight stars on its crest and engravings of an observatory, the watch soon came to be known as “The Swiss watch”. It was powered by calibre 351 and employed a bumper rotor automatic movement.
Omega De Ville
The Omega De Ville is a dress watch that was officially introduced in 1967 after it departed from the “Seamaster” line. Slimmer and more refined, it didn’t take long for the watch to become a coveted accessory. It is powered by the Calibre 565 automatic movement and features a date window at 3 o'clock. In 2020, Omega enhanced the collection by introducing five new dial colours, including linen, green, silver, moonshine gold and blue.
Omega Railmaster
The Omega Railmaster was built in 1957 for railway workers and people who worked in electrical fields. It was the first watch to be anti-magnetic, resisting magnetic fields upto 1,000 gauss. Plus, it featured a clear dial with large luminescent indexes and boasted excellent accuracy. Today, the watches are powered by co-axial Master Chronometer and come in denim-inspired, stainless steel and other interpretations.
The Elvis Presley Omega watch
This watch does not only celebrate a milestone for Omega but also for legendary singer Elvis Presley. In 1961, Presley was given an Omega watch by RCA records to celebrate selling 75 million records, a milestone sales record for the singer. Featuring a Tiffany dial with a bezel surrounded by 44 brilliant-cut diamonds, courtesy of Omega, the white gold watch became a household name. The watch’s case back was engraved with the message, “To Elvis, 75 million records, RCA Victor, 12-25-60”. It was powered by the calibre 510 and features a stunning seconds sub-dial. What’s more, in 2018, the original watch was sold at an auction for US$1.8 million, thus making it the most expensive Omega.
Omega Seamaster 600 Ploprof
The Omega Seamaster Ploprof is a professional dive watch that was first introduced in 1970. The word “Ploprof” comes from plongeur professional, which translates to professional diver in French. The watch was designed to cater to divers who had to bear intense pressures at the depth of the ocean. Powered by calibre 1002, the automatic watch was waterproof to 600 metres. Today, the watch is water-resistant up to 1200 metres. It features a bi-directional bezel, a date window at 3 o'clock, and luminous hands and markers. The most eye-catching aspect of this watch is its case; you simply cannot confuse or compare it with any other.
Besides these, Omega is known for many more milestone watches, including the first watch with a legendary tuning fork and the smoothest seconds hand (Omega Megasonic), the first quartz wristwatch ever to be certified as a marine chronometer (Omega Marine Chronometer) and the world’s first minute-repeater watch in 1892. Omega is also the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, a title it has held since 1932.
All things considered, it is no surprise that Omega is one of the most prestigious watch brands in horology. With its innovative designs, unique complications and interesting backstories, the maison has definitely left a mark on the world of watches.
