The Speedmaster line of Omega is known for its strength of tradition, contemporary styling, exclusivity all combined with advanced technology to deliver timepieces that are designed and engineered for technically oriented customers. And when presented with a vintage Omega Speedmaster, this exclusive class of customers and collectors experience a sense of history that has gone into the making of these mechanical marvels. Hence, it is no wonder why the vintage Speedmasters are so much in demand and a wish of every collector.

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II

The successor of Mark I, which was never referred by its name and popularly known as the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, the Speedmaster Professional Mark II was brought into the market for the general public mainly to phase out the Moonwatch. The ‘Mark’ suffix to the watches suggested at various improvements in the watch which looked quite handsome and elegant on the bracelet. The watch was first produced in 1969 and ‘marks’ an important year of vintage owing to its cousin, the Moonwatch. Just the year of this vintage Omega Speedmaster is enough to have collectors drooling over it, let alone its fine design and alluring aesthetics. The Mark II also marks the first time that a Speedmaster used flat mineral crystal with numerals on the inside.

Omega Speedmaster Pulsometer ‘Speedy’ 125

As alluring and exciting as the name sounds, the Speedmaster 125 was the world’s first watch to be certified as a self-winding chronograph-chronometer. Only 2000 pieces of the watch that was first introduced in 1973, were produced making it a rage amongst collectors due to its significance in the world of watchmaking. The watch was produced in order to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Omega and hence has a mirror polished 125 on its black dial. The mineral crystal of the watch was available with reverse-printed tachometer, pulsometer, telemeter and decimal scales that gave it much more functionality.

Being one of Omega’s most proficient line, the vintage Omega Speedmasters, especially those of the sixties and seventies era are a rage amongst collectors due to their significance and closeness to the first watch on moon.

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Watch connoisseurs are particularly delighted with this line of Omega watches as it not only has one of the company’s most extensive variety but also has some of the most exquisite pieces that the company has produced. From the time of inception, deep in the history of Omega till today, the Specialities line has seen some of the most famous watches not only in Omega, but watchmaking history. A few of these vintage Omega Specialities can satisfy any avid collector’s collection and just a look at these can induce lust in any watch aficionado’s mind.

Omega Pilots Watch

First created in 1938, the Omega Pilots Watch rivaled many of the established brands which had been producing watches for pilots for a long time. The timepiece that came with caliber 26.5 SOB T2 movement in a stainless steel case that had a turning bezel that had red engraved hour numerals with radium index pointer that was used to determine the duration of the flight. Inside was a matt, black oxidized dial which had a double minute track and radium Arabic numerals. One of the watch’s specialty was that the case had widely placed horns so as to accommodate a special bracelet or strap so that it could be worn on the wrist or the knee (as most pilots of the time preferred).

Omega Dynamic

Stepping aside from the usual design, under the initiative and leadership of Robert Foster, the Dynamic watches were first produced in 1967. The different elliptical shape of the watch stemmed from an advanced study that was carried that time about the anatomy of the wrist and especially the oval part or zone on which the wristwatch actually rests. This unusual design is what makes this watch such a rage amongst collectors. The watch incorporated a self winding movement which was housed in a monocoque case that had a hermetically sealed crystal so as to assure a water resistance of up to 30 meters. The contrasting colors of the dial and hands also gave the watch a much alluring and vibrant look.

As mentioned earlier, the Specialities line from Omega has always been innovative and unorthodox in its design and conceptualization of watches since the beginning. Hence, these fine vintage Omega  Specialities are every watch collector’s wish.

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Omega launched the Seamaster line back in 1947 and since then, the line has considerably picked up with consumers and watch collectors alike. The line especially received a boost when it was used by the most liked and equally famous super-spy – James Bond. The Seamasters that were launched in the early days were not exactly a diver’s watch but were rather ‘waterproof’ to be used in the pool. It wasn’t until the late eighties that they began to be used as diver watches as figures of their water resistance began surfacing. Some of the Seamasters date back to even the 1930′s but were not known by the name and didn’t bear its signature inscription/medallion.

Some of the most sought vintage Omega Seamasters are as follows.

Omega Seamaster Chronometer (1969)

Although it looks like a simple Omega Seamaster, the 1969 Omega Seamaster Chronometer is a rare piece indeed, given that Seamsters were non-chronometers watches then; chronometers were only found in the Constellation line. Hence, automatically (contrary to its mechanical movement), this watch finds its way to an Omega collector’s wish-list. The watch is all stainless steel with a satin silver dial with popular Onyx inlays and is powered c.564 chronometer movement which is highly regarded.

