August 28, 2022

Where Are Omega Watches Made?

Written By: Vahid Moradi

Whether you’re a watch amateur or a chronometer aficionado, you’ve probably heard of Omega watches. For many, hearing this watch brand or seeing its Greek logo adorn an advertisement evokes feelings of long-standing quality, refinement, and stature.

But if you like to know the origin of luxury watch brands, you might be wondering, “Where are Omega watches made?” Omega watches were born and continue to be made in Switzerland.

The Swiss-made Omega watch brand carries a fascinating legacy between its intricate gears. Like the watches themselves, this legacy has been passed down for generations—and now, we’re sharing it with you. It’s time to unlock the magic inside both the Men’s Omega Watch and the Women’s Omega Watch.

The History of Omega Watches

If you find yourself wondering how the Omega watch company achieved such high levels of success and prestige, then you’ll first need a primer on some of the brand’s humble beginnings.

A Foundation of Quality

Omega was founded by Louis Brandt, an innovative jeweler for his time, in 1848. During this era, Geneva, Switzerland’s bustling capital, was coming to rise as one of the top watch producers in the world. Following in the footsteps of predecessors like Daniel Jeanrichard and Abraham-Louis Breguet, Brandt designed his watches with thoughtful care and precision.

Brandt built his empire from his hometown in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland between 1848-1879. With help from a French-made invention called the établissage and his own inventive moxy, Brandt was able to construct high-quality watches at a faster pace.¹

A Switzerland Legacy

When Brandt died in 1879, his sons carried on their father’s legacy and relocated the company’s production center to Bienne, Switzerland,² where the Omega watch company still waves headquarter flags today. Bienne is now the landmark site for Omega’s most cutting-edge production facility.

The Brandt brothers made fair use of their father’s legacy—they had clearly inherited his talent. They went on to produce groundbreaking innovations in watchmaking that took the globe by storm and won Omega the prestigious brand distinction it carries today.³

Timeless design and superior craftsmanship. Shop watches!

Omega Watches Through History

Brandt and his sons helped build the sturdy shoulders that the Swiss-made legacy stands on today. But quality is only one piece of the story. Omega’s consistent innovation over time and adaptability through world events has won them the distinction of world leaders, celebrities, athletes, and record breakers everywhere.

Throughout history, you can find Omega watches:

At the Olympics – The Olympic games in Los Angeles, California in 1932 was an especially exciting feat for Omega as the brand was chosen as the official timekeeper of the games. This tradition still runs as strong as the watches today as Omega’s technology records 1/1000th of a second at these high-stakes games.³
During World War II – In 1937, Omega designed their first central second hand, which made it even easier to count and record time by the second. During World War II, the Omega timepiece became known as the nurse’s watch, helping nurses and hospital staff save lives more confidently.³
On The moon – One of Omega’s famous designs, the Omega Speedmaster, is the only watch in NASA history to be approved for official space-mission timekeeping. The Speedmaster became the official watch of the first moon landing in 1969, helping land spaceships and its nickname, The Moonwatch.³
Across Antarctica – Reinhold Messner was the first explorer to cross Antarctica entirely on foot. To help him navigate the treacherous cold and snowy mountains, he used none other than the Omega Speedmaster. The watch helped him time his three-month journey to stake the South Pole sign into uncharted ice.³
Under the sea – They designed the Omega Seamaster to handle moisture and pressure involved in swimming, diving, and underwater exploration. A special version of the watch was created for a record-breaking oceanic mission called The Five Deeps Expedition, taking explorers to the deepest parts of all five oceans.⁴

The Swiss-Made Promise

Omega watches are still produced in Switzerland, just as they were over 170 years ago. The Swiss-made stamp carries rich heritage and an irreplicable promise of quality. The legacy that Brandt and other Swiss watchmakers left was one of meticulous craftsmanship, artistry, and attention to detail.

