The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

I was looking for a watch with a white dial, truly white, not silver, cream, or even light gray—ice white. A chance search led me back to the brand with the crown, and this model met my other requirements: a brushed bezel, GMT function, and a bracelet integrated into the case.

Trying it on in the store was crucial, and I was immediately struck by the smoothness of the bracelet and its perfect harmony with the rest of the watch. Legibility is excellent, and using the GMT function while sedentary is quite appealing, especially considering the orange hand is the primary way to tell the time. On top of all that, the Explorer II reveals a truly striking nighttime appearance, with the added bonus of the markers retaining their color even in mixed or alternating light conditions. What Rolex does best: make watches, and they consistently demonstrate this.

a white background for optimal clarity

In my horological quest, Rolex is an essential stop, a must-see, given the sheer power and class the brand exudes. Its expertise is so understated it's almost beyond words, difficult to describe because it has become so natural, so almost commonplace. I therefore begin with a dress watch, a discreet size 36, after numerous fittings in the showroom where the welcome and advice were invaluable. In a dimly lit environment, the slate dial is understated, darkening slightly, but it radiates in the light, combining a marvel of brilliance with a fluted bezel and a Jubilee bracelet, which literature has already extensively described, leaving me no need to add anything further. From a horological standpoint: flawless precision and reliability. A classic, then, that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so, marking and embellishing it.

Welcome to the 36th Goldsmiths' Quest

Looking for a watch model for running, I let myself be tempted by this flagship anniversary model and pioneer of the range of watches with touch screen. The titanium is appreciable, light and sober and the screen although touch offers a surface with reflections which gives it the appearance of a beautiful sports watch with needle.

a lightweight and versatile sports watch

A sober watch that offers striking black contrasts from the bracelet to the dial; contrasts cut by its sharp hands and indexes that make the time point in light. The play of color is different underwater and wet dial, with another interest. The rubber bracelet has a soft and honeycombed external surface to offer a slight sparkle.

play of dark contrasts

I entered this IWC boutique with a clear objective and the certainty that nothing could deter me: to buy a Portuguese. The final decision would hinge on the dial color, the strap material, and perhaps even the presence of a chronograph. After a good half hour, I settled on a three-hand model with a blue dial and sumptuous reflections. However, the available version didn't offer a strap of the optimal length, so the saleswoman ordered one in the correct size. I paid a deposit, the woman got up and left with her laptop. As she left her empty seat, she revealed to me a display case I hadn't noticed before, showcasing a Pilot Mark XX with a blue dial and metal bracelet, which I then asked her to show me. It took me 30 seconds to point it out instead of the Portuguese. It was therefore an emotional, instinctive purchase, which the context described here will convey far better than any words I could use to describe it; the photos will do the rest.

versatility between sporty and dressy styles

My first real acquisition of an automatic model, I was surely influenced by the shape of a Submariner, which made me think of it in my head. The quality of the dial and its deep black remain despite its age.
I revitalized this watch in my collection by adding a green-grey NATO strap: a convincing result for a lighter watch that has lost some of its reductive diver's attributes.