Omega Seamaster Driver “Bullhead” – 1970

The Seamaster of the year 1970 which is affectionately known as the ‘Bullhead’ owing to its look and is another of the rarest Omega chronographs produced by the company. The watch has an unique design where the shape is neither the traditional tonnue, or circular but is broader on the top and tapering towards the bottom. The crown and the push buttons on this Seamaster also leave their traditional place and are found on the top. The inner dial appearance too is different and reminds one of the dial of an Omega Flightmaster.

Omega Seamaster 600 “Ploprof” – 1970

The first in the line of the Ploprof’s of the Seamaster 600 line, this 1970 watch is definitely a collector’s piece. That year saw the first generation of the Seamaster 600 go into production after four years of extensive testing. The Omega Seamaster 600 ‘Ploprof’ was most probably the first of the new water-resistant watches that were specifically designed for diving professionals. A very distinct appearance that set it apart from other watches was the switch of the crown to left side and the presence of a helium valve in its place. This helium valve has been the subject of much discussion and has added to the value of the watch.

Apart from these, the vintage Omega Seamaster line has also been influenced by the Star Wars franchise with watches in the 1970-71 known by the names like, Seamaster Darth Vader, Seamaster Anakin Skywalker, and even Seamaster Chronograph Jedi. These are especially a rage among the fans who are of both the followings, Omega as well as Star Wars.

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The Geneve line of Omega has been around since the 1950s and is considered as a base line between 1969 and 1979. However, little is known of the Geneve that is a higher line of watches of Omega that re-pegged between the Constellation and Seamaster line. The story of the Geneve line goes that in 1952, Omega won the first three places in the chronometer competition that took place at the Geneva Observatory and hence they decided to commemorate the victory with watches that would be named after the city. The Geneve have gone on to age like a rare wine and over the years, have gained not only value but acclaim.

Omega Geneve

The Geneve that were launched in 1953 is among the first Geneve from Omega. Although the watch does not have an 18 karat gold case like the other exquisite watches of its time and has a stainless steel body, it is still a rare and fine piece of machinery. The watch has a two tone matte silver and honeycomb dial with sub-seconds, has the Omega symbol just below the 12 marker and skeletonized gold dauphine hands. Underneath all this ticks a cal. 30 T4-267 movement and a straight-line lever escapement.

Omega Geneve Carre Arrondi

This Omega, for a change is an Automatic that was made during the 1960s and probably in 1962. The Omega Geneve Carre Arrondi also employs a different, square case that houses a circular dial which is Gray with faceted black painted steel baton indexes. The date window is set at 3 o’clock and the watch has black ‘baton’ hands. The looks of the watch clearly signify its vintage heritage and gives a retro feel.

The Geneve line has many other vintage variants some of which are very rare and some have been lost to time and are really hard to find in working condition.

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Vintage chronographs are quite the rage with watch collectors all over the world and when it comes to one of the oldest watchmaking institution, the craze just gets better; hence, there is no wonder why there would be so many aficionados and takers for the vintage Omega Chronographs. One of the reasons why the Omega Chronographs are so alluring is their authenticity and rareness which are the two factors that sell in the vintage watches business.

1926 Omega Chronograph

The 1926 Omega Chronograph was a wristwatch that was mainly based on a similar pocket watch of that time, the Omega Montre de Precision which was famously known as the Chronotachymetre. The wristwatch shared most of its characteristics with this pocket watch, right down to the dial which was white with distinctly denoted markers for the chronograph. The only difference between the wristwatch and the pocket watch was that the wristwatch was set in a casing of 18 karat yellow gold which housed the caliber 27CHR0 012 movement. There are a few around which are genuine to the core with even the leather strap and buckle.

1950 Omega Medical Chronograph

A chronograph that was specifically designed for the medicos of the time, the 1950 Omega Medical Chronograph is another piece of timeless beauty. The watch that was specifically engineered and designed towards doctors, featured semi-instantaneous minute register and pulsometer. The watches design for that time was chic with a stainless steel or silver casing with a dial that had white inner dial and silver outer chrono scale with distinct hour markers. The crown was accompanied on both sides by push buttons, which was a rare for that time.

