I bought this chronograph about twenty years ago when it was not too difficult to get these watches in the store. I had opted for the chronograph, quince models were 39mm and were more successful than the classic models. The chrono pushers really give the impression that the diameter of the watch is larger than it actually is. The other watches in my collection are all 40 or 41mm and yet I see no difference with this AP, despite my fairly wide wrist (19cm)

La "Kasparov"

I wanted to tell you about my latest purchase because I originally made it last July. I love Rolex watches but wasn't particularly into the brand's Classic models, but when I had the opportunity to see this magnificent mint green dial, I was literally enchanted. I went to the store and managed to convince my AD of my good faith. It took me just over a month to get it. A real stroke of luck. I opted for an Oyster bracelet because with its fluted bezel I was afraid of getting too much of a "bling bling" effect. This watch is a "killer"

Bewitching

Today I just bought this watch. I went to my AD to see if the Explorer 2 Polar for which I am on the waiting list would, by chance, have arrived. The watch still not being there, I asked the question to know which Rolex would be available immediately. I specified that I only wanted 41mm and especially not two-tone. The saleswoman tricked me by presenting me this model in 36mm and two-tone (the two conditions that I absolutely did not want) knowing that the effect of this model would not leave me indifferent. Bet won, I went home with this watch, which is the smallest in my collection, without thinking more than 5 minutes. I do not regret anything, on the contrary I am completely hypnotized by this palm dial

Love at first sight

I bought this watch on a whim and almost never wear it. However, I love taking it out of my safe from time to time to handle it, look at it, touch it, simply to admire it. For me, this watch exudes a charisma that fascinates me, despite the fact that I am rather sporty and it does not really suit me. This watch is typically the example of compulsive buying motivated by no other reason than the beauty of the object.

Simply beautiful

I must admit that I did not particularly like this watch the first time I saw it about fifteen years ago. To me, it looked like an old people's watch with its very large indexes, allowing better reading for the visually impaired. Finally, this watch has allowed itself to be appreciated and has become a must for my collection.

The manly watch

Blancpain is a prestigious brand whose models have never really attracted me. The Fifty Fathoms that I found too large and the other collections a little too dressed for my taste kept me away from the brand until the discovery of this chronograph that immediately seduced me. This 40 mm diameter watch with its large date, its transparent caseback, its retro-style Arabic numeral indexes and its crocodile strap with folding clasp seduced me right away. I bought it about fifteen years ago by going back and forth to the AD to try it on and finally let myself be convinced when, on the eve of his retirement, he offered me an interesting discount. I replaced the strap that was too delicate for me with a rubber crocodile imitation from RubberB.

Blancpain Flyback Chrono Grande Date

By purchasing this watch, I did exactly what watchmaking experts advise against. I bought the brand and not a watch that I would have fallen for and this on the internet without trying it on. IWC being a legendary brand and not having any in my collection, I told myself that I absolutely had to have one. Being rather sporty, it was quite natural that my choice fell on the brand's diver's watch, which mainly offers rather dressy models. When I unpacked the package, I was a little destabilized by its rather massive size (42 mm in diameter and almost 15 mm thick) as well as its rather imposing helium valve at 9 o'clock. Once the shock had passed, the watch revealed itself and became more and more pleasant to look at. I particularly appreciate the IWC quick system for changing the strap as well as the originality of the operation of the diving bezel, which consists of a bidirectional external bezel that drives the internal indexed bezel, which is unidirectional. So, you just have to make a small back and forth movement on the external bezel to set the dive time on the internal bezel. The yellow arrowhead on the second hand also brings a very nice little touch. The more you wear it, the more you like this watch.

Destabilizing…or not….

About twenty years ago I sold a two-tone Rolex Submariner with blue bezel and dial as well as a GMT 2 (Coca) to finance an AP Royal Oak Chronograph. No longer having any Rolex in my collection, three or four years ago, I began to regret my gesture, not for the purchase of my AP, but for the sale of my Rolex and so I decided to replace these two watches. I also forbade myself from selling other watches from my collection in the future. I decided to opt, to start, to acquire a steel Sub which is less flashy than the two-tone and above all timeless. It is a model that dates from 2003 in 40 mm, bought on a second-hand site and unfortunately paid more than a new watch. It is therefore not equipped with a ceramic bezel, which does not displease me because I find ceramic a little too "flashy".

