A quick flashback to the Swiss brand Lemania and the genesis of this model…

The trade name Lemania was adopted in the 1920s and was affixed to watches from the 1930s to the 1960s. In 1932, the Lemania Watch Co joined Omega and Tissot in the Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère SA (SSIH), which later became the Swatch Group. For this reason, it is understandable that Lemania movements appeared in watches from all three brands. And Lemania not only supplied the movements, but often also the cases.

In the early 1970s, one of Lemania’s star designers, Albert Piquet, developed the 1345 regatta caliber for Aquastar, based on their patent for a 10-minute countdown timer. The 1345 regatta caliber is derived from the 1341 movement and is the successor to the first regatta movement, the Felsa caliber 4000N (after Aquastar's first 5-minute countdown patent from the 1960s). After the introduction of the Aquastar Regate, the Lemania 1345 movement was also available for other brands and several case versions of the Yachttimers were sold by Aquastar and Tissot. In the 1980s, Omega, Heuer and Lemania also used the 1345 movement in various regatta watches.

In the late 1980s, Lemania teamed up with Jean-Daniel Dubois and Paul Elvström, a famous Danish competitive sailor, for a reissue of the yachttimer. This led to the Lemania Elvström in the early 1990s, powered by the same caliber 1345 regatta movement but with a more modern case design. The model now has a rotating bezel and the tactical P.E. (Paul Elvström) printed on the dial.

Being quite a fan of these atypical regatta watches, it was love at first sight. The seconds hand turns constantly, and by pressing the pusher, the countdown is triggered, the 5 circles then turn blue (the first 5 minutes) then red (the next 5 minutes) then gray (the color of the dial).

The finish of the watch is really very good with a beautifully crafted anti-reflective glass, similar to the anti-reflective ones that can be found at Breitling.

The case of my watch is two-tone (gold and steel) and I find that it brings a very nice chic side. The case is made of steel and measures 43mm.
The guilloche dial is fabulous with a gray sunburst treatment, the colors are vibrant with touches of green, red, blue….
The bezel is also interesting with the indications (N, E, S, W), you have to press on it to turn it so it is always in place.
Be aware that there are many variations of this watch with dials of different colors….
This is a watch that I recommend to all sailing lovers who want to wear an atypical watch loaded with a beautiful story.


Lemania Regatta Elvstrom 8734

An unusual diving watch from the late 60s, early 70s, made by Squale and sold under the Oscar brand. The case is made of steel and is called C shape (round shape) and measures 40mm in diameter excluding the crown for 12mm in thickness, which brings a nice presence to the wrist.

There are 2 crowns including the bottom one which operates the white internal bezel. The case could be similar to that of a supercompressor but this case was not designed by EPSA. The water resistance is given here for 20Atm.

I find the watch aesthetically very beautiful, with a very nice harmony of colors typical of the 70s.
The bakelite bezel is magnificent and has kept a very bright orange, The dial has a really very successful sunburst gray capable of turning from light gray to dark gray. The applied indexes are worked. The dial and hands have acquired a harmonious patina.

Inside we find an ETA 2873 that beats at 21600bph as well as a fast date.

An essential piece for vintage 70s aficinados…


Squale (Oscar) Supermatic 

The Omega Memomatic ref.166.072 was launched in 1969. It is a watch that is now over 50 years old and yet it retains a certain modernity even today.
The particularity of this model is that it is an automatic watch with an alarm complication. The integration into the dial is superb with two discs in the center that allow you to set the hours and minutes of the alarm.
The watch has a cushion-shaped stainless steel case, measuring 40 mm wide (excluding the crown), the case is detailed with a combination of satin and polished finishes. The model uses the very complex Omega caliber 980 movement. Unusually, the movement has a single barrel that controls the power supply for the time and alarm functions. This means that the automatic rotor will provide all the energy needed to run the watch. The majority of vintage alarm watches had a separate manually wound barrel for the alarm (as in the memovox). The pusher at 2 o'clock controls the alarm settings and a recessed pusher at 3 o'clock allows for quick date adjustment.
I really like the colors of this watch with the three tones: gray, black and orange typical of the 70s.
In order to give a touch of fantasy to the watch I chose to equip it with a galucha strap that matches the watch perfectly.
This is a watch that I have had for some time and I still enjoy wearing it.