Since the time Omega started manufacturing chronographs in the early days of the 19th century, its chronographs went on to achieve various feats like registering the time of various races and being the official timekeepers of the Olympic. These chronographs were later combined into the popular lines like Constellation, that Omega began to develop. Hence, there are many vintage Omega chronographs on the market, each with a special story to tell of the time that has passed but was important.

The Omega Flightmasters were not the usual chronographs in terms of timekeeping that the company manufactured and were, by far the coolest and the most kitsch watches of that era. These chronographs had seven hands which were color coordinated; three crowns and two push buttons, (all to suit the pilots’ needs) making it the most complicated chronograph Omega had built till that time. The watch could measure time from 1/5th of a second to 12 hours on the chronograph.

Just like other Omega lines, the Flightmaster has a caseback inscription or medallion; there is a jet engraved on the back with the Omega symbol on top and ‘flightmaster’ (all small caps) written below it. There were only two original ‘flightmasters’ series produced and both of them had the signature 2nd  blue hour hand that resembled a jetliner. A rare but third all solid-gold Flightmaster was also made which is the heaviest watch that Omega has produced till date. Part of the weight was due to the gold case on gold bracelet design which also featured a gold caseback. Apart from that, both the variants had very little difference between them.

The Omega Flightmasters were fashioned from a single block of Swedish steel and also had an unique joining system that enabled it to function in complete vacuum. The GMT hand (that resembled a jetliner) was capable of telling time, at the same instance, of a different place which made the watch more alluring as this quality was considered a big feat at that time.

Omega Flightmaster c.911 (ST145.036)

This watch employed a manual wind caliber 861 base Omega movement that had a 12-Hour GMT hand complication and was originally produced at the Bienne in Switzerland. The hand movement, which was uni-directional, could be controlled by the crown located at 10 o’clock whereas the other crown on the left hand side that was located at 8.30, controlled the bezel that was, in a  unique type, under the mineral crystal cover.

Omega Flightmaster c.910 (ST145.013)

This Omega Flightmaster has the same base movement (caliber 861) as that of the c.911 with the only exception that the seconds sub-register that rests at 9 o’clock is modified and replaced with a 24-hour AM/PM indicator. Apart from that, the watch is identical to the other Flightmaster.

The Flightmasters have at times been referred to as ‘Monster’ sized watch which does not go well with the aficionados and collectors. Nonetheless, it remains every collector’s dream to lay his/her hand on one. Naturally, the price and value of these vintage watches is on a steady rise.

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Deep within Omega is the DNA for design excellence and hence the Omega Constellation watches define the epitome of elegance and class when it comes to the watch world and surely are the bonafide icons of technicality and aesthetics.  These master pieces with their impressive style and a varying range of functionality are literally instrumental in setting the cornerstone of excellence for Omega. This Omega line of watches have sturdily stood the test of time and have come a long way since the first Constellation – the 30mm of 1952. The Constellation watches have graced the wrists of many a luminaries and politicians with the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev making the list and are as impressive as the ambassadors that dawn them, the likes of which include Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els.

‘Connies’ as they are affectionately known by the Omega enthusiasts, have been the prized possessions of many distinguished gentlemen who have been fortunate to sport these masterpieces. Some of these latest masterpieces are:

Omega Constellation Double Eagle

Robust among its line, the Double Eagle is the most popular watch in Omega’s Constellation line. The awe aspiring watch sports a red gold case on a rubber strap and has scratch resistant sapphire crystal cover and a screw in crown which is water resistant up to 100 meters. This watch has become a status symbol especially in golf to such an extent that it is considered as a non-prescribed medication for a serious respect boost among fellow golfers. Naturally, among its endorsers is the famous golfer Greg Norman.

On the technical front, the watch has a Omega 3313 caliber self-winding movement, Co-Axial Escapement with column wheel mechanism and has a power reserve of 52 hours (reference 1619.51.91). It is also available in Titanium and Steel casing.

Omega Constellation Chronometer 38mm

A few of the wristwatch aficionados consider this watch of the Constellation line as dated but that doesn’t stop it from being the next popular watch of the Constellation line so much so that if this line was a brand in itself, it would be the fourth largest selling brand. The Chronometer 38mm has especially become a mark of status in the oriental countries like India, China, Japan and others owing to the watch’s distinct (now) ornamental ‘claws’ which have become the hallmark and recognition of its design the world over. And indeed it is this affection of the Orients that will probably keep this watch in the Constellation line till the end of time itself.

