It’s a celebrated part of Omega lore that the brand’s Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch to make a lunar landing. But the universal love for vintage Omega watches isn't confined to astronomers, and there’s more to the company’s heritage than the story of the Moonwatch.
The house’s origins date to 1848, when Swiss watchmaker Louis Brandt first set up shop. His sons Louis-Paul and César took over after his death, and in 1894, the pair developed an intriguing new movement.
Not only was it highly accurate, but every part was replaceable, making it easy for any professional to service. The Brandts called their movement the Omega, and as its popularity spread, they changed their company’s name to that of its flagship product.
In 1917, the British Royal Flying Corps designated Omega as an official supplier, and during World War II it became the principal watch supplier for the British forces and their allies. These commissions further strengthened Omega’s commitment to ensuring its products’ reliability under extreme conditions. In 1948, it launched the versatile Seamaster. Developed as a dive watch, the Seamaster proved its durability at high altitudes and freezing temperatures, as well. (Here is the 1stDibs guide to spotting a fake Omega Seamaster.)
Thanks in part to its rugged reputation and Omega’s links to the British military, it became James Bond’s watch of choice in 1995, appearing in GoldenEye and every succeeding Bond movie; it returned in 2021’s No Time to Die. Nevertheless, the most famous Omega by far is the Speedmaster, introduced in 1957. The first chronograph to display its tachymeter scale on the bezel instead of the dial for easier readability, it was quickly adopted by engineers and scientists.
Worn by Buzz Aldrin during the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar mission, it’s the only watch certified by NASA for extravehicular activity (space walks) — and, as far as we know, the only one approved by the Russian space agency, too.
Watch aficionados and aficionadas alike can find vintage Omega watches today on 1stDibs.
Omega Stainless Steel Constellation Original Dial Automatic Watch
By Omega
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Omega Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Round Constellation Chronometer METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DIMENSIONS: Length 43mm X Diameter 34mm CIRCA: 1950's MOV...
Omega Constellation Stainless Steel with Original Dial and Bracelet 1950s
By Omega
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Omega Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Constellation METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1950's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 32mm Lug Tip To Lug Tip X Diame...
Stainless Steel
Omega Stainless Steel Constellation Automatic Watch circa 1950's
By Omega
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Omega Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Constellation Series METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1950's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 40 "Lug Tip to Lug Tip"...
Stainless Steel
Omega Stainless Steel Constellation with Original Dial circa 50 / 60's
By Omega
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Omega Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Constellation / Reference 2852 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1950 / 60's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 42mm X Diameter 35mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Automatic Winding / 19 Jewels DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Original Dauphine Markers ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator, 18mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a nearly flawless example of one of Omega's legendary models, the Constellation. We have never seen a finer example of this model. It still keeps excellent original time and appears to have never really been used and was only just serviced for the first time by us. We sold this model new in the family jewelry...
Omega Stainless Steel Constellation with Original Dial circa 50 / 60's
By Omega
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Omega Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Constellation / Reference 2852 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel CIRCA / YEAR: 1950 / 60's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 42mm X Diameter 35mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Automatic Winding / 19 Jewels DIAL / HANDS: Original Silvered with Original Dauphine Markers ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Alligator, 18mm / Regular Length WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This is a nearly flawless example of one of Omega's legendary models, the Constellation. We have never seen a finer example of this model. It still keeps excellent original time and appears to have never really been used and was only just serviced for the first time by us. We sold this model new in the family jewelry...
Glycine Stainless Steel Date Automatic Watch, circa 1950s
By Glycine
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Glycine Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Auto Date / Ref. 645 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel DIMENSIONS: Length 42mm X Diameter 3...
Stainless Steel, Steel
Vintage 1963 Omega Constellation Automatic Men's Watch Ref 166.009
By Omega
Located in New York, NY
Vintage 1963 Omega Constellation reference 166.009 wristwatch in stainless steel featuring a silver-tone pie-pan dial. The dial is signed “Omega Automatic Chronometer Officially Cert...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Omega Geneve, Automatic Winding English made Dennison Stainless case
Located in Peshawar, PK
Original Omega Geneve Watch. Case Height 40mm Case diameter 37mm l get the watches from First Hand Users. The Watches have never been opened İnsid...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Omega Geneve Automatic Watch: English Made Dennison Stainless Steel
Located in Peshawar, PK
Original Omega Geneve Watch. Case Height 39mm Case diameter 34mm l get the watches from First Hand Users. The Watches have never been opened İns...
Stainless Steel
Omega Constellation Ref 2782 Mens 35mm 1950s Vintage Bumper Automatic RA718
By Omega
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Vintage classic, Men's Omega Constellation bumper automatic pie pan dial, c.1954, unrestored, in excellent working condition. Verified authentic by a master watchmaker. Gorgeous Omeg...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Omega Geneve, Automatic English made Dennison Stainless case
Located in Peshawar, PK
Original Omega Geneve Watch. Case Height 43mm Case diameter 38mm l get the watches from First Hand Users. The Watches have never been opened İns...
Stainless Steel
Omega Seamaster – Ref. 2846 1958 – Honeycomb Dial – Cal. 503 – Automatic –
By Omega
Located in London, GB
Omega Seamaster – Ref. 2846 (Calendar) – Honeycomb Dial – Cal. 503 – Automatic – 1958 A recently serviced Omega Seamaster Ref. 2846 (Calendar), this mid‑century classic stands out wi...
