Ollech & Wajs has launched a new 1000-metre diver in celebration of a watch that changed the game in the 1960s.
In 1964, the Ollech & Wajs Caribbean 1000 smashed diving records with a depth rating of 1,000m.
To put that in context, at the time 1000 feet – or around 300 meters – was beyond the reach of other well-known diving watches.
The Caribbean 1000 had a mono-bloc case with distinctive pointed lugs developed with a Swiss case specialist firm called Jenny.
It was tested by ocean explorers in the harshest condition – including under Arctic ice – and went on to be worn by both commercial and military divers.
To celebrate this 60th anniversary, O&W has brought out the new C-1000 special edition.
The new watch, the brand says, reinterprets several design features of what it calls the “iconic inaugural reference”.
The distinctive lugs of the original – called “vampire fangs” by collectors – are carried over to the new watch.
There are tapered hour and minutes hands and the 12 hour bi-directional bezel with 20 minute diver’s scale, also seen on the O.G. watch.
The original Caribbean 1000 achieved its ground-breaking water resistance mainly through its innovative single bloc case.
The new watch has a more convenient screw-down caseback, but thanks to advances in material and design tech, can still achieve the same 1000 meter water-resistant as the original.
The strap color is a reference to the yellow-trimmed wetsuits worn by the watch’s 1960s test divers.
The first 56 watches will be numbered crown and will carry ETA 2824-2 automatics – the last remaining new-old-stock movements that O&W has available.
After that, the watch will be powered by a Soprod-based automatic.
“The C-1000 A commemorates an important moment in Ollech & Wajs history and the ETA 2824-2 has played another important role in our past,” said Charles Le Menestrel, CEO of Ollech & Wajs. “We thought it would be a fitting gesture to pair the first of the anniversary year watches with these vintage NOS movements.”
The watch comes on a vintage style nylon strap, with a steel mesh bracelet available as an option.
To reserve one of 56 numbered editions, you can email reservation@ow-watch.ch with your name and contact details.
The Ollech & Wajs C-1000 A is available to buy from the end of August, priced at CHF 1,856, and deliveries will start in October. ow-watch.com