* The OW M-110 M – a tactical tool watch that draws on over 60 years of military and dive expertise. Combining many design characteristics, and the impermeability of OW’s original dive watches, with a 360-degree compass bezel more conventionally found on field watches. In the absence of a magnetic compass, the US Army Ranger Handbook provides infantrymen detailed instruction on how to use the ‘watch method’ to get a bearing. This is a simple technique that involves lining the hour hand up with the sun, and then bisecting the distance between the hour hand and 12 o!clock position, to discover south. Another distinctive feature of the OW M-110 M, which military users will recognise, is the radio silence period markers on the dial. These are three-minute periods immediately after each quarter hour, reserved exclusively for making – and listening for – distress calls.
* The OW M-110 M, is the first OW watch to carry the new Soprod Newton Precision movement. The result of a close collaboration between OW and Soprod, the new movement is a bespoke version of the Newton P092, modified to OW’s own specifications and adjusted in five positions. It has been finished in accordance with the brand's rugged aesthetics, and ‘OW Zurich 1956’ is engraved into the nickel-plated base, on which sits a co-designed, custom rotor in the shape of the OW marque. The new movement will carry OW’s own ‘PRECISION’ rating, reserved for movements of only the highest quality.
* The OW M-110 AS comes on a unique infantry-green, dual-ply fabric strap. This is crafted from reclaimed military-grade, double-twill hemp canvas, procured direct from the Swiss Army’s unused surplus supply. This highly durable material, more resilient and lightweight than cotton, was originally intended for a variety of military applications such as the legendary Armée suisse Pioneer backpacks and all-weather skins for vehicles. Manufactured in the mid 50s – around the same time as Ollech & Wajs was founded – the fabric was made to last 100 years in the field. It therefore has plenty of fight left in it yet, despite being over 60 years old. The heavy-duty, two-tone fabric is lined for comfort with 100% natural soft leather, sourced and hand-stitched in Italy. The straight-cut edge of the strap is designed to fray subtly with everyday wear, giving it extra vintage character.
Movement: Automatic with Date
Case Dimensions: 39.56 mm X 12.5 mm x 45.7mm, Brushed Stainless Steel
Dial: Grey with Luminous Hands and Hour Markers
Glass: Convex Sapphire Crystal
Bracelet: 20mm, Army Green, Double Twill Hemp Canvas on Pin Buckle
Water Resistance: 30 ATM
Reference: M-110 AS
The Re-Birth of Ollech & Wajs.
The name Ollech & Wajs began in 1956, when Zurich resident Albert Wajs decided to partner with his friend Joseph Ollech and open a luxury watch shop, initially retailing Breitling and Omega before launching their own brand: Ollech & Wajs Zürich.
By the 1960s the Ollech & Wajs range consisted of men's chronographs, diving watches (in particular the Caribbean 1000, which was, as its name suggested, the first 1000m water resistant diving watch), military watches, much appreciated by American soldiers who ordered OWs for entire battalions during the Vietnam war and also pilot’s watches, which the French Air Force commissioned for active use.
Ollech & Wajs, now under new ownership have returned to the company's heyday and strive to manufacturer high quality, Swiss made sports watches with a nod to the classic designs of their 60s predecessors. All OW watches have a 90% Swiss made origin and are designed at their headquarters: Ollech & Wajs Precision A.G. on Bergstrasse in Zurich and then individually assembled and adjusted in Haute-Sorne, in the Swiss Jura.