Omega  Omega Special  Watches

Omega Special Watches: Ode to the Brand’s Watchmaking Heritage

In the early 1840s, Louis Brandt, a young watchmaker from the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, built a small workshop. Almost two centuries later, this modest workshop is now one of the biggest Swiss watch manufacturers in the world. Since then, Omega has released some of the best Swiss luxury watches in the market. And the Omega Special collection is the perfect embodiment of the brand’s innovations, craftsmanship, and horological heritage. From the most iconic watches in the history of watchmaking to the latest limited-edition timepieces, this special collection of timepieces is a must-have for any serious collector.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular Omega Special Watches

How much does an Omega Special Watch cost?

Prices for the Omega 1957 Trilogy Watches

Back in 1957, Omega released three timepieces that would go down in the history of watchmaking and earn the title “Omega Holy Trinity”. In 2017, 60 years after the launch of the original timepieces, the brand released recreations of these iconic watches aptly called the Omega 1957 Trilogy. The Omega Speedmaster 311.10.39.30.01.001, Seamaster 300 ref. 234.10.39.20.01.001, and Railmaster ref 220.10.38.20.01.002. These reiterations of the iconic Omega watches feature the same look and feel as the originals. The only notable difference with these recreations is the more solid stainless steel bracelets with folding clasps, as opposed to the rather delicate straps from the 1950s.

So, how much is an Omega watch in this special trilogy collection? The Omega Special Speedmaster ‘57 Chronograph 311.10.39.30.01.001 features a price tag of $7,250 USD. This limited edition chronograph watch comes in a 38.6 mm stainless steel case with a Hesalite crystal glass with the brand’s logo in the center. The black tropical dial of this timepiece features vintage indexes filled with Super-LumiNova. Similar to the original, it also comes with a tachymeter scale on the bezel. It is also water-resistant up to 200 meters underwater. There are only 3,557 copies of this Omega watch in circulation.

Meanwhile, the Omega Special Seamaster 300 234.10.39.20.01.001 is a dive watch that’s based on the Omega Seamaster CK2913, which was the brand’s first-ever dive watch. This Omega watch comes in a stainless steel case with a black aluminium bi-directional rotating bezel and scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal with an anti‑reflective treatment inside. As the name suggests, it has a water resistance of up to 300 meters, same as the original, which was considered to be exceptional at the time. This Omega dive watch will set you back $7,000 USD.

Lastly, the Omega Special Railmaster 220.10.38.20.01.002 is the recreation of the Railmaster CK2914, which was originally a pocket watch. The 1957 model was intended to help trains of that era to keep time in a more precise and accurate manner. It also boasted an anti-magnetic feature which was useful in aiding those working close to electrical fields. The 60th-anniversary model stays true to the unpretentious nature of the original. However, it did receive an upgrade in terms of its movement.

Powering this Omega watch is the Master Chronometer 8806 caliber, which can resist magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss and has up to 55 hours in power reserve. Inside the Railmaster 220.10.38.20.01.002 is a free sprung-balance with a silicon balance spring that automatically winds in both directions. It has a special luxury finish with a rhodium-plated rotor and bridges. So, how much is an Omega watch in this limited edition line? You can find these Omega watches for sale for around $6,800 USD.

But what if owning just one recreation of these iconic watches is not enough? For truly collectors and enthusiasts who want to own all three of these Omega watches, don’t worry, you don’t need to buy them all separately. You can get these timepieces in a special Trilogy set. The Omega Special 1957 Trilogy Set is limited to only 557 pieces and comes in a specially engraved Swiss oak box. The timepieces in this three-piece set have a distinct marker that sets them apart from the individually sold watches. At the 12 o'clock position, under the logo, you can find the word “Trilogy” along with the watch’s serial number. This limited box set will cost you $31,199 USD.

Prices for the Omega Special Olympic Games Collection — The Official Olympic Timekeeper

Since 1932, Omega has been the official timekeeper for the Olympic games on 28 occasions. In honor of the brand’s partnership with the world’s foremost sports competition, it has released several limited-edition watches that embody the art of precision in timekeeping. On top of that, this range also celebrates the extraordinary performances of these world-renowned athletes. Both avid timepiece collectors and fans of the international event anticipate the release of these special edition watches. But how much is an Omega watch in this line?

