Top 5 Omega watches on Instagram
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Cécile Fischer
Editor, RE-UP
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As Omega releases the First Omega Wrist-Chronograph Limited Edition, we scoured Instagram to find out which were the brand’s most popular watches online.
Currently in the news for its First Omega Wrist-Chronograph Limited Edition, a run of 18 timepieces outfitted with an original refurbished 1913 calibre, Omega is known for its sports and dive watches. Which are the most popular online? We searched Instagram to find out.
Methodology
To keep things simple, we won’t be differentiating between new/older models of the same timepieces. For example, a Speedmaster Professional will be classed as that, irrespective of dial colour, material or type of strap, whereas a Speedmaster Day Date or Speedmaster Racing are classed as different watches.
As the hashtag has been used more than 2.6 million times and each image must be reviewed individually, we calculated percentages from a sample size of 2,500 images to determine which watch is the most popular across the hashtag. So here they are, the top 5 #Omega on Instagram.
Speedmaster Professional or “Moonwatch”
Percentage of total: 41.18%
History: First introduced in 1957, the Omega Speedmaster or Moonwatch is the brand’s most popular model, both online and offline. Its nickname comes from the fact that it was the first watch on the Moon. Chosen by NASA for the U.S. space program in 1965, it was issued to astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission, and remains one of the few watches today to be qualified for spaceflight. Surprisingly, given its pedigree, the Moonwatch was not originally designed for space exploration, but for car racing.
Why: The Omega Speedmaster Professional is the second longest-produced Omega watch. Since its release, the Speedmaster Professional has remained essentially the same, with just a few minor changes to the calibre, but identical case proportions and dial design. It’s a watch known for its precision, readability and robustness, a watch that has made history and a watch that will last for years, making it one of the most popular chronographs in the world… and the most popular on Instagram today.
Seamaster Professional 300m or the “Bond watch”
Percentage of total: 20.17%
History: The original Seamaster 300 was also introduced in 1957 as a tribute to Omega’s maritime legacy. It has a 30 bar depth rating, a helium valve at 10 o’clock and is powered by Omega’s exclusive co-axial movement, an escapement mechanism invented in the 1970s by British watchmaker George Daniels that offers greater timekeeping accuracy and longer service intervals.
Why: The Seamaster is the longest-produced Omega watch. While popular among personalities such as Prince William and Joe Biden, its biggest claim to fame is as James Bond’s watch. Pierce Brosnan was first to wear it in 1995, in GoldenEye, and Daniel Craig has been wearing it ever since. This isn’t the first time a watch has been made popular thanks to a film, although fans may be disappointed to learn that Bond’s watch features cool gadgets such as a laser and a remote detonator that the real watch doesn’t have!
Speedmaster Day Date MK40 Triple Calendar
Percentage of total: 10.92%
History: Introduced in 1993, the Day Date (also known as the MK40, TDate or Triple Date) is another edition of the Speedmaster collection. While most of the watches from the Speedmaster collection take inspiration from the iconic Moonwatch, the Speedmaster Day Date strays further from it, with a completely different dial that features day, date, month and 24-hour indicators.
Why: With its 39mm diameter, the Day Date is smaller than the Moonwatch with its 42mm, making it a better alternative for smaller wrists. More elegant than Omega’s other professional Speedmasters, it retains the functionalities of a tool watch. Though long discontinued, the Day Date stands its ground on Instagram thanks to its functional elegance, perfect for the modern man.
Seamaster Planet Ocean
Percentage of total: 7.56%
History: The Seamaster Planet Ocean was released in 2005 as a testament to the brand’s commitment to saving the planet. Since then, it has become a classic in Omega’s dive watch collection. Like its Seamaster Professional 300m counterpart, it recently received a brand new co-axial movement and has a helium release valve.
Why: Much like the Seamaster Professional 300m, the Seamaster Planet Ocean’s popularity has been boosted by celebrity endorsements from George Clooney to Michael Phelps, and its cameo in Casino Royale. But famous fans aside, this dive watch, with its 600m water-resistance, is one of the best on the market.
Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m
Percentage of total: 5.04%
History: While many of the Seamaster watches, such as the Professional 300m or the Planet Ocean in this top 5, have built themselves a reputation as professional dive watches, the Aqua Terra, launched in 2003, is one of Omega’s dressier models, with a less sporty, more urban style.
Why: While not specifically designed with the US market in mind, this dressier watch has become very popular in the United States, where elegance and style are key for many consumers. Clean and simple, this is yet another Seamaster that has made it onto James Bond’s wrist, in Skyfall. In fact this was the first time Bond was seen with a dressier watch rather than a professional tool watch – and an entry-level model to boot!