simple and classic diver

Longines is a watchmaking house founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Auguste Agassiz. Now part of Swatch Group, the brand serves a broad audience&mdash;from first &ldquo;classic&rdquo; buys to enthusiasts drawn to its heritage&mdash;through clear, elegant, and consistent design.
<h3>Saint-Imier roots, timekeeping and aviation legacy</h3>
From pocket watches to sports timing and pilot instruments, Longines built a reputation for precision and reliability; its iconography&mdash;winged hourglass, clean dials, sober typefaces&mdash;has spanned eras without sacrificing legibility. In the 20th century it supported records, developed aerial navigation tools and popularised tool-watches that later returned as Heritage re-editions.
<h3>Spirit, Conquest, HydroConquest, Legend Diver and Ultra-Chron</h3>
The current line clusters into clear families that cover everyday use, sport-chic, diving and technical heritage; the common thread is crisp reading and balanced proportions from desk to travel:
<ul>
<li>Longines Spirit &mdash; Contemporary pilot (three-hand, GMT, chronograph and Flyback) with grained dials, applied markers, and chronometer options.</li>
<li>Longines Conquest &mdash; Historic sport-chic line (date three-handers, chronographs) built for daily wear with integrated steel bracelets.</li>
<li>Longines HydroConquest &mdash; 300 m diver with bold look (ceramic bezel, large markers), offered in multiple sizes and colours.</li>
<li>Longines Legend Diver &mdash; Re-edition of a 1960s super-compressor (internal ring, twin crowns), an Heritage icon.</li>
<li>Longines Ultra-Chron &mdash; Tribute to 36,000 vph &ldquo;high-beat&rdquo; pieces, reinterpreted in a characterful case with ultra-smooth seconds.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Exclusive mechanics, silicon and Flyback chronography</h3>
Recent collections use exclusive movements derived from proven Swiss bases, adding silicon hairsprings, extended power reserves and careful regulation; on Spirit, the Flyback chronograph pairs a column wheel with instantaneous return for intuitive consecutive timing. Several families (including Spirit and Record) offer chronometer-certified versions, while Heritage revisits historic architectures while preserving clarity.
<h3>Positioning, price bands and distribution</h3>
Longines sits in a &ldquo;premium-accessible&rdquo; slot within Swatch Group, with worldwide distribution (boutiques and authorised retailers) and a well-structured after-sales network; as a guide, most references span roughly CHF 1,000&ndash;4,000 by function/material, with specific pieces (high-beat, flyback, Heritage editions) extending beyond. Volumes are significant for the segment, yet launches are paced through measured series and variants.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Longines appeals to those who want a clear, elegant, trustworthy watch&mdash;seasoned with history. Its identity shows in the winged hourglass, crisp dials and balanced cases. For a versatile first classic, look to Longines Conquest; for modern aviation cues, Longines Spirit; for robust diving, Longines HydroConquest; for heritage character, Longines Legend Diver; for high-beat precision, Longines Ultra-Chron. To match promise with real-world wear (clarity, comfort, timekeeping), rely on Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated August 2025)

I think everyone knows Longine, this mythical Hydro Conquest has been produced for a long time. It is a superb diving watch. I bought it in black in 39mm, there is ceramic, but I wanted to stay in its DNA, so I bought it 2 years ago and it is still a pleasure to wear it from time to time.

She flies over time

I present to you my Longines Hydroconquest model L3.781.4, the model with the ceramic bezel, I will tell you about my love for this model first of all (the Hydroconquest) and for the Longines brand, for Longines it was quite simply my first real "luxury" watch for me, I had bought the Longines Conquest Quartz at the Doux house in Avignon, it was my first customer experience also in a real high-end watch retailer, not that I denigrate the others far from it, but I must admit that the customer experience is not the same, so there you have it Longines already symbolizes that for me, the entry into the world of Swiss watchmaking, after I sold resold, bought back a lot of Longines Conquest and Hydroconquest both Quartz and automatic, they accompanied me in my various missions abroad and underwater because being a diver I use them as real tools ... Then comes my encounter with the model that I present to you today and that I wear every day since, it was the end of May last year (2022), I was leaving to do my last mission abroad (24 years of service and 15 missions) my sixteenth mission and I wanted to treat myself, and have a companion whose reliability of the old model and the brand in general I know, so basically I'm going for the 39mm model, I'm three days away from leaving, everything is going well for me to have the 39mm because the order was placed by Doux with the item in stock, then two days before I go to pick it up because my order is ready and there on the way I have a phone call from Doux who tells me that they made a mistake and that the model they have in stock is the 41mm and there problem is that if I want the 39mm I will have to wait a week minimum to have it, mission impossible because I'm leaving in two days so too bad I take the 41mm, and I don't regret it, it's her who chose me for the occasion, so I'm doing my last mission in Africa with it in Niger, honestly I had a great time with this watch, even if the mission wasn't the best I've done due in particular to the disengagement from Mali and the end of Barkhane, so two months of a real mess and honestly the Longines was a daily pleasure because even on the worst days, admitting it on my wrist brought me "comfort" it's stupid to say but lovers will understand, then working in the field of fireworks and explosives I wasn't allowed to have a phone or any other connected watch, so needless to say it played an important role, even more so at the end of my mandate when my phone broke so no more alarm clock and only my watch as a means of knowing the time... rather practical at that time to have a Lumi that works especially when you have to know the time in the middle of the night in a tent either to leave for work or not to miss your plane home... so there you go for it already for me it marks my last missions with the army (which happened exactly 20 years after my first mission), on my return I was able to use it for diving too and it's perfect, nothing to say, a bezel that works perfectly (not too hard, not too soft either), a super lum, clearly visible indexes, a very practical crown protector especially when diving from the shore, an extension of the bracelet to put over the wetsuit, in short a good diver and designed for diving... it goes well with a Nato bond or black too, I love it, it's really elegant and more refined than the latest version even if I still love the old version too.... In any case, if you are looking for a weak, robust, precise watch (from +2 to +4 seconds max daily drift depending on the extreme climatic conditions of Africa or the cold of diving in winter), at an affordable price (1750€ to date), and a brand with an incredible history and the oldest brand and the oldest logo in the history of watchmaking then go for it and if you want information do not hesitate to contact me, my insta: Time-To-Diving

