Omega Watches

[Omega Moonwatch] [Omega Seamaster] [Omega Co-Axial]

Omega SA is a watch company based in Biel/Bienne Switzerland and is one of the more prestigious brands in timepieces. It is one of the most prestigious brands of the Swatch Group. 

Omega Watch Repairs

Complete Overhaul

A complete overhaul includes the complete disassembly of the watch case, bracelet, and movement. The case and bracelet are ultrasonically cleaned, polished, and refinished. The process removes scuff marks and scratches. The movement is ultrasonically cleaned, and then reassembled using recommended lubricants. Proper lubrication is an acquired skill of the watchmaker, achieved through years of practice and dedication. The movement is electronically calibrated and placed into the case. The watch is then subjected to a time test to assure accuracy before delivery.

Why Have Your Omega Serviced?

The longer you go between servicing, the more extensive the wear is likely to be, the more parts need replacing, the more expensive it will be. Don’t necessarily rely on the watch’s accuracy to determine when it should be serviced.

When Should I get my Omega Watch Serviced?

A car’s oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, your Omega should be serviced every 3-5 years.

A common misconception among many is that high-end timepieces do not have to be serviced regularly. Actually, your Omega should be serviced every three to five years. Just like other luxury items that need routine maintenance, so does the Omega. You might be making a drastic error in the future, by thinking that your Omega does not need to be serviced regularly. Don’t wait for a problem to happen, get routine maintenance your Omega.

Why is my Price on a Omega Repair Less Expensive Than Other Repair Shops or the Factory?

My answer to this question is – why are other repair shops and the factory so overpriced? I have been a watchmaker for over 38 years and live in a small town and have a shop with low overhead. I feel that it is better to keep my prices down and do more quality watch repair for my customers and keep repeat customers, rather than overcharge on each repair. I do each repair job one at a time and pay special attention to the needs of each individual watch repair.

I will gladly give you the names and email address of previous customers if you would like to contact them before sending your watch in for repair.

What is Done During an Overhaul of Your Omega?

• Disassembly of the watch & movement.
• Ultrasonic cleaning.
• Inspection for corrosion/friction fatigue.
• Proper Lubrication.
• Replacement of all gaskets and seals.
• Timing calibration.
• Polish case, band and crystal.
• One year warranty

Your watch is completely taken apart during the overhaul process.

Mans Omega 1120 movement

Shipping

Ship watches to:

Mark Sirianni
25 Fraley St.
Kane, PA 16735

(814) 837-9435
(814) 558-4818 (cell)
E-mail: [email protected]

Click this Link to Prepare for Shipping

---

History of the Omega Watch Company

Founded at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1848 by 23-year-old Louis Brandt who assembled key-wound precision pocket watches from parts supplied by local craftsmen. He traveled throughout Europe selling his watches from Italy to Scandinavia by way of England, his chief market. After Louis Brandt’s death in 1879, his two sons Louis-Paul and Cesar, troubled by irregular deliveries of questionable quality, abandoned the unsatisfactory assembly workshop system in favor of in-house manufacturing and total production control. Due to the greater supply of manpower, communications and energy in Bienne, the enterprise moved into a small factory in January 1880, then bought the entire building in December. Two years later the company moved into a converted spinning-factory in the Gurzelen district of Bienne, where headquarters are still situated today. Their first series-produced calibres, Labrador and Gurzelen, as well as, the famous Omega Calibre of 1894, would ensure the brand’s marketing success.

Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt both died in 1903, leaving one of Switzerland’s largest watch companies – with 240,000 watches produced annually and employing 800 people – in the hands of four young people, the oldest of whom, Paul-Emile Brandt, was not yet 24. Considered to be the great architect and builder of OMEGA, Paul-Emile’s influence would be felt over the next half-century. The economic difficulties brought on by the First World War would lead him to work actively from 1925 toward the union of OMEGA and Tissot, then to their merger in 1930 within the group SSIH, Geneva. Under his leadership, then that of Joseph Reiser beginning in 1955, the SSIH Group continued to grow and multiply, absorbing or creating some fifty companies. By the seventies, SSIH had become Switzerland’s number one producer of finished watches and number three in the world.

