The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

I didn't have a GMT watch in my collection, and I must admit I'd been thinking about it for a while. With a limited budget of between €3,000 and €3,500 maximum, my options were limited. I initially considered the 39mm Longines Spirit Zulu. However, I asked my authorized dealer to let me try on the HydroConquest GMT and a Seiko GMT. As a fan of dive watches, the HydroConquest GMT immediately appealed to me. First, its 41mm diameter sits well on my wrist, which is only 16.5cm, and its bracelet, with its tool-free fine adjustment, is incredibly easy to adjust, especially since it features half links, making it very simple to find the right fit for comfortable wear. Its sunburst olive dial catches the light beautifully, allowing for varying shades of light and dark. The gold hour markers complement the dial perfectly. Incidentally, I noticed that the date disc matches the dial color, and the date numerals match the hour markers—a very pleasing detail. Its ceramic bezel ensures scratch resistance. The case is entirely brushed, reinforcing the watch's tool-like appearance. The GMT function is indicated on a disc outside the dial, as the bezel is graduated for dive time counting. Speaking of which, its movement is a true GMT. This means that only the local time can be adjusted without affecting the minute hand. Water-resistant to 300 meters, with a GMT function and a mesmerizing dial that exudes elegance, this watch is capable of shining in the evening, at the beach, while traveling, and is even suitable for diving. This Longines is truly versatile...

Longines Hydroconquest GMT 

I'm driving my Formula Ford. I arrive at the entrance to the steep slope on the Spa circuit, a quick glance at my Oris ChronOris to know the time I have left before victory ✌️...

I raise my head... hard return to reality, I'm at the office and I still have 2 hours of work left. The only consolation is that my Oris chronOris is uncompromising on the time. Its sw200-1 caliber is no joke. To pass the time, I can always look at its orange second hand reminiscent of the needle of speedometers from the 70s/80s. Unless I linger on its black dial, smooth at its ends like the track, or with the central graining that evokes asphalt. The brushed case typical of the seventies, with its polished sides, serves as a rearview mirror, I can see who is coming behind me.... ola it's my boss... At work, but first, let's wash our hands. Damn, I drowned my Oris ChronOris under the tap, phew, luckily it is water-resistant to 100m. The golden hour and minute hand indicates to me on a well-graduated railway that it is almost time to leave. This ChronOris is definitely at home everywhere. On the track, at the office or on the weekend...

You will have understood, this watch inspires reverie and an era made of beautiful human conquests.... Small specificity, it is the Movember model, an association working in the field of men's health...

1970 Oris ChronOris 

The Tudor Ranger is a historic model. Inspired by the Tudor Oyster Prince that equipped the members of the British North Greenland Expedition that took place from 1952 to 1954. Tudor showed its know-how and robustness during this expedition. The Ranger is therefore the descendant of the one that was created in 1964, I think. The Ranger is simple, extremely readable, a single glance is enough to read the time. I like this tool watch side that inspires solidity. I also appreciate the cream-colored indexes that give it a very vintage look. This is what I like most about this dial. The hands are well proportioned with a hint of red at the end of the second hand. It adds a bit of color. The satin brushed finish of the case and bracelet is really very well executed. The fine adjustment of the bracelet is also a real plus and its clasp is well finished. The Ranger caliber offers 70 hours of power reserve. It is also a real plus even if for me it is not a subject. Conclusion, for those looking for a reliable, simple watch that exudes quality, the Ranger is made for them...

Field watch

First of all, a little feedback on the context of the purchase of this watch. It's 2020, the French are confined, so I spend time in front of my computer looking at watches. And the more you look, the more you want...

So, I set myself a budget of around €600 to €700 at the time. I also wanted a diver. My choice was oriented towards the Tissot seastar 1000. Tissot being a brand that has nothing more to prove in the world of watchmaking.

