Introducing The Robust Ollech & Wajs OW 8001
Partners Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs started their adventure in watchmaking, distributing Omegas and Breitlings from their watch shop in Zurich. In 1956 they decided to create their own brand specialising in robust tool watches, much appreciated by soldiers, divers and pilots. One of the few companies to ride out the quartz storm by reducing production, after Ollech died in 1992, Wajs renamed the brand OW and eventually sold it in 2017. Faithful to the original portfolio of no-nonsense tool watches powered by reliable third-party Swiss movements, OW has streamlined production by creating a one-size-fits-all 300m water-resistant case. With its well-stocked archive of historical models, OW takes inspiration for its latest three-hand-and-date OW 8001 from a 1973 chronograph with a groovy brown fume dial.A vintage example of the 1973 TV-shaped chronograph that served as an inspiration (but certainly not for a 1-to-1 reissue)In the early 1970s, Ollech & Wajs produced a range of integr

Video: Exploring Omega's Timekeeping for the Paris 2024 Olympics
The countdown is almost over, the athletes are ready, and the timers are set to begin. In a few weeks from now, on July 26th, the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will ignite a summer of sporting action in the heart of the French capital. For the 31st time since 1932, Omega will fulfil the role of Official Timekeeper, recording times and scores in all 329 Olympic events across 32 sports. As you’d expect, such a role involves state-of-the-art technology and skilled staff (350 tonnes of equipment, 550 timekeepers…), which is only possible thanks to more than 90 years of experience. Omega will arrive in Paris with the most advanced technology it has ever delivered. But what exactly hides behind this role of timekeeper of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games…? We travelled to Switzerland to find out, and you can discover it in our latest in-depth movie!Now, having seen much of what’s usually behind the scenes in the watchmaking world, this visit left me speechless. I had no idea ho

Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster Pacman Re-Edition Dive Watch Hands-On
A couple of weeks ago, we explored the comeback of a niche but cult brand specialised in instrument watches, Nivada Grenchen. Mostly known for its Chronomaster watch, also known as the “Super Chronograph” due to its combination of features, a look at the history of the brand reveals far more fascinating watches, pioneers in their own right. Among them is a model known as the Depthmaster, a highly original and important model in dive watch history. In addition to its chronograph, the brand?is also reissuing this piece with a quirky but very cool accessible retro-styled watch. Here’s a closer look at the Nivada Grenchen?Depthmaster, in its signature “Pac-Mac” versions.Nivada…?There are mainstream brands that most watch enthusiasts, even the most novice of us, know. And there are other brands, with true cult status that are reserved to smaller groups of seasoned and knowledgeable collectors. Nivada belongs to the latter category. The brand was founded i

Introducing the Ulysse Nardin FreakLab Boutique Edition, black titanium & carbon fiber (specs & price) - Monochrome Watches
14 years ago, Ulysse Nardin launched a watch that was, at that time, a proper blast, an ultra-innovative timepiece, both for its technology and its design. The Ulysse Nardin Freak was and still is unique in many ways and even after all these years, it remains a watch?extremely bold and recognizable among every other. This year, at Baselworld 2015, UN came up with the newest version of this groundbreaking watch, the FreakLab, cased in white gold. The first evolution of this model?is now on the rails, with a?black titanium case and a carbon fiber bezel. Here is the?Ulysse Nardin FreakLab Boutique Edition.The Ulysse Nardin Freak shouldn’t be regarded for its design only. Of course, its?specific shape and the integration of the balance wheel and of the gear train on the top of the dial was clearly unusual, back in 2001. The design of the Freak was made to be shocking (and in the good way), just to enlighten the real innovation, that was on the?mechanical side. As some of you may know

Pre-Introducing the Richard Mille RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat - Monochrome-Watches
Recently, we had a close look at a special watch from Richard Mille, the RM 033 Extra Flat, a watch that, even though it was?more refined, more elegant, slimmer and featured a round case, was?certainly recognizable as a watch from Richard Mille?–?mainly because of the skeletonized movement, the design clues and the execution, all respectful of the brand’s DNA. This same recipe is now applied to another watch, also a slim, more elegant, skeletonized piece but this time there’s no doubt to have when considering the manufacture that created it, as the new?Richard Mille RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat has the distinctive tonneau case. Preview of one of the watches that RM will show during?the SIHH 2016.Most of the watches created by Richard Mille share three?main characteristics: a tonneau shaped-case that became the hallmark of the brand (see this watch or this watch), hyper-complicated movements with unique features (like the G-sensor of the?RM 36-01 Sebastian Loeb, the a