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Watches have been in existence in one form or the other much before they comfortably fit on the wrist. Previously, pocket watches with a chain were a kind of social status. We all have seen movies with topics related to that period. However, things started to change after the revolutionary Omega watches came into existence. In 1848, a 23-year-old young man from La Chaux-de Fonds, Switzerland, named Louis Brandt used to assemble all the parts for pocket watches collected from local artisans. After assembling, it was sold to the end users. His precision and expertise in pocket watches made him popular in Italy, Scandinavia and England. Louis-Paul and Cesar, his two sons, supported Louis Brand. When the founder of these timepieces passed away in 1879, both the brothers started facing quality problems. In order to tackle the situation, they closed down the assembly workshop and started a manufacturing unit. This gave them much more control over the quality and streamlining the supply chain to access a wide market. The initial brand that rolled out of the manufacturing unit in 1885 was the “Labrador.” This first series got a huge response from consumers, and hence was produced on a large scale. Another series of Omega caliber manufactured in 1894 recreated the history set by the Labrador. In another nine-year period, the company had the strength of 800 employees, and its annual production touched the mark of 240,000 watches per annum. However, when Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt passed away in 1903, the company that had created a niche of its own was handed over to four young people. Paul-Emile Brandt, who was then just 24 years old and the oldest among all, was one of them. Since Paul-Emile Brandt already inherited the technical and marketing skills from his ancestors, the business did not face any difficulties. The trouble, however, crept in when the First World War broke out which brought in lots of financial problems and forced the company to merge with Tissot, another Swiss watch company. In 1930, Omega and Tissot were merged to form a new group, SSIH. Brand and Joseph Reiser, general manager of the company took this venture to new heights. From 1930 to 1955, the group had already absorbed fifty companies that were hit by the Second World War. By the mid 1970s, SSIH became the number one watch manufacturing company in Switzerland and third overall in the world. Today, Omega watches are a not just a brand name but a lifestyle choice. Many Hollywood actors have made Omega more popular by doing commercials for them. Further, the Bond movies also elevated the popularity of Omega watches by showing one of their watches on the wrist of the main leading actor – James Bond. The brand not only graced the wrists of males but also females. There are several popular wristwatches for men and women manufactured by Omega, and this number keeps on growing every year. Truly, these timepieces that tell time have truly become timeless.
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