The first thing I saw was its sunray blue dial which catches the light incredibly. Then I appreciated its applied indexes which give it a qualitative side. Concerning the flange, it is made of plastic and that spoils a little the "beautiful watch" side. Concerning the case, it is 43mm and the polished horns make it a shiny watch, especially with its very visible dial and its ceramic bezel. It's also big! Especially since I don't have a big wrist. On the plus side, the case back is open and protected by a sapphire crystal. Surprising for a watch that is water-resistant to 300m. 

The caliber delivers 80 hours of power reserve, and I find it precise, barely 2 seconds per day of drift. It's really good in its price range. 

Not much to say about the rubber strap I chose. It's comfortable, nothing more with a pin buckle. 

Conclusion, I bought this watch without having seen it and tried it. It has qualities, such as its water-resistance to 300m, its open case back, its magnificent dial, its resistant ceramic bezel and its reliable, precise, enduring caliber. But it also has flaws that I hadn't necessarily assessed when I bought it. Its large diameter that does not suit everyone as well as its polished horns and its ceramic bezel (we have the defect of its qualities) which make it shine and make it sensitive to scratches. In my humble opinion, try before buying...

The Big Blue

As a fan of diving watches, I wanted a watch brand recognized in the diving watch world. Especially since it was to mark my 50th birthday. Having equipped the French Navy, Tudor corresponded to my specifications. I opted for the BB58 because it was more versatile than the Pelagos. The Navy represents the Tudor spirit more than the Gilt with its "Tudor blue" color. In my opinion, it gives it more personality. The finish seems to me to be very well made with its polished chamfers which give it a classy side. As for the movement, the MT 5402 with its 70h RDM, perfectly meets my expectations, COSC, it is very precise. It is a watch that I trust. The only downside is that the bracelet would deserve a fine adjustment. This BB58 won me over...

If there was only one left...

Looking for a watch with a military past, I looked for a model with a heritage. Many brands met my criteria. Unfortunately, the historical models were out of my budget. That's when I discovered Auricoste and particularly the Spirotechnique. The military past of this brand spoke to me. The multiple partnerships with French and foreign military authorities seduced me. Not to mention the fabulous history of the Spirotechnique which worked to make diving accessible.

The Spirotechnique is a diving watch, waterproof to 300m. For me it represents a perfect tribute to the original that equipped the French Navy. Its 42 mm "aircraft carrier" shaped case with its fully brushed crown at 4 o'clock affirms a certain solidity. The matte black dial is really made to have the best readability and the white painted indexes make the task easier. Finally, the good-sized hands are perfectly adapted.

The only flaw I noticed was a bit of play in the rotating bezel, but nothing prohibitive. The detail I love is easy....The Spirotechnique logo on the dial.

