Ollech & Wajs Zürich

In 1956, two Swiss watch specialists, Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs, founded Ollech & Wajs. The Zurich-based company has been dedicated to the creation of men’s mechanical watches from the very beginning. Prizing precision, robustness and durability above all things, the two associates sought only the best components to assemble the finest of wristwatches in their workshop. Within a few years, OW watches had made a name for themselves on several fronts. The military watches like the OW Early Bird (equipped with the same Valjoux 72 movement as the Rolex Daytona) proved to be popular among American GIs, who needed a sturdy and absolutely reliable watch in the battlefields of Vietnam. Pilots and scientists were depending the early aviator watches like the OW Selectron with its integrated slide rule performing as a calculator, prized all the way up to the NASA headquarters. Underwater, OW’s divers line has won the hearts of deep-sea explorers and diving clubs since the ground-breaking debut of the Caribbean 1000 in 1964. With its patented stainless steel monobloc case, certified to be water-resistant up to a depth of 3,300 feet, it enabled OW to set a new world record in front of Omega and Rolex. Acquired in 2016 by a watch and car enthusiast, the historical brand returns with several limited editions, using vintage components in pristine condition from the OW vaults, and presenting new collections which will remain faithful to its original pioneer spirit.