The timeless

The Zenith brand was created in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, Switzerland. A pioneer in Swiss watchmaking in the creation of a true vertically integrated manufacture, Zenith aimed to create the most precise watch of its time at the best price. Over the years, it has established itself as a benchmark for precision and expertise in many fields.
In 1899, the marque Zenith presents its first pocket chronograph and wins various prizes, including first prize at the Paris Motor Show. In 1911 Georges Favre-Jacot handed over management of the factory to his descendants, who named it Zenith, the name of the highest point in the trajectory of a star in the sky.
In 1920, Zenith launched its first wristwatches and continued its development until, in 1960, it purchased the Martel Watch Co. Nine years later, the brand gave birth to the El Primero movement, the first chronograph equipped with a rotor winding mechanism. central. This world first makes El Primero today the most precise mass-produced movement in the world, thanks to its balance wheel and its cadence of ten vibrations per second. Over the years, Zenith will sign numerous innovations. The company owns three of the largest movements: the El Primero integrated automatic chronograph, the 22-line manual 5011K and the ultra-thin mechanical Elite, all available with several complications, moon phase, dual time, fly-back.
After numerous buyouts, the company that owns the Zenith factory decides to stop the production of mechanical watches in favor of quartz. In order to save these calibers from destruction, Charles Vermot hid cams, cutting tools, presses and machines, while recording the production process in a small notebook, secretly hoping for the return of mechanical movements. It was only nine years later that Zenith returned to the hands of Swiss investors who revived the brand's mechanical movements such as the El Primero.
The range now includes models like the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zenith/defy_skyline"> Zenith Defy Skyline</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zenith/chronomaster_original"> Zenith Chronomaster Original</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zenith/defy_extreme"> Zenith Defy Extreme</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zenith/chronomaster_el_primero_open"> Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Open</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zenith/captain_chronograph"> Zenith Captain Chronograph</a>.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Zenith watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Zenith watches sold on the brand's website vary between $6,400 and $194,900 depending on the models and finishes. As an example, count $11,300 for a Zenith Chronomaster Sport and $85,600 for a Zenith Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon.
<h2 dir="ltr">Zenith: A fantastic story that goes beyond the El Primero movement&nbsp;</h2>
Zenith is a brand owned since 2000 by the LVMH group, in the same way as the brands <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/tag_heuer">Tag Heuer</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/hublot"> Hublot</a> or<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/bulgari"> Bulgari</a>, and produces around 11,000 watches per year, all models combined. The reputation of the Zenith brand is illustrated by its presence in the ranking of<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_luxury_watch_brands"> Most popular luxury watch brands</a>. To choose a Zenith that best suits you, the Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
(Updated January 2024)

Manual winding for this legendary Hi beat chrono. I wind it up, it tells me the time, a little vintage look, a certain finesse and elegance, plus it's waterproof to 100m. 50 hours of power reserve, 40mm in diameter for a thickness of about 10mm, a watch that goes everywhere with a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that makes me fall in love.

Zenith El Primero, legendary chrono

The quest for the Grail!

It was at the beginning of 2022 that I had my first real experience with the Zenith brand. After watching a video of an owner of a Zenith Defy with a TV Dial, my curiosity was piqued, and I wanted to know more about this manufacturer that was then rather unknown to me. I quickly came across a video presenting the Zenith Revival Shadow, and it was an immediate favorite. Its curves and case fascinated me from the first glance.

So I went to the Zenith website to explore the brand and model further. And there, amazement! I discovered the A3818 and A3817 models, a real love at first sight. However, I browsed many sites presenting vintage watches, but I had never seen anything like it. Of course, I am far from claiming to know everything. Despite access to many photos and videos of watches, as well as abundant documentation, one can have the feeling of having "seen it all". However, the discovery of this A3817 shakes all my convictions.

An impressive number of details that I had never noticed elsewhere: the "shark" type railway, the overlapping sub-counters, the red syringe-type hand, the sub-counters displaying different colors, the perfectly proportioned tonneau case, the ladder bracelet, the date window between 4 and 5 p.m. It is a real enchantment at the first discovery of this watch. It obsessed me for more than a year and a half. The planets aligned at the end of 2023, and I seized the opportunity.

The Quest for the Grail!

Zenith offers us a watch full of good humor and vitamins with this El Primero Stratos Flyback "Rainbow"!

It is a sparkling and extremely readable watch, which is also very ergonomic in every way. The dial remains readable despite the large amount of information available, the thickness of the case remains contained, and the very short lugs make it a pleasant and easy to wear piece on a daily basis.
The legendary El Primero movement is here capable of performing a return in flight, which adds complexity to the mechanism and makes the watch all the more interesting. The colors of the dial and the bezel energize the design, and accentuate the playful side of the piece. The polished chamfers and the finishes of the case still make it a very worked watch that exudes quality.
I am particularly fond of the luminous indices of the most beautiful effect, which are raised and seem to come out of the dial.

A piece that never ceases to make me smile!

Colorful piloting

Bought for a big event, this watch represents the jewel that will accompany me throughout my life for beautiful festivities. This magnificent and legendary el primero model from the 90s visible on the back of the watch is encased in a 38 x 46 x 10.5 mm case and adorned with a gold plating that adds a crazy charm to it. Put it under a ray of sunlight and you will see a hypnotic dance of reflections of the indexes, hands and sub-dials appear. A classic and sublime watch that shines brightly like a star.

Star illuminating the firmament

This watch is equipped with the famous Zenith El Primero movement, which is one of the most precise and renowned automatic chronograph movements in the watch industry. 
It beats at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, which allows for precise time measurement to 1/10th of a second. 
The Zenith El Primero Synopsis sports an elegant and timeless design, with a high-quality stainless steel case, a brown alligator strap (special mention for the interior coating against perspiration), a sleek dial with an open heart finished in the most beautiful way as well as gold indexes with the most beautiful effect. 
Yes, it is not a chronograph, it is true, this creates a slight frustration because it is difficult to realize the quality of this movement without this complication. 
It nevertheless remains a timeless watch, easily wearable with its 40mm diameter and which almost always has its effect on people. 


A little-known hypnotic watch

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<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104"> Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, the<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<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<a href="https://preprod.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)

Zenith El Primero Owner Review : Classic, distinguished and sublime

Simply beautiful

Other reviews published by Besten

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Chronographe

Rolex
Datejust 41

Rolex
Datejust 36

Panerai
Luminor Marina

Blancpain
Léman

IWC
Aquatimer

Rolex
Submariner Date
16610

Other Zenith El Primero owners' reviews