Ollech & Wajs Astrochron - References, Prices and Owners' Reviews

As a lover of tools and the Valjoux 7750 caliber, and a fan of the OW brand and its philosophy, I quickly gravitated toward this beautiful Astrochron. It's worth noting that the brand guarantees Origin +90% Swiss Made, a very important detail in terms of value for money, when some barely exceed the mandatory 60% by cheating here and there... So I'm a fan of this caliber, certainly very common, but which has survived the decades without major issues. The unidirectional winding gives it a crazy charm, in my opinion, when the oscillating weight goes crazy, reminding us unpredictably throughout the day of the presence of this timepiece on your wrist. Some hate it, but I love it! Here we have a variation of the Valjoux 7750 with this 7753 version, which differs in the arrangement of the sub-dials, and which incorporates a discreet pusher at 10 o'clock to quickly "jump" the date to the months in 30 days, for example, without having to unscrew the crown, and that's great. Despite all its intrinsic qualities, I'm quite disappointed with the brand. While this watch is a real tank ready to face anything, the ceramic bezel has cracked twice, and this was without any damage on my part. I own a C-1000 (also OW) which is currently in service for the same reason... Upon inquiries, the brand has apparently changed bezel suppliers to address the problem. However, I've lost confidence in my OW watches for my daily life as a technician who needs a durable tool without question. I switched to another reputable tool brand, and today I wear a Sinn 856 UTC, which perfectly fulfills the role of an everyday toolwatch, allowing you to do everything without worrying about this kind of problem. I'm also disappointed by the Super Luminova, especially on the hands, which fades far too quickly to be readable all night. While yes, the lum is very attractive with its presence on the bezel for the first 20 minutes, it's important to note that night vision is necessary in certain professions, like mine, as a sound technician in live performance.

A quick look back after a little less than a year of using this @ollechandwajs Astrochron. The key points to remember are the circumstances of use. I've used this watch for mountain biking, swimming, motorcycling, and of course everyday life. Operating temperatures range from 0°C to 32°C, worn on this superb @zealandeofficial fkm. Regarding timekeeping, the watch loses an average of 8 seconds per day. The case is durable and shows few scratches despite intensive use, so the quality of the steel is very good. As for the pushers, the handling is quite firm without interfering with their activation. They are very solid, since despite a few bumps, they haven't budged. The crown, when it has a screw thread, is sometimes quite difficult to engage, so it is recommended to be careful how you tighten it. The water resistance is perfectly adequate for my use, as it's rated for 500 meters. I tested the pushers in a pool, and the results were perfectly convincing, as no trace of moisture appeared inside the watch. As for readability, it's very good; however, it would have been nice to be able to distinguish the timing hands by coloring them, for example, a very dark blue or orange. The bezel, for its part, is quite easy to operate and very readable, even at night, as it features a Luminova coating. As for the watch's luminosity, although it falls short of some diving watches, it is perfectly readable until morning. Here's a brief summary of my experience with this watch, which, for me, represents the near-perfect toolwatch. There are still some areas for improvement, such as the watch's somewhat excessive weight, which could be resolved with a titanium case, and especially the rapid reading of the chronograph, which is not easy because the steel-colored hands do not stand out sufficiently.

I went for this OW Astrochron because I was looking for a chronograph whose aesthetics I liked, well finished, automatic, original and technically accomplished. Its exceptional resistance is a plus even if I do not intend to use its guaranteed water resistance for 500 meters. It is a kind of hybrid between a diving, sports and exploration watch. It is precise with an average deviation of +4 seconds per day for my copy. Its thickness is not annoying and sits perfectly on my wrist. A button dedicated to the quick adjustment of the date is also very appreciable. I really like its luminescence and its date window, very well integrated into the design of this watch.