Is Omega a Sports Watch or a Luxury Watch?

Many watch brands all over the world are famous for making timepieces with various styles, functions, and looks. From sports watches and chronographs that could be worn on more athletic scenarios to dress watches that you could use when attending any formal event, a lot of luxury watch brands strive to create watches and watch families that could be used for several occasions.

Omega is no exception to these watch brands. Omega is one of the leading producers of Swiss watches in the world since it was founded in Switzerland by Louis Brandt. Politicians, athletes, film stars, and even astronauts have worn Omega watches. Because this watch brand has exploration and adventure flowing through its veins, many wonder if Omega is a luxury watch brand like Tissot and Rolex or if it’s more like a sports watch brand like Garmin and Fitbit. 

Sponsorships and Celebrities Who Wore Omega

Throughout its history, Omega has sponsored many events and organizations and Omega watches were adorned by celebrities, politicians, and even astronauts. The US Army chose Omega as its official timekeeper in 1918 while the British Royal Flying Corps did the same thing a year ago. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll himself, once owned an Omega Constellation that was given to him by RCA Records or the Radio Corporation of America for selling 75 million records. He was once seen wearing this watch featuring a black face and gold bezel during a stint in the US Army from 1958 to 1960. This watch was also the most expensive Omega watch ever sold at an auction. But it’s not just celebrities who wore Omega watches.

Omega had a history with space exploration as NASA chose Omega watches for its astronauts and Buzz Aldrin once wore an Omega Speedmaster while walking on the moon’s surface during the historic Apollo 11 Mission in 1969, making the Omega Speedmaster the first Omega watch and the first watch to be used in the moon. It was also considered to be the first Omega watch used in space, as aviator Walter Schirra once wore an Omega watch during the Sigma 7 mission, which was launched around seven years before the Apollo 11 Mission. The Omega Speedmaster, a watch created for motorsports, soon garnered the name “The Moonwatch” after the famed Apollo 11 mission. But Omega is not only made for space. Omega has become the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932 and it is also the official timekeeper of America’s Cup. With such sponsorships in sports events, Omega has solidified itself as a watch brand for more active and sporty situations. 

Sport Watches Offered by Omega

Because Omega has a long history with space, the sea, and other facets of adventure and exploration, it has produced stylish yet sturdy watches that could be used in more athletic situations, such as racing, golfing, and even diving. As mentioned earlier, the Omega Speedmaster was created for motorsports but it has gone on to become the first watch ever worn and used in space. The Omega Seamaster, a watch worn by James Bond in films such as Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, is a perfect watch for many water-based activities, such as swimming, sailing, and diving. 

Omega has always been known for making chronographs, themed watches, and dive watches for professionals as well as using co-axial movements in its watches. Omega is the only luxury watch brand that recognizes the co-axial escapement created by George Daniel and it is considered to be one of the most important developments in the mechanisms of watches for the past two hundred years. The relationship between Omega and sports has become strong through the years not just because of its sponsorships, but also because of the many sports watches that it created. 

To be precise, Omega has created the Speedmaster, Seamaster, and the Railmaster watch families in the 1950s, and they were made to be used for more active occasions. As for the Railmaster, it was discontinued for a few years after being introduced in 1957 as part of the bigger Seamaster watch family but enjoyed a resurgence in 2018 when it was re-invented as its sub-collection within the greater Seamaster collection. Both the Seamaster and Speedmaster feature numerous variations and models and many watch nerds consider them more as sports watches than dress or even tool watches, as they were made to endure more adventurous situations. 

Cheapest and Most Expensive Omega Watches

Most Omega watches are expensive for various reasons. For one, it is a Swiss watch brand, so it commands the high-quality label that many people associate with timepieces made in Switzerland. Omega also has a very established history of making stylish and long-lasting watches that feature intricate designs and top-notch engineering. This Swiss watch brand has also created timepieces for musicians, politicians, athletes, and even astronauts and this reinforces Omega’s reputation as a brand that makes the best quality watches. Omega watches also create limited edition designs of their watches, which automatically drives the price upwards. The most expensive Omega watch that most watch enthusiasts know is the Omega Constellation Baguette that sells around 700,000 USD. This watch is made with 18-carat white gold and highlights 30-carat, 459 Wesselton diamonds as well as 146 baguette and trapeze diamonds on the watch’s dial and case. 

But if you are still looking for an affordable Omega watch, then you may consider getting an Omega Seamaster 300M Diver Watch if you need a watch for water sports or the Omega Speedmaster Racing Chronograph for racing. The Seamaster 300M diver watch and the Speedmaster Racing Chronograph are priced at around 4,400 USD and 4,700 USD respectively, making them some of the most affordable Omega timepieces you could buy. There are far more affordable watches from both Omega and other watch brands, but these two watches are perfect if you are on the budget and if you need a luxury sports watch for your sporting events. 

The Verdict

So, is Omega a sports watch brand or a luxury watch brand? The answer is both! While Omega has created sports watches like the Seamaster and the Speedmaster for sporting events and while Omega has been present in major sporting events including the Olympics, Omega has also made beautiful, stylish, and high-quality luxury watches that celebrities, politicians, and even astronauts loved and appreciated. We could say that Omega is more of luxury sports watch brand unlike Rolex, Patek Philippe, and its other competitors. And we could also say that Omega watches are for those who want to be adventurous, sporty, and stylish at the same time.