Omega Watches
The History of Omega Watches
The history of Omega tells the tale of a small family-orientated company that grew to be a global phenomenon. The firm was set up in 1848 by Louis Brandt in the Swiss village of La Chaux de Fonds. For three decades, he kept up a modest workshop – selling his watches to clients from all over the world.
Following his death in 1879, his sons took over the business and immediately saw the potential for something more. They swiftly began the process of expanding their operations into making their own parts – a move that quickly paid off. Within just a few years, they were able to relocate to Bienne, which gave them a better opportunity to expand their workforce. The company’s headquarters is still in this location to this very day.
In 1885, the Brandt brothers launched their very first mass-produced timepiece, the Labrador. Shortly after, the first minute-repeating watch was unveiled in 1892. Just two year after this, the 19-line Omega calibre was released. This particular innovation not only sent ripples throughout the entire watchmaking industry, but would also soon give the company its name.
After a family tragedy, the company was taken up by 23-year-old Paul-Emile Brandt and shortly after this, Omega was announced as the Official Timekeeper at sporting events right across Switzerland. In 1909, the brand served as Official Timekeeper for a balloon race called the Gordon Bennett Cup – their first international event. This is particularly significant as it led to the distribution of their timepieces in six continents. In 1932, the Omega brand established one of its most celebrated and important partnerships, when for the first time in its history, the Olympic Games entrusted just one brand to be its Official Timekeeper.
Just over a decade later, the watchmaker unveiled the first edition of one of the most iconic timepieces in history – the Seamaster – with the first incarnation debuting in conjunction with Omega’s 100th anniversary. This model remains one of the brand’s most beloved and popular watches in the family.
1962 was the year that Omega really made history, when a Speedmaster was worn by Wally Schirra on the Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury Programme. This event led to a significant endorsement from NASA, when in 1965 the Speedmaster became their official watch for space missions. In 1969, the Speedmaster was worn by Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon and also helped the astronauts from the Apollo 13 mission to return home safely – something that earned Omega the prestigious Snoopy Award in 1970.
More recently, the Omega brand has continued to cement its legacy as a true leader in the industry. On top of its continued partnership with the Olympic Games, the James Bond franchise and games, it also became the Official Timekeeper of the PGA in 2011. Thanks to its involvement in space, sports and its enormous reputation for quality watchmaking, Omega has managed to cultivate and maintain a reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers for more than a century.
Pre-owned Omega Watches from Blowers Jewellers
Blowers Jewellers is the destination of choice for aficionados of exquisite timepieces and other items of jewellery. We like nothing more than to help our clients find the Omega watch of their dreams, and are perfectly placed to do the same for you.
We understand that owning a piece of jewellery is an incredibly personal experience, which is why we will take the time to understand exactly what you want out of your Omega watch – whether it be an investment piece or something to wear regularly. We will then use our considerable expertise to find the perfect item for you.
Blowers Jewellers stocks an extremely wide range of second-hand Omega watches, both in a used or unused condition. Each unique piece is hand-chosen by our experts and comes with a warranty of between 12 months to five years. You are able to view every single one of our luxurious pre-owned Omega watches in our Hull boutique and by appointment at our office in Mayfair, London.
If you are instead looking to sell your Omega watch, we offer a generous part exchange service to help you purchase your ideal Omega timepiece – or any other item of jewellery from our collection. We can even buy the item outright if you so prefer. For more information about this, simply send us the details of your Omega watch and we will provide you with the best possible price within just 48 hours of receiving your request.
Throughout our history, Blowers Jewellers has created a hard-earned reputation for reliability and quality from both our clients and within the industry as a whole. We are dedicated to providing expert guidance throughout every stage of the process, so you can be completely confident that you are in safe hands.
For more information about how we can help you own your ideal Omega watch, contact our team today or visit us in person in one of our boutiques. We will do everything we can to assist.