Arms-On: Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph Watch

Though Ollech & Wajs was initially based in 1956 and has loved a cult following amongst classic collectors and fans for a variety of years, the model was relaunched in 2017 and has since been constructing out its fashionable revitalized assortment. Ollech & Wajs initially constructed its status through the pre-quartz period by producing extremely succesful sport and power watches, and this similar emphasis on sturdiness and function-forward timepieces stays one of many defining traits of the Swiss model to at the present time.

Like many firms working throughout the sports activities watch house through the Nineteen Sixties, Ollech & Wajs absolutely embraced the general public’s rising curiosity in scuba diving, and the model produced a variety of high-performing dive watches that have been worn by everybody from explorers and scientists to astronauts and navy personnel. The fashionable Ollech & Wajs model nonetheless locations a heavy emphasis on underwater timepieces, and the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph is a vintage-inspired diver that not solely pays tribute to the unique “Ocean-Graph” diver from 1968, but in addition the entire different purpose-built aquatic timepieces that made up the model’s broadly revered “Precision” line of software watches.

The fashionable Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph presents a closely vintage-inspired general aesthetic, and relatively than being an actual recreation of a particular mannequin from the model’s archives, it merely incorporates a retro general look and the decompression bezel from the unique Ocean-Graph diver from 1968. That mentioned, the trendy Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph options the identical core case design that may be discovered on a variety of the model’s different fashionable fashions, and it’s solely manufactured in Jura, Switzerland. Crafted from 316L chrome steel, the case of the Ocean Graph measures 39.56mm in diameter by 49.5mm lug-to-lug, and it presents a completely vintage-inspired profile with lengthy angled lugs and no sort of crown guards in any way.

Whereas the general case form is similar to that of a conventional Nineteen Sixties pores and skin diver, the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph is considerably extra succesful than most watches that supply this similar normal aesthetic, and it feels very effectively constructed, regardless of being pretty utilitarian in its general design. On the 3 o’clock location is an outsized screw-down winding crown that’s signed with the model’s emblem and incorporates a system of 4 inside gaskets for optimum resistance to moisture intrusion. The reverse facet of the case will get fitted with a stable chrome steel screw-down caseback, whereas the dial facet is protected by a 5.6mm thick domed sapphire crystal that provides an inherently classic general aesthetic whereas additionally serving to present the watch with a whopping 1,000 meters of water resistance (which truly will get examined to 1,200 meters).

As a result of important dome of the crystal, the general thickness of the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph is available in at 15.8mm, and the shortage of curve to the lugs does little to mitigate its perceived top. Though the lugs don’t precisely hug the wrist, they do function two units of springbar holes, which permits for a greater variety of straps, and in addition allows customers to place the strap in a way in order that the watch sits higher on their wrist. Moreover, whereas the set of springbar holes close to the tip of the lugs is drilled, the secondary set nearer to the case just isn’t, and for my part, this appears to be probably the most sensible method in terms of pure performance. Two units of drilled holes would have inevitably regarded awkward, and having one of many units drilled implies that shoulderless spring bars can be utilized, for many who choose to put on their watch on pass-through fashion straps with out the concern of the strap catching on the shoulder of the springbar and inflicting it to come back free from the case.

Surrounding the closely domed sapphire crystal is a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel with a coin-edge fashion rim. The bezel turns pretty simply and presents a satisfying motion with nearly no perceptible backplay in any way. Nonetheless, relatively than having an ordinary 60-minute elapsed time scale like a standard dive watch, the bezel is fitted with a blue and orange multi-function decompression scale that’s printed on the underside facet of a crystal insert. On condition that the model’s web site doesn’t explicitly state that the insert is made out of sapphire, I can solely assume that it’s made out of some sort of mineral glass, as most firms would explicitly record a sapphire insert as a promoting level, just like how they constantly do with their watch crystals.