Weakened by the severe monetary crisis and recession of 1975 to 1980, SSIH was bailed out by the banks in 1981. During this period, Seiko expressed interest in acquiring Omega, but nothing came out of the talks. Switzerland’s other watchmaking giant ASUAG, principal producer of movement blanks and owner of the Longines, Rado and Swatch brands, was saved in similar fashion one year later. After drastic financial cleansing and a restructuring of the two groups’ R&D and production operations at the ETA complex in Granges, the two giants merged in 1983 to form the Holding ASUAG-SSIH. In 1985 the holding company was taken over by a group of private investors under the strategy and leadership of Nicolas Hayek. Immediately renamed SMH, Socit suisse de Microlectronique et d’Horlogerie, the new group achieved rapid growth and success to become today’s top watch producer in the world. Named Swatch Group in 1998, it now includes Blancpain and Breguet. Dynamic and flourishing, OMEGA remains one of its most prestigious flagship brands.

Omega Watches in Space Exploration

The Omega Speedmaster, the iconic Moonwatch, selected by NASA for all the Apollo missions. The selection of the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph as the official watch worn by American astronauts was the subject of a famous space-race era rivalry between Omega and Bulova. All subsequent manned NASA missions also utilized this hand wound movement wristwatch. NASA started selecting the chronograph in the early 60’s and automatic chronograph wristwatches were not available until 1969. However, all the instrument panel clocks and time-keeping mechanisms in the spacecraft on those space missions were Bulova Accutrons with tuning fork movements, because at the time, NASA did not know how well a mechanical movement would work in zero gravity conditions.

First Watch on the Moon

The Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch on the Moon worn on the wrists of Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin. Unfortunately, this historically notable watch is now considered lost. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin mentions in his book “Return to Earth” that when donating several items to the Smithsonian Institution, his Omega was one of the few things that was stolen from his personal effects.

Omega Watches and James Bond

The Omega Seamaster, a deep diving watch. The fourth button-like item (at 10 o’clock) is a helium release valve to allow helium out of the watch after diving at great depth. The watch is similar to that featured in recent James Bond films, in which this valve is transformed into improbable hidden gadgets. Omega has been associated with the famous James Bond movie franchise since 1995. That year, Pierce Brosnan took over the role of James Bond, and the producers wanted to update the image of the fictional “super-spy” to a more distinctly sophisticated “Euro” look.

Another reason for the change from the Rolex Submariner watches that Bond previously used to wear is the change in the business environment that surrounds modern high-profile films. Omega was amenable to participating in high profile co-promotions and product placements in the movies (something that the conservative Rolex company avoids). Its Seamaster 300M Professional Chronometer is the current official James Bond watch, used by Pierce Brosnan in each of his Bond movies since, but not including, GoldenEye. In the GoldenEye film, the quartz Seamaster 300M Professional, model: 2541.80.00 was featured. For the 40th Anniversary of James Bond (2002) a special commemorative edition of the watch was made available where only 10,007 units were produced. The watch is identical to the model: 2531.80.00 except the blue watch face had a 007 logo inscribed across it. The band also had 007 inscribed on the clasp.

Daniel Craig, the current James Bond of the film “Casino Royale” also wears the Omega Seamaster. In the film, he wears two different models, the Seamaster Planet Ocean in the first part of the film, and in the latter part (from travelling to Montenegro), he wears the “official” Bond watch, the Seamaster Professional 300M. In connection with the launch of the film, Omega released a special 007-special of the Professional 300M, featuring the 007-gun logo on the second hand and the rifle pattern on the watch face. The face design being a stylized representation of the iconic gun barrel sequence of Bond movies. Omega has also released another James Bond limited edition watch in 2006, a Seamaster Planet Ocean (limited production of 5007 units), similar to what Craig wears earlier on in the film, with a discrete 007-logo integrated on the second hand.

