Already the owner of the Royal automatic caliber with the Péquignet Royale moon phase, I wanted to acquire the manual version of this movement but with a different dial from mine, more modern and here comes the Paris Royal aventurine limited series at the end of 2024. The magnificent sandwich case of the Paris Royale with the manual movement with 100 hours of power reserve and, the cherry on the cake, a pure blue aventurine dial. A first at Péquignet. This very limited series of 30 copies is only sold in Péquignet Boutiques or on the site. The dial is hypnotizing for a 2-hand with its constantly changing reflections, in short I love it!!

French luxury

Already the owner of an MN64, I have been able to appreciate the quality of this watch for 3 years, which is why I fell for it when Stéphane Clouzeau received this limited series of 100 copies worldwide. This watch, created in partnership with Frédéric Presle for his adventure "return to Campana" in Chilean Patagonia in the footsteps of his ancestor, has a dial with exceptional reflections that makes it unique.
Like all ZRCs, it is very technical, waterproof to 1000m, monobloc case, ceramic bezel, crown at 6 o'clock, ...
Only its precision could be better (Sellita movement).

Amazing !

It was through the ZRC Fan Facebook page that I discovered this brand that was relaunching and it is one of my favorite divers. I love its massive hands and its refined dial. Its metal bracelet is a work of art in itself, although a little complicated to put on, be careful not to drop the watch when taking it off! As soon as spring comes, I switch it to the super comfortable and more practical rubber strap. Mine is equipped with the 2824-2 with remarkable precision, less than 2s per 24 hours. A brand that deserves to be better known!

An original and little-known diver!

Bought for my 30th wedding anniversary in 2021, this watch never ceases to amaze me with the reflections of its dial that always change depending on the light. The moon phase has a lot to do with it and its hot-blued hands too. On the back, you can dive into this superb manufacture movement with multiple patents. The triple date with instant jump is also amazing.

The best of French watchmaking!

And yes, Omega is not just the Moonwatch, the 300M and the Planet Ocean! While surfing their site, I came across the Aquaterra, a model that is not talked about much. This version with a silver dial is crazy, going from silver to white or gray, like the indexes. The finish is perfect, I am still discovering details after 3 months. Even the crown is super worked. The 8900 movement has a quick time zone change complication, you can change the time (and the date follows in both directions) without disturbing the watch. With its 2 barrels it has an excellent autonomy of 60 hours. I chose the version on a rubber strap, perfectly in keeping with the colors of the dial and with the most beautiful folding clasp I have ever seen so far.

The Seamaster Aquaterra deserves to be better known!

This little diver is equipped with a high-performance 2824-2 and has a water resistance of 500 m with very contained dimensions; I love the work of the very curved case which adapts perfectly to my small wrist as well as the very discreet crown. It is very readable with its orange hand. It is an endearing watch and ideal for summer. An excellent quality-price ratio!

Squale 50 ATMOS 1521, packed with quality!

This Flieger type B is my only "pilot type" watch with its very readable double dial and hot-blued hands. The movement is a classic ETA 2824-2 revisited by STOWA (oscillating weight engraved and numbered in silver). The brand does not appear on the dial, you have to turn the watch over to see it. It is light and very comfortable to wear with its pilot type bracelet but lends itself to all types of bracelets. A faithful and well-finished watch like all STOWA watches.

A beautiful pilot type watch as STOWA knows how to make them!

This watch is one of my rare vintage watches, it was my father's watch, I always saw it on his wrist in my childhood. I think it was this watch that gave me this passion for watches, I loved to listen to its ticking. It accompanied him all over the world, always faithful, it was his only watch. It was unfortunately lost after his death but I found it a few years later when it fell out of an old piece of clothing that I was going to throw away... a miracle that it fell out of that pocket at that moment! I had the movement restored, the glass polished and put on a beautiful new bracelet but the rest is original with its patina. I wear it from time to time as a souvenir.

My father's Lip Dauphine TECHNIC

The features of this limited series of 100 pieces are amazing: Titanium case, 1000m water resistance with Helium valve, hand-painted ceramic bezel and ETA 2824-2 movement reworked by Stowa for precision, all for a very competitive price. I equipped it with a camouflage-type rubber strap which adds an even more adventurous side to the watch. It is imposing on the wrist but very light. Its sunray gray dial background brings this dial to life depending on the light and I love the little detail of the second hand circle which eclipses the date every minute!

She is titanic!

After several years of continuous wear, this watch of more than 16 years still makes me smile when I wear it with its dial featuring a braided carbon background. The Valjoux 7750 is very present on the wrist with its vibrations and weight, its bracelet taking up the holes of the racing flywheels (flywheel that is found on the oscillating weight) is of excellent quality. A faithful and robust watch.

A slightly heavy but robust watch

I ordered it without having seen it, pre-ordered in 2019 as soon as this reissue was announced by Yema. It is a beautiful little watch with a worked case and sunray dial as I like them. Its precision is top notch (less than 3 seconds per 24 hours) but the original leather strap in the national colors is of poor quality and, despite an exchange from Yema, I had to replace it very quickly. I am also a little disappointed by the crown block which is loose and the tightening which is becoming harder and harder to screw. Overall it is a beautiful watch but Yema must pay attention to its quality. On a leather strap, I find it very charming and I forgive its small flaws.