The decompression scale itself consists of three segmented concentric rings with the innermost one being an orange and white 60-minute timing scale with extra indications for the utmost depth of the dive (represented in meters). The 2 surrounding scales seem in blue and white, with the center one indicating the dive occasions for which decompression shall be crucial (based on the corresponding depth indicated by the orange central scale), whereas the outermost scale on the insert signifies the decompression occasions (represented in minutes), that are calculated based on the depth and complete length of the dive. On condition that most individuals who put on dive watches don’t truly use them for scuba diving, just about every part besides the 60-minute elapsed timing scale shall be more-or-less ineffective above the floor of the water, though it’s in the end this distinctive decompression scale bezel on the trendy Ocean Graph that connects it to its classic predecessor with the hyphenated model of its title.

Whereas the decompression scale bezel on the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph undeniably presents numerous info, the printing is relatively small with a purpose to cram every part on a reasonably skinny insert, and at-a look legibility is totally horrible. On prime of that, not one of the bezel markings are luminous, that means that what little legibility does exist nearly disappears solely in low-light circumstances, and I can’t think about anybody truly making an attempt to make use of the bezel in any actual capability whereas scuba diving, besides within the absolute most determined of conditions. The zero marker for the bezel (which is a tiny inverted triangle on the orange innermost scale) is so small that it takes a couple of seconds to even find, so that you would possibly as effectively neglect about rapidly aligning it with the minute hand whereas doing one thing else that requires your consideration, equivalent to driving a automotive and even strolling in a crowded avenue. For all intents and functions, the bezel is actually only a nice-looking fidget-spinner, with no actual sensible functions past being a enjoyable and aesthetically-intriguing dialog starter.

The dial of the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph incorporates a matte blue floor with white printed textual content, utilized markers on the cardinal factors, and an oblong date window on the six o’clock location. The triangular markers on the 3, 9, and 12 o’clock positions, plus the small sq. under the date window at 6 o’clock, all function a brushed end on their metallic surrounds and are stuffed with brilliant orange Tremendous-LumiNova, with even the metallic body for the date aperture receiving an identical brushed prime floor. On the heart of the dial are a trio of palms with a brushed end and orange Tremendous-LumiNova inserts, with the hour and minute hand showing as broad batons and the seconds hand as a barely tapered shaft with a outstanding triangular luminous tip.

Though the entire lume is a brilliant orange shade within the daylight, solely the hour markers glow orange in the dead of night, and the orange-colored lume on the three palms truly all glows inexperienced. Whereas the totally different colours of lume are actually enjoyable and assist add distinction in darkish circumstances, solely the hour markers for the cardinal factors truly glow in any respect, which additional helps my assertion that the Ocean Graph is much from supreme for any actual tool-worthy scuba diving functions (regardless of its large ranges of water resistance). Moreover, to even attain a fraction of its unimaginable 1,000-meter depth ranking, saturation diving would virtually inevitably be a required a part of the method, and it’s essential to notice that the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph doesn’t function a helium escape valve in any respect. Whereas I extremely doubt anybody will actually miss the shortage of an HEV on the facet of the case, it does appear to be a little bit of a curious omission given the downright extreme water resistance provided by the trendy Ocean Graph. That mentioned, I personally admire this method, as a helium escape valve is only one extra potential level for water ingress with zero precise sensible makes use of, until you’re one of many only a few people who’s both a saturation diver or in any other case works in a extremely pressurized chamber.

Powering the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph is the tried and true ETA 2824-2 automated motion, which could be very a lot a identified amount and possibly the only mostly used Swiss-made mechanical caliber within the business in the present day. Working at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with an influence reserve of roughly 38 hours, Ollech & Wajs’ model of the ETA 2824-2 is called the OW5P and it incorporates a mainplate engraved with the model’s title, together with a customized machined Ollech & Wajs oscillating weight. A well-recognized design that’s identified for its reliability, the ETA 2824-2 is a extremely sensible choice for a strong diver just like the Ocean Graph, and whereas it might not be probably the most fascinating from both an aesthetic or horological perspective, it doesn’t have to be for a watch like this, particularly because it stays hidden away behind a stable chrome steel caseback.

