5 Omega Watches for Luxury Watch Beginners

Omega has produced many iconic watches, including the famous chronograph known as the Speedmaster Moonwatch. Here are five affordable Omega watches for both beginners and seasoned collectors.

Speedmaster Moonwatch Master Chronometer

　Introduced in 1957, the Speedmaster has become synonymous with spaceflight and adventure. Like many great icons, its design has remained largely unchanged for decades, a testament to the Moonwatch's worldwide recognition today. Updated in early 2021, the flagship Speedmaster features a distinctive black dial covered by a Hesalite (acrylic) or sapphire crystal, featuring the watch's trademark slim hour and minute hands, small seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, and a distinctive central chronograph seconds hand. The black bezel with a tachymeter scale is mounted on a 42 mm stainless steel case, water-resistant to 50 meters.

　The watch is powered by the Master Chronometer-certified manual-winding caliber 3861, the successor to the famous caliber 1861. While this movement has been upgraded many times over the years, it is essentially the same one that accompanied NASA astronauts on six trips to the moon.

Constellation Master Chronometer

　Omega introduced the Constellation in 1952. It was actually initially known as the Globemaster in the United States due to trademark issues in the United States, which were resolved in 1956.

　The dome of the Geneva Observatory has become something of an emblem for OMEGA, as the watch had just broken the record for timekeeping accuracy there the year before. The dome is surrounded by eight stars, representing OMEGA's achievements in observatories around the world, including the legendary 1931 event when OMEGA set a new record in all six categories at the Geneva Observatory, the only time this has ever been achieved by the same Manufacture.

　In 1982, Omega introduced the Manhattan Constellation, which debuted the now-familiar four prongs at 3 and 9 o'clock that held the sapphire crystal in place and ensured the watch's water resistance.

　In 2007, Omega introduced its own Co-Axial caliber, a movement with an escapement that offers low friction, high mechanical efficiency, and excellent accuracy over time—a testament to its performance, as evidenced by the COSC certification of all Omega watches equipped with the Co-Axial caliber.

Seamaster Aqua Terra Master Chronometer

　The Seamaster Aqua Terra is a robust timepiece with clean, distinctive lines. The dials of the Aqua Terra series are reminiscent of the beautiful wooden decks found on the finest yachts.

　The 38mm stainless steel case is powered by the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8800. It is resistant to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss, and can be viewed through the transparent case back.

　Omega is not the only brand that sells mechanical watches with anti-magnetic inner cases that protect their movements. Omega's watches are unique in that they use non-ferrous materials for the main components of their movements, making the movement itself anti-magnetic. This feature is becoming increasingly important today as we encounter magnets more and more often, such as in smartphone and tablet cases, briefcase clasps, and refrigerator doors.

Seamaster Planet Ocean Master Chronometer

　Omega's performance is evident not only in space but also underwater, making it a pioneer in both fields. In 1932, Omega introduced the Marine, known as the first watch specifically engineered for diving. Since those early days, Omega watches have accompanied many explorers on their deep-sea journeys. Marine biologist and explorer William Beebe wore an Omega Marine when he explored the world's first manned deep-sea expedition to a depth of 923 meters in a bathysphere. So did naval officer Yves Le Prieur, the inventor of scuba diving. Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau famously wore an Omega Seamaster Ploprof, and freediver Jacques Mayol, known as the Dolphin Man, wore an Omega Seamaster during his record-breaking dives.

　In 2005, Omega expanded its diver's watch offering with the launch of the Planet Ocean series. The stylish Seamaster Planet Ocean pays homage to Omega's diver's watch heritage. This model features a unidirectional ceramic diving bezel on a 43.5mm case and is water resistant to 600m. A helium escape valve is the hallmark of a truly professional diver's watch.

　The sapphire crystal case back allows you to see the automatic caliber 8900, which features a silicon free-sprung balance and two barrels.

デ・ヴィル プレステージ

　Even the most hardy adventurer needs to wear a dress watch from time to time. OMEGA offers a traditional selection for such occasions. The De Ville Prestige series features pure, classic styling and a timeless, luxurious look. The model shown here features a 39.5mm stainless steel case with a black PVD sun-brushed dial and an alligator strap. Protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, it is water resistant to 30m.

　The automatic caliber 2500 that is installed in this watch is the very same movement that uses the co-axial escapement that debuted to the world in 1999, and is therefore of historical importance.