Collection: OLLECH & WAJS ZURICH
ABOUT OLLECH & WAJS ZURICH
In 1956 two Swiss watch specialists, Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs, founded Ollech & Wajs. 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. The Zurich-based company has ever since been dedicated to the creation of mechanical watches equal to any challenge.
The simple OW monogram quickly became known and respected on several fronts. Military and aviation watches equipped with the same Valjoux 72 movement as the Rolex Daytona proved to be popular among American GIs, who needed a sturdy and reliable watch in the battlefields of Vietnam. Pilots and scientists depended on watches like the OW Selectron, with its integrated slide rule performing as a calculator, including those 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 ft, the Caribbean 1000 enabled OW to set a new world record, in front of Omega and Rolex. As well as being combat-proven in Vietnam, OW watches were worn by NASA’s scientists and Group 6 astronaut, the Red Arrows, the French Air Force, record-breaking skin divers, early oil-field divers, British CI5 agents and legendary Cream bassist Jack Bruce, and admired the world over. All this in spite never actually applying the full company name to a single watch dial.
Upon Albert Wajs retirement in 2016, OW was acquired by a long-term collector and distributor of the brand. In 2017 a new collection of exceptional timepieces was unveiled, exemplifying the original vision of Joseph Ollech and Alberts Wajs and equal to the challenges of the 21st century.
