Have you ever wondered how much time passes by on Earth when you’re in space? It turns out there isn’t much of a difference when you’re at the ISS. Still, keeping precise time is important. This keeps astronauts in space grounded, it gives them a rhythm to follow in a place where human senses are not adapted to.
Did you know that most NASA astronauts use one particular watch in space? Omega may not be familiar to all of us but it is something that you should know about. In this article, you will know more about what Omega is and its precious charms.
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Omega
The Company
Omega first emerged in 1894 as a movement, not a company. It was under its forerunner, La Generale Watch Co. and with the innovative minds of the Brandt family, they created a revolutionary Swiss mechanical watch movement known as the Co-axial caliber 9300 that jump-started the business of the world-renowned Omega SA.
In 1848, Louis Brandt started his business not knowing that soon it would become a global brand. It was a modest beginning for the Brandt family and when Louis passed away, their sons took on the company and proudly continued their family business.
Wanting to expand their business the brothers, Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt, started making their own parts, and soon after, they created the 19-line OMEGA caliber that gave the company its reputation and name in the watch industry.
In 1965, Omega officially became part of the space race by beating Longines and Rolex in the stress tests conducted by NASA. Since the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, the Speedmaster was worn by Neil Armstrong and became known as the “Moonwatch”.
The Speedmaster
Omega SA is not just a prestigious world brand it has also made its mark in human history by being the first watch on the moon. After its first space mission with Apollo 11, it has continually accompanied astronauts of NASA outer space earning the distinguished Snoopy Award in 1970. The Speedmaster has kept most of its original design of the 1965 model and from it, innovations for the succeeding versions were adapted.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional is now one of the world’s most notable watches. Since its first release in 1960, the company has been making innovations on the technicality of the watch and has yet done another upgrade this 2021. Some of these upgrades include the 2019’s Caliber 3861 for the model’s new Master Chronometer-certified movement and the additional variety of case-material options.
The Seamaster
We’ve now learned about the historical Speedmaster being the first watch on the moon but have you heard about the story of “the most vertical girl in the world”? Former NASA astronaut, Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan, who was previously known to be the first American woman to walk in space, has now garnered another accomplishment as the first woman to dive to the bottom of the ocean at 10,925 m ± 4 m wearing her Speedmaster X-33 Skywalker.
Dr. Sullivan participated in the Five Deeps Expedition, the world’s first attempt at a manned expedition to the deepest points of the five oceans. Although Omega has made countless other divers’ watches, a dive to the deepest points of the seafloor was a whole different challenge that the company took on and aced spectacularly.
Through rigorous testing and innovating, the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional came to be and is a watch like no other. As slim and light as the model is, it can withstand immense pressure on dives. It was tested to be perfectly functional at 15,000 meters or 1,500 bar.
Priceless Quality
With its great feats such as the Speedmaster and the Seamaster, it is without a doubt that the quality of Omega watches is top-tier. It’s been the chosen watch for its precision time-keeping by NASA, the Olympics, the Allied Forces during World War II, and even James Bond. Most Omega watches have established their legacy and that says something about the engineering behind these marvelous timepieces.
In the late 1900s, with their experimental coaxial escapement made by George Daniels, the watch’s improved durability and accuracy placed Omega at the top of the industry once again. Approaching the modern age, the increase in magnets became an issue for all watch manufacturers everywhere. However, in 2013, Omega engineered a silicon balance wheel that does not behave like a normal metal, thus the movement could resist magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss – that’s the equivalent of being inside an MRI!
Takeaway
Omega is a name that embodies expert engineering, quality and reliability, and the legacy of one of the greatest feats of mankind. So if you’re looking for all of these in a watch, choose OMEGA.