My Longines adventurer

I fell for this diver from the winged hourglass brand, and it was first of all the colorful aesthetic of the perfectly readable blue dial that I liked. With its trio of colors: blue, white, red in honor of this exclusive FRANCE edition. I find the tricolor Lollipop second hand very original. The watch is super comfortable to wear (currently with a steel bracelet). It comes with a nato that is also tricolor. 
Good power reserve of around sixty hours and precision more than sufficient for my taste. In addition, the case back is numbered (really! and not "one of ...") with my lucky numbers, which I was able to choose in store. 
I love this watch and I never take it off!

Hydroconquest exclusive France edition

This is a watch that has eaten away at my brain!! I discovered the Longines brand when I was in my twenties, I am 42 today, at the time I thought they were luxury glasses I was told, then in 2017 after watching show jumping competitions on the Equidia channel where Longines was a sponsor..., this brand came back to me, and I went to see my AD to see what the models were like... I didn't know anything about it but I liked the look and especially this galloping second hand fascinated me. A few weeks later I went to the checkout, some €1000 in months but I had it on my wrist. More surprisingly, this watch was a small mattress, I did not hesitate to sell it as soon as a need for money arrived, or a vacation.. I must have bought it at least 6 times new and used, that's why I give the adjectives like Indispensable and Addictive, because as it is the first one I really need it, otherwise there is a lack! And perfect; I would say, because it is super well finished, movement at the top a few +/-1s per day and quality/price ratio we do not do better I found in several years of passion. Now, it is no longer in the catalog of the brand, the model stops for the ceramic bezels ... So it's up to me not to sell it anymore ...

Longines Hydroconquest, my first luxury watch!!

In search of a diver's watch combining performance and prestige without breaking my budget, my choice naturally fell on the Longines HydroConquest. This model is a real success, not only for its high-quality movement, but also for the brand's unwavering reputation.

From the first time you hold it, you can feel the weight of the watch, testifying to the robustness and solidity of the materials used. Every detail is taken care of, from the clasp to the impeccable finish of the stainless steel. The watch, with its elegant appearance and impeccable construction, gives off an impression of luxury while remaining accessible.

This purchase also has a special resonance for me. My father had received a Longines for his 25th birthday, but he unfortunately lost it over the years. Acquiring this HydroConquest was a bit like bringing a Longines back into the family, thus perpetuating a tradition and a family attachment to this iconic brand.