The Heiress

The Seiko brand, founded in 1881 by Kintaro Hattori in the Ginza district of Tokyo, has become one of the most influential and respected watch companies in the world. Since the opening of its first store, Seiko has continued a path of constant growth and innovation.
<h2 dir="ltr">History of the Seiko brand</h2>
The year 1924 marked the first watch produced under the Seiko brand. The company continued to develop new technologies, and in 1956 it released the first self-winding wristwatch made in Japan. The real game-changer came in 1969 with the introduction of the Seiko Astron, the world's first quartz watch. This innovation not only changed the direction of Seiko but also revolutionized the entire watch industry.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Seiko solidified its reputation as a technological leader with the development of solar-powered watches and the introduction of professional divers' watches. In 2005, Seiko presented the Spring Drive, a unique movement combining the strength of mechanical watchmaking and the precision of quartz.
In recent years, Seiko has continued to innovate by creating eco-friendly watches and supporting various environmental initiatives. The brand is known for its commitment to quality, precision and sophisticated design.
<h2 dir="ltr">What are Seiko&rsquo;s iconic models?</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/seiko/prospex">Seiko Prospex</a></h3>
This collection is dedicated to those who seek adventure, whether underwater, on land or in the air. The Prospex offers solid cases, water resistance up to 200 meters, steel or silicone bracelets, and automatic or solar movement. These watches are often associated with professional divers and adventurers.
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/seiko/presage">Seiko Presage</a></h3>
Bringing together the best of traditional Japanese watchmaking and modern design, the Presage offers stainless steel cases, leather straps, automatic movement, and exquisite dials. The collection is appreciated for its elegance and style.
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/seiko/astron">Seiko Astron</a></h3>
This iconic collection represents Seiko innovation. With titanium or stainless steel cases, water resistance up to 100 meters, metal bracelets, solar quartz movement with GPS, the Astron continues to be at the cutting edge of technology.
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/seiko/5_sports">Seiko 5 Sports</a></h3>
The Seiko 5 Sports collection is a symbol of youth and dynamism. With steel cases, water resistance up to 100 meters, steel or fabric straps, and automatic movement, it is designed for the active lifestyle.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Seiko watch cost?</h2>
The prices of new Seiko watches change regularly and vary depending on the model. Most cost between &euro;500 and &euro;1,000 depending on the finishes. Price differences can be significant between the brand's different collections. For example, the price of a Seiko 5 fluctuates between &euro;200 and &euro;400 and the Seiko Prospex between &euro;300 and &euro;2,500. Prices also fluctuate depending on the distributor, and promotions sometimes allow you to benefit from a more competitive price. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Seiko.
<h2 dir="ltr">Seiko: An essential brand for starting out in watchmaking</h2>
Seiko is a brand that has charted its path through over a century of innovation and excellence. Its main models reflect a diverse range that meets the needs of sportsmen, divers, luxury enthusiasts and fashionable young people. Seiko's positioning in the watch landscape is unique, offering high quality watches at different price points, and remaining at the forefront of technology and design.
To find out more about these models, the brand's website is a useful information resource. Furthermore, the Dialicious owners' reviews are essential to making the right choice from this historic brand. Choosing a Seiko watch is more than a purchase; it&rsquo;s an investment in a piece of Japanese watchmaking history that continues to shape the future. Some may prefer <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/grand_seiko">Grand Seiko</a> but this is another journey...
Check out the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_japanese_watch_brands">Ranking of the best japanese watch brands</a>, including Seiko.
(Updated November 2023)

When I bought this watch I was looking for a diving watch at a reasonable price. The mini turtle with its 70s design and its diameter that fits most wrists seduced me. I was also sensitive to the collaboration with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). It is one of the most important organizations in terms of diving training. 
Its case sits perfectly on the wrist and its raised wave-shaped dial recalls the origin of this watch. The red minute hand brings pep and is a reminder of the bezel insert which is in red on the first quarter of an hour. 
The 4R35 caliber is not a racing beast. Not precise, it can lose up to 15 seconds per day. On the other hand, it is solid. 
As soon as I have to do a bit of sustained activity, I wear this watch which does not fear much.

Mini turtle PADI

The iconic Captain Willard! I love the story of this watch, seen in the film Apocalypse Now on the wrist of Captain WILLARD but especially also worn by the Japanese explorer Ueshimura! Its textured and sunburst gray dial is superb, I also really like the color of the indexes and its magnificent hands. And the shape of the case is unique and recognizable at first glance... The Nato Straps provided are exceptional with their Seichu braiding. In a word, a watch made for adventure and so endearing!

An adventurer!!!

My Seiko Prospex
Mini-Turtle SRPC39K1 42mm...I really like this Seiko mini turtle with a smaller diameter than the turtle from the same manufacturer, my model is no longer made but it is still possible to find a new green or black model on online sites in Japan. The watch has a sapphire crystal.

Ma Seiko Mini Turtle

The SEIKO Prospex special (but not limited) Save the Ocean edition blew me away when they were released in June 2022. The 3 models, respectively tributes to the SEIKO divers from 1965 (the famous 62MAS), 1968 (the first SEIKO operating at 5 Hz and water-resistant to 300 m) and 1970 (the famous turtle) feature sumptuous textured dials, each evoking a different shade of the ice of our poles, from deep blue to white, including sky blue. After trying them on, the hardest part for me was choosing. But as the saying goes that when you love, you don't count, I finally find myself owning all three... ;-) The choice was too difficult and they all had to be on my wrist. On this model (SPB299J1), it is still the 6R35 movement, which has a good autonomy of 70 hours, and good precision. As easy to wear as its little sister (SPB297J1), it nevertheless stands out with its sky blue textured dial of the most beautiful effect, its "pie server" second hand and its crown at 4 o'clock. I like almost everything on this watch, I really don't have much to reproach it for. Some will say or think that for the price of the three, I could have had a TUDOR. I tell myself that for the price of a TUDOR, I had three watches that I love... 😂

