Popular Watches that Have Gone Up and Down

There is such a thing. There are popular watches, and there are not-so popular watches. How this categorization is gauged is relative, of course, to one’s criteria of popularity. Total sales in a month, personal testimony, or watch infamy, these markers do affect the popularity status of a watch.

For this particular Who’s Who in Watch Land, let’s not limit ourselves to sales figures or what celebrities/important persons have to say.

Let’s let history “explain” to us who she sees as her two most popular watches are, and understand just how and why the brands Rolex or Omega stand to be among the most popular watches in the world. One has been up, the other, down.

The First Waterproof Watch

In 1931 Rolex came out with its first self-winding watch. Years after this, the first fully waterproof watch came out. Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex SA (as it is known now), went as far as the bottom of the Mariana Trench to show just how Rolex had mastered waterproofing a watch.

The Trieste Bathyscaphe (the submersible that went to the bottom of the trench) was fitted (on its side) with a specially made Rolex watch. The watch worked perfectly, and was precise even at a depth of 11,000 meters.

The first watch to go to the deepest part of the earth. Rolex SA also has other firsts in the realm of popular watches. The first watch with a date indicator was a Rolex. The first chronograph watch was also a Rolex.

The first watch capable of telling two timezones at the same time was a Rolex. Indeed a lot of firsts that Rolex had come up with have now become a “standard” feature in watches.

In the rank of popular watches, Rolex stands with high regard. Famous for its durability, Rolex watches have become status symbols, becoming a symbol for success rightfully earned.

The First Watch on the Moon

An Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was worn by Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin during his trip to the moon.

Originally released in 1957, the Omega Speed master Professional Chronograph out-tested five other contending models from five other leading watch brands, during NASA’s overall “space-worthy” tests.

Bulova, Longines, Breitling, TAG Heuer and Rolex, popular watches by their own rights, placed in their “candidates” for NASA’s tests.

NASA picked the Omega Speed master Professional after the timepiece had passed rigorous condition tests, which included, vacuum, intense humidity, corrosion, pressure, shock, noise, vibration, exposure to extreme temperatures and acceleration tests.

The watch aptly earned the name Moonwatch because of this, and made its date with history.  Rolex and Omega are among the most popular watches in the world. One has been to the deepest depth in the world, the other, to the farthest man has ever travelled outside, to outer space.

As popular watches play their parts, Rolex and Omega keep on setting the standards that make the said popular watches popular. Pathfinders in the world of watches, these two brands have become apples for history’s eyes.