Omega Watches in other Popular Media

Luc Besson’s movie “The Big Blue” featured Omega’s Seamaster Professional 600 which has become a collectible. Bill Paxton first wore the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch he received in 1993 in the movie Apollo 13, however he grew so attached to the piece that he continues to wear it throughout his new show Big Love. Top Gear host and celebrity Jeremy Clarkson wore an Omega Seamaster Professional James Bond watch for a few years until due to lack of service it started acting erratically; he recently replaced the watch with a new large size Omega Planet Ocean. NCIS actor Michael Weatherly aka Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo used to wear a Rolex Submariner at the outset of the show but has since switched his timepiece to the Omega Planet Ocean with the orange bezel. Actor Peter Weller wore the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch in the movie “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.” In the movie “War of the Worlds”, actor Tom Cruise wore a vintage Omega chronograph that stopped running when the aliens first started to attack. In the movie “Minority Report” actor Tom Cruise (Detective John Anderton) wore an Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33 disguised as a Bulgari watch. David Duchovny aka Fox Mulder in the TV show “The X Files” was repeatedly shown wearing an Omega Deville Prestige watch. In the movie “The Edge” Alec Baldwin aka Robert Green is given an Omega Seamaster Chronograph as a gift from Elle Macpherson aka Mickey. Sarah Michelle Gellar aka Amanda Shelton was wearing the Omega Constellation in the film “Simply Irresistible.” Chow Yun Fat aka Nick Chen is seen wearing an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch in the film “The Corruptor.” Will Smith aka Robert Dean wears an Omega DeVille Prestige, in the film “Enemy of the State.” David James Elliott aka Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. wears an Omega Seamaster Professional Diver in television series “JAG.” Dennis Quaid wears an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch in the movie “The Right Stuff” Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel both wear Omega Speedmaster Professional Moon watches in the movie “Frequency.” “The Man” in the movie “Undercover Brother” wears an Omega Seamaster chronograph.

The OMEGA Seamaster Professional Diver has been worn by Pierce Brosnan in all four of his James Bond movies, including the 2002 film “Die Another Day.” He chooses the stainless steel full size with blue face, blue bezel on a stainless steel bracelet – models 2531.80 (automatic) or 2541.80 (quartz). Sellers of OMEGA watches sometimes loosely apply the “James Bond” nickname to any of the skeleton-hand OMEGA Seamaster models. But so far, only the 2531.80 and 2541.80 have ever appeared on Bond’s wrist in a film, though it is reasonable to consider the mid-sized versions of both those watches (2551.80 and 2561.80) to also be “James Bond” watches. In the earlier James Bond films starring Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton, Bond is often seen wearing a Rolex Submariner. Thunderball featured various watches by Rolex, Breitling, and Breitling’s “Top Time” line. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) featured George Lazenby as Bond wearing his personal Rolex Submariner (bought while auditioning for the role) and a Rolex Chronograph. Several of the later Roger Moore films such as “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1978) and “Octopussy “(1983) featured Seiko watches — most notably ones with high-tech digital or video displays.

Other models of the Seamaster have been featured as movie tie-ins. “The Edge” (1997) features Alec Baldwin wearing an OMEGA Seamaster Professional Chronograph which becomes involved in an interesting plot complication.

Goldeneye (1995), had the first appearance of the Seamaster in a Bond film. In it, 007 wears the quartz model 2541.80. Former fellow agent 006 wears the same watch, but on a custom strap. Special Q-Branch features include a laser beam (comes out of the bezel marker) and a remote explosive detonator. Ironically, there is an error in the appearance of this watch in “Goldeneye.” You first see 2541.80 in the pre-credits sequence which occurs in 1987, seven years before the events in the rest of the movie. Yet this style Seamaster Professional was not introduced until 1993. In “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997), 007 switched to the automatic chronometer version, model 2531.80. This version (supplied in the film by the Chinese Secret Service — not Q-Branch) also has a remote explosive detonator. But this time the watch also includes the explosive itself, in a small removable module behind the helium release valve. Interestingly, the opening credits for this film include an x-ray view of the interior of the watch! In “The World Is Not Enough” (1999), he again is wearing the model 2531.80. Two special versions are used in the film. One provides emergency lighting, the other has a piton that fires and deploys a strong wire for Bond to swing to safety. The model of choice continues with the 2531.80. In “Die Another Day” (2002), though with no new gadget features. The watch is used as a remote detonator (improved design though) and the standard crown mounted laser. Interestingly, a vintage OMEGA stopwatch has a momentary closeup in the film, too.

