Omega watches are known the world over for their distinctive style and quality. An elegant and prestigious watch, an Omega houses a precision timekeeper in cases that range from surgical-grade stainless steel to 18-carat gold. Since it was founded in 1848, Omega has produced watches for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and the American army in 1918. It was also the watch chosen by NASA for the moon landing on 1969, has been the official timekeeper since 1932 of the Olympic Games and has featured in James Bond films.
First introduced in 1957 as a sports and racing watch, the Omega Speedmaster was worn during the first moon landing and is today still approved for wear during space flight. It's sometimes called the Moonwatch for this reason. The Speedmaster was tested rigorously before being approved for the space programme. Other contenders included Rolex and Breitling. After going through all the tests, the Omega Speedmaster maintained an accuracy of within five seconds a day.
It's the Omega Seamaster that James Bond has favoured since Pierce Brosnan played the super-spy in the film GoldenEye in 1995. A diving watch, the Seamaster is water resistant to 1200 metres and has a stainless-steel bracelet and case with a helium release valve positioned at ten o' clock. On James Bond's model this valve is frequently replaced with various weird and wonderful gadgets useful for a super-spy.
Omega watches are luxury items that carry luxury prices. Not only are the styles distinctive, but the movements inside each watch are predominantly chronometer grade for precision and long-lasting accuracy.
Each has a serial number that identifies it which is laser etched on the back of the watch in later models or inside the case on earlier watches. Omega holds detailed records of all the watches it has made. Any reputable dealer in business to sell Omega watches would be able to provide advice about how to trace the history of an individual watch or to identify the model and serial number. Omega also has a database of vintage watches that can be searched to find information on older models.
Watches in this class hold their value whatever their age. New watches are usually sold through high-end jewellery dealers and discounts on these are restricted by the manufacturer in order to maintain value and price levels. Modern Omega watches are highly sought after, as are vintage ones, with many owners keeping theirs for decades or handing them down through generations.