Save the glaciers

Seiko has managed to tick most of the boxes with this GMT: beautiful proportions with case work that highlights the watch, impeccable finishes (with anti-scratch treatment of the steel), perfect wearing comfort and a real upgrade of the bracelet (consistent with the positioning).

I had spotted this watch when it came out, which had caught my eye: for once a diver that mixes classic codes while keeping a spirit of elegance and, while remaining in Seiko codes, a form of modernity compared to the essentials of the brand.

This watch contains many small details that for me avoid falling into the pitfall of market references: without comparing it with the Submariner (factor 5 on the price), I always found the latter too bland (black, black and black ...), the same for the Pelagos, too clinical. Here the GMT hand brings a well-integrated complication, the red dot on the "shovel" second hand animates the dial, the reflections of the ceramic bezel remain sparing, the alternations of polishes and brushes of the cases are well-dosed. Even the crown at 4 o'clock brings a little originality without being ostentatious. In a way, Seiko "corrects" the small imperfections (for me in any case) of historic blockbusters of the sector...

In essence, a watch that can be kept without problem every day, or alternated thanks to its comfortable power reserve (72 hours), and which can, like again a Sub or a Speed, be worn on any occasion, elegant enough for a suit but sporty enough for vacations. A summary of sport-chic a little Bondian in its spirit, and a real success of Seiko!

A real success

Not my first Seiko, but my first diver's watch from the brand.

This is an edition I wasn't familiar with, different from the PADI models currently offered on the SEIKO website. As a reminder, PADI is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Don't ask me more, I'm a novice in this field.

I found this watch by chance at a trade show that had nothing to do with watches, and I fell for this MASSIVE model: a 50 mm case. It's fine on my 20 cm wrist, but I have to admit that it doesn't go unnoticed.
Its deep blue, the bezel with the first 15 minutes in red and the rest in white, as well as the red minute and second hands, make it a striking watch full of character.

The rubber strap, however, isn't the most comfortable in hot weather: it doesn't breathe.

I think the bezel is ceramic. Actually, it doesn't matter: I love the way it reflects in the sun.

Note: I already have a small scratch on the glass. I'll see during the service whether I'll have it replaced... or not.

The watch is also heavy, but at least I can feel it on my wrist.

Finally, I really like this lugless design, which is a change from my usual watches.

A 50mm plunger

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)

Seiko Prospex Owner Review : Sporty, inspired and basic

Mini turtle PADI

Pros & Cons for this watch

Where to buy your Seiko?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Cordouan

Longines
HydroConquest GMT

Oris
Chronoris

Tudor
Ranger

Tissot
Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80

Tudor
Black Bay 58

Other Seiko Prospex owners' reviews

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Customize your Seiko with our selection of accessories:

Eagle Eye Watches

Iconic Switzerland

Seiko Prospex Owner Review : Sporty, inspired and basic

Mini turtle PADI

Pros & Cons for this watch

Where to buy your Seiko?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Cordouan

LonginesHydroConquest GMT

OrisChronoris

TudorRanger

TissotSeastar 1000 Powermatic 80

TudorBlack Bay 58

Other Seiko Prospex owners' reviews

SeikoProspex

SeikoProspex

SeikoProspex

SeikoProspex

SeikoProspex

Customize your Seiko with our selection of accessories:

Eagle Eye Watches

Iconic Switzerland

Longines
HydroConquest GMT

Oris
Chronoris

Tudor
Ranger

Tissot
Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80

Tudor
Black Bay 58

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex

Seiko
Prospex