The luxury watch brand Omega is one of the most well-known in the world. Founded by Louis Brandt in 1848, the company is headquartered in Biel/Bienne. Since the brand’s inception, it has prided itself on producing precision pocket watches. Omega is part of the Swatch Group, which also manufactures Blancpain, Breguet, Certina, Longines, Rado, and Tissot.
Some brands have their own museums, like the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and IWC Museum in Schaffhausen. In Biel, you can cover two museums in one day – Planet Swatch and the Omega Museum.
It’s worth checking out the Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, if you have a penchant for watches or Omega in particular.
Here’s what you can expect from Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
Visiting Omega
With its premium pricing, clever advertising, and revolutionary and professional pieces, Omega is rightfully considered one of the best luxury watch manufacturers in Switzerland.
Rather than teaching its visitors about the history of time and timekeeping, Omega Museum is more about celebrating the brand’s history and products, much like the museum above – Planet Swatch.
Biel/Bienne
The Swiss town of Biel, also known as Bienne in French, is located 40 kilometers northwest of Bern. It is one of the watchmaking centers of Switzerland along with La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. It is a bilingual town on the northeastern shores of Lake Biel.
Biel/Bienne is home to watch companies like Swatch, Alpina, and Horage. And despite having its headquarters in Geneva, Rolex’s largest production facility is located in Biel/Bienne.
It’s hard to think of Biel/Bienne as your typical tourist destination. The town is a labor-intensive industrial area that attracts watchmakers. It’s a place where watches are made, not necessarily where they are sold.
Cité du Temps: Home of Omega Museum
Located on the first floor of the Cité du Temps, these exhibits are dedicated to Omega, a world-famous watch brand. The Planet Swatch Museum is located one floor above.
The building is entirely modern and consists of several floors. Designed in collaboration with world-renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, it perfectly complements the Swatch Group’s brand.
What to Expect Inside Omega Museum
Upon entering the Omega Museum in Biel, you are welcomed by an exciting film. A 360° show will provide you with a brief history of timekeeping.
As soon as the film show is over, you will be able to visit the Omega Museum. You will be able to see some of Omega’s most iconic watches throughout the museum.
In addition, there’s a section about Omega’s role in Space Exploration and the first Moon expedition. Early in the 1960s, NASA began using Omega chronographs. Omega Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon. It was worn by Buzz Aldrin. This watch is on display at Washington, D.C.’s National Air and Space Museum.
You can also take part in the Omega race. While running, it measures your speed and takes a picture, which you can get for free at Omega Museum’s front desk before leaving.
You’ll be able to see the various instances in which Omega was used in James Bond movies at the other end of the museum.
How to Get to Omega Museum
Biel’s train station is within easy reach of Omega Museum. You can either take the bus or walk around 15 minutes from there.
| Address | Omega Museum Cité du Temps Nicolas-G.-Hayek-Strasse 2 2502 Biel |
| By Train | Biel (14-minute walk) |
| By Bus | Biel, Omega (Buses 2, 3, 4, 72) |
Final Thoughts: Omega Museum
The precision and elegance of Omega have made it a well-known luxury brand. Omega watches not only look beautiful, but they are incredibly functional as well. Chronometers manufactured by the company are used for measuring and keeping time at various sports events.
Despite its small size, Omega enthusiasts will find the Omega Museum quite interesting. There is a good mix of interesting information, interactive exhibits, multimedia use, and watches to be seen.
My suggestion would be to take the elevator up to the second floor and finish the Planet Swatch Museum before going down one floor to the Omega Museum.
A visit to the Omega Museum will take you roughly an hour to see most of the watches on display. In addition to a visit to the Planet Swatch Museum on the second floor, you can expect to spend two to three hours (most likely about two hours).
If you’re a watch enthusiast or a fan of Omega, be sure to visit the Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.