It's now been about 4 years that I have this beautiful vintage from the 1980s. 
After about 1 year of searching, I was able to achieve my goal by obtaining, not without difficulty, this magnificent Tank must. It was by taking inspiration from the design of a tank seen from above (the stretchers for the tracks and the case for the passenger compartment) that Louis Cartier imagined in 1917 one of the most emblematic shaped watches of the house: the Tank. Sixty years later, the icon entered the Must range. 

So yes, the Tank must is not the Tank Louis Cartier, but it looks a lot like it! Featuring a gold-plated vermilion case, Roman numeral indexes, blued hands and even the blue cabochon, all the codes are there. 
It contains a mechanical movement with manual winding (the 
78-1), a movement that is difficult to find on the market, the watch being already quite rare and most of the models present being equipped with a quartz movement. 
The Must range initially intended for the American market to relaunch the brand quickly became popular around the world, selling its models at the time between €500 and €800. 40 years later, models regularly resurface in more or less correct conditions. I highly recommend this world for its absolutely magnificent art deco style, its vintage and elegant dimension as well as its versatility (even with jeans it will have its effect). 
Much less expensive than the current Tanks, it embodies a perfect alternative for fans of CARTIER and Tank.

Tank Must 80s - Old Lady with French Charm

A lifelong favorite watch and owner for almost 10 years now (watch from 1996). The Submariner 16610 is known for its classic and timeless design. Its 40 mm stainless steel case, its unidirectional rotating bezel and its black dial with luminescent indexes make it a watch that is both elegant and functional. A record-breaking watch in its time with a water resistance of up to 300 meters. The 16610 is equipped with the Rolex Caliber 3135 automatic movement, renowned for its precision and reliability (an indestructible watch!). It also has the most beautiful date function with its magnifying cyclops.
For me, it represents one of my watchmaking achievements, being a watch that I have always wanted to own.
A true icon, recognized by all, the submariner has a fairly ideal diameter of 40 mm which makes it very versatile like its style, sometimes a tool watch, sometimes a dress watch.
This watch has given its letters of nobility to the much sought-after divers of our days and will forever remain the reference in the field.

The legendary Rolex diver

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

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

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

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)

Zenith El Primero Owner Review : Hypnotic, different and rare

A little-known hypnotic watch

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