A meaningful and quality purchase

Ollech &amp; Wajs est une maison horlog&egrave;re suisse fond&eacute;e en 1956 &agrave; Zurich par Joseph Ollech et Albert Wajs ; d&rsquo;abord d&eacute;taillant puis acteur de la vente par correspondance, le duo a b&acirc;ti sa r&eacute;putation sur des montres &laquo; tool &raquo; robustes &mdash; plongeuses, militaires, d&rsquo;aviation &mdash; vendues aux particuliers comme aux forces arm&eacute;es, avant d&rsquo;orchestrer un retour au premier plan au cours des ann&eacute;es 2010 avec une gamme contemporaine qui r&eacute;active les signatures historiques.
<h3>Zurich, Stockerstrasse et la vente par correspondance&thinsp;: les d&eacute;buts d&rsquo;un label outil</h3>
D&egrave;s l&rsquo;ouverture de leur petite boutique zurichoise, les fondateurs s&rsquo;attachent &agrave; proposer des montres fiables &agrave; prix tenu, puis &eacute;tendent rapidement l&rsquo;activit&eacute; vers le courrier et les annonces sp&eacute;cialis&eacute;es, et cette distribution directe fa&ccedil;on &laquo; mail-order &raquo; deviendra l&rsquo;un des marqueurs durables de la marque.&nbsp;Le basculement d&rsquo;un r&ocirc;le de d&eacute;taillant vers la cr&eacute;ation de montres sous leur propre nom s&rsquo;op&egrave;re en quelques ann&eacute;es, avec des lignes d&eacute;di&eacute;es aux usages concrets (terrain, mer, cockpit) et une construction volontairement simple et r&eacute;parable, et l&rsquo;obsession est moins la &laquo; complication &raquo; que l&rsquo;endurance et la lisibilit&eacute;.
Dans les ann&eacute;es 1960, la diffusion s&rsquo;&eacute;tend aux bases am&eacute;ricaines et aux PX, o&ugrave; des montres militaires et de plong&eacute;e sign&eacute;es O&amp;W trouvent un public pr&ecirc;t &agrave; les &eacute;prouver en conditions r&eacute;elles, et cette validation par l&rsquo;usage contribue &agrave; installer l&rsquo;image d&rsquo;un outil professionnel abordable.
<h3>Caribbean 1000 et Ocean Graph&thinsp;: la profondeur, la d&eacute;compression et l&rsquo;imaginaire des grandes eaux</h3>
Au milieu des sixties, la maison se distingue par des plongeuses d&rsquo;avant-garde dont la Ollech &amp; Wajs Caribbean 1000, pi&egrave;ce record annonc&eacute;e pour 1000 m qui cristallise l&rsquo;ambition technique de l&rsquo;&eacute;poque et installe le nom O&amp;W dans le paysage de la plong&eacute;e sportive comme professionnelle, et l&rsquo;association avec des partenaires sp&eacute;cialis&eacute;s nourrit une esth&eacute;tique rationnelle et sans fioritures.
Dans la m&ecirc;me veine, l&rsquo;Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph introduit une lunette et une logique de lecture con&ccedil;ues pour accompagner la mont&eacute;e du plongeur et les paliers de d&eacute;compression, ancrant la montre dans un usage pr&eacute;cis plut&ocirc;t que dans l&rsquo;&eacute;vocation d&eacute;corative de la mer, et le cadran reste clair pour pr&eacute;server l&rsquo;instantan&eacute;it&eacute; de la lecture sous l&rsquo;eau.
Ces r&eacute;f&eacute;rences historiques, souvent cit&eacute;es et collectionn&eacute;es aujourd&rsquo;hui, ont fa&ccedil;onn&eacute; un langage fait de bo&icirc;tiers costauds, d&rsquo;&eacute;tanch&eacute;it&eacute;s s&eacute;rieuses, de bracelets adapt&eacute;s et de typographies contrast&eacute;es qui affleurent encore dans les mod&egrave;les actuels, et c&rsquo;est cette continuit&eacute; de &laquo; montre-outil &raquo; qui permet de relier le pass&eacute; et le pr&eacute;sent.
<h3>Relance contemporaine, ancrage helv&eacute;tique et cha&icirc;ne courte&thinsp;: le retour d&rsquo;O&amp;W</h3>
Apr&egrave;s avoir travers&eacute; la p&eacute;riode quartz et ralenti la cadence, la marque est reprise par Charles Le Menestrel et relanc&eacute;e &agrave; la fin des ann&eacute;es 2010 avec la volont&eacute; explicite de prolonger l&rsquo;esprit des origines plut&ocirc;t que de s&rsquo;&eacute;parpiller en s&eacute;ries cosm&eacute;tiques, et&nbsp;le bureau de cr&eacute;ation reste &agrave; Zurich tandis que l&rsquo;assemblage et les r&eacute;glages s&rsquo;effectuent dans le Jura suisse.
La d&eacute;marche privil&eacute;gie des mouvements automatiques suisses &eacute;prouv&eacute;s, une architecture de bo&icirc;te simple &agrave; entretenir, des &eacute;tanch&eacute;it&eacute;s cr&eacute;dibles et des bracelets &agrave; la fois robustes et faciles &agrave; vivre au quotidien, et le cahier des charges reprend la triade historique : fiabilit&eacute;, lisibilit&eacute;, r&eacute;parabilit&eacute;.
