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Omega
Founded in 1848 and headquartered in Biel/Bienne, Omega is the watch that went to the Moon and the house that industrialised the anti-magnetic movement. Haute Time has covered every Speedmaster anniversary, Seamaster and Constellation release for two decades.
273Stories published
1848Maison founded
6Current collections
Omega is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt, based in Biel/Bienne and part of the Swatch Group. Its principal collections are the Speedmaster, Seamaster, Constellation, De Ville and Aqua Terra. The Speedmaster was qualified by NASA for manned spaceflight and worn on the Moon in 1969, and Omega has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932. Since 1999 its movements use the Co-Axial escapement, and since 2015 Omega has certified finished watches as Master Chronometers with the Swiss federal metrology institute METAS.
OmegaFounded 1848Biel/BienneSwatch GroupSpeedmasterSeamasterCo-AxialMaster ChronometerMoonwatch
The Collection
Speedmaster Moonwatch
Chronograph · 42mm
Cal. 3861
Seamaster Diver 300M
Dive · 42mm
Cal. 8800
Seamaster Aqua Terra
Everyday · 38-41mm
Cal. 8900
Constellation
Dress · 39-41mm
Cal. 8900
De Ville Tresor
Dress · 40mm
Cal. 8910
Seamaster Planet Ocean
Dive · 43.5mm
Cal. 8900
Latest Omega Coverage
All 273 Stories ›
News
OMEGA Expands the Speedmaster 38 mm Collection With Seven Moonwatch Inspired Designs
All Features
5 Watches That Hold Their Value Best — and Why
All Features
The 5 Watch Complications Every Collector Should Understand
News
What Does “In-House” Mean Today?
All Features
Every Omega Release of 2026 So Far: Olympics, Bond and Beyond
News
The MoonSwatch’s Wildest Publicity Stunts
Milestones
1848
Louis Brandt opens an assembly workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds; the Omega calibre gives the company its name in 1894.
1932
Omega becomes Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, a role it still holds.
1969
The Speedmaster Professional is worn on the lunar surface during Apollo 11.
2015
Omega begins METAS Master Chronometer certification of finished watches, not just movements.
Timely FAQs
Is Omega better than Rolex?
They compete at the same price points with different strengths. Omega leads on movement technology - the Co-Axial escapement, silicon balance springs and 15,000-gauss anti-magnetism, all certified at the finished-watch level by METAS. Rolex leads on resale value and availability at retail. Which is better depends on whether you are buying the engineering or the asset.
What is the Co-Axial escapement?
An escapement designed by George Daniels and put into series production by Omega in 1999. It replaces the sliding friction of a traditional lever escapement with radial impulses, which reduces wear and lengthens service intervals.
Which Speedmaster is the real Moonwatch?
The hand-wound Speedmaster Professional, currently the calibre 3861 reference, is the direct descendant of the watch NASA qualified for manned spaceflight in 1965 and the model worn on the Moon. Automatic and larger-cased Speedmasters are part of the family but are not the Moonwatch.
Where can I read Omega reviews from a watch publication?
Haute Time has published close to 200 Omega stories since 2006 - Speedmaster anniversaries, Seamaster launches, Olympic and America's Cup timekeeping, and boutique openings.