Ollech and Wajs mystery watch?
Hi all,
Have had this watch a little while, really struggling to find any info online. Nothing in the O+W back catalogue, 4 Hz movement, no markings on back of case. Just got it back from a full service and its running exceptionally well now. Current favourite of my meagre collection!
Anybody have any info at all? The military broad arrow is decorative only; there is no record of O+W being uk issue watches. Really interested in any thoughts on this watch.
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Hammo
I have been collecting for years, but am now starting from scratch (again!)
Bath
Member since
Last active: 5 months ago
Wow. That’s a complete mystery to me! Cool. 😎
I Don't think they had official tie to British military. Probably decorative from 80 or 90s.
Did you try to ask them directly they are quite responsive regarding their history i think.
I have a p101 myself. They did tons of different models in quite small series. Hard to have exact infos online.
🔥
I Don't think they had official tie to British military. Probably decorative from 80 or 90s.
Did you try to ask them directly they are quite responsive regarding their history i think.
I have a p101 myself. They did tons of different models in quite small series. Hard to have exact infos online.
I have emailed them, let's see what they come back with.
These are very nice watches; I think they have the automatic ETA 2824-2 movement. Would certainly look the business on a CWC NATO!
These are very nice watches; I think they have the automatic ETA 2824-2 movement. Would certainly look the business on a CWC NATO!
Wow, that is the first one i have seen, other than mine. The original strap on mine was a green nato, which didn't allow me to get to the spring bars, I ended up cutting it off. I like the rubber strap I have on mine now, as the watch sits flatter on my wrist. Yes indeed I thinks it's an ETA movement. As per my pic, after servicing mine is keeping fantastic time now. Is there anything else you can tell me?
I wonder what date they were made, and what they sold for?
The lume on mine is virtually dead now, which is a shame.
Wow, that is the first one i have seen, other than mine. The original strap on mine was a green nato, which didn't allow me to get to the spring bars, I ended up cutting it off. I like the rubber strap I have on mine now, as the watch sits flatter on my wrist. Yes indeed I thinks it's an ETA movement. As per my pic, after servicing mine is keeping fantastic time now. Is there anything else you can tell me?
I wonder what date they were made, and what they sold for?
My guess is that they were made in the very late 1990's or early 2000's. It doesn't appear in any catalogues as the catalogues that do exist covered the earlier vintage watches. I think Joseph Ollech died in 2000, after which Albert Wajs released a whole raft of different designs in relatively small numbers, including this one, but I've never seen any catalogues/leaflets for later watches aside from that produced for the Aviation/Navitimer. There are passionate collectors out there (like me) for whom there's nothing better than an original O&W; my particular interest is the M-series and '60s chronographs (image). Yours seems to be a nice example and it's great that you've had it serviced. The pheon / Broad Arrow was decorative; no O&W watch was ever intended for military issue. As for value... I sold mine to an enthusiast for just over £400but I don't know what they originally sold for.
Great info, thank you. I read somewhere that a basic O+W was one of the watches purchased by some American servicemen, Vietnam era. Is that the M series?
Anyway, this is currently my daily driver; really enjoying the watch.
This plastic tough case came with my watch, I guess its original.
Recieved a reply from O+W today
Your watch has been identified as a MB2824 model built between 1998 and 2017 approximately.
Good to have a model number, and a very rough date.
This plastic tough case came with my watch, I guess its original.
The watches were originally mail order and never came with boxes; the plastic case is aftermarket. The build date range you got from OWZ suggests that it was probably supplied by one of Albert Wajs' distributors such as WestCoasTime (US) or Kult Uhr (Germany). Unfortunately WCT are no longer trading and the proprietor of KultUhr has no remaining stock - I purchased what he had left!
Great info, thank you. I read somewhere that a basic O+W was one of the watches purchased by some American servicemen, Vietnam era. Is that the M series?
Anyway, this is currently my daily driver; really enjoying the watch.
The 'Classics' page on the OWZ website has examples of Vietnam era O&W watches. The ETA2824-2 M-series are much later, dating from around the year 2000, and are very collectable. My favourite is the M6.