Omega Memomatic 166.072

Today I present to you one of my favorite chronographs often referred to by collectors as a "poor man's autavia"
"Poor Man's Heuer" is a term often used in the vintage collector world. It refers to a sports watch made in the 1960s and 1970s, with design or style elements of Heuer racing watches, but with another brand stamped on the dial (in this case Dugena). From the bright colors that highlight the dial and hands to the large oversized cases, these features were originally used by Heuer, one of the most prolific chronograph manufacturers of the century. The concept of "Poor Man's Heuer" originated in the Heuer community as "a joke", a way of calling a watch that, even if it was not made by Heuer, had the look and feel of a vintage Heuer.
On the Dugena chrono (German brand), reference 3207 (70s), we find a 43mm steel case with a design very close to the Heuer Autavia, with the difference that the bezel is embedded in the case, which significantly reduces the thickness of the watch.
The movement here is the Buren Cal 15 (micro rotor), also used by Heuer at the time. I like the asymmetrical side that this gives to the dial. The latter has a rather unique sunburst with a dial that varies from brown to black to gray depending on the brightness. We also find applied indexes and tritium (of course).
I really like the design of the bezel, which has taken on a bluish tint over time, it looks like glasses that can be found on vintage Sinn watches in particular.
The watch is very readable thanks to the choice of white hands.
It is a fairly rare watch and I really enjoy wearing it
And what do you think?


Dugena Autovia 3207

Produced from 1969 until the early 80s, the Omega Seamaster Soccer Timer is a watch designed for referees to time football matches. The 45 indication can be found in the sub-dial at 3 o'clock.
The model presented is the reference 145.019 "Roulette". The steel case, cushion-shaped, measures 41mm in diameter and alternates between sunburst and polished areas. It incorporates the robust Omega 861 movement used in the Speedmaster at the same time.
The design of the gray dial represents the enormous interest of this typical 70s watch with an assumed choice of colors and graphic care given to every detail.
The so-called internal "Roulette" bezel is movable by the action of the crown at 10 o'clock and further reinforces its funky side. In my opinion, the best configuration...
It is an essential watch for my collection, because it offers a double watchmaking interest, both by the proposal of an atypical design and the quality of manufacture as well as the movement used. I wear it with the greatest pleasure every week.


Omega Seamaster Soccer timer "roulette"

In 1947, Wakmann entered into a joint venture with the Swiss brand Breitling, importing and "co-branding" its cockpit clocks for the US military and American civilian aircraft.
Wakmann acted as a US-based "assembler", importing incomplete watches or movements and using its own workshops to finalize the assembly of these timepieces on American soil, thus avoiding the additional tax cost.
The Wakmann Regate Chronograph watch is one of the last models produced by the brand in the early 70s, particularly colorful and with a rather interesting display.
On the outside of the watch, we find the 3 zones 15-10-5 for the regatta countdown as well as a tachymeter scale (after the 15 minutes)
The reading is simple since the movement used is the lemania 1341 with the central minute totalizer.
It is also possible to adjust the mobile internal bezel, by the action of the crown located at 10:30, and which allows to indicate the days of the week according to the date. This allows to have a visualization of the monthly calendar. Quite Practical…
But what I like most about this watch is its unique, atypical and colorful look, very similar to vintage Breitling watches of the time.
The case is chrome and measures a little over 43mm and has a nice texture and a nice presence on the wrist.
The care given to the dial is quite amazing, it has a quite incredible sunray since ‘depending on the brightness it turns from blue to black, applied indexes, tritium…
It is a watch that I love to wear and which often raises questions around me.
I consider it essential in my collection.


Wakmann Regate Chronograph

The Yema Yatchingraph Regate is one of the most interesting 70s regatta chronographs ever designed, because it has a display at 3 o'clock of the 15 minutes of regatta countdown that is unique to it, unlike what could be found at the time at aquastar and others...
The dial is beautifully guilloché and reveals the oversized disc at 3 o'clock, which is very easy to read.
When the chronograph is started, every 30 seconds, the disc makes a half rotation. Very fun to watch.
To do this, Yema has integrated and modified the Valjoux 7733 caliber, hence the 7733s designation and the patent indication on the dial at 6 o'clock.
I find the design of the dial very accomplished, balanced and timeless.
This chronograph existed in 39mm and 44mm (jumbo case).
Mine is the latest iteration in a jumbo case and with the little boat in blue, hence its name blue ship.
Color that I tried to get close to to find a strap that fits well and to make a reminder of the dial.



Yema Yatchingraph Regate Type 6

The&nbsp;Squale brand was created in 1959 by the couple Charles and H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Von B&uuml;ren in Neuch&acirc;tel in Switzerland. Passionate about diving and water sports, the founders launched into the field of underwater watchmaking, a sector still unexplored at the time. The name Squale comes from the word "shark" in Italian. In parallel with the creation of several watch models worn in particular by numerous bodies of the Italian army, the brand will also produce cases for other watchmaking companies such as<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/blancpain"> Blancpain</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/heuer"> Heuer</a> or even<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sinn"> Sinn</a>.
It was in 1968 that Squale watches forged their legend by contributing to the records of free divers equipped with the Squale Master 50 ATM, which preceded the Squale 101 ATM, one of the very first watches waterproof to 1,000 meters. The range includes models like the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/squale/1521"> Squale 1521</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/squale/1545"> Squale 1545</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/squale/30_atmos/review/64b8e0e6fdaf39766d9637d5"> Squale 30 Atmos</a>, the Squale Rambo and the Squale Matic.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Squale watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Squale watches change regularly and differ depending on the model. Most cost between 1,000 &euro; and 1,500 &euro; depending on the finishes. Squale prices also fluctuate depending on the distributor, and promotions sometimes allow you to benefit from a more competitive price. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Squale.
<h2 dir="ltr">Squale: Innovation at the service of diving watches</h2>
Since 1982, the brand Squale is owned by the Maggi family (long-time Italian distributor) and produces several thousand watches per year, all models combined. To choose a Squale that best suits you, The Dialicious owners&rsquo; reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real customer experience. Note that Squale is one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Most popular Swiss watch brands</a> according to authentic owners who have testified on Dialicious
(Updated May 2024)

