Skip to content
Close (esc)

VIP LIST

Become part of our VIP Family. Be the first to know about new products, Promotions, Free Offers, drawings, News and More.

Thank you for Joining our Watch Family.

Certified Pre-Owned Watch Program

Omega Watch Company

Omega Watch Company Logo

Brief History: Omega Watch Company

Including Serial Numbers, Production Dates and Case Metal Codes

1848 - Present

La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland

The Omega Watch Company was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland in 1848. Brandt, 23 years old, began by hand assembling watches from parts produced by local craftsmen. When Louis Brandt passed away in 1879, he left the company to his two sons Louis-Paul and Cesar, who moved Omega to Bienne in January 1880.

Omega SpeedMaster PreMoon Watch

By 1889, Louis Brandt and Fils became the largest producers of watches in Switzerland, with a production rate of of over 100,000 watches per year. During this period, they continued to make significant innovations, like the minute-repeating wristwatch, developed in 1892 in partnership with Audemars Piguet, and quite likely the first wristwatch of its kind.

Both Brandt brothers died in 1903, placing the fate of the company in the control of four descendants, the oldest of whom, Paul-Emile Brandt, was only 23 years of age.

Following a merger with Tissot in 1930 a new parent company, SSIH, Société Suisse pour l'industrie Horlogère SA, Geneva, was established. This group eventually encompassed over 50 companies including, Lanco, Lémania and Hamilton. SSIH eventually became the third largest producers of finished watches and movements in the world.

Omega World-Renowned Quality

Omega has a long-established reputation for innovation and quality, which has led to numerous awards over the company's 150 year history, starting as early as 1900 with the Grand Prix at the Paris World Fair. In 1936, an Omega watch was awarded 97.8 points at the Kew-Teddington chronometer trials in England setting a world precision record.

Omega has also had a long affiliation with sports. Omega has been the official timekeeper at over 21 Olympic Games, and has contributed many significant innovations to sports timekeeping over the years. For example, Omega brought the first electronic timekeeping device to the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952. In that same year, Omega was awarded the Olympic Cross of Merit in recognition of its outstanding contribution to Olympic sports.


Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin wears
his Omega Speedmaster on the lunar surface
and in the lunar lander

Omega on the Moon

Because of its well-deserved reputation for precision and reliability, the Omega Speedmaster was chosen by NASA as its official chronometer in 1965. It was the only watch flight-certified by NASA for EVA use, and accompanied astronaut Ed White on the first space walk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965. In 1969 became the first watch to be worn on the moon when Buzz Aldrin wore his Speedmaster, fitted with cal. 321 movement, on his first lunar excursion. Neil Armstrong left his Omega Speedmaster in the lunar module during his historic first spacewalk. In all, Omega watches made six lunar landings. Omega watches were also the only watches certified for use in space by the Russian Space Agency.

Omega Co-Axial

More recently, Omega has continued to build on its reputation for innovation with the world's first self-winding tourbillon wristwatch in 1994, and the commercial introduction of the revolutionary coaxial escapement developed in conjunction with world-renowned English watchmaker George Daniels. The coaxial was first offered in limited series in 1999. The new coaxial escapement consists of three components: a coaxial wheel, an escape wheel, and a lever with three pallet stones, unlike the conventional pallet-lever and escape wheel of the lever escapement. The combination of the new escapement and a newly developed free-sprung balance attempts to eliminate the sources of error in timekeeping. The effect of the thickness and viscosity of lubricant on balance amplitude has been virtually eliminated, extending the planned service interval to around 10 years.

In practice, Omega's implementation of the co-axial escapement has not been without problems. Omega is currently on at least the 4th generation of their co-axial, and have yet to achieve the theoretical goal of lubrication-free performance. It has been reported that George Daniels (who passed away in 2011) was not happy with Omega's execution of his escapement design.

Through an economic crisis in the 1980’s the company merged with another large Swiss conglomerate, ASUAG, makers of Swatch, Longines and Rado, to create a new company ASUAG-SSIH. Eventually this pairing fell on hard times and the company was taken over by a private group and renamed SMH, which still exists today.

Fake "Omega" Watches:

The Omega brand has been frequently copied, and you have no doubt seen email advertisements for imitation Omega watches at deep-discount prices. Don't waste your money! These watches are cheap, poorly-made fakes that are not serviceable and will not perform like the genuine article. Counterfeiting products is illegal. We do not encourage or endorse the purchase of any counterfeit watch!