The latest launch from this collection is the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 watches. Despite the postponement of the games, Omega still released a line of timepieces to honor the event. The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Co‑Axial Master Chronometer 522.30.42.20.04.001 is one of the three timepieces in this catalog. This 42mm professional diver’s watch comes in a stainless steel case with a blue ceramic bezel. Surrounding the bezel is a white enamel diving scale. The ceramic white dial features laser-engraved waves that have become the signature of Omega dive watches, along with the blue hands and indexes. Below the 12 o’clock position lies the famous Seamaster logo in a vivid red color that delightfully contrasts with the pristine white and cool blue of the watch.

Powering this Omega watch is the caliber 8800, a self-winding movement with Co-Axial escapement. This antimagnetic watch can resist magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gausses. As a professional Omega dive watch, it features a helium escape valve, which allows helium to escape from inside the watch when worn in pressure chambers. There’s also a date display window at the 6 o’clock position. This limited-edition Omega dive watch will set you back around $6,092 USD.

Another watch Omega released to commemorate the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is the Omega  Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M 522.33.40.20.04.001. Housed in a 39.5 mm stainless steel case, this limited edition Omega watch has rather pronounced Japanese touches to its design. The red-tipped central seconds hand, which lies on a polished white ceramic dial, subtly references the Japanese flag. The ceramic bezel also features the number 20, which is filled with red liquid ceramic.

Ticking away inside this timepiece is the Master Chronometer caliber 8800 with a power reserve of 55 hours. You can get a glance at this movement through the clear sapphire crystal case back that features the Tokyo 2020 logo in blue. Prices for these Omega watches for sale is approximately $7,300 USD.

Meanwhile, the Omega Special Olympic Official Timekeeper ref. 522.53.39.50.04.001 is a chronograph watch with a chronometer function that boasts a vintage aesthetic. This 39 mm watch comes in a classic 18 carat rose gold case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on a brown leather strap. The ivory white dial features the vintage Omega watches logo in red at the bottom of the 12 o’clock marker. There are two subdials for the 30-minute counter and small seconds at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions, respectively. To top off the vintage look of this retro-style watch is the embossed vintage Omega symbol on the polished crown. This Omega watch will set you back around $16,800 USD.

Prices for the Omega Special Museum Collection

With the brand’s heritage dating back all the way into 1848, Omega has a rich past in the watchmaking business. The Omega Museum watches are special edition timepieces that take inspiration from the brand’s legacy. To further commemorate the timepieces that cemented Omega as one of the best Swiss watch manufacturers in the world, the collection boasts both traditional designs with contemporary innovations in the watchmaking industry.

The current catalogue of the Museum line includes the Omega Special Museum Chronograph Chronometer ref. 516.53.39.50.09.001. This luxury Swiss watch comes in a 18K yellow gold case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on a brown leather strap. The ivory white dial features Arabic numeral hour markers with blue Breguet hands. Functions of the ref. 516.53.39.50.09.001 includes both a chronometer and chronograph function. This reissue of a classic also includes two subsidiary dials for the minutes and seconds. Powering this Omega watch is the caliber 3203, a manual-winding movement with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial escapement. It has a power reserve of up to 52 hours. You can find these Omega watches for sale for approximately $17,900 USD. The ref. 516.53.39.50.09.001 is limited to only 1938 pieces, the same year the original was released.

Another model in the Museum collection is the Omega Special Museum ref. 516.53.38.50.01.001. These 38mm Omega watches for men come in an 18K white gold case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment inside on a black leather strap. The black dial comes with a telemetric scale, a minute tracker, and a Tachymetric scale. There are also two subdials for the 30-minute recorder and a small seconds dial. At the back of the watch, you will find a special Museum engraving, alongside the watch’s limited edition number. There are only 1941 pieces of the ref. 516.53.38.50.01.001 available in the market. This vintage-inspired Omega watch cost around $19,400 USD.

Prices for the First Omega Wrist Chronograph Watch

With the name First Omega Wrist‑Chronograph, it should be easy to guess why this timepiece is so special. The Omega Special with the reference number 516.52.48.30.04.001 pays homage to the brand’s first-ever wrist-chronographs released in 1913. Through rigorous research and cross-referencing with the Omega Museum, the manufacturer was able to create a vintage-style watch that boasts all the classic details of timepieces from that era. This includes a white enamel dial with blue empire hands and hollow Arabic numeral hour markings. However, the materials used in recreating this watch are much more modern. The ref. 516.52.48.30.04.001 comes in an 18K white gold case with an 18K Sedna gold crown and pusher.