I present to you a diving watch from the HOSAM SQUALE MEDIUM brand. The HOGA company was founded in the Swiss Jura in 1912. This company registered the HOSAM brand in 1955. HOSAM is best known for developing diving watches, particularly in collaboration with Squale, which specializes in the manufacture of super-waterproof cases. Here, the case is water-resistant to 300m, while the watch is 35mm in diameter and 13mm thick, hence the name "MEDIUM" on the dial. In addition to the pretty black dial that is slightly bronzed in the sun, the "eggshell" indexes, the "lolipop" seconds hand, its circled date at 3 o'clock, its oversized screw-down crown, its contained case making it very comfortable, its most remarkable element is its dark gray bakelite bezel at the top, and light gray at the bottom incorporating a tritium triangle at 12:00. A perfect dive watch for small wrists.

HOSAM SHARK MEDIUM

La marque Ollech &amp; Wajs a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 1956 par Joseph Ollech et Albert Wajs &agrave; Zurich en Suisse. Albert &eacute;tait charg&eacute; de la conception, de l&rsquo;ing&eacute;nierie et de la fabrication des montres, tandis que Joseph s&rsquo;occupait du marketing et de la vente au d&eacute;tail. Avant de cr&eacute;er leur propre montres sous la marque Ollech &amp; Wajs, ils ont commenc&eacute; leur activit&eacute; en 1954 en fabriquant des bracelets en acier pour d&rsquo;autres marques.
La marque est connue pour avoir distribu&eacute; des montres &agrave; des unit&eacute;s de l&rsquo;arm&eacute;e am&eacute;ricaine pendant la guerre du Vietnam et pour avoir gagn&eacute; sa renomm&eacute;e aupr&egrave;s des plongeurs et pilotes du monde entier.
Apr&egrave;s 12 ans de n&eacute;gociation et apr&egrave;s avoir &eacute;t&eacute; son distributeur pour le march&eacute; fran&ccedil;ais, en 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, un passionn&eacute; d&rsquo;horlogerie, rach&egrave;te la marque. La gamme actuelle comprend des mod&egrave;les comme la Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 et la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph">Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> et la Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2>Combien co&ucirc;te une montre Ollech &amp; Wajs ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Ollech &amp; Wajs &eacute;voluent et diff&egrave;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre CHF 1,500 et CHF 2,000 selon les mod&egrave;les et les finitions. Comptez CHF 1,456 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI et pr&egrave;s de CHF 2,300 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronographe. Le march&eacute; de l'occasion est &eacute;galement une opportunit&eacute; &agrave; regarder pour acheter une Ollech &amp; Wajs moins ch&egrave;re. Les mod&egrave;les Vintage notamment les Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron et&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, sont tr&egrave;s pris&eacute;es des collectionneurs et ils convient de bien se renseigner sur le vendeur avant de franchir le pas de l'acquisition d'une vintage.
Ollech &amp; Wajs est une marque de montres ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines de montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une Ollech &amp; Wajs qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_suisses">Classement des meilleures marques de montres suisses</a> dont Ollech &amp; Wajs fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Octobre 2024)

The brand Ollech &amp; Wajs was created in 1956 by Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs in Zurich, Switzerland. Albert was responsible for the design, engineering and manufacturing of the watches, while Joseph handled marketing and retail sales. Before creating their own watches under the brand Ollech &amp; Wajs, they started their business in 1954 making steel bracelets for other brands.
The brand is known for distributing watches to units of the American army during the Vietnam War and for having earned its reputation among divers and pilots around the world.
After 12 years of negotiations and after having been its distributor for the French market, in 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, a watchmaking enthusiast, bought the brand. The current range includes models like the Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph"> Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> and the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does an Ollech &amp; Wajs watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Ollech &amp; Wajs watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,000 depending on the models and finishes. Expect to pay CHF 1,456 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI and close to CHF 2,300 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronograph. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Ollech &amp; Wajs. Vintage models including the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, are very popular with collectors and they should find out about the seller before taking the step of purchasing a vintage one.
Ollech &amp; Wajs is an independent watch brand and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an Ollech &amp; Wajs that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
Consult the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the best Swiss watch brands</a> of which Ollech &amp; Wajs is part.
(Updated October 2024)

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