Whereas the usual Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph is fitted with a blue and white Perlon material strap, the model reviewed right here is technically known as the Ocean Graph S, because it comes with an identical chrome steel “beads of rice” bracelet fitted to its 20mm lugs. With utterly stable hyperlinks, single-sided screws, and machined end-links, the bracelet for the Ocean Graph feels fairly well-made, and it options a wholly brushed end that helps give it a barely extra utilitarian aesthetic in comparison with most different beads of rice bracelets. Moreover, the three rows of smaller heart hyperlinks all function a slight ridge operating down their prime surfaces, which additional helps present the Ocean Graph bracelet with extra of a rugged general design in comparison with the graceful and rounded shapes of the middle hyperlinks that usually exist on this fashion of bracelet.

Though the bracelet itself feels fairly stable and comfy on the wrist, it isn’t precisely good.  Working with a double push-button launch and signed with the Ollech & Wajs emblem, the clasp is greater than purposeful, but it surely does barely really feel a bit underbuilt in comparison with the bracelet and the case of the watch. Relatively than being crafted from machined parts, it’s solely made out of stamped sheets of chrome steel, and it doesn’t embrace any form of built-in micro-adjustment system, past three sizing holes to put the springbar. The one benefit of this easy construction is that it in the end makes for a small and skinny clasp, which suggests that there’s little or no bulk on the underside of the wrist, together with minimal extra weight for what’s already a relatively chunky and hefty watch.

My solely different minor gripe with the bracelet has to do with the top hyperlinks, though I’m actually undecided there’s any precise resolution to this subject, and I in the end consider that Ollech & Wajs went with the lesser of two evils right here. Whereas the ideas of the lugs are squared off on the ends, the top hyperlinks have a rounded profile to correspond with the adjoining hyperlinks of the bracelet, and it provides them the looks of being barely poor-fitting, regardless of truly becoming the case very properly. With that in thoughts, had Ollech & Wajs squared off the top hyperlinks, it will have utterly thrown off the look of the bracelet itself, and it will have in the end been of a lot better detriment to the design, relatively than simply the looks of the end-link being barely too huge for the case.

The 2 units of springbar holes needs to be taken as an encouragement to play with totally different strap mixtures, and whereas orange and blue might not be a colorway that goes with every part, the playful classic vibes of the Ocean Graph allow it to exist as way over only a dive watch. A fast strap change to one thing in the exact opposite path by way of aesthetics — on this case, a pleasant golden brown Hirsch Bagnore calfskin leather-based strap — and the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph appears completely nothing like a 1,000-meter diver, however relatively one thing that you just would possibly see on somebody’s wrist whereas leisurely getting espresso over the weekend. Whereas making an attempt to put on it as a correct gown watch could also be a little bit of a stretch, the Ocean Graph in the end has way more aesthetic versatility than the overwhelming majority of different timepieces that supply these outright extreme ranges of water resistance.

All minor gripes apart, I truly just like the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph fairly a bit. Whereas the bezel is kind of ineffective, so is 1,000 meters of water resistance; nevertheless, that’s precisely what makes the Ocean Graph such a enjoyable watch. Moreover, regardless of being one thing you can take to unfathomable depths, the Ocean Graph more-or-less appears like a colourful classic pores and skin diver with a cool bezel, and its affordable case measurement in the end creates a really easy-to-wear general bundle. Ollech & Wajs states that over 90% of the watch is Swiss-made (excluding the strap and packaging), and aside from its relatively inauspicious clasp, the general high quality provided by the Ocean Graph appears solely acceptable given its official retail value of 1,796 CHF (which converts to $1,937.85 USD, on the time of writing). Regardless of its spectacular water resistance, I actually see the trendy Ocean Graph being worn by its house owners most continuously as an extremely enjoyable trip watch that provides the entire performance of a critical overbuilt diver, with out truly having the looks of 1. For extra info on the Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph, please go to the model’s web site.