Ollech & Wajs - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Ollech & 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—divers, military pieces and pilot instruments—sold to civilians and service members alike, before orchestrating a modern comeback in the late 2010s with a contemporary range that revives the brand’s historic signatures.

Zurich, Stockerstrasse and mail order: the beginnings of a tool-driven label

From their small Zurich storefront, the founders soon moved from selling other brands to shipping their own watches by post, and this direct “mail-order” route became a lasting hallmark of the company. 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 “complication” than on endurance and clarity.

In the 1960s, distribution extended to US military PX stores, where O&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.

Caribbean 1000 and Ocean Graph: depth, decompression and the great-waters playbook

By the mid-sixties the brand stood out with cutting-edge divers, notably the Ollech & Wajs Caribbean 1000, a thousand-metre-rated watch that crystallised the era’s technical ambition and lodged the O&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 & 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 décor, and the dial stayed clean to preserve underwater glance legibility.

These historic references—often cited and collected today—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 “tool first” connects past to present.

Contemporary relaunch, Swiss anchoring and a short chain: O&W’s return

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 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. 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.

P-101, P-104, Navichron, C-1000 and Ocean Graph: today’s families and real use

The first modern releases took the form of compact pilot watches, the Ollech & Wajs P-101 and Ollech & Wajs P-104, which reinterpret cockpit codes in versatile 39–40 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 & 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’s reputation.

In parallel, the Ollech & 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 & Wajs Navichron family serves those who want a readable, work-ready chronograph true to the O&W spirit, with well-judged pushers and crisp scales for short-time duties, and the design stays deliberately practical rather than showy.

• Ollech & Wajs P-101 — contemporary pilot, compact diameter, sapphire, strong water-resistance, very legible dial for desk-to-field wear.
• Ollech & Wajs P-104 — aviation variant with a different bezel and markings signature, same robust intent.
• Ollech & Wajs C-1000 — modern diver inspired by the Caribbean, serious water-proofing and direct readout.
• Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph — instrumental diver with decompression logic, strong identity on the wrist.
• Ollech & Wajs Navichron — “tool” chronograph, open dial and assertive pushers, clarity in short-time work.

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&W by real scenario rather than by style alone.

Tool-watch signature: materials, movements, dimensions and straps

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—some adjusted or certified depending on versions—while ensuring that any competent watchmaker can service them, and this pragmatic mechanics reflects the utilitarian brief.

Bracelets—steel, RAF/NATO-type textile or rubber—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.

Positioning, prices, channels and buyer profiles

O&W sits in a “quality tool” 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. The core audience mixes owners who prefer watches to “do” rather than to “show,” 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.

Selection guide: use case, legibility and ergonomics

Start by mapping your main environment—water, cockpit, desk-to-field or timed sport; if water rules, a Ollech & Wajs C-1000 or Ollech & 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 “one-metre/one-glance” 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.

Conclusion

Ollech & Wajs remains identifiable by its purpose-built vocation: watches made for use—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’ll wear it, test clarity and comfort, then tune material and strap; you’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 Ranking of the best Swiss watch brands of which Ollech & Wajs is part.

(Updated August 2025)