zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

In 1877, Louis Brandt forms a partnership with his second son, Louis-Paul Brandt, succeeding the form in which Louis senior had operated since 1848. The company operates in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
1877 -- Louis Brandt & Fils (Louis Brandt & son)
The founder, Louis Brandt passed away in 1879.
1879 -- Louis Brandt & Frere (Louis Brandt & brother) is formed by Louis-Paul Brandt and his brother, the third son, Cesar Brandt
The Brandt family always gave their male descendants second name of Louis, theoretically perserving the use of the firm's name.

In 1880, the brothers move the firm to Bienne (Biel in German).

They found a separate company Fabrique de boites La Centrale SA (Central Watch Case Company would be a free translation) so named in 1896, which operated until 1977 and provided cases for many (ultimately) Omega watches.

By 1889, the company which will become Omega is producing 100,000 units and is Switzerland's largest single watchmaker.

The Omega calibre is introduced in 1894 and is very successful.

The company's name is registered:
1900 Louis Brandt & Frere, Suze Factories is used until World War I
The elder brother, Louis-Paul Brandt, passes away unexpectedly on 14 April 1903.

One month later (!?!), Cesar Brandt transforms the company to:
1903 -- Louis Brandt & Frere-Omega Watch Company
Cesar passes away unexpectedly on 11 October 1903, with ownership and leadership succeeding to the founder's grandchildren, the eldest of which is 24!

Louis Brandt & Frere continues to be used in advertising and on official correspondence for some time. After all, it is the name of the company!

Omega and Tissot effectively merge in 1925 and in 1930 SSIH (Swiss Corporation for the Watchmaking Industry) is created, and Lemania is added to the group. Omega is a subsidiary of this group. Except for a relatively brief period in the 1990s(?), Omega, Tissot and Lemania have had common ownership since 1930.

Omega grows exponentially after World War II and uses the proceeds of their success to expand and acquire productive capacity. Some of the more notable acquisitions of movement manufacturers, watchmakers or factories:
1955 Marc Favre (movements)
1961 Rayville-Blancpain (movements and watches)
1961 Cortebert/Juillard (movements and watches)
1961 Jaman (factory)
1964 Jeanrenaud (factory)
1964 Medag (factory)
1965 Lanco (movements and watches)
1964 Ciana/Fimecor (factory)
1968 Notz (factory)
1971 Economic Swiss Time Holdings (Roskopf or pin lever watches)
1974 Fontana/Lascor (cases)
1977 Maeder-Leschot (cases)
1978 Precision Watchcase (cases)
1979 Star Watch Case (cases)
1979 Aurore (factory)
By the mid-1970s, the company is the largest watch making group in Switzerland, producing 13.5 million units. (Today Rolex, the largest Swiss watchmaker, makes less than 1 million.)

I cannot find the citation, but Omega became officially Omega Watch Company (and no longer Louis Brandt & Frere) sometime in the 1950s, if I recall correctly.