Omega collectors do not talk in reference numbers any more than Rolex collectors do. They talk in Moonwatch, Pie Pan, PloProf, Tintin, and a handful of other names that outlasted the official model names they replaced. Almost none of these came from Omega's own marketing department. Here is what every major Omega nickname means, which watch it belongs to, and where the name actually came from.
The short answer: Omega's biggest nicknames cluster around three families. Speedmaster: Moonwatch (the Professional that went to the moon), Broad Arrow (the 1957 CK2915 original), Ed White (105.003, worn on the first American spacewalk), FOIS (CK2998, First Omega In Space), Tintin (311.30.42.30.01.004's red-white-blue chapter ring), Silver Snoopy (the NASA award dial), and Bullhead (146.011's top-mounted pushers). Seamaster: PloProf (166.077, "Plongeur Professionnel") and Bond, for the Diver 300M worn in GoldenEye. Constellation: Connie (shorthand for the collection) and Pie Pan (the faceted dome dial used from 1952 into the late 1960s).
The Constellation "Pie Pan," named for the faceted dome dial that resembles an inverted pie tin.
Speedmaster Nicknames
The Speedmaster carries more nicknames than the rest of the Omega catalog combined, which makes sense given how many distinct variants have passed through the line since 1957.
Moonwatch
The Speedmaster Professional earned the nickname Moonwatch for the obvious reason: it is the watch NASA flight-qualified for extravehicular activity, and the reference Buzz Aldrin wore on the lunar surface during Apollo 11 in 1969. "Moonwatch" today refers broadly to the manual-wind Professional line, currently built around Caliber 3861. It is the single most recognizable nickname in the Omega catalog, and the only one Omega has fully absorbed into its own marketing.
Broad Arrow
The original 1957 Speedmaster, reference CK2915, carries an arrow-shaped hour hand wide enough that collectors nicknamed the whole reference "Broad Arrow." It predates the tachymeter-on-bezel Speedmaster most people picture today: the CK2915 had the scale printed on the dial itself. Three sub-references (CK2915-1, -2, and -3) span 1957 to 1959, and clean examples are among the most expensive vintage Speedmasters in existence.
The "Broad Arrow," reference CK2915, the first Speedmaster ever made. The nickname comes from the shape of the hour hand.
Ed White
Reference 105.003 picked up the nickname "Ed White" after astronaut Ed White wore his personal Speedmaster during the first American spacewalk in June 1965, four months before Omega's watch received NASA's formal flight qualification. The 105.003 is identifiable by its asymmetrical case with chronograph pusher guards, a shape unique to this reference.
FOIS
FOIS stands for "First Omega In Space," a title that belongs to the CK2998, worn by astronaut Wally Schirra during the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission in October 1962. This predates both the Ed White spacewalk and Omega's official NASA qualification, making the CK2998 the true origin point of the Speedmaster's space association, even though it gets less attention than the Moonwatch itself.
Tintin
Reference 311.30.42.30.01.004 carries a distinctive red, white, and blue-black checkered chapter ring that collectors nicknamed "Tintin," after the rocket illustration from the Belgian comic series. It is a Racing-dial Moonwatch variant rather than a separate model, but the checkered ring is different enough that it earned its own name in the secondary market.
The "Tintin," reference 311.30.42.30.01.004. The checkered chapter ring is the entire reason for the nickname.
Silver Snoopy
Several references across Omega's catalog carry a caseback medallion of Snoopy hugging the Earth, honoring the Silver Snoopy Award NASA gave Omega in 1970 for the Speedmaster's role in bringing the Apollo 13 crew home safely. "Silver Snoopy" references have appeared periodically since, most recently as limited editions with an animated Snoopy sub-dial. It is a caseback story rather than a dial one, which makes it easy to miss unless you flip the watch over.
Bullhead
Reference 146.011 mounts its chronograph pushers and crown on the top of the case rather than the sides, a layout that reminded collectors of a bull's horns and gave the watch its "Bullhead" nickname. It is a completely different case architecture from the standard Speedmaster and one of the more distinctive shapes Omega ever put into production.
Seamaster Nicknames
The Seamaster line carries fewer nicknames than the Speedmaster, but the two that exist are both load-bearing.
