A Private Passage Through Omega

Biel/Bienne: At the Heart of Horology

TSC field trip #016 begins with a morning train from Geneva bound fo Omega’s headquarters in Biel/Bienne. Thanks to the generous guidance of our member Romain Vesaphong, we’re granted private access to spaces few outside the maison ever see.

We start inside the atelier: glass-walled, dustless, and quietly humming with purpose. Here, master watchmakers bring movements to life, including the revered Calibre 321, painstakingly rebuilt by hand in a dedicated restoration workshop. Further on, we explore the Co-Axial production lines and step into the METAS testing lab, where each timepiece must prove its resistance to magnetism, its accuracy, and its integrity as a Master Chronometer.

From there, we cross into the museum — the soul of Omega.

Watches that orbited the moon. The chronograph worn by JFK. Olympic timing systems that changed the course of sport. Set within an immersive, interactive space, the collection traces over 175 years of innovation and cultural history.

Our visit ends in Omega’s private boutique beside the manufacture. A place of quiet hospitality and time to reflect. For those so inclined, a chance to discover boutique-exclusive references and collector pieces rarely seen outside Switzerland.