Omega SA is a Swiss luxury watch brand with its headquarters in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
Omega's predecessor, La Generale Watch Co, was founded by Louis Brandt in 1848 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. In 1894, his sons developed a revolutionary system of in-house manufacturing and total production control that allowed parts to be interchangeable. The watches produced with these techniques were marketed under the Omega brand by La Generale Watch Co. By 1903, the success of the Omega brand led La Generale Watch Co to separate the Omega brand as its own company, and in 1903 the Omega Watch Co was officially established. Omega watches are the official timepieces for the British Air Force, the US Army and Nasa. In 1969, Omega was also the first timepiece on the moon. Omega is also the official timekeeping device used at the Olympic Games since 1932. Omega is owned by the Swatch Group.
My affection with this beautiful watch brand started at school. I studied for 5 years in Antwerp at the TNA Londenstraat. In the last years you get the assignment to bring your own watches to school to repair them. My father, who was a jeweller, had saved up a lot of watches over the years. The Omega below was in his collection.
This Omega Chronostop with calibre 920 and case ref nr.146.009 has only one push button that serves for starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph while measuring. With this watch, you can make a timekeeping measurement for 60 seconds. If you want to measure a little longer, you can set the minute hand to 12 to keep track of minutes. The same goes for the hour hand to measure hours. In this situation, of course, you can no longer see the correct time on the watch.
I fell in love with this watch immediately. It is still in my possession and I don't think I will sell it because of the history attached to it.
A few years ago, Omega Switzerland decided to check the knowledge of the external watch repairers. Every repairer who was allowed to order spare parts had to state whether they could meet the minimum requirements. In the ranks of independent watch repairers, there were some reservations about this way of working.
I myself did go along with the idea that a certification and a workshop that met the modern requirements of a renowned brand like Omega would distinguish us, and that we could then also serve our customers with more knowledge and quality.
In 2015, I was one of the first watchmakers to be tested by Mr Fransen, Head of the Aftersales Service Department of the Swatch group Belgium in Brussels. I obtained the certificate and from then on I was also allowed to repair Omega's Co-Axial.
At the next test in 2017, information was given about the Omega Ladymatic, and about the 8500 calibre and the 8520 calibre with a double spring drum. At that time, the watchmakers present were very sociable and a lot of knowledge was passed on, whether or not about watches. The training courses are always held in Brussels, in small groups of 4 people.
