Wristwatches are a classic element of men's style, and we believe they should be part of everyone's daily wardrobe.
While you can get by with just one watch, having several gives you more options to match them with your clothing and gear on any day.
Of course, if you're looking to build a watch collection, you might be interested in acquiring watches from recognizable brands. While Rolex might be the first to come to mind, it's not the only brand worth considering. In fact, one could argue that another brand is more historically significant and thus more essential when it comes to choosing wristwatches for your collection. If you haven't guessed yet, that brand is Omega. And while we don't consider Omega watches to be cheap by any means, below we list our selection of the top five affordable watches from this brand for new collectors.
A Brief History of Omega
The very first wristwatch, according to history, was created by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1810. However, representatives from Patek Philippe claim their original wristwatch, introduced to the public in 1868, was the world's first. Either way, Omega, founded in 1848, has been around long enough to witness the development of these devices from nearly the very beginning and to contribute to making them what they are today.
Omega's first store was opened by 23-year-old Louis Brandt in the small Swiss village of La Chaux-de-Fonds. By 1879, Brandt had passed away and handed his business to his two sons, who continued it with the same passion for precise watchmaking as their father. In 1885, the company created its first serial watch movement, the "Labrador" - an invention that laid the foundation for future innovations that, unbeknownst to them, would change the world of watchmaking forever.
In 1894, the brothers released a new movement, which became the company's namesake - the 19-ligne caliber. This exceptionally accurate movement set a new industry standard as it was the first to allow any component to be replaced without modification by any watchmaker worldwide, simplifying repair technology without compromising functionality. Additionally, this movement featured another widely used component to this day: the ability to wind and change the time using the stem and crown.
Omega continued its rapid ascent in the 1900s, earning numerous accolades and eventually becoming the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, starting in 1932 and continuing to this day. That same year, Omega introduced the world’s first commercially available diving watch. By 1940, Omega had become the largest supplier of watches to the British Armed Forces and their allies. In 1947, the brand created one of the world’s first wristwatch movements with a tourbillon.
Then, in 1965, Omega made history again by becoming the official watch supplier for NASA. This partnership led to Omega creating all the watches ever worn by astronauts who stepped on the lunar surface. Since then, the accolades, achievements, and historical exploits have continued. Omega even became the official watches of James Bond, starting with the 1995 film "GoldenEye." Showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, Omega remains one of the most important and impressive watch brands to this day. And, if you haven’t noticed, this trend is likely to continue for another century if Omega has anything to do with it.
What is a "Cheap" Omega?
When it comes to watches from luxury brands, we use the term "cheap" quite freely. Sure, there are some Omega options that will cost you tens of thousands of dollars, but here we focus on relative affordability. For this article, we’ve focused on watches priced up to $6,000, with the cheapest option costing just under $4,000.
The Current State of Omega
Over the last 120 years, Omega's popularity has only increased. What once was a manufacturer of stylish watches for pilots, astronauts, racers, and divers now proudly enjoys its heritage. Fortunately, prices haven’t risen significantly in recent years, although availability still leaves something to be desired. The Swiss watch company continues to love innovation, yet it keeps releasing its greatest hits time and again, with prices increasing slightly each time.
A Note on Counterfeits
While Omega may not be as recognizable as Rolex, which is arguably the most counterfeited watch brand in the world, there’s still reason for skepticism when buying your first (or even 30th) Omega. If you’re not an expert in horology, you might be able to tell a genuine watch from a fake at first glance. However, if you’re not a watchmaker (like 99% of people), you’ll always be better off buying watches from a reputable source - such as an authorized dealer - or having a real watch expert take a look at the watch before purchasing. Think of it like buying a used car: you can take the seller at their word, but you’re much less likely to be deceived if you go the extra mile in verification.
Omega De Ville Prestige Dress Watch
Best Dress Watch: Omega produces numerous watches for various purposes - from deep-sea divers to those that helped astronauts traverse the moon's surface. However, not everyone is looking for or needs rugged utilitarian watches. In fact, sometimes you just need simple, minimalist watches for office wear or special occasions. If you’re that kind of person, the Omega De Ville Prestige model will surely appeal to you. Elegant and classic, these watches eschew all the "bells" and "whistles" in favor of simple timekeeping and impeccable style. Of course, the watch isn't devoid of convenient features: it has a thin date window at the "3 o’clock" position and a domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating. The watch also features an automatic self-winding movement, a dressy silver dial with matte black indices and hands, and a green leather strap.
