Ready, steady, go - stop! Omega at Olympia

^{© Nick J Webb, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Omega has been involved since the opening of the Summer Olympics in Paris on July 26, 2024. For the 31st time, the Swiss watch manufacturer is acting as an official timekeeper and is omnipresent through display boards and banners. However, Omega's commitment goes far beyond marketing and sponsorship: The company is responsible for ensuring that the right time is actually measured — at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Find out what technological excellence “timekeeping” is and why Omega's commitment to the Olympics can also be of interest to watch enthusiasts and investors.

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No Olympics without Omega

Olympia and Omega share a long, successful history. As early as the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Omega took over the entire time measurement for the first time. Back then, the Swiss sent a single watchmaker, equipped with thirty precision split-second chronographs, to the venues. Over time, time measurement became increasingly electronic. With the so-called “OmegaScope,” for example, in Innsbruck in 1964, the brand ensured that a banner with live times could be displayed during television broadcasts of the Olympic Games.

Omega's “sporting” offering today goes far beyond pure timekeeping and also includes tools for precisely recording times. These include, for example, electronic start guns or touchpads, which are used in swimming or climbing. Omega currently has solutions for around 100 different disciplines in its portfolio - but can usually adapt these quickly if new sports, such as break dancing, are added this year.

The “master of time,” Alain Zobrist, runs the company Swiss Timing, which, like Omega, is part of the Swatch Group and is responsible for electronic systems - including for major sporting events. For example, 530 timekeepers and 400 tons of equipment were used at the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In Paris, Zobrist has 550 employees and experts, plus 900 specially trained volunteers. Paris is said to have 350 tons of material this year, including 350 sport-specific display boards, 85 public display boards and 200 kilometers of electrical and fiber optic cable. That much equipment is also required because: “In Paris, we will collect around 1.5 million results, in 32 sports with a total of 47 disciplines. That's almost 32 World Championships in 16 days,” said Raynald Aeschliman, CEO of Omega.

Timeless quality and elegance

In its more than 150-year history, Omega has always been a pioneer in the development of watch technologies. Schon Since the Geneva Observatory competition in 1931, Omega watches have been known and appreciated worldwide for their precision. For this reason, the International Olympic Committee appointed Omega as the first official timekeeper for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Today, the manufacturer is part of the international group holding company Swatch Group, which unites 18 watch brands under one roof. These include Breguet, Glashütte Original, Tissot and Longines.

But Omega has not only made a name for itself in sport. In 1917 and 1918, Omega watches were selected as official service watches by the British and American armed forces. In 1948, Omega introduced the Seamaster, one of the company's most famous watch lines, which is appreciated for its water resistance and robustness. In 1952, it was followed by the introduction of the Constellation, which is known for its precision and elegant design. Another milestone was 1965, when the Omega Speedmaster Professional was selected by NASA as the official watch for astronauts and 1969 by Niels Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin as the first watch worn on the moon was.

Today, Omega watches are popular with collectors, celebrities, and investors alike. Models such as the Seamaster and Speedmaster have become icons due to their appearances in James Bond films and their connection to space travel. Omega also has numerous partnerships, such as with the PGA Tour and yachting, which further strengthen its brand presence in the world of sports.

Investing in luxury watches

By the way, Omega has been designing suitable collections to accompany the Olympic Games for decades. For example, current Speedmaster and Seamaster “Paris 2024” models, which are offered from around 9000 euros. From an investor's point of view, luxury watches like this are a particularly beautiful and “timeless” addition to the portfolio, which also offers attractive return opportunities. Although the is developing Price for collector watches Like Rolex or Omega, there has been a slight decline in the past two years, but since 2017 alone, for example, the Omega index has risen by around 25%. In addition, luxury watches - like other collectibles - have a very low correlation with the financial markets and can balance out fluctuations in the portfolio as a result.

FINEXITY offers on its own marketplace rare, curated luxury watches from Rolex or Patek Philippe, which are also interesting for retail investors thanks to digital shares. For as little as 500 euros, investors can purchase tokens of tangible assets such as collectibles or other asset classes, which can be traded flexibly and offer attractive return opportunities.

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