Moreover, not only did Omega recreate the overall look of the original, but ticking away inside Omega 3018 caliber. This manual‑winding mono‑pusher chronograph movement takes inspiration from the original’s 18’’’ CHRO caliber. It comes with a Breguet balance spring and bi‑metallic balance wheel, which can be seen behind the sapphire-crystal case back. There are only 18 pieces of this limited edition chronograph available in the market. Due to their limited production, you can find these Omega watches for sale at the starting price of around $137,300 USD, but this can still go much higher in the second-hand market.

Vintage Omega Special Watch: Is It a Good Investment?

Since its founding in 1848, Omega has continued to release a wide variety of timepieces with a vast selection of styles and functionalities. The line of Omega Special watches is no exception. The timepieces from this Swiss luxury watch brand have remarkable quality and high market value.

In terms of vintage Omega watches, they are one of the few timepieces that not only retain their value but more often than not, increase in value as the years pass by. Moreover, all Omega watches for men and women are limited editions and with only a few pieces in circulation the higher the demand and price tag will be of these watches. While you can get used Omega watches for around $600 USD, the rare vintage Omega watches can sell for as high as $11,000 USD.

History Behind the Omega Special Watches

Omega's heritage dates all the way back to 1848 when Louis Brandt opened a small workshop where he could manufacture watches he could then sell all across Europe. By the late 1880s, the small workshop started by the young entrepreneur became one of the largest manufacturers of Swiss watches. The business even expanded its market outside of Europe, including the United States. On numerous occasions, the brand has contributed to the history of the watchmaking industry, including producing the first minute repeater wristwatch back in 1892.

Fast-forward to 1957, the brand launched what would be the most iconic timepieces from its catalogue. Both watch connoisseurs and fans consider the Omega Seamaster, Omega Railmaster, and the Omega Speedmaster to be the most famous trinity in the horological industry. We’ve even seen these watches on the wrists of the rich and famous, like the King of Rock-and-roll himself, Elvis Presley. Astronaut Wally Schirra wore the first Speedmaster during Project Mercury, America’s first attempt to launch humans into space.

In 2017, Omega released special 60th-anniversary editions of each of these iconic timepieces. The manufacturer worked closely with the Omega Museum to recreate the classic and iconic designs of these new reiterations. The main difference is the updated stainless steel bracelets, which are more robust than the original ones.

Meanwhile, the Omega Olympics watches boast the sporting excellence and prestige of the international sports event. Since 1932, the brand has been the official timekeeper of history’s most prestigious sporting competition. The designs of these limited-edition watches also take inspiration from the host country. The marriage of beauty and precision in these Omega watches for men and women ultimately boast the incredible timekeeping legacy of the brand. 

Reasons Why You Should Invest in an Omega Special Watch

1. Omega is a Swiss watch brand that prides itself on the reliability and precision of its timepieces. In fact, Omega Speedmaster watches passed NASA trials and were worn by astronauts during the Apollo missions. As the official watch of the space program, it’s safe to say that they definitely boast excellent, precise timekeeping.

2. This line of Omega watches for men and women has a vast selection of timepieces with top-notch versatility, both in design and functionality.

3. Omega may be a Swiss luxury brand, but many still consider the prices for its watches as entry-level. Admittedly, price is hardly a contributing factor for those who are after high-quality watches. Nevertheless, if you’re just a beginner in the scene of Haute Horology, Omega is your best starting point for relatively affordable, but still quality timepieces.

4. As mentioned above, an Omega watch holds its value incredibly well. Some older used Omega watches can still hold a resale value. On the second-hand market, you can find these Omega watches for sale at around $4,000 USD to $9,000 USD. Thus, this makes them a solid investment choice.

5. The brand’s legacy dates back all the way to the 19th century. While a brand’s rich history may not be at the top of the list for most, this will still help you set yourself apart from other watch brands.

Omega Special Watches: History Makers in the Horological Industry 

Selecting watches you will eventually invest in is about personal preference. You may want the sporty yet timeless designs of Omega watches alongside their focus on functionality. When you’re on the lookout for the best Swiss watch, it’s important to take into consideration the performance of the timepiece you want. Some watches may possess unnecessary complexities, while others may not have everything you desire or need in a watch. But because of the extensive selection of watches that the Omega Special line offers, there’s surely something in this family of watches for you.