When Ollech & Wajs released the C-1000 A, I knew I had to spend some time with it. This watch is an interesting watch that pays homage to the 1964 brand’s groundbreaking Caribbean 1000.
Ollech & Wajs is a brand that doesn’t take part in mainstream conversations very often. This is a shame because there is so much to be grateful for. The company has a good history of producing tool watches that are often loved by soldiers and adventurers around the world. The brand was founded in 1956 by Joseph Orek and Albert Weiss. It’s strange to think that Ollech & WAJS will continue to introduce the Caribbean 1000 just eight years later in 1964. This was a clock with a certified depth rating of 1,000 meters.
Ollech & Wajs Caribbean 1000
The Caribbean 1000 had a monoblock case that was 700 meters deeper than the Rolex submarines and the Omega Seamaster 300. Of course, both Rolex and Omega introduce long-standing deep divers to residents (1967) and Proprov (1971). Doxa also introduced the conquerors in 1969 with helium escape valves. Still, it was an accomplishment of Ollech & Wajs.
It was a real time to push the tolerance of watch manufacturing and industry to their limits. It is no exaggeration to say that the original Ollech & Wajs Caribbean 1000 was a technically sophisticated watch of the 1960s. Last year, Ollech & Wajs announced the release of the new 1,000m-rated C-1000 A Diver to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the original (this stands for “A”). However, these watches have recently begun distribution. Luckily I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks with one.
Modern Ollech & Wajs C-1000 a
With this rich history in mind, we move on to a contemporary rendition of this Ollech & Wajs Classic. Currently, under new ownership, the brand is focusing on creating modern takes of classic tool watches. With a particular emphasis on diving and aviation watches, Ollech & WAJS is a quiet achievement, showing off many new designs that brand fans and ordinary watch enthusiasts have received as well.
With this context in mind, we can see why Ollech & Wajs was interested in getting hands-on time when they unveiled a modern take on the 1964 original. This is especially because I can bring it to the sea and share my thoughts with you here.
Go to brass tack with this Ollech & Wajs dive watch
Make sure that important specifications are not intrusive. Unless you get one of the first 56 numbered pieces, the watch will be equipped with an automatic Solod Newton P092. This 23 jewelry caliber is tickled at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 44 hours. It’s similar to the ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200-1 in terms of size and specifications, but the people at Ollech & Wajs say they preferred the P092 over alternative calibers. The notable difference between the counterparts of ETA and Sellita is the balance and the full balance bridge of the P092 at 6am (not near 12).
The 316L stainless steel case has a polished surface, with a screwed back, under-screw crown and one-way bezel. This bezel includes a 12-hour embedded insert with a 20-minute diving scale and bright numbers. The C-1000 A has a diameter of 39.5mm and a thickness of 15.8mm. Some of the latter measurements are from dome-shaped and reflective sapphire glass. I also noticed that the back of the screw case was slightly bulging outwards. Perhaps this is to explain the immeasurable pressure that an assessment of the 1,000m depth of a watch can bring.
A robust watch built with purpose in mind
The C-1000 A crown is oversized and I feel particularly robust. For me it feels like something came out of the Tudor factory, as it has the same strong feel without wobbling that modern Tudor owners know well. Date complications are at 6am on the dial. This has an upright triangle filled with luminescent material with two inverted triangles at 12 o’clock and 9 o’clock. A small rectangular marker with a luminescent material is located below the date window.
The dial features the Ollech & Wajs logos, with texts “Zurich 1956” and “Precision” right away. Just above the date window is the “C-1000” model name and “1000m” which show the depth rating of the clock. I think we can do it because either of these two lines looks a bit redundant and weird. The Ollech & Wajs logo is also on the crown.
New cases of new models
What Ollech & Wajs has done in the past is to use the same case for different models in their collection. This is a problem as I had a relatively long 49.5mm lug-to-lug footprint. However, this new release feels much more wearable thanks to its 45.7mm length. This is clearly a chunky watch, which helps greatly reduce the overall sense of size.
One interesting thing I noticed is that the hand, which is a nice pencil shape (except the hand for seconds that ends at the tip of the arrow), has a slightly different white room from the dial. The dial’s rooms look more creamier than ever, but the phone rooms are white and white. It’s not a big name, but small details can stick to you.
Durable watches made for the sea
The Ollech & Wajs C-1000 A feels incredibly sturdy, as you would expect from a Swiss-made watch with a depth rating of 1,000m. The bezel action is great, with little or no play between clicks. By the way, it’s a 120-click bezel. The bezel grip is also excellent and tactile. It seems relatively easy to spin while wearing diving gloves.
It’s easy to use the underwater clock. I’m probably grateful for the crystal. The mobile phone design makes it easy to distinguish key information underwater. What’s more, the watch reassures your underwater wrists thanks to its weight and overall sturdy impression. I think this Ollech & WAJS is a great option for anyone looking for a durable dive watch that is not one of the big brands.
The idea of ​​conclusion
I was impressed with the Ollech & Wajs C-1000 A. In fact, when I came out to the ocean for weeks every day, it proved to be a trustworthy companion. Certainly, I was initially worried about its 15.8mm thickness mentioned. That’s a lot of watches! But in reality, the C-1000 A is worn very well, thanks to the relatively compact lug-to-rug and the fact that it is due to the caseback, part of its thickness buried in the wrist or crystal. If I were to reevaluate what the thickness “feels” then I would say I would wear it like 13.5-14mm. This is completely manageable. Furthermore, given the overall impression of heritage, design chops and quality, the asking price for CHF 1,856 seems reasonable.
Certainly, I would like the colours of the rooms on the dial to match perfectly, rather than the slight colour differences that I noticed in the example review. This may have been a design decision, but the obsessive part of me feels it’s a bit off-watch. That said, the watch is attractive and a fitting successor to the legendary original of the vintage version. We also found that the designs of the various handsets are a real boon to this particular model of the brand. But what about you, Fratelli? Think about the new Ollech & WAJS C-1000 A? Please let me know in the comments.