La relance ne se contente pas de &laquo; r&eacute;&eacute;ditions &raquo; au millim&egrave;tre : elle propose des montres nouvelles inspir&eacute;es des usages historiques, rehausse le soin apport&eacute; aux finitions et met en avant un contr&ocirc;le qualit&eacute; par &eacute;tapes, et le r&eacute;sultat vise une modernit&eacute; pragmatique qui &eacute;vite le pastiche.
<h3>P-101, P-104, Navichron, C-1000 et Ocean Graph&thinsp;: familles actuelles et usages concrets</h3>
Les premi&egrave;res r&eacute;f&eacute;rences de l&rsquo;&egrave;re r&eacute;cente prennent la forme de montres d&rsquo;aviation &agrave; taille contenue, Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 et Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104, qui relecturent les codes cockpit dans une bo&icirc;te polyvalente autour de 39&ndash;40 mm avec saphir et couronne viss&eacute;e, et elles ciblent une lecture instrumentale et une r&eacute;sistance suffisante pour le quotidien.
C&ocirc;t&eacute; plong&eacute;e, la maison propose aujourd&rsquo;hui la Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000 (ainsi que des &eacute;ditions anniversaires) comme incarnation contemporaine de l&rsquo;esprit Caribbean : valves, joints, fonds viss&eacute;s et traitements soign&eacute;s s&rsquo;additionnent pour offrir un instrument de mer moderne, et le cadran conserve l&rsquo;intelligibilit&eacute; qui a fait la r&eacute;putation de la lign&eacute;e.
En parall&egrave;le, l&rsquo;Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph revient sous une forme actualis&eacute;e, avec sa logique de lecture li&eacute;e &agrave; la d&eacute;compression qui en fait une plongeuse de caract&egrave;re imm&eacute;diatement reconnaissable au poignet, et cette signature d&rsquo;usage distingue le mod&egrave;le dans un segment satur&eacute;.
La famille Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron s&rsquo;adresse &agrave; celles et ceux qui veulent un chronographe &laquo; outil &raquo; lisible, fid&egrave;le &agrave; l&rsquo;esprit O&amp;W sans exc&egrave;s de complexit&eacute;, avec une ergonomie de poussoirs travaill&eacute;e et une &eacute;chelle claire pour structurer le temps court, et le dessin reste volontairement pratique plut&ocirc;t que d&eacute;monstratif.
<ul>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 &mdash; pilote contemporain, diam&egrave;tre contenu, saphir, r&eacute;sistance &agrave; l&rsquo;eau &eacute;lev&eacute;e, cadran tr&egrave;s lisible, usage &laquo; bureau-terrain &raquo;.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104 &mdash; variante d&rsquo;aviation avec autre signature de lunette et de marquages, m&ecirc;me esprit robuste.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000 &mdash; plongeuse moderne inspir&eacute;e de la Caribbean, &eacute;tanch&eacute;it&eacute; pouss&eacute;e et lecture directe.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph &mdash; plongeuse instrumentale &agrave; logique de d&eacute;compression, identit&eacute; forte au poignet.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron &mdash; chronographe &laquo; tool &raquo;, cadran a&eacute;r&eacute; et poussoirs francs, lisibilit&eacute; du temps court.</li>
</ul>
Au-del&agrave; des noms, l&rsquo;important est l&rsquo;usage : pilote pour la lisibilit&eacute; &agrave; plat et la r&eacute;sistance aux chocs de la vie active, plongeuse pour l&rsquo;eau et la robustesse, chronographe pour rythmer les t&acirc;ches et les entra&icirc;nements, et ce d&eacute;coupage aide &agrave; choisir une O&amp;W en fonction d&rsquo;un sc&eacute;nario r&eacute;el plut&ocirc;t que d&rsquo;un simple style.
<h3>Signature &laquo; tool watch &raquo;&thinsp;: mat&eacute;riaux, mouvements, dimensions et bracelets</h3>
Les bo&icirc;tiers actuels privil&eacute;gient l&rsquo;acier, des traitements de surface sobres, des lunettes fonctionnelles et des glaces saphir, avec des diam&egrave;tres g&eacute;n&eacute;ralement compris entre 39 et 42 mm pour pr&eacute;server la polyvalence au quotidien, et le port&eacute; se veut stable gr&acirc;ce &agrave; des cornes ma&icirc;tris&eacute;es et des bracelets ajust&eacute;s.