A lot of completely incorrect and confusing reports of a different watch being the “new” James Bond watch have cropped up from time to time. These are all mistaken reports caused by some people’s inability to mentally separate the actor from the role of a specific character. Mr. Brosnan has appeared in ads for almost all the major model lines of OMEGA watches. Some OMEGA marketing material has confusingly identified other Seamaster models as “James Bond’s Choice.” But these have nothing to do with which OMEGA watch may appear on the wrist of 007 in any future James Bond film. The choice of the watch to appear in the movie is made by the film’s costume director and any endorsement deals are between the movie producers and OMEGA. When appearing in the role of James Bond, Mr. Brosnan is bound by those agreements. What similar personal endorsement agreements Mr. Brosnan does as himself are quite separate agreements between he and OMEGA. They are in no way indicative of which models the producers of the Bond films may choose. When the official decision and agreement for the choice of wristwatch to appear in the next James Bond film is made, you will most certainly hear about it through well distributed press releases.

The two models that have appeared on-screen in the Bond movies (2531.80 and 2541.80) are only available in the standard editions and packaging like all the other Seamaster Professional models. But OMEGA has also released two limited edition “James Bond” variations of these models. In late 2002, for the 40th anniversary of James Bond movies and to tie in with the release of the latest Bond film Die Another Day, OMEGA released a special 007 edition of the Seamaster Professional. In addition to special packaging, the watch itself has the 007 gun logo as a pattern on the dial and a special inscription on the back. Limited (if you can really call it that) to 10,007 pieces worldwide.

1998 OMEGA’s distributor in India commissioned a numbered set of 50 customized “James Bond Choice” watches for sale exclusively in that country. This extremely limited edition is essentially a standard 2531.80, but on the steel and gold bracelet from the two-tone Seamaster Professional. In addition, the back of the watch has been engraved with “JAMES BOND CHOICE” [sic] and limited edition numbering.

In the Ian Fleming novels, Bond is referred to a few times as wearing a Rolex watch. It is briefly described as a “Rolex Oyster Perpetual on an expanding metal bracelet” and as having “big phosphorus numerals.” While most of the Bond movies in the 1960’s through 1980’s featured 007 wearing a Rolex Submariner, there really is nothing in the original novels that indicates that the Submariner was the watch the author had in mind. The big phosphorus numerals actually indicates the watch was likely a military-style Rolex that predated the Submariner. While Fleming could get away with not specifying a particular Rolex model in the novels, one did need to be chosen when filming began on the first Bond film. The choice of the Submariner for the movies appears to have been more a matter of expediency than anything else. When filming began on Dr. No in 1961, Rolex was unwilling to donate a watch for Sean Connery to wear. To avoid delaying the filming, producer Albert Broccoli handed over his personal Rolex, a Submariner, to fill the role. You can see in both Dr. No and Goldfinger that Sean Connery sometimes wears the watch on a black and gray striped NATO-style cloth strap that is clearly narrower than the wider-than-common lugs on the Submariner.

The change from Bond wearing a Rolex appears to have been for two reasons – one stylistic, the other financial. Foremost, for introducing Pierce Brosnan as the “new” James Bond in the 1995 film “GoldenEye,” the producers wanted to update the image of Bond to a more distinctly sophisticated European look. Lindy Hemming, the costume designer for the first three of the Pierce Brosnan appearances as Bond was quoted in The European Magazine [“The Names Bond, Euro Bond”, July 7-13 1995] as explaining: “Sean Connery wore a Rolex, but we thought they’d become a bit ordinary now. OMEGA are more minimal – even though this one does shoot off a bomb.” She is not alone in thinking this. Rolex as a brand has changed a lot since the late 1950’s when Fleming chose one for Bond to wear. At that time, Rolex was known as a uniquely well-made, durable and “waterproof” watch that cost somewhat more than other watches. Now, decades later, many inexpensive watches meet the functional needs of durability, accuracy, and water-resistance that people used to turn to Rolex for. In this time, Rolex has shifted from being a technically superior, but only modestly well known watch make to being the publicly perceived “leader of the pack” in the luxury watch market. Because of this, many Bond afficionados believe that the OMEGA Seamaster is closer in spirit to what Fleming would choose for Bond today. The literary Bond would not have chosen a watch based on luxury and flashy name recognition, but on performance. To him, any watch, car, or other implement’s primary function is as a tool. Any tool is expendable. The Seamaster offers the comparable performance, style, and weight Bond would have wanted, but without attracting extra attention or making the statement a Rolex does today. With OMEGA’s much heavier bracelet on the Seamaster, it would probably make an even better “knuckle duster” as the literary Bond once used his Rolex in a fight. The other reason is that with all the product marketing deals that surrounded such modern high-profile films, the filmmakers wanted to work with a company that was interested in high-profile co-promotions–something that Rolex conservatively avoids. Reports are that the film producers chose OMEGA as their leading candidate as a replacement for the classic Bond watch, then contacted OMEGA to ask their participation in providing products and being involved.

