Ollech & Wajs (pronounced: “Oh-leck and Vice”) may not be a brand most people are familiar with. Established in Zurich in 1956, OW enjoyed quite a bit of success selling precision tool and dive watches via mail-order catalogs and military PXs during the time of the Vietnam War; Digging through their back-catalog, it’s not hard to see why. They also made significant technical advancements in the field of dive watches throughout the 1960’s, producing the world’s first 1000m dive watch. However like many of their Swiss brethren, they quickly faded into obscurity when the quartz crisis hit by the mid-1970’s. Today, the brand is undergoing something of a rebirth with the release of a new family of precision tool watches.

This OW P-101 is part of this first wave of new references. Built-to-order in Switzerland, these are no-nonsense tool watches — much in the tradition of their forebears. It is unapologetically utilitarian in design with its brushed stainless steel case, basic friction bezel, and simple high-contrast dial. The large screw down crown has a solid tactile feel that gives its wearer the assurance of a robust precision tool. The ubiquitous ETA 2824-2 beating inside is undeniably practical (if unexciting) and sports a nicely engraved rotor that you’ll probably never see behind the solid case back. But in perhaps an unexpected design flourish on an otherwise conservative canvas, the P-101 takes a modern approach to the traditional ladder hand that is satisfyingly reminiscent of lasers blasting glowing lume pellets across the dial. ▫️▫️▫️????

Finally, it has to be said that Ollech & Wajs deserves the notice of us fellow watch enthusiasts. At a time when many brands (big and small) are exploiting their vintage back-catalogs with a flood of reissues, it would be very easy for OW to do the same; They made some incredible military dive and tool watches in the 1960’s and 70’s. But these guys are pulling off something much harder and more impressive IMHO. They are forging ahead in creating new classics — tools that respect their heritage but clearly stand on their own as thoroughly modern and original designs.