C&ocirc;t&eacute; motorisation, la marque recourt &agrave; des automatiques suisses contemporains adapt&eacute;s &agrave; l&rsquo;usage intensif, certains r&eacute;gl&eacute;s ou certifi&eacute;s selon versions, et l&rsquo;accent est mis sur la facilit&eacute; d&rsquo;entretien par un horloger comp&eacute;tent partout dans le monde, et cette pragmatique m&eacute;canique refl&egrave;te la vocation utilitaire des montres.
Les bracelets &mdash; acier, textile de type RAF/NATO ou caoutchouc &mdash; sont choisis pour leur s&eacute;curit&eacute;, leur r&eacute;sistance &agrave; l&rsquo;eau et leur confort, tandis que les boucles et end-links sont travaill&eacute;s pour limiter les points durs, et la modularit&eacute; permet d&rsquo;adapter la m&ecirc;me montre &agrave; des contextes tr&egrave;s diff&eacute;rents.
<h3>Positionnement, prix, distribution et profils d&rsquo;acheteurs</h3>
O&amp;W occupe aujourd&rsquo;hui un segment &laquo; outil de qualit&eacute; &raquo; : finitions soign&eacute;es mais sans ostentation, fiches techniques coh&eacute;rentes, contr&ocirc;le qualit&eacute; serr&eacute; et communication ax&eacute;e sur l&rsquo;usage plut&ocirc;t que sur le prestige, et le rapport contenu/prix vise la cr&eacute;dibilit&eacute; d&rsquo;un instrument plut&ocirc;t que la posture luxueuse.&nbsp;La distribution m&ecirc;le vente directe en ligne et r&eacute;seau restreint de partenaires, comme <a href="https://bit.ly/4igLuis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Horel</a> &agrave; Bordeaux (France) ou <a href="https://bit.ly/4p27od0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Vitrine Horlog&egrave;re</a> en Belgique, avec un discours p&eacute;dagogique sur l&rsquo;h&eacute;ritage et les usages, et&nbsp;ce canal court facilite la coh&eacute;rence tarifaire et la relation avec l&rsquo;atelier.
Le public typique r&eacute;unit des amateurs de montres &laquo; &agrave; faire &raquo; plut&ocirc;t qu&rsquo;&laquo; &agrave; montrer &raquo;, des plongeurs loisirs, des voyageurs qui appr&eacute;cient la solidit&eacute; et des utilisateurs professionnels qui veulent un objet fiable et r&eacute;parable, et la marque parle &agrave; celles et ceux qui pr&eacute;f&egrave;rent la preuve par le port&eacute;.
<h3>Guide de choix&thinsp;: sc&eacute;nario d&rsquo;usage, lisibilit&eacute; et ergonomie</h3>
Commencez par d&eacute;finir l&rsquo;environnement principal : eau, cockpit, bureau-terrain ou sport chronom&eacute;tr&eacute; ; si l&rsquo;eau domine, une Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000 ou une Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph seront naturelles, tandis que P-101/P-104 conviendront aux lectures rapides et aux cadrans &eacute;pur&eacute;s, et le chronographe Navichron servira aux temps courts et aux routines fractionn&eacute;es.
Validez ensuite la lisibilit&eacute; : contraste aiguilles/fond, taille des index, absence de surcharge, visibilit&eacute; de la minuterie et coh&eacute;rence de la lunette avec l&rsquo;usage r&eacute;el, et faites le test &laquo; un m&egrave;tre/un coup d&rsquo;&oelig;il &raquo; en lumi&egrave;re naturelle avant d&rsquo;arr&ecirc;ter votre choix.
Enfin, essayez la montre pour jauger l&rsquo;assise (corne-&agrave;-corne), la couronne dans la paume, la souplesse du bracelet et le tomb&eacute; g&eacute;n&eacute;ral avec vos manches et vos activit&eacute;s, et gardez la version que vous oubliez le plus vite une fois port&eacute;e.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Ollech &amp; Wajs demeure identifiable par sa vocation d&rsquo;outil : des montres pens&eacute;es pour l&rsquo;usage, lisibles, robustes et suivies par une cha&icirc;ne suisse claire. Entre plongeuses h&eacute;riti&egrave;res de la Caribbean, pilotes modernes et chronographes de travail, la gamme s&rsquo;articule simplement autour de sc&eacute;narios r&eacute;els. Pour d&eacute;cider, partez de votre terrain d&rsquo;emploi, testez lisibilit&eacute; et confort, puis ajustez mati&egrave;re et bracelet ; vous obtiendrez un instrument pertinent qui vieillit bien. Pour croiser ces rep&egrave;res avec des retours d&rsquo;exp&eacute;rience, appuyez-vous sur les avis clients Dialicious.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_suisses">Classement des meilleures marques de montres suisses</a> dont Ollech &amp; Wajs fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Ao&ucirc;t 2025)

