OMEGA celebrates 125 years

The De Ville Trésor 125th Anniversary Edition
The De Ville Trésor 125th Anniversary Edition caseback includes an anniversary medallion, as well as a decorative engraving known as “damaskeening”
The 19-ligne OMEGA Calibre components

OMEGA is celebrating this year its revolutionary 19-ligne “OMEGA” Calibre  that was born in 1894, and gave the brand its famous name. OMEGA marked the anniversary with an intimate celebration event hosted at the OMEGA Museum, at its home in Bienne, Switzerland, where the brand’s iconic heritage is displayed.
Before it was called OMEGA, the company’s first workshop was opened in 1848 by the young watchmaker Louis Brandt. Almost 50 years later, in 1894, his two sons, Louis-Paul and César, invented a new movement that would change the industry forever. Their innovative 19-ligne calibre introduced pioneering mechanisms as well as industrial-scale production lines. It was so advanced that the brothers named the movement “Omega”. Like the last letter of the Greek alphabet, it symbolised ultimate accomplishment and the “final word” in watchmaking success. Following that achievement, the entire company was renamed “OMEGA” in 1903.
 
OMEGA also gave guests the first glimpse of two new watchmaking creations. The De Ville Trésor 125th Anniversary Edition has been crafted from 18K yellow gold with a burgundy leather strap and a red enamel dial. The caseback includes an anniversary medallion, as well as a decorative engraving known as “damaskeening” – the same style that was originally used on some of the 19-ligne “OMEGA” calibres.
 
The second creation revealed at the event was the return of the 19-ligne Calibre – which is being given a new lease of life. The brand has retrieved a number of original movement components from its vaults, including bridges, main plates, escapements and bimetallic balance spring. These will now be used by the watchmakers in OMEGA’s Atelier Tourbillon to recreate 19 movements. This project is also about 21st century evolution, meaning that the 19-ligne calibres will receive distinguished updates and innovations – such as a Swiss hand setting system. Furthermore, the movements will be embellished with “damaskeeing” decoration and will be housed inside a new half hunter pocket watch.