Together with the invention of the 19-line 'Omega' calibre, one of the most important names in watchmaking was also born in 1894. 125 years later, the company celebrated the anniversary with an event in Biel, Switzerland. The celebration was hosted at the Omega Museum, where guests were able to relive the company's journey through key moments in its history. Before being called Omega, the company's first manufacture was opened in 1848 by a young watchmaker, Louis Brandt. Almost 50 years later, in 1894, his two sons LouisPaul and César invented a new movement, the 19-calibre that they decided to name "Omega" after the letter of the Greek alphabet, to represent the ultimate achievement. In the wake of this success, the company was renamed 'Omega' in 1903. Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of the brand welcomed the guests to the event: "Today we are really proud to represent such an iconic name. Omega is the only brand to have inherited the name from a movement, a confirmation of our complete dedication to the art of precision. But it is also a name renowned in many other fields, from moon landings to the Olympic Games to James Bond films and ocean exploration. This anniversary certainly deserves to be celebrated." The House also unveiled two new watch creations to guests. The first is the De Ville Trésor 125th Anniversary Edition, with an 18-carat yellow gold case, burgundy leather strap and red enamel dial. The case back is embellished with the anniversary medallion and the "damask" engraving originally used in certain famous 19-line calibres in the United States. The second creation unveiled to guests was the return of the 19-line calibre, brought back to life. The brand has recovered several components of the original movements in its safes, including bridges, plates, escapements and the bimetallic balance spring. Components that will be used by the watchmakers at Omega's Atelier Tourbillon to recreate 19 new movements. The 19-line calibre will be updated with some innovations such as the Swiss regulating system. In addition, the movements will be embellished with a "damask" decoration and will be housed inside a new pocket watch.
