In Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, the Swiss luxury watch brand Omega has moved to a new location with an accompanying museum. The aforementioned museum will be a salute to the history of the company, one that spans 171 years since Louis Brandt founded it in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Back in 1983, Omega debuted its initial museum experience, providing the first in-depth story of a sole watchmaker of Swiss origin. However, “given the length and depth of the brand’s legacy,” Omega had seen the need for a new museum.
After five years of construction, in a brilliantly lit building that was designed by Shigeru Ban, the Swatch Group/Omega has finally created its newest residence. The museum debuted at "La Cite du Temps," and contains a number of showcases as well as immersive and interactive experiences that educate attendees on the history of the brand.
One can take a look at the inside of the museum with Omega's "History of Time" 360-degree video, which catalogs humanity's invention of the first clocks to the precise watches and timepieces of today.
As the official timekeeper of the Olympics, Omega urges museum visitors to celebrate with a 9-meter running track, complete with the brand's own timekeeping equipment and a starting pistol. By the time an attendee crosses the finish line, their photos are taken as soon as they cross. The camera used by Omega is a Scan’O’Vision Myria and can record nearly 10,000 digital images within a single second.
This building has debuted the "Her Time" exhibition. This section is used to denote the history of women's watches throughout history, including Lépine pendants as well as the most recent inventions. Another exhibition includes Omega's ties with the U.S. moon landing.
One can look to find a small set containing a model of the Lunar Rover and an astronaut on the moon's surface. There are videos, photos and differing versions of the "Moonwatch" by Omega. That watch was cleared in 1965 by NASA for spaceflight, while the Speedmaster remains the first timepiece worn on the lunar surface. One can get a sneak peek at Omega's newest museum by following this link.
information originally sourced from National Jeweler.