Speaking of the technicalities of the watch, it comes in quite a few versions which incorporate makes that range from red gold casing on red gold bracelet strap to white gold on white gold with black dial and diamonds which again can create differences in the status of the watch bearer and be a cause of jealousy. Under these varied casings tick a Omega 8501 caliber – self-winding movement with Co-Axial Escapement.

The Constellation line is symbolic of Omega’s seamless blend of excellent horology and legacy design and is hence known the world over for its smooth curves and polished surfaces which go on to get it the title of the ultimate time pieces on Earth. No wonder they are dazzle and grace the wrists of so many luminaries and celebrities.

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The chronometer, by definition is a watch that has an official certificate from COSC, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, for which they have to pass certain precision tests. Over the history, Omega has produced not only fine pieces of chronometers that boast of synchronized mechanical movements, but some of its chronometers have also broken various records in the history of timekeeping. And these products of art and engineering form a very sought after collection of vintage Omega Chronometers, especially those dating back to their initial days.

Omega Chronométre

Launched in 1944, the Omega Chronométre was a high precision watch that employed the famous 30mm caliber in its Chronométre frame and also had micrometer regulator and special balance. The watch was an elegant looking fine work of art and engineering and hence, many of its movements were submitted to the Geneva Observatories, in which they set several world records. The watch was a fine, self winding, 18 karat gold piece which is very rare to find these days.

Omega Constellation Marine Chronometer (Megaquartz f2.4 Mhz & Ref. ST 198.0074)

Another exceptional piece of craftsmanship from a company that chased only excellence, the Omega Constellation Marine Chronometer that was launched in 1972 is still considered the most accurate and technically perfect wristwatch in the world. The watch was awarded the title of Marine Chronometer owing to its unparallelled accuracy in measuring time. Only 1000 of this masterpiece were produced and hence they are today one of the most sought vintage Omega.

Omega Chronometer-Speedsonic

An elegant watch fashioned from a heavy block of steel, the Speedsonic f300 Hz Chronometer is actually a fifth generation Speedmaster which bears the ‘Chronometer’ title. It was produced in 1973 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Omega’s founding and only 125 pieces were produced, making it one of the rarest, most sought after watch in the Omega collection. And that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the features of this watch that make it so alluring to a collector, for whom, laying hands on one, let alone own one can be a dream come true.

These are just few of the Chronometers that are much sought in the Omega collection. There are many chronometers from the stables of the Olympics official timekeeper that are rare and much in demand.

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“My name is Bond – James Bond” is a simple enough introduction but has become the most recognizable and influential line in the history of cinema and especially that of the James Bond franchise. But the shift of the 007 mantle from Roger Moore to Pierce Brosnan and Rolex Submariner to Omega Seamaster marked a distinct and enthusiastic change for both Bond as well as Omega fans.

Goldeneye (1995) saw a change not only in the 007 but also for the product placement strategies for high profile films where the enthusiastic Omega keen on acquiring a piece of the high profile action of the James Bond franchise too. Hence, when opportunity presented itself, Omega pounced on it and financed the films which made for a great example of effective product placement. With everything in place, the world witnessed a new James Bond, the charismatic Pierce Brosnan whose hand, that drove the havoc wrecking tank in Russia, sported the Omega Seamaster Quartz Professional Chronometer (reference: 2581.80.00) with its alluring blue dial that gave the super-spy a desired ‘Euro’ look.

James Bond, i.e. Pierce Brosnan, from then on wore the Omega Seamaster Diver 300 M in every Bond movie till he retired. The Seamaster Diver 300 M he used in Goldeneye was a 2541.80.00, whereas from Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) to Die Another Day(2002) was a 2531.80.00.

After Pierce Brosnan, the new 007, Daniel Craig, was a Omega ‘Seamaster Bond’ too and in a first, his debut as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006) saw the placement of not one but two Seamasters. He wore a Seamaster Diver 300 M (Reference: 2220.80.00) as well as the Seamaster Planet Ocean (Reference: 2900.50.91). His next movie, Quantum of Solace (2008) used the newer version of Seamaster Planet Ocean (Reference: 2201.50.00) which stepping aside from the tradition had a black dial.

