Omega's Speedmaster has a glorious history, having been carried on manned space flights, and is a masterpiece collection that has left its mark not only on the history of watches but also on the history of mankind. We will introduce the fascinating Speedmaster, including reissues of legendary early models and cutting-edge Master Chronometers.
Omega's history and major collections
In 1848, watchmaker Louis Brandt opened a small watch workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, which would become Omega. Louis was passionate about the precision of watches, and after his death in 1879, his two sons, Louis-Paul and César, took over the business.
Let's take a look at the origins of Omega and its main collections, which have now grown to have a large global market share.
A long-established luxury brand that boasts outstanding name recognition in Japan
In 1880, the Brand brothers moved their headquarters to Bienne, Switzerland, and in 1894 developed a highly accurate and easy-to-maintain movement, setting a new standard in watchmaking.
The name given to this globally successful movement was "Omega," which means "highest achievement." In 1903, this name was also used as the company name (Louis Blanc & Frères - Omega Watches), and the Omega brand was born.
Since then, Omega has served as the official timekeeper for 28 Olympic Games since 1932. It has also been adopted as the sole official equipment of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and these illustrious records are testament to its unparalleled precision and reliability.
Today, Omega has become one of the most well-known and popular brands in the world. In Japan, it is highly popular among middle-aged people and collectors who are aware of its history and value, and is also widely recognized as a luxury watch brand that young people aspire to own.
A collection of practical and stylish designs
Omega continues to manufacture watches that pursue reliability as measuring instruments, and their quality is exemplary for luxury watches in terms of not only precision and legibility, but also durability and magnetic resistance.
The Seamaster, which was born in 1948, the 100th anniversary of the company's founding, is a full-fledged diver's watch based on the military watch that was delivered to the British military during World War II.
The racing model "Speedmaster" and the "Railmaster" for railway workers and engineers were developed based on the professional model "Seamaster 300" released in 1957.
These sibling models are known as the "Master Trilogy," and the current Railmaster has been integrated into the Seamaster collection.
Omega's other collections include "De Ville," which means street corner, and "Constellation," which means constellation, and these are elegant styles that are also available in women's lines.
Get to know the Speedmaster
The Speedmaster and Seamaster are Omega's signature collections, but since the birth of the Master Trilogy, they have specialized their performance for different targets.
The birth and evolution of the Speedmaster
The Seamaster 300, which served as the basis for the Speedmaster, had the highest water resistance at the time, at 300m, and also had high magnetic resistance and shock resistance thanks to the use of a soft iron inner case.
The first Speedmaster, released in 1957, was a model that adapted these specifications for professional motorsports.
In 1965, it was selected from among a number of famous luxury watches as an official piece of NASA equipment, and in 1964, the fourth generation was engraved with the word "PROFESSIONAL" on the dial as proof that it could maintain accuracy even in a microgravity environment (outer space).
In 1969, it earned the title of "Moonwatch" after landing on the moon with Apollo 11. From around 1970, the case back was engraved with "THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON," and it has continued to evolve ever since in pursuit of ultimate reliability.
What is the difference between the Seamaster and the Seamaster?
The Speedmaster is a collection that seeks reliability as a measuring instrument for races where tenths of a second count and in outer space, as exemplified by the Speedmaster Racing and Speedmaster Moonwatch.
The Seamaster, on the other hand, is based on the standards of precision, legibility, and water resistance required by British Air Force pilots and sailors.
Many models are water resistant to over 300m and have a diving bezel, designed for use in deep seas, and some models boast water resistance of 600m or even 1200m.
The lineup is extensive, including the Aqua Terra, which is water resistant to 150m and does not have a diving bezel, the Seamaster 1948, a reproduction of the original model, and the Railmaster, a sibling model of the original Seamaster 300.
