The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

The ZRC Grand Fonds 38 is a watch that deeply touches me. It tells a story, that of the first diving watches used by the French Navy, among others, and its vintage design really speaks to me. The 39 mm size is ideal, offering perfect comfort while remaining very presentable. The case finish is superb, with meticulous details that demonstrate all the care taken in its design. The only slight downside would be the movement, which could be a little more refined for the price: it's an SW200-1 Élaboré. But frankly, this detail is quickly forgotten when you pick up this robust and magnificent watch.
It's a very good diver's watch if you're looking for a robust, iconic watch with a vintage style.

ZRC Grand Fund 38

The ZRC brand was created in 1904 by Edmond Zuccolo and Joseph Rochet in Geneva, Switzerland. The brand ZRC was first specialized in the manufacture of chains for pocket watches and then of expandable metal bracelets. In 1917, she won the Geneva Grand Prix for industrial innovation for the creation of metal bracelets.
It was only then that ZRC developed its activity by producing cases in the 1920s before specializing in the design of diving watches, notably with the ZRC Grands Fonds 300 in 1960. Designed by divers for divers, the model crown was moved to 6 o'clock. The final version of this model was used by the Italian Navy, the French Navy from 1964 to 1982 and approved by NATO.
To differentiate itself from these competitors and make their watches safer, the brand has integrated innovation into these watches. They first created an extensible bracelet and a system making it impossible to immerse the watch if the crown is not completely screwed in. In the brand's range, there are several models such as the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_300"> ZRC Grands Fonds 300</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_3000_titanium"> ZRC Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium</a>, the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/north_adventure">ZRC North Adventure</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_by_stef"> ZRC Grands Fonds By Stef</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_heritage"> ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage</a>. In 2016-17, the brand also produced a series of 50 ZRC-FOST watches dedicated to active submariners of the French Navy.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a ZRC watch cost?</h2>
The prices of ZRC watches sold on the brand's website are changing between CHF 2,790 And CHF 4,490 depending on the models and finishes. Count CHF 2,990 for one<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_spirit_1964"> ZRC Grand Fonds Spirit 1964</a> And CHF 3,190 for one <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_38_heritage">ZRC Grands Fonds 38 Heritage</a>.
The brand ZRC is now owned by Georges Brunet and produces several thousand watches per year, all models combined. The brand is part of the ranking of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the most popular Swiss watch brands</a>. To choose a ZRC that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
(Updated Octobre 2024)

Having had the ZRC GF reissue first version launched in 2015 (but also the original vintage models), this reissue 38 erases the small defects (in my eyes of course) that its elder of June 2015 could have, namely the excessive weight in its steel version (ideal however on rubber), the diameter slightly too large for my taste. It goes even further by taking up the codes of the vintage model with a deliciously vintage dial literature (dialiciously!), a domed sapphire perfectly taking up the appearance of plexi, an ideal diameter of 39 mm (and not 38 as its name suggests), a lighter bracelet with very sixties charm sounds, a more notched bezel (like the original) in ceramic and a whole bunch of very appreciable little details. Result: a robust tool with a very vintage look with perfect proportions for me!

The best of both worlds between modern and vintage

Very happy owner of this Grands Fonds 38 Héritage "Series 3", reference GF38263, for 8 months now, I can't get enough of it.

It's a bit of a UFO in the watchmaking landscape, by its look, but also its bracelet.

This watch is pleasant to wear, small in size, extremely readable (the luminova is incredible), has the date and its water resistance is tested up to 1000m. This watch ticks a lot of boxes...

In terms of precision, the first few days it was under +10s/day when worn, which is within the brand's tolerances (although a bit disappointing for the price). But happy surprise, it has broken in over time: after a few months, I am now around +1s/day.

The case finish is very beautiful: the slight inner chamfer of the horns is polished, which contrasts with the very prominent edges of the case.

The bracelet, which is in my opinion the big originality of the watch, may seem "cheap", but it faithfully reproduces the ZRC bracelets of the 60s. Being mainly made of folded sheet metal, its finesse provides very good comfort. The watch can thus be worn easily under "adjusted" sleeves.

In conclusion, I'm crazy about it!

The extreme toolwatch

I had been looking at this beautiful family manufacturer for a while now, being a die-hard fan of diving watches.

