Omega SA is currently based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, and was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The company originally operated as La Generale Watch Co. until the name Omega was incorporated in 1903, becoming Louis Brandt et Frère-Omega Watch & Co. The company name was officially changed to Omega SA in 1984, and is currently a subsidiary of The Swatch Group.
Alliance with Tissot
1930 saw Omega joining forces with Tissot in response to the global economic difficulties brought on by World War I, forming the Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère (SSIH) which resulted in an era of Tissot-Omega watches that bore the names of both companies on the dial. Later joined by Lemania Watch Co and A. Lugrin Co in L’Orient, SSIH specialized in complications which would eventually prove to be an important step towards developing the Omega Speedmaster.
Michael Schumacher
The Omega Speedmaster is through and through a racing watch, but you’d be forgiven for not knowing that. Ever since one went to the moon on Buzz Aldrin’s wrist in 1969, the Speedmaster’s racing heritage has become permanently hidden behind the lunar eclipse. But for a few years between 1996 to 2003, its motorsport pedigree was back on full display thanks to arguably the greatest driver of all time: Michael Schumacher.
The first Speedmaster ‘Schumacher’ model was based on the Speedmaster Reduced and introduced in 1996 and remained in production until 1999. Michael Schumacher and his brother Ralf were both Omega ambassadors during that time. The first Speedmaster Schumacher models featured dials in red, blue, and yellow, with either a matching strap or stainless steel bracelet. The box that they came in can only be described as a racing wheel sandwich. Other than different dials, hands, and straps, there was little else that visibly separated these from a standard Speedmaster Reduced. Subsequent releases did begin to include Schumacher’s name and printed signature on the case back, such as the Omega Speedmaster Day-Date Racing Michael Schumacher (ref. 3529.50.00),
Later Omega Speedmaster Schumacher models did eventually come in a more standard 42mm case size, such as the Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow Michael Schumacher Limited Edition (ref. 3159.50.00) in 2003 and the Omega Speedmaster Legend collection. There was also the reference 3559.32 that has been noted for its resemblance to a “Paul Newman” Rolex Daytona (ref. 6241), as well as its much more exclusive counterpart (ref. 3553.32) that was gifted to Schumacher’s Scuderia Ferrari team after his sixth Formula One world title in 2003 with a limited run of 500 pieces.
Casino Royale Cameo
Fun fact: The red dial Speedmaster Legend (ref. 3506.61.00) has even made a movie cameo on the Omega Seamaster’s turf when it was worn by Andreas Daniel who portrayed the high-stakes poker dealer in Casino Royale (2006).
References
https://www.tissotwatches.com/media/downloadable/pocket_book_en.pdf
https://www.fratellowatches.com/speedy-tuesday-speedmaster-schumacher-yellow/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/omega-speedmaster-michael-schumacher/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/speedy-tuesday-omega-speedmaster-legend/
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-speedmaster-legend-35593200
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-speedmaster-broad-arrow-31595000
https://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/omega-speedmaster-legend-michael-schumacher
https://chronotimepieces.com/shop/omega-speedmaster-legend-automatic-chronograph-42-ref-3507-51-00-michael-schumacher/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPBYyu3Gm4A
https://www.chrono24.com/magazine/formula-1-watches-p_23897/
https://italianwatchspotter.com/omega-and-michael-schumacher/?lang=en