Ollech &amp; Wajs is a Swiss watch company founded in 1956 in Zurich by Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs; initially a retailer and then a mail-order operator, the duo built a reputation on robust tool watches&mdash;divers, military pieces and pilot instruments&mdash;sold to civilians and service members alike, before orchestrating a modern comeback in the late 2010s with a contemporary range that revives the brand&rsquo;s historic signatures.
<h3>Zurich, Stockerstrasse and mail order: the beginnings of a tool-driven label</h3>
From their small Zurich storefront, the founders soon moved from selling other brands to shipping their own watches by post, and this direct &ldquo;mail-order&rdquo; route became a lasting hallmark of the company.&nbsp;The shift from retailing to making watches under their own name took only a few years, with dedicated lines for concrete use cases (field, sea, cockpit) and constructions that favoured simple, repairable mechanics, and the focus was less on &ldquo;complication&rdquo; than on endurance and clarity.
In the 1960s, distribution extended to US military PX stores, where O&amp;W military and dive watches were tried in real-world conditions by service members, and this usage-led validation helped cement the image of an affordable professional instrument.
<h3>Caribbean 1000 and Ocean Graph: depth, decompression and the great-waters playbook</h3>
By the mid-sixties the brand stood out with cutting-edge divers, notably the Ollech &amp; Wajs Caribbean 1000, a thousand-metre-rated watch that crystallised the era&rsquo;s technical ambition and lodged the O&amp;W name in both recreational and professional diving, and partnerships with specialist makers fed a rational, no-nonsense aesthetic.
In the same spirit, the Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph brought a bezel and reading logic tailored to ascent and decompression stops, rooting the watch in a specific task rather than mere maritime d&eacute;cor, and the dial stayed clean to preserve underwater glance legibility.
These historic references&mdash;often cited and collected today&mdash;shaped a language of stout cases, serious water-resistance, practical bracelets and high-contrast typography that still surfaces in current models, and this through-line of &ldquo;tool first&rdquo; connects past to present.
<h3>Contemporary relaunch, Swiss anchoring and a short chain: O&amp;W&rsquo;s return</h3>
After weathering the quartz era and slowing down, the brand was revived in the late 2010s by Charles Le Menestrel with the explicit aim of extending the founding spirit rather than scattering into cosmetic runs, and&nbsp;design remains in Zurich while assembly and adjustment take place in the Swiss Jura.
The approach favours proven Swiss automatic movements, serviceable case architecture, credible water-resistance and bracelets built for comfort and durability, and the specification re-embraces the classic triad: reliability, legibility, serviceability.&nbsp;The comeback is not a millimetre-for-millimetre facsimile exercise; instead, it offers new watches inspired by historic use, upgrades finishing and emphasises stepwise quality control, and the outcome is a pragmatic modernity that avoids pastiche.
<h3>P-101, P-104, Navichron, C-1000 and Ocean Graph: today&rsquo;s families and real use</h3>
The first modern releases took the form of compact pilot watches, the Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 and Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104, which reinterpret cockpit codes in versatile 39&ndash;40 mm cases with sapphire and screw-down crowns, and they target instrumental reading and all-day resilience.
On the dive side, the brand offers the Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000 (along with anniversary editions) as a contemporary take on the Caribbean ethos: seals, casebacks, and careful treatment combine into a modern sea instrument, and the dial retains the intelligibility that made the line&rsquo;s reputation.
In parallel, the Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph returned in an updated form, with its decompression-centred readout making for an instantly recognisable diver on the wrist, and this task-specific signature sets it apart in a crowded segment.
The Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron family serves those who want a readable, work-ready chronograph true to the O&amp;W spirit, with well-judged pushers and crisp scales for short-time duties, and the design stays deliberately practical rather than showy.