PloProf
"PloProf" is short for "Plongeur Professionnel," French for professional diver, and it belongs to the Seamaster 600, reference 166.077. Announced at Basel in 1969 with formal retail availability in 1971, the PloProf is a monobloc steel case rated to 600 meters, with an oversized asymmetrical shape, a recessed crown on the left side of the case instead of the conventional three o'clock position, and a bright orange pusher that locks the dive bezel in place. It looks nothing like any other Omega, vintage or modern, which is exactly the point.
The PloProf, reference 166.077. "Plongeur Professionnel" is French for professional diver, and the watch looks the part.
Bond
The Seamaster Diver 300M earned the "Bond" nickname after it appeared on Pierce Brosnan's wrist in the 1995 film GoldenEye, replacing the Rolex Submariner that had been James Bond's watch for decades. Omega has run with the association ever since, releasing numbered Bond-branded limited editions tied to individual films. Unlike most nicknames on this list, "Bond" started as a genuine collector shorthand before Omega turned it into an official product line.
Constellation Nicknames
Connie
"Connie" is simple collector shorthand for the Constellation collection, introduced in 1952 as Omega's chronometer-certified flagship line. It shows up constantly in forum and auction listings as a faster way to refer to the collection without typing out the full name.
Pie Pan
The Constellation's early dials, produced from 1952 through roughly 1970, use a domed shape with twelve subtle facets between the hour markers, a design that resembles an inverted pie tin from certain angles. Collectors nicknamed the whole era "Pie Pan," and the term now applies to any Constellation reference from that faceted-dial period, spanning references like 2852, 2943, 14381, 14393, 167.005, and 167.008. The Pie Pan dial is one of the more purely aesthetic nicknames on this list: it describes a dial shape, not a historic event or a famous wearer.
Four decades of Omega nicknames in one frame: Pie Pan, PloProf, Broad Arrow, and the Moonwatch chronograph.
Why This Matters When You're Buying
Nicknames are not just trivia. They are search terms, and they are also a fast way to get misled. A listing that says "PloProf" should show the correct asymmetrical monobloc case and left-side crown, not just any Seamaster with an orange accent. A "Tintin" should show the correct checkered chapter ring, not a generic Racing dial. Knowing the nickname's actual visual signature is part of authenticating what you are buying, the same way it is with Rolex or Patek nicknames.
If you're buying any of these pre-owned, our dealer's checklist for authenticating a pre-owned Omega covers the broader verification steps beyond just matching a nickname to a dial. For the full reference rundown on the most requested nickname on this list, see our Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch buying guide.
Omega is far from the only brand collectors talk about this way. If nickname culture is what brought you here, our guides to Rolex nicknames and Patek Philippe nicknames cover the two other brands where this kind of collector shorthand runs deepest.
FAQ
What does PloProf mean?
PloProf is short for "Plongeur Professionnel," French for professional diver. It refers to the Omega Seamaster 600, reference 166.077, a monobloc steel dive watch rated to 600 meters with a distinctive asymmetrical case and a left-side recessed crown.
Why is the Speedmaster called the Moonwatch?
Omega's Speedmaster Professional earned the Moonwatch nickname because it is the watch NASA flight-qualified for spaceflight and the reference Buzz Aldrin wore on the lunar surface during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
What is a Pie Pan Constellation?
"Pie Pan" refers to Omega Constellation dials produced roughly 1952 to 1970, which use a domed shape with twelve facets between the hour markers, resembling an inverted pie tin. It covers multiple references rather than one specific model.
Why is the Speedmaster CK2915 called Broad Arrow?
The CK2915, the first Speedmaster ever produced in 1957, uses a wide arrow-shaped hour hand. Collectors nicknamed the reference "Broad Arrow" after that hand shape, and the name is now used for all three CK2915 sub-references.
Is the Omega "Bond" watch an official name?
It started as collector shorthand after the Seamaster Diver 300M appeared on James Bond's wrist in the 1995 film GoldenEye. Omega has since embraced the connection officially, releasing numbered 007 limited editions tied to specific Bond films.
Browse authenticated pre-owned Omega watches at 5dwatches.com.