Aviators, Arctic explorers, NASA astronauts, record-breaking scuba divers and military personnel have all relied on Ollech & Wajs’ rugged Swiss precision instruments since 1956.
Ollech & Wajs entered Swiss watchmaking folklore in 1963 when it announced the first watch to be rated to be waterproof to a depth of 1,000m – a level of water resistance which is well beyond the capabilities of most dive watches even today.
From 1965 onward, Ollech & Wajs watches became a favourite of US military personnel serving in Vietnam and such was the volume of business from soldiers, sailors and airmen, the marque's small Zurich workshop had to work round the clock to fulfil the orders.
A watch that was popular among pilots and ground crew was the Ollech & Wajs B-905 ‘US Airforce’, which featured the silhouette of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. Today it is one of the rarest vintage OW watches and highly prized among collectors.
This year, to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the maiden flight of the first Boeing B-52 Stratofortress production model, Ollech & Wajs has created the M-52B AF – a modern-day version of the 1960s aviator's watch.
When professionals place their trust in equipment, whether it’s a 220-tonne aircraft or a mechanical wristwatch, reliability is prized above all else. The M-52B AF, as with all OW watches, is built around this prerequisite.
The M-52B AF features a robust 39 mm M-type case, a PVD-coated, chamfered-edge bezel and a gently domed, thickened sapphire crystal to help ensure an impressive 300m water resistance.
The engine of the M-52B AF is a customised, Swiss-made, Soprod calibre P024, chosen for its robustness, reliability and serviceability. Though not quite as hard to come by as the vintage watch that inspired it, production of the M-52B AF is limited to a small allocation each year. It retails at £1,101 – and is nearly sold out – so this is a rare chance to win an even rarer watch.
To enter, just answer the simple question below.
The question is: In what year was Ollech & Wajs founded?
Competition closes: 6th July 2024
By entering the competition, it is deemed that the entrant accepts the terms and conditions stated below.
No purchase necessary.
Prize cannot be exchanged for cash equivalent.
Prize is not transferable.
One entry per person, no bulk or third-party entries, unless the rules of the competition state so.
No responsibility can be taken for any lost or delayed entries.
Winner must be 18 years old or over.
The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries and will be notified by email.
The winner will need to confirm acceptance within 7 days of being notified. If the winner does not confirm acceptance within this timeframe, the promoter has the right to pick another winner.