<ul>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 &mdash; contemporary pilot, compact diameter, sapphire, strong water-resistance, very legible dial for desk-to-field wear.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104 &mdash; aviation variant with a different bezel and markings signature, same robust intent.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000 &mdash; modern diver inspired by the Caribbean, serious water-proofing and direct readout.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph &mdash; instrumental diver with decompression logic, strong identity on the wrist.</li>
<li>Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron &mdash; &ldquo;tool&rdquo; chronograph, open dial and assertive pushers, clarity in short-time work.</li>
</ul>
Beyond names, what matters is use: a pilot for flat-plane readability and shock tolerance in active life; a diver for water and sturdiness; a chronograph to pace tasks and training, and this split helps pick an O&amp;W by real scenario rather than by style alone.
<h3>Tool-watch signature: materials, movements, dimensions and straps</h3>
Current cases prioritise steel, sober surface treatments, functional bezels and sapphire crystals, with diameters largely between 39 and 42 mm to sustain daily versatility, and on-wrist stability comes from disciplined lug spans and well-matched bracelets.
Mechanically, the brand uses modern, Swiss automatic calibres suited to intensive use&mdash;some adjusted or certified depending on versions&mdash;while ensuring that any competent watchmaker can service them, and this pragmatic mechanics reflects the utilitarian brief.
Bracelets&mdash;steel, RAF/NATO-type textile or rubber&mdash;are chosen for security, water-readiness and comfort, with buckles and end-links designed to minimise hot-spots, and modularity lets a single watch adapt to very different contexts.
<h3>Positioning, prices, channels and buyer profiles</h3>
O&amp;W sits in a &ldquo;quality tool&rdquo; segment: tidy finishing without ostentation, coherent spec sheets, tight quality control and messaging anchored in use rather than prestige, and the value proposition seeks instrument credibility rather than luxury posturing.
Distribution blends direct online sales with a small partner network and a didactic narrative about heritage and use, and this short channel supports coherent pricing and a clear link to the workshop.&nbsp;The core audience mixes owners who prefer watches to &ldquo;do&rdquo; rather than to &ldquo;show,&rdquo; recreational divers, travellers who prize sturdiness and professionals who need reliable, serviceable objects, and the brand resonates with those who trust proof of wear over glossy claims.
<h3>Selection guide: use case, legibility and ergonomics</h3>
Start by mapping your main environment&mdash;water, cockpit, desk-to-field or timed sport; if water rules, a Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000 or Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph is natural, whereas P-101/P-104 suit quick, uncluttered reads, and the Navichron chronograph serves intervals and structured routines.
Next validate legibility: hand-to-dial contrast, index size, minimal clutter, minute track visibility and bezel logic that matches how you actually use it, and run the &ldquo;one-metre/one-glance&rdquo; test in natural light before deciding.
Finally, try the watch to judge stance (lug-to-lug), crown feel in the palm, bracelet suppleness and how it sits with sleeves and tasks, and keep the version you forget the fastest once strapped on.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Ollech &amp; Wajs remains identifiable by its purpose-built vocation: watches made for use&mdash;readable, robust and supported by a clear Swiss chain. Between divers that channel the Caribbean legacy, modern pilot pieces and work-ready chronographs, the range is organised simply around real-world scenarios. To choose well, start with where you&rsquo;ll wear it, test clarity and comfort, then tune material and strap; you&rsquo;ll land on a capable instrument that ages well. To square these cues with long-term ownership feedback, a helpful compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.
Consult the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the best Swiss watch brands</a> of which Ollech &amp; Wajs is part.
(Updated August 2025)

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