OMEGA SA is one of the most well-known watch brands in the world. It’s not just because of the first watch on the Moon journey, or the James Bond connection, but goes back much further than that. OMEGA is part of the Swatch group and makes some of the best watches money can buy. Today we are going to talk about some of the best OMEGA watches to buy, where to have them serviced, the different styles of watches OMEGA makes, and much more.
History of OMEGA Watches
In the beginning, OMEGA was a small watch workshop in Switzerland founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1848, Louis formally started operations as La Generale Watch Co. until incorporating “Omega” in 1903. During the first 30 years, OMEGA was growing as a global brand selling watches in multiple countries and helping cement OMEGA as a powerful Swiss watch brand. While Louis passed away in 1879, his children took over the business and kept the legacy strong. In 1885 OMEGA released the “Labrador”, an in-house movement that was technologically advanced and exceptionally accurate. This movement served as the perfect baseline for the 19-ligne Caliber that revolutionized watchmaking less than ten years later.
In 1894 the namesake was born when the 19-ligne was released. They dubbed this achievement “OMEGA”, a name signifying ultimate accomplishment. This movement was accurate and able to be serviced since each component could be individually replaced without modification, and it could be done by any watchmaker in the world. The winding and setting mechanism developed is still being used in modern watches. This successful movement caused unparalleled growth that made OMEGA the largest manufacturer of finished watches in the world prompting the company to change the name to include OMEGA.
It was not always sunshine and rainbows for the brand. As with many of its fellow Swiss mechanical watch manufacturers, OMEGA was purchased by a large conglomerate, in their case, The Swatch Group. Swatch is the largest watch company in the world and employs approximately 36,000 People in 50 countries. Among The Swatch Group’s other brands are ETA, Breguet, Certina, Longines, Tissot, Rado, Hamilton, Blancpain, and a few others.
New Omega Watch Releases
Finding the newest OMEGA watch releases is not as easy as it used to be. We used to have Baselworld every year, and while Watches & Wonders has taken over that space for the most part, many watch brands are not participating and have left the major trade shows over the years.
OMEGA is also famous for not scheduling new watch releases. They will hint about it ahead of time, however there is no specific timeline and OMEGA will release new watches throughout the year. One thing OMEGA does regularly is release watch models on important dates or anniversaries, or with the release of a new James Bond movie. The Olympic Games is another event often linked to an OMEGA release as OMEGA is the official timekeeper of the Olympics.
Timing the New Watch Release
The best way to keep up with OMEGA watch news is to stay in touch with your OMEGA Boutique representative. They will have all of the new releases as many are boutique only and can’t be purchased from OMEGA Authorized Dealers. The OMEGA Instagram is also a quick way to keep tabs on the news regarding releases. The issue here is news spreads like fire in the information age. By the time you hear about the new release, it may be too late to put your name on the boutique waiting list.
How to Reserve Your Copy of the New OMEGA
The only way to get the best release is to contact your OMEGA Boutique through email or phone. They can’t put your name on the list without knowing you’re interested. This is a system however. The boutique is going to be favoring people who spend money with them specifically. It doesn’t matter if you purchased watches from the official website or not, so it’s always best to buy watches directly from them.
The boutique in Hawaii had about 50 people on the waitlist for the 50th anniversary Speedmaster Silver Snoopy award. The allocation favored the highest spender to the lowest, however the OMEGA Corporate offices had the final say if a specific request would be filled. When it comes to less desirable models, the Seamaster 300m for example, when the watch was on backorder, you could put your name on the list and have a high likelihood of receiving your watch in a reasonable timeframe. In contrast to Rolex, you won’t have to wait years to never have any real chance to get the hottest watch.
The Best OMEGA Watch
When it comes to choosing the best OMEGA watch, it’s a very personal journey. Each person is different and each watch will match a different person’s style. There are some OMEGA watches that can meet an end goal outside of simply your best fit. Whether it’s how to build your personal collection, preserve your capital, or some other goal, OMEGA watches can easily fit the bill.
Best OMEGA Watch as an Investment
There are actually OMEGA watches that can be considered a smart investment when buying new. Others will be a smart investment when buying used since the original owner ate the depreciation and there is little chance of it being worth less in the future. The only OMEGA watches that are investment quality pieces are the super limited/high demand pieces. You can spot the models that should fetch a premium by looking at older models in the series. OMEGA watches are generally well connected and past success is a good indicator of future models also being successful.
Best OMEGA Watches for Your Collection
When you are collecting OMEGA watches, there are three major lines that most people should look at. They give you options, they are desirable, and have a wonderful story behind them. The three icons of the OMEGA watch lineup are the Seamaster 300m, The Speedmaster Professional, and the Limited Editions. The most iconic of the group is the Speedmaster Professional. It’s a classic timepiece that is consistently at the top of the must own watch lists. Following the Speedmaster in second position is the Seamaster 300m. This is a historied watch that makes a great everyday wear. While all of OMEGA’s timepieces are quality instruments, these two just have everything a collector could want.
Used OMEGA Watches
There are some people that just will not consider this route, they love new things too much. While there are OMEGA watches that are good to buy new, the vast majority of models will have a large depreciation curve when purchased second hand. When deciding if you should buy an OMEGA used, you should. You will save a significant amount of money. Depending on the model, you can save as much as 50% on the watch you want. Unlike cars, you have far less work to keep a watch working and looking like new. A solid watchmaker will be able to make even a 60 year old OMEGA look and run like new.
Best Places to Buy Used OMEGA Watches
The great thing about the digital age is the vast resources available to you with the push of a few buttons. The only thing you need to do is find that person or platform you trust before you hand over thousands of dollars. So you can get an idea we’ve compiled a quick list of some resources that will help you in your search:
- Value Your Watch
- Chrono24
- eBay
- TheRealReal
- Independent Watch Dealers
- Online Watch Stores
The general rule of any major purchase is to know the sellers. Even on the bigger platforms, get in touch with the seller to verify not only the watch, but the seller’s legitimacy.
Used OMEGA Watches Under $1000
While it may not seem like it at first, it’s very possible to get a quality used OMEGA watch for under $1000. You don’t have a large number of options, but they are there and are fantastic watches in their own right.