Omega Watch Repair:

At Renaissance Watch Repair, we are experts in the repair and restoration of vintage Omega watches. We do not repair modern Omega watches. We are also always looking for Omega pocket watches and vintage wristwatches to purchase for our inventory. Please contact us if you have any questions about the repair or sale of your vintage Omega watch.

Omega Cal 321 Watch Movement

Omega Watch Company Serial Numbers and Production Dates

Note that Omega began using ETA movements in some of its watches in about 1980. This table does not include accurate dates for Omega/ETA movements.

 

 Omega serial number dates (excluding Speedmaster)

Serial number

First year made

 Serial number

 Year

1,000,000 – 1,999,999

1894

43,000,000 – 43,999,999

1979

2,000,000 – 2,999,999

1902

44,000,000 – 44,999,999

1980

3,000,000 – 3,999,999

1906

45,000,000 – 45,999,999

1982

4,000,000 – 4,999,999

1910

46,000,000 – 46,999,999

1984

5,000,000 – 5,999,999

1915

47,000,000 – 47,999,999

1984

6,000,000 – 6,999,999

1923

48,000,000 – 48,999,999

1985

7,000,000 – 7,999,999

1920

49,000,000 – 49,999,999

1986

8,000,000 – 8,999,999

1934

50,000,000 – 50,999,999

1986

9,000,000 – 9,999,999

1939

51,000,000 – 51,999,999

1989

10,000,000 — 10,999,999

1944

53,000,000 – 53,999,999

1991

11,000,000 – 11,999,999

1947

54,000,000 – 54,999,999

1993

12,000,000 – 12,999,999

1950

55,000,000 – 55,999,999

1995

13,000,000 – 13,999,999

1952

56,000,000 – 56,999,999

1998

14,000,000 – 14,999,999

1954

57,000,000 – 57,999,999

1998

15,000,000 – 15,999,999

1956

58,000,000 – 58,999,999

1998

16,000,000 – 16,999,999

1958

59,000,000 – 59,999,999

1998

17,000,000 – 17,999,999

1959

60,000,000 – 60,999,999

1999

18,000,000 – 18,999,999

1961

61,000,000 – 61,999,999

2000

19,000,000 – 19,999,999

1962

62,000,000 – 62,999,999

2000

20,000,000 – 20,999,999

1963

63,000,000 – 63,999,999

2000

21,000,000 – 21,999,999

1964

64,000,000 – 64,999,999

2000

22,000,000 – 22,999,999

1965

65,000,000 – 65,999,999

2001

23,000,000 – 23,999,999

1966

66,000,000 – 66,999,999

2002

24,000,000 – 24,999,999

1966

67,000,000 – 67,999,999

2002

25,000,000 – 25,999,999

1967

68,000,000 – 68,999,999

2003

26,000,000 – 26,999,999

1968

69,000,000 – 69,999,999

2003

27,000,000 – 27,999,999

1968

70,000,000 – 70,999,999

2004

28,000,000 – 28,999,999

1969

71,000,000 – 71,999,999

2004

29,000,000 – 29,999,999

1969

72,000,000 – 72,999,999

2005

30,000,000 – 30,999,999

1969

73,000,000 – 73,999,999

2005

31,000,000 – 31,999,999

1969

74,000,000 – 74,999,999

2005

32,000,000 – 32,999,999

1970

75,000,000 – 75,999,999

2005

33,000,000 – 33,999,999

1971

76,000,000 – 76,999,999

2005

34,000,000 – 34,999,999

1972

77,000,000 – 77,999,999

2005

35,000,000 – 35,999,999

1972

78,000,000 – 78,999,999

2006

36,000,000 – 36,999,999

1973

79,000,000 – 79,999,999

2006

37,000,000 – 37,999,999

1973

80,000,000 – 80,999,999

2006

38,000,000 – 38,999,999

1974

81,000,000 – 81,999,999

2007

39,000,000 – 39,999,999

1975

82,000,000 – 82,999,999

2007

40,000,000 – 40,999,999

1977

83,000,000 – 83,999,999

2007

41,000,000 – 41,999,999

1978

84,000,000+

2008

42,000,000 – 42,999,999

1979

 

 

 