- Size: 39.5 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 2500 (self-winding)
- Type: Dress
Omega Seamaster 300M Diver Watch
Best Diving Watch: In 1932, Omega introduced the Marine model - the world’s first commercial diving watch. This means Omega has nearly a century of experience creating some of the best diving watches. This legacy continues today with the Seamaster line, such as the 300M diver’s watch you see before you. These watches, with clean design lines and a moderately pared-down style, perfectly blend timelessness and functionality. Their feature list is extensive, but some include a blue dial with luminous indices and hands, a date window at the "3 o’clock" position, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, a stainless steel case with a matching strap and crown, and a ceramic unidirectional dive timer bezel. Additionally, the watch is equipped with an automatic self-winding movement, rated for depths of up to 1,000 feet - if you’re a true diver.
- Size: 36.25 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 2500 (automatic)
- Type: Diver
Omega Seamaster Railmaster Watch
Best Field Watch: The original Railmaster watch was released in 1957 and was specifically designed for railway workers and anyone working near magnetic fields, thanks to its anti-magnetic case ensuring accuracy. The modern edition pays homage to this impressive original but has received some notable upgrades - both in terms of internal mechanisms and external design. For starters, the watch has a "denim blue" colored dial and a matching NATO strap made from natural denim and grain leather (as a nod to the rugged work material often worn on railways). The watch also features light gray SuperLuminova luminous indices and hands. The star of the show, especially if you actually work in magnetic field conditions, is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8806 that powers the watch - a movement that makes them resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. Even if you don’t need magnetic protection, this is still an excellent watch crafted in American style.
- Size: 40 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 8806 (automatic)
- Type: Field
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional
Best Chronograph: Omega's Speedmaster line is perhaps the most historically significant set of watch models, and much of its legendary status is owed to one particular variant - the Moonwatch. As the name suggests, these are the watches that made history by going to the Moon in 1969 when Apollo 11 first landed on the lunar surface. Since then, these watches have been an integral part of both NASA astronauts (they were on astronauts during all six lunar missions) and Omega's consumer offerings. Despite the numerous variations - from simple dress versions to ultra-luxurious limited edition 18k gold options - this model, the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, is as close to the original as possible. Stainless steel case and bracelet, tachymeter bezel, Hesalite glass (the same polymethyl methacrylate as the original), and timeless styling.
- Size: 42 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 1861 (automatic)
- Type: Chronograph
Omega Specialties Olympic Official Timekeeper
Best Special Edition: From James Bond to NASA, Omega has an impressive history as the official watch brand of some of our favorite endeavors, from movie franchises to government agencies and more. But there's another particularly impressive organization/event that Omega has represented for nearly a century, which you might not be aware of: the Olympic Games. Starting from the Los Angeles Games in 1932, Omega participated in 27 different Olympics - meaning they've developed and crafted the official stopwatches for every sporting event at these competitions. In honor of this, they created a watch, including this attractive model inspired by the Olympic rings. Aside from the bright green details, this watch features an automatic movement, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating, a steel case with a perforated leather strap, and more. Additionally, the watch is a limited edition - only 2,032 pieces were made, so if you want to own these historically significant Olympic watches, you should act quickly.
- Size: 39.5 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 8800 (automatic)
- Type: Instrument
Omega Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 Chronograph Watch
Best Quartz Watch: Even without considering the overt Star Wars reference, Omega's Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 chronograph watch remains one of the most attractive accessible chronometers from the celebrated Swiss brand. While Omega's pedigree is certainly enough for these watches to find a place among the best, they gain even more advantage thanks to their quartz movement, developed and tested by the European Space Agency (ESA). Designed specifically for aviation and astronomy use, the watches are made from durable titanium (both the case and bracelet), have a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, feature an LCD display, and include a range of other convenient features - from a bidirectional timer bezel to a built-in perpetual calendar. For those dreaming of space travel, these watches certainly won't let you down.
- Size: 45 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 5691 (quartz)
- Type: Chronograph, Digital Hybrid
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Dive Watch
Best Diver's Upgrade: If Omega's Seamaster diver’s watch line is among the best in history, then the Planet Ocean model is the culmination of this history in a series of select, superior watches. While these watches are at the top of our guide's price range, they are actually the most affordable of them - priced at $5,900 (which, honestly, is quite inexpensive for a watch of this caliber). Besides being a physical embodiment of Omega's maritime heritage, they feature a stainless steel case and matching strap, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a unidirectional rotating dive timer bezel, an automatic self-winding movement, and - perhaps most importantly and impressively - they allow for dives up to 600 meters (2,000 feet). If you need a diving watch that looks as good as it functions, you can't go wrong with one of the 11 Planet Ocean models that Omega currently offers.
- Size: 45.5 mm
- Movement: Omega Caliber 8500 (automatic)
- Type: Diver