Official Swiss-made watches like Omega bring these luxuries to the jewelry counter:

They’re made with finer materials – Unlike quarts or sports watches, Swiss watches are meticulously crafted with higher caliber metals, like steel for durability, and gold, silver, and platinum for unmistakable prestige and polish.⁵

They’re carefully hand-assembled – In the 1800s, Swiss watchmakers perfected watches completely by hand. Today, machines are supplemented to add accuracy and save time, but Swiss watches are still assembled by hand to ensure the highest quality possible.⁶

They’re made with plenty of time – And not just because they tell it. Swiss watch production is poured over by expert craftspeople for several weeks or even months, depending on the value. When you buy a Swiss watch, you’re buying true artistry.⁷

Swiss-Made Requirements

At the bottom of your Omega timepiece, you’ll find tiny letters that read Swiss-made. In order for Omega and other Swiss watch brands to engrave this oath, their watches must meet these rigorous criteria:⁹

The technical development must take place in Switzerland
At least 60% of production costs must be based in Switzerland
The watch’s movement components must be at least 50% Swiss
60% or more of the movement must be produced in Switzerland

What Makes an Omega Watch Special

The legacy born in Switzerland and carried across land, sea, and space is one spectacular achievement in watchmaking. There’s no denying the level of prestige an Omega watch brings to wearers and admirers alike as it carries far more than a case.

With an Omega watch adorning your wrist, you can be sure that your hand-assembled piece is:

Made with the best materials – Omega uses fine metals and alloys that withstand the test of time and elements. They’re built to last which is how to Omega watch price is determined. Yellow and rose gold of about 18K adds value and refinement, while stainless steel and titanium construct a solid foundation resistant to corrosion.⁹

Always innovative – Since their birth in 1848, the experts behind Omega watches have not stopped innovating. From their world-class designs, to custom ceramic-gold mixtures, to magnetic resistance technology, there’s always something dazzling in the works behind the Omega face.⁹

Made to last – Many people question, “do Omega watches hold their value?” Because Omega watches are so thoughtfully made with such durable, high-quality materials, they can be passed down to family members for hundreds of years. Omega watches can last from 40 to up to 70 years, or longer, depending on the model and care, and they’re designed to undergo Omega watch repair by any watch professional.¹⁰

A pocket-sized piece of history – When you wear an Omega watch, you wear history on your wrist. Clock microseconds like timekeepers at the Olympics. Watch time and the Earth go by from space on your Speedmaster. After all, jewelry isn’t just an exceptional way to complete an outfit. It tells a story.

Signature Styles of Omega Watches

The Omega Seamaster has shimmered its distinctive radiance in the deepest depths of the ocean—so what other Swiss-made styles are Omega famous for? You’ll find many of them available today. Others were praised long ago in the heart of Switzerland and remembered still for the trails they blazed.

Here are just a few of the most celebrated Omega watch styles:³

The 19-ligne calibre – This is the watch that put Omega on the global map in 1894. The Brandt brothers swept the globe with incredible innovation for their time. It marveled in extreme accuracy and, for the first time, its parts were repairable and replaceable by any other watchmaker. The 19-ligne set a new standard for production worldwide.

The Speedmaster – This Omega watch is arguably the most iconic and respected design in the brand’s history. First crafted in 1957 for NASA, the Speedmaster reached new heights with its precision under nearly insurmountable conditions. Thanks to its famed trip to the moon and beyond, the Moonwatch nickname is placed aside from its official Speedmaster title.

The Seamaster – This Omega watch is another precious gem from 1948 that you can still find today. Many sub-categories have been designed since its inception, such as the Aqua Terra, Diver, and Planet Ocean. Newer models are crafted with precious materials like gold and sapphire, and they still carry their water-resistant prowess, a hallmark of top-notch diver watches.

The Constellation – In 1952, shortly after the creation of the Seamaster, the Omega Constellation was born of stars—in more ways than one. The face is a night sky with eight gleaming stars you can still spot on the model today. The stars represent Omega’s impressive eight wins in precision competitions like the Kew-Teddington.

Find Your Swiss-Made Omega Masterpiece at CJ Charles

Asking the question, “where are Omega watches made?” will start your journey in Switzerland and take you sailing across ponds, speeding beyond limits, and soaring through space. Omega’s commitment to Swiss-made artisanship no doubt proves the value and prestige of these remarkable works of art.

Here at CJ Charles, we’re much more than a jeweler. We’re committed to presenting you with the most authentic, brilliant works of art that you’ll cherish for years to come. That means we’re deeply dedicated to providing best-in-class customer service—around the clock.

Shop our extensive collection of rare and extraordinary jewelry, watches, gemstones, gifts, and more at our Omega Boutique in San Diego. You’ll find a wide variety of Omega watches, and our inventory is constantly growing. For your beloved Swiss-made timekeeper, enjoy our white-glove watch repair service. Time won’t stop, but with watches like these, it sure will feel like it.