| - | - |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1848 |
| HQ | Biel/Bienne, Switzerland |
| Employees | ~1,000 (Swatch Group: 32,477) |
| Revenue | Part of Swatch Group CHF 6.7B (2024) |
| Positioning | Precision timekeeper, Olympic partner, moonwatch heritage |
Omega was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The company moved to Biel/Bienne in 1880 and adopted the name "Omega" in 1903 after one of its successful calibers.
Owned by the Swatch Group. Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932. In 1969, the Speedmaster was worn during the Apollo 11 moon landing — the first watch on the moon. NASA had tested and qualified it in 1965 after a rigorous selection process.
Omega's key technical contribution is the Co-Axial escapement, developed by George Daniels and adopted by Omega in 1999. It reduces friction compared to the Swiss lever escapement, extending service intervals. Current models carry Master Chronometer certification from METAS, tested to 15,000 gauss magnetic resistance and ±0/+5 seconds/day accuracy.
Main collections: Speedmaster (chronograph), Seamaster (dive/sport), Constellation (dress/sport), De Ville (dress). Steel automatics start around €5,000; sport models run €5,000–15,000.