Omega Watch Company
Brief History: Omega Watch Company
Including Serial Numbers, Production Dates and Case Metal Codes
1848 to Present Founded in 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.
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 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 (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:
|
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.
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