Omega even produced a James Bond commemorative edition in 2002 of the wristwatch (Seamaster Diver 300 M) used in the movies to mark the 40th anniversary of the Bond franchise. The model was identical with the 2531.80.00 with the exception that the watch’s standard blue dial bore a 007 logo which was also inscribed onto the caseback. This was a limited edition model (Reference: 2537:80.00) of which only 10,007 units were produced.

For release of Casino Royale, Omega released a special limited edition Professional 300 M whose second hand featured the 007 logo and a rifle pattern. Another James Bond limited edition wristwatch was released in 2006 which was a Seamaster Planet Ocean (production limit – 5007 units). The watch is similar to that worn by Daniel Craig in the movie with the only difference being that it has an orange 007 logo which is on the second hand, 007 engraved on the clasp and on the case back. Yet another limited edition watch was released with a logo of Quantum of Solace.

Since the last sixteen years, the Omega Seamaster line has made a very distinct mark for itself with its association with one of the most successful franchise in cinema. Its product placement and its endorsement by the James Bond franchise has not only appeased the fans of Omega and Bond but has also created a connected realm for them which has increased the significance of both in their lives.

Omega first manufactured the Omega Speedmaster Professional in 1959 which was basically a chronograph that measured elapsed time in seconds, minutes and hours. However, that same factory made watch packed such a punch, i.e. it had such a sturdy built, that it would be the only watch to not only pass NASA’s rigorous testing and end up being the first watch on moon but also be the only NASA certified watch for space missions.

In the initial days of the race to the moon, the astronauts that had the privilege and great fortunes of being in space did not carry any official wristwatch. The watch that they would wear on their manned space flights was completely at their discretion and choice. In 1962 however, NASA began a search for a chronograph that would act as not only the official watch but also act complementary to the spacecrafts’ on board timing devices for its Mercury and Apollo missions.

NASA, in its search for the wristwatch that would be worn by the Gemini and Apollo astronauts, purchased watches (chronographs) of various brands, over the counter from a jewelry store (Corrigan’s) in order to evaluate them. Among these watches was the Omega Speedmaster.

NASA then subjected these watches to extreme conditions that mimicked those of space and even beyond those hostile conditions. For example, the Omega Speedmaster was subjected to forces of up to 12 g, was tested in vacuum conditions, was subject to wide ranging vibrations and subject to varying temperatures for varying time frames. In the end, it was the Omega Speedmaster that stood the real test of time and was the only watch to survive all these tests and remained largely within 5 seconds per day rate. Naturally, NASA chose and certified the Omega Speedmaster as the official chronograph for the space program in 1965; after a rigorous testing phase of around three years.

It was on March 23 1965 that Gus Grissom and John Young became the first astronauts to wear the officially certified Omega Speedmasters on the Gemini 3 mission; it was part of the standard equipments issued to astronauts. A year after that, an Omega Speedmaster took the title of the first spacewalk watch when it was strapped on Ed White’s G4C space suit as he took America’s first spacewalk; the reference number of that Speedmaster was 105.003. Omega Speedmasters were used for all of the Gemini missions from then on till the end of the Gemini Program in 1966. This would firmly establish the connection between Speedmasters and space exploration. After Gemini 4, Omega began using the appellation – Professional, with its Speedmasters for reinforcing its association with the astronauts.

Given its reliability and performance, the Omega Speedmaster once again became the preferred choice of NASA for the Apollo missions. During this time, Omega updated the Speedmaster Professional to 145.012. For the historic moon landing and the ‘giant step for mankind’ it was the Omega Speedmaster Professional which was the timekeeper for the time spent on the lunar surface (over 2 hours), strapped on the hand of Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin. Neil Armstrong’s Speedmaster Professional was left inside the module as the on board time keeping instrument had failed. The Omega Speedmaster Professional then became ‘the first and only watch on moon’ and also came to be known as the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch.

It was Jack Swigert’s Speedmaster Professional that was used to precisely deploy the 14 second mid course correction 7 burn which was instrumental in the crew’s safe return. As a token of their recognition of the watch’s outstanding performance and reliability the astronauts of the Apollo 13 awarded Omega with the Snoopy Award. For some of the Apollo missions, NASA issued more than one watch per astronaut for timekeeping and other uses from then on.

Thus was the journey’s of the first watch on moon and the journey’s of these time (keeping) machines have put down their name in history where they have been frozen timeless, contrary to their job of measuring elapsed time. There was hardly any doubt left as to why NASA endorsed this fine piece of machinery called the Omega Speedmaster Professional  for its space missions. There is none, even today.