At the moment, we take a more in-depth have a look at the Ollech & Wajs OW M-110 AS, a tactical watch with a stunning stage of element. That is my first time going hands-on with a watch from O&W, and I’m excited. I’ve admired the model’s watches from afar, however an opportunity run-in together with a careless transfer led to communication with the group there.
From time to time, my clumsiness is fortuitous. A couple of weeks in the past, I attended the World Time UK occasion at Heathrow Airport. I acquired up early that day, and my pal grabbed us every a cup of tea on the internet hosting resort. I carried the lined paper cup with me whereas perusing the watches. After I got here to Ollech & Wajs, I needed a more in-depth have a look at the model’s wares and determined to place the cup on the sales space desk. Proper earlier than transferring on, my hand brushed the comparatively full cup and knocked it over. Some tea spilled onto the model’s classic paper brochures, and fortunately, the duo behind the desk was understanding. I felt terrible, although. A couple of days later, I obtained a stunning electronic mail from Andy, the model’s advertising director. He jokingly introduced up my spillage and requested if I’d be prepared to overview the brand new OW M-110 AS. I fortunately obliged.
The Ollech & Wajs OW M-110 AS
As of late, the sheer variety of skin-diver-cased watches in the marketplace is considerably daunting. The once-popular design was all however forgotten for a number of many years, nevertheless it has come roaring again with a vengeance. Corporations comparable to Seiko, Alsta, Wolbrook, Glashütte Unique, and Aquastar are simply a few of these which can be providing so-called “H-cased” watches. I feel it’s necessary to keep in mind that throughout their heyday within the ’60s, pores and skin divers had been meant to supply worth and utility in a world the place scuba diving was on the rise. Subsequently, I search for worth each time a contemporary iteration crosses my desk. I additionally search for some signal of uniqueness. Fortunately, the Ollech & Wajs OW M-110 AS delivers on each accounts.
In fact, I had heard of Ollech & Wajs previous to the “tea social gathering.” I’ve briefly lined a launch or two from the model previously. I’ve additionally watched pals decide up engaging classic fashions. Talking of which, the O&W has a pleasant good, albeit latest, historical past stemming again to 1955 in Zürich. The corporate has all the time supplied approachable device watches with a objective. They had been in style with divers, pilots, and troopers. A have a look at the model’s historical past is worth it and exhibits some colourful fashions. In 2017, Ollech & Wajs underwent a modernization, and right this moment’s OW M-110 AS is a latest results of that work.
A army watch with diving chops and a compass bezel
We’ll spend a second discussing the performance of the OW M-110 AS earlier than entering into the aesthetics. First, observe the bidirectional friction compass bezel with an angle scale. Ollech & Wajs mentions its use by troopers to search out route utilizing each the bezel and Solar, one thing we’ve seen on watches just like the Seiko Alpinist. Second, after every quarter hour, there are three minutes highlighted in mild inexperienced. This additionally pertains to a army customary of radio silence in the course of the quarter hours to pay attention for misery calls. The remainder of the watch is comparatively easy and consists of a big screw-down crown and case again. For a pores and skin diver, the water resistance is hefty at 300 meters. As for measurement, the watch is kind of wearable with its 39.56mm diameter and 45.7mm size. It’s additionally respectable within the thickness division, coming in at 14mm with the box-style sapphire crystal.
A bespoke motion within the OW M-110 AS
Most corporations that make semi-affordable divers use off-the-shelf actions. With the OW M-110 AS, I feel most can be happy that Ollech & Wajs goes the additional mile. The watch makes use of the Soprod Newton Precision motion, which is predicated on the P092 automated caliber. Ollech & Wajs specifies that the motion is adjusted to 5 positions which ends up in a each day accuracy of ±5 seconds. Moreover, it has a customized rotor within the form of the model’s emblem and delivers 44 hours of energy reserve. The motion additionally receives a Chronofiable certification, which is a designation that I had not heard of beforehand. I’ve talked about the accuracy of the motion, however this certification pertains to sturdiness. It consists of exams for water resistance, stem and crown sturdiness, temperature resistance, growing older, shock resistance, and extra. You may choose for your self if the certification makes a distinction, however I do admire the additional effort.
This strap rocks!
Usually, I’m neither right here nor there in terms of OEM straps, however the OW M-110 AS may need one of many cooler straps I’ve tried. Ollech & Wajs opted for a hand-crafted 20mm Italian strap fabricated from ’50s surplus Swiss army canvas. The straps are backed with matching leather-based and and have suede keepers. A signed pin buckle enhances the look. After I first opened the watch field, I believed that the strap could be too stiff and uncomfortable, nevertheless it conformed to my wrist after simply minutes of damage. A strap alone isn’t a cause to purchase a watch, however this one is actually incredible and superbly made. Different manufacturers with watches costing multiples extra would do nicely to emulate this type. As an apart, the watch is offered on a nice-looking stainless mesh bracelet and is offered because the OW M-110 M.
The seems to be are distinctive and oddly calming
I discussed {that a} pores and skin diver must deliver distinctive seems to be to the social gathering to face out from the ever-growing crowd. I feel the OW M-110 AS does that nicely and continues the corporate’s sample of mixing very totally different colours. Right here, the dial is mild grey with brushed metal, mild inexperienced, and white detailing. The date window is properly built-in at 6 o’clock to seem like an hour marker. It’s all very easy and calming. I don’t assume I’ve seen a watch with this palette, but it really works very well. It definitely isn’t garish, too sporty, or boring. The bezel can also be superbly made. I do want it had a luminous “N,” although, in order that it might do double obligation for timing. One other observe is the contrasting Tremendous-LumiNova on each the fingers and dial markers. The watch is significantly vivid within the darkness.
The OW M-110 AS on the wrist
With its average dimensions, the OW M-110 AS could be very comfy on the wrist. The strap seems to be lovely and appears to have a hard-wearing development as nicely. Sure, the anti-reflective crystal makes it onerous to seize, nevertheless it’s a straightforward watch to learn. Additionally, in a metropolis like London, it’s one more nice instance of a timepiece that flies beneath the radar and works with nearly each kind of clothes from informal to enterprise informal. It additionally helps that it might simply face up to a bump or an encounter with moisture.
Pricing and ultimate ideas
The Ollech & Wajs OW M-110 AS retails for CHF 1,456 (roughly €1,540 / £1,340 based mostly on fluctuating alternate charges) and is offered on the model’s web site. That’s roughly 30% greater than a similar-looking Seiko SPB diver on a strap, so the distinction shouldn’t be small. That stated, I feel this watch provides extra severe specs, a a lot increased stage of accuracy, and consists of aggressive ending for the value. Plus, a three-year guarantee is a pleasant addition. I had by no means gone hands-on with an Ollech & Wajs watch earlier than this overview, and it makes me glad that I spilled that cup of tea! There’s a whole lot of consideration to element right here, and the model even mentions that this watch is 90% Swiss origin (together with the case). Based mostly on all of those attributes, I’d say that Ollech & Wajs’s watches are nicely price contemplating.
