Antique Diamond and Platinum Ladies Omega Wrist Watch/Bracelet (Estate)

It’s a celebrated part of Omega lore that the brand’s Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch to make a lunar landing. But the universal love for vintage Omega watches isn't confined to astronomers, and there’s more to the company’s heritage than the story of the Moonwatch.

The house’s origins date to 1848, when Swiss watchmaker Louis Brandt first set up shop. His sons Louis-Paul and César took over after his death, and in 1894, the pair developed an intriguing new movement.

Not only was it highly accurate, but every part was replaceable, making it easy for any professional to service. The Brandts called their movement the Omega, and as its popularity spread, they changed their company’s name to that of its flagship product.

In 1917, the British Royal Flying Corps designated Omega as an official supplier, and during World War II it became the principal watch supplier for the British forces and their allies. These commissions further strengthened Omega’s commitment to ensuring its products’ reliability under extreme conditions. In 1948, it launched the versatile Seamaster. Developed as a dive watch, the Seamaster proved its durability at high altitudes and freezing temperatures, as well. (Here is the 1stDibs guide to spotting a fake Omega Seamaster.) 

Thanks in part to its rugged reputation and Omega’s links to the British military, it became James Bond’s watch of choice in 1995, appearing in GoldenEye and every succeeding Bond movie; it returned in 2021’s No Time to Die. Nevertheless, the most famous Omega by far is the Speedmaster, introduced in 1957. The first chronograph to display its tachymeter scale on the bezel instead of the dial for easier readability, it was quickly adopted by engineers and scientists. 

Worn by Buzz Aldrin during the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar mission, it’s the only watch certified by NASA for extravehicular activity (space walks) — and, as far as we know, the only one approved by the Russian space agency, too. 

Watch aficionados and aficionadas alike can find vintage Omega watches today on 1stDibs.

Originally established in 2004, Louis XV Jewelers is now a family ran Arizona-based custom jewelry company created to meet all your jewelry needs. Ethan was the driving force in starting Louis XV Jewelers in 2004 with his dear friend. Having no prior knowledge of jewelry, he jumped right into sales and design. When the original owner retired in 2015, Ethan kept the name and decided to change the scope of the business, diving deep into learning how to make one-of-a-kind custom jewelry heirlooms. He knew that educating clients while giving full attention to the smallest details in design and quality would always set him apart in the jewelry industry. One year later, the single greatest addition to Louis XV would be bringing his younger sister Lindsay on board to help manage the growth of the business. They have immense love and respect for each other and help one another to enjoy every challenge and accomplishment. Louis XV is truly a small family business. Currently, Ethan oversees his team of three craftsmen: two master jewelers and one master cadsmith with over one hundred years of combined jewelry experience. Jewelry is incredibly personal and sentimental. As a family, we are honored and humbled to create these special masterpieces for all of you. We can't wait to meet with you and make you a part of our Louis XV family! Love, Ethan, Lindsay, and the LXV team