Omega Watches – Maintaining the numero uno position

Jul 15
08:10

2013

Yogesh Giri

Yogesh Giri

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Louise Brandt founded the brand name called Omega watches. He started this watch manufacturing company at La Chaux-de Fonds in 1848 when he was 23-year-old.

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He started making pocket watches wound by a key by collecting parts from local craftsmen. He started selling his timepieces in Italy and England. After his death,Omega Watches – Maintaining the numero uno position Articles his two sons Louis-Paul and César took over the responsibility of the company. Since the supply of spare parts was irregular, and questionable, they shifted the assembly workshop in Beil/Biene in January 1880. Settling down for another two years, they converted a spinning-factory into a company and established its official headquarters. From here, they manufactured Labrador and Gurzelen, the first series-produced calibers. At this time, the production by the company touched 240,000 watches annually.

 

Later, when Louis-Pual and Cesar passed away, Paul-Emile Brandt spearheaded the company. However, the First World War brought in severe financial crunch to the company leading to its merger with the SSIH group in 1930. From here onwards under the adept leadership of Brand and Joseph Reiser, the group surge ahead with great momentum. The absorption of several companies leads towards the creation of the famous Omega chronograph movements in1955. Moving ahead with the great determination, the SSIH group secured number one position in watch making in Switzerland. They also got a spot in the number third position in the world.

 

However, several financial crises and recession from 1975 to 1980 resulted in takeover of the company. Nevertheless, the legacy that was established by the original founder of the company continued further.  Today, Omega watches have established itself as a big name for quality and precision. The timepieces produced by the company have been favourite with many distinguished people around the world. Presidents, pop stars, sports star and movie stars of Hollywood wear the watches bearing the Omega symbol.

 

No matter what internal problem the company has faced over the period, there has been no down slide in terms of quality. In 1999, the company introduced the concept of integrated co-axial escapement in watches. This concept helped the company in enhancing the life span and accuracy of watches since there was no need of lubrication because the timepieces use radial friction. With quality and precision, the Omega Speedmaster hand-wound mechanical watch became the first to be worn on the moon. The American Space Association made the Speedmaster its official wrist watch for their outer space mission. This kind of distinction was rare and remained a dream of other match manufacturing companies.

 

Several famous personalities from different fields further added to the popularity of Omega watches. The best example is the Bond movies. Brands like Omega Seasmaster Quartz Professional, and the Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer were used in many movies for the character of Bond. The association of the company with Bond movies worked as a pertinent testimony to the unparalleled watch mechanism of the brand. The featuring of the watches on the wrist of James Bond, the iconic movie character, helped in taking the watches to the masses. In fact, no other timepieces could have ever matched with the sophistication and attitude of Bond. 

 

The company’s reputation was further glorified by the revolutionary brand called Omega Constellation.  This watch was introduced in 1982 on the concept of radical an enduring design. It was named the Constelation Manhattan and became the most easily identifiable watches. Another feather the company added to its cap is its selection as the official timekeeper for the Olympics in 1932. The brand of Omega watches was used to record accurate and precise timings even in the latest Olympics event held in 2006, 2008 and 2010 thus reclaiming its position as number one in quality and class.

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