Omega Speedmaster serial number dates

Serial number

Earliest year made

 Serial number

 Year

14,000,000 – 14,999,999

1957

32,000,000 – 32,999,999

1973

15,000,000 – 15,999,999

1958

33,000,000 – 33,999,999

1975

16,000,000 – 16,999,999

1958

34,000,000 – 34,999,999

1976

17,000,000 – 17,999,999

1960

35,000,000 – 35,999,999

1977

18,000,000 – 18,999,999

1961

36,000,000 – 36,999,999

1977

19,000,000 – 19,999,999

1962

37,000,000 – 37,999,999

1978

20,000,000 – 20,999,999

1963

38,000,000 – 38,999,999

1979

21,000,000 – 21,999,999

1963

39,000,000 – 39,999,999

1979

22,000,000 – 22,999,999

1964

40,000,000 – 40,999,999

1980

Omega Watches Case and Metal Codes

Code     Metal

AB         Platinum + 18k Yellow Gold

AT         Platinum

BA         18k Yellow Gold

BB         18k Pink Gold

BC         18k White Gold

BD         14k Yellow Gold

BF          14k White Gold

BG         9k Yellow Gold

BJ          18k Multi-Colored Gold

BK         Gold, Bezel Steel

BL          9k Pink Gold

BP          18k Pink Gold

BR         Two-Tone 18k Gold Yellow-Pink

BT          18k Yellow Gold + Titanium

BU         18k Yellow Gold, Bezel Aluminum

CD         14k Yellow Gold Cap

CE          14k Pink Gold Cap

DA         18k Yellow Gold + Steel

DB         18k Pink Gold + Steel

DC         18k White Gold Bezel on Steel

DD         Steel + 14k Yellow Gold

DE         Steel + 18k Pink Gold

DF         Steel + 18k Yellow Gold. Steelback

DG         18k Pink Gold Bezel on Steel

DH         18k Pink Gold Bezel on Steel

DL          Two-Tone Plated 20M Yellow

DM        Two-Tone Plated 10M 1N14

DN         Two-Tone Plated 10Y

DP         Steel, 18k Pink Gold

DR         Bezel 18k Pink Gold on Steel

DS         14k Yellow Gold Bezel on Steel

DX         Two-Tone Plated 10M Yellow

ED         Plated 10M 2NIB

EF          Plated 10M 1N14 Steelback

EX          Plated 10M 1N14

FD         Plated 80M Yellow

FE          Plated 80M Pink

GD         Plated 80M Yellow Steelback

GF         Plated 80M White Steelback

HG         Plated 40M Yellow

HH         Plated Two-Tone 40M

JD          Plated Two-Tone 40M

JE           Plated 40M Pink Steelback

KD         Plated 20M Back 40M White

LD          Plated 20M 2N18

LE          Plated 20M Pink

LX          Plated 20M 1N14

MD        Plated 20M Yellow Steelback

ME        Plated 20M Pink Steelback

MF        Plated 20M White Steelback

MK        Plated 20M Back and Bezel Steel

MP        Plated 20M Two-Tone Yellow-Pink

MR        Chromium-Plated Black, Bezel 20M Yellow

ND         Plated 20M Yellow on Steel

OA         Plated 40M Yellow on Steel

PA         Plated 40M Yellow on Steel, Steelback

PE          Miniature Clock

RP          Silver Plated 40M Yellow

RS          Silver 0.925

SC          PVD Grey

SE          PVD Yellow

SI           Steel + Titanium

SO         Oxidized Steel

SR          Chromium-Plated Black

ST          Steel

SU         Steel, Aluminum Ring

TA         Titanium + Gold Case and Bracelet

TB          Titanium + Pink Gold Bracelet Titanium + Pink Gold

TD         Titanium + Plated 20M Yellow, Brac.: Titanium + Pl. 10M

TE          Titanium + PVD Yellow

TI           Titanium

TL          Titanium/Tantalum + 18k Pink Gold

TR          Titanium + Pink Gold Titanium Bracelet

TT          Titanium + Palladium Titanium Bracelet

TZ          Titanium + Pink Gold Bracelet: Gold Logo

UT         Chromium-Plated

YA         Hard Metal Yellow

YR          Hard Metal Black

This is an unofficial history of the Omega Watch Company. Experts Watches is not affiliated with the Omega Watch Company. The Omega name and names of various Omega watch models as shown here are trademarks of Omega. Information provided for educational purposes only and we make no warranty as to its accuracy or reliability.

Omega Speedmaster Watch Ad

Shopping Cart

Become a VIP! Announce discount codes, New watches, free shipping etc