When the heritage model was released last year, the dimensions of the model were revised downwards (from 40.5/41.5 to 39mm) to get a little closer to the one released in the 60s that equipped the French Navy.

At the beginning of 2023, this heritage model arrived with a two-tone bezel and a sunray blue dial that gives it a very fun side!

A tool watch with beautiful finishes, this crown position at 6 o'clock, beyond the strong characteristic identity of the brand, brings real wearing comfort improved by the contained diameter of this model.

My first Zrc, a treat for my chicken wrist (17/17.5).

A fun and pleasant watch to wear!

Passionate and collector of diving watches, I cannot resist the attraction that the ZRC brand has on me (in my opinion among the most emblematic in this field). All the more so when the latter faithfully reissues a model that has marked its history: the GF38. A diver that fills me with joy with its contained dimensions, its vintage spirit, its robustness and its crazy charm. It has been a year that it accompanies me in my adventures and I never tire of it. I particularly like its magnum-type hands, its refined dial as well as its imposing crown at 6 o'clock (which reminds me of a goatee). I add a special mention to its sapphire crystal whose domed shape is to die for.

ZRC GF38

La marque Ollech &amp; Wajs a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 1956 par Joseph Ollech et Albert Wajs &agrave; Zurich en Suisse. Albert &eacute;tait charg&eacute; de la conception, de l&rsquo;ing&eacute;nierie et de la fabrication des montres, tandis que Joseph s&rsquo;occupait du marketing et de la vente au d&eacute;tail. Avant de cr&eacute;er leur propre montres sous la marque Ollech &amp; Wajs, ils ont commenc&eacute; leur activit&eacute; en 1954 en fabriquant des bracelets en acier pour d&rsquo;autres marques.
La marque est connue pour avoir distribu&eacute; des montres &agrave; des unit&eacute;s de l&rsquo;arm&eacute;e am&eacute;ricaine pendant la guerre du Vietnam et pour avoir gagn&eacute; sa renomm&eacute;e aupr&egrave;s des plongeurs et pilotes du monde entier.
Apr&egrave;s 12 ans de n&eacute;gociation et apr&egrave;s avoir &eacute;t&eacute; son distributeur pour le march&eacute; fran&ccedil;ais, en 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, un passionn&eacute; d&rsquo;horlogerie, rach&egrave;te la marque. La gamme actuelle comprend des mod&egrave;les comme la Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 et la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph">Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> et la Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2>Combien co&ucirc;te une montre Ollech &amp; Wajs ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Ollech &amp; Wajs &eacute;voluent et diff&egrave;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre CHF 1,500 et CHF 2,000 selon les mod&egrave;les et les finitions. Comptez CHF 1,456 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI et pr&egrave;s de CHF 2,300 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronographe. Le march&eacute; de l'occasion est &eacute;galement une opportunit&eacute; &agrave; regarder pour acheter une Ollech &amp; Wajs moins ch&egrave;re. Les mod&egrave;les Vintage notamment les Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron et&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, sont tr&egrave;s pris&eacute;es des collectionneurs et ils convient de bien se renseigner sur le vendeur avant de franchir le pas de l'acquisition d'une vintage.
Ollech &amp; Wajs est une marque de montres ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines de montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une Ollech &amp; Wajs qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
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 Octobre 2024)

The brand Ollech &amp; Wajs was created in 1956 by Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs in Zurich, Switzerland. Albert was responsible for the design, engineering and manufacturing of the watches, while Joseph handled marketing and retail sales. Before creating their own watches under the brand Ollech &amp; Wajs, they started their business in 1954 making steel bracelets for other brands.
The brand is known for distributing watches to units of the American army during the Vietnam War and for having earned its reputation among divers and pilots around the world.
After 12 years of negotiations and after having been its distributor for the French market, in 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, a watchmaking enthusiast, bought the brand. The current range includes models like the Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph"> Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> and the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does an Ollech &amp; Wajs watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Ollech &amp; Wajs watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,000 depending on the models and finishes. Expect to pay CHF 1,456 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI and close to CHF 2,300 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronograph. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Ollech &amp; Wajs. Vintage models including the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, are very popular with collectors and they should find out about the seller before taking the step of purchasing a vintage one.
Ollech &amp; Wajs is an independent watch brand and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an Ollech &amp; Wajs that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
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 October 2024)

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ZRC Grand Fund 38

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