Movements and the Co-axial Escapement

In 1999 Omega made history by introducing the first mass-produced watch incorporating the revolutionary Co-axial escapement – invented by English watchmaker George Daniels. Considered by many to be one of the most significant horological advancements since the invention of the lever escapement, the co-axial escapement functions with virtually no lubrication thereby eliminating one of the shortcomings of the traditional lever escapement. Through utilizing radial friction instead of sliding friction at the impulse surfaces the co-axial escapement significantly reduces friction, theoretically resulting in longer service intervals and greater accuracy over time. On January 24th 2007 OMEGA unveiled its Caliber 8500 and 8501, two movements of completely in house design featuring the Co Axial escapement. These movements feature a bi-directional rotor, two barrels that provide the watch with a power reserve of 60 hours, and they are COSC certified.

The Omega Seamaster, a deep diving watch. The fourth button-like item (at 10 o’clock) is a helium release valve to allow helium out of the watch after diving at great depth. The watch is similar to that featured in recent James Bond films, in which this valve is transformed into improbable hidden gadgets.

Vintage Collection

One of the most sought after vintage watches (of any brand) is the Omega Constellation “Pie Pan.” It is referred to as the “pie pan” because of the shape of its face (an inverted pie pan). That particular Omega Constellation has an in house designed and produced movement with COSC official Chronomter Certification.

Omega and Olympic Timekeeping

Omega has frequently been the official timekeeper for the Olympics, beginning with the 1932 Summer Olympics. Omega was the official timekeeper for the 2006 Winter Olympics and will be for the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2010 Winter Olympics as well. 11OMEGA was the first company to be entrusted with the official timekeeping of all disciplines at the Los Angeles Games in 1932 using chronographs and stopwatches developed by its subsidiary Lmania. OMEGA’s association with the Olympic Games led to well over half a century of pioneering developments in the field of sports timekeeping.

One of the first innovations by the brand was the world’s first independent, portable and water-resistant photoelectric cell (1945). This was later followed by the world’s first photofinish camera, the Racend OMEGA Timer (1949), which was a major innovation that solved the problem of grouped arrivals in track events. At the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games, OMEGA became the first company ever to use electronic timing in sport, with the OMEGA Time Recorder (OTR), which was homologated by the International Amateur Athletics Federation on the basis of a rating certificate from the Observatory of Neuchâtel that proved it was accurate to within 0.05 seconds in 24 hours.

At the same Olympic Games in 1952, OMEGA was also awarded the Olympic Cross of Merit for “exceptional services to the world of sport.” In 1961, OMEGA invented the Omegascope, which allowed the time of each competitor followed by the TV camera to be superimposed on the TV screen. The 1966 European Athletics Championships in Budapest marked a turning point in sports timekeeping, since they were the first European Championships at which the electronically recorded times were taken as the official times. It was the OTR and the Omegascope that recorded this unique moment. One year later, OMEGA introduced its “contact pads” for swimming competitions.

This simple new technology reacted only to the touch of the swimmers and was not affected by water splashes. Such contact pads have ever since been used at all the world’s major swimming events. In 1990, the brand opened up sports timekeeping to the mass market with the launch of the Scan’O’Vision – a low-cost and popular version of the photofinish camera. Omega’s most recent development in timing technology was to bring sports timekeeping into the Internet age with live timing of swimming events, which allows anyone with Internet access to view swimming and diving competition results in real time on the Omega Timing Internet site, www.omegatiming.com.

Omega Serial Numbers

Speedmaster Serial numbers

Omega Tech Guides

551 625 860-861-910-930 861 863 866 980 1012-1020 1120 1128 1151 1164 1376 1400 1438 1445 1538 1538B 1666 1680 1680B 1861 1863 1866 2200

2200B 2500C 3220 3301 3303 3313 3602 8500-8501

Omega Wrist Bands

020BA1651961 020ST1551861 020ST1552862 020TI1523825 020TS1998998 14494332 1503825