The name Omega was first used in 1894, but the history of the brand began much earlier. Louis Brandt (founder of Omega) has opened his first workshop in 1848. His business was then continued by his sons. Years passed, production gradually increased. Later his watchmaker workshop was called «Louis Brandt & Frere», passed from hand-made parts for the clock to the semi-automatic. In 6 years in Paris exhibition, Omega received a Grand prix for an incredible line, which was presented with exclusive watch named Greek Temple and made of pure gold. Since that moment Omega wristwatch get decent awards at different watch exhibitions and shows, becoming the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games and NASA.
So let’s look closer on how, why and when such a serious organization as NASA uses Omega watches exclusively and being so devoted to this brand.
A lot of watch manufacturers like to talk and brag about how their timepieces will work under water and how hard atmospheric pressure should be to ruin them. However has anyone actually wonder about the real tests have been held? Well, there's one watch that been really tested and also withstood – is Omega Speedmaster.
We all know about the first man who have walked on the moon – Neil Armstrong – but how many of us knew that he and his astronaut college on the Apollo 11 mission – Buzz Aldrin – during the whole hazardous and elaborate mission were both wearing Omega Speedmaster. This is something so unique that not any other watch company can boast about.
Also worth noting that the Speedmaster is the only watch which was approved by NASA for other life activities. What we are trying to say is that Omega Speedmaster is extra reliable and secure that even NASA had to admit it. After his return to Earth in 1973 Buzz Aldrin made a note in his book that he actually was wearing Speedmaster during his travel to the moon and on the moon’s surface also. But before this watch was allowed to be used in Apollo 11 mission, NASA had exposed Speedmaster the numerous tests.
Let’s start with ruthless test with boiling water where the watch had to stay for hours and then directly put them in freezing atmosphere with -18 degrees Celsius. This was only a start of these truly medieval tortures which have been exposed to Omega Speedmaster by NASA specialists. They also put watches in compression and decompression chambers, hammered them, kept in pure oxygen for 48 hours, watches endured extremely high speeds and vibrations and many other rough tests that were successfully completed. Till this day the Omega Speedmaster is the number one choice of astronauts from all around the world. Hard to believe but the watch can actually manage five times more pressure than it was experienced in space.
The Speedmaster have been produced since 1957 by Omega and still being manufactured, including the modern line of other models like analog-digital and automatic mechanical variations of the timepiece. There are also a line of limited edition models with the number of sales which can surprise. What really helps to survive under such cruel conditions is the unique technology of the watch. The chance of breakdown of Speedmaster is so improbable that again proves that this watch is an engineering masterpiece. The accuracy of the watch can be the only thing in the world you can trust for 100%. This is the watch for perfectionists, for those who want only the best. After almost sixty years the technology of the Omega Speedmaster still remains absolutely unchangeable, this what also makes them one of the most popular and sought-after on the planet. After all, which Omega watch can also boast with the first walk on the moon experience?