The one that marks the rebirth of Yema

It was my first Seiko, I literally fell for this SBDC005 model, orange dial which is a change from the traditional black backgrounds. It is a robust watch but with a very well-crafted case for this price range. I wear it on its metal bracelet purchased later but also on nato, the original rubber bracelet is too stiff for my taste. It is my summer watch (with my squale) but despite its size it also goes very well under a shirt. After more than 10 years without servicing, it is still within 10 seconds per day.

A real toolwatch!

This limited and numbered Newport series has a sunray dial as I like them, still stamped with the Michel Herbelin brand, now Herbelin. It constantly reacts differently to light exposure, you have to take a little time to discover all the finishing details that make it very endearing: The raised indexes, the red cross on the dial, the finesse of the second hand, the machining of the case, .. I would have liked to have a solid back because the movement is not very worked. The precision is worthy of a COSC. The cushion case and the magnificent bracelet make it super comfortable. It is a watch that I wear rather in the summer.

An endearing watch, in the colors of France

While surfing the Breitling website 2 years ago, I came across this model that immediately attracted me. It hides its game well with its 500 meter water resistance without an unsightly valve and this milky white dial with its raised indexes gives it a very original look. The rubber strap is very comfortable and robust, it is a watch that can be worn daily and follow you on your vacation without worries. The second hand, the end of which reminds me of an airplane, animates this magnificent dial and I find the date beautifully integrated.

An original dial and perfect readability

I have wanted to buy a Bell and Ross for a long time but love at first sight on a model did not come, until the release of the BR03-93. It fits perfectly on my 16.5 wrist. I changed the strap for a black and red B-Rocket which I find gives it even more look and comfort. If like me you hesitate to wear these watches with a small wrist then go for it!!! Try it and you will adopt it!

Strong but portable for everyday use

The ZRC brand was created in 1904 by Edmond Zuccolo and Joseph Rochet in Geneva, Switzerland. The brand ZRC was first specialized in the manufacture of chains for pocket watches and then of expandable metal bracelets. In 1917, she won the Geneva Grand Prix for industrial innovation for the creation of metal bracelets.
It was only then that ZRC developed its activity by producing cases in the 1920s before specializing in the design of diving watches, notably with the ZRC Grands Fonds 300 in 1960. Designed by divers for divers, the model crown was moved to 6 o'clock. The final version of this model was used by the Italian Navy, the French Navy from 1964 to 1982 and approved by NATO.
To differentiate itself from these competitors and make their watches safer, the brand has integrated innovation into these watches. They first created an extensible bracelet and a system making it impossible to immerse the watch if the crown is not completely screwed in. In the brand's range, there are several models such as the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_300"> ZRC Grands Fonds 300</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_3000_titanium"> ZRC Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium</a>, the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/north_adventure">ZRC North Adventure</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_by_stef"> ZRC Grands Fonds By Stef</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_heritage"> ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage</a>. In 2016-17, the brand also produced a series of 50 ZRC-FOST watches dedicated to active submariners of the French Navy.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a ZRC watch cost?</h2>
The prices of ZRC watches sold on the brand's website are changing between CHF 2,790 And CHF 4,490 depending on the models and finishes. Count CHF 2,990 for one<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_spirit_1964"> ZRC Grand Fonds Spirit 1964</a> And CHF 3,190 for one <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_38_heritage">ZRC Grands Fonds 38 Heritage</a>.
The brand ZRC is now owned by Georges Brunet and produces several thousand watches per year, all models combined. The brand is part of the ranking of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the most popular Swiss watch brands</a>. To choose a ZRC that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
(Updated Octobre 2024)

This ZRC Bronze limited to 170 copies is the same but enormously different from the other ZRCs, the hand-patinated brass dial is unique each time, the hands are also different from the other ZRCs, the Bronze which evolves and changes color over the years also has a unique side. This watch amazed me

Gorgeous 

This ZRC diving watch with its crown at 6 o'clock changes everything, it gives it a look that is different from other watches and you don't have this crown that fits into your hand, even if this technical specificity was made for divers (I'll let you find out about that) an exceptional watch

A crown at 6 o'clock changes everything

After acquiring a ZRC GF41163 I am happy to present you a much more confidential model. My new ZRC GF300 GIGN 1000 meters —/50 . Family ties are respected but it is so different in the details. It is a primitive watch in modernity.
I let you dissect it…

adventurous diver in action

For my 50th birthday in 2022, I was planning to buy my watch Grail, a very high-end diver (…), but the vicissitudes of life forced me to postpone this project. So it was a bit gloomy, during a walk in the West of my island (Reunion), that I decided, curious, to visit my local AD. 

Keen on aquatic activities, my attention turned to the ZRC Grands Fonds 300. It had just arrived and although, already on my radar; I had never had the opportunity to try it. 
And there, I put it on my wrist, and as a certain Xavier would say: I crack! Love at first sight was immediate. Black dial, 3 hands without date, the crown at 6 o'clock, satin-finished case, non-magnetic steel: simple, sober, efficient, balanced. 41.5mm of perfection! 
The readability is exceptional, probably its anti-reflective treatment; the black of the dial seems deep and the magnum indexes and hands stand out powerfully. The sapphire seems invisible.
Later, I will also note that the lume is beyond comparison. Even that of my Panerai Luminor lasts less long…

For the divers' bracelets, my preference goes to rubber. But for this model, in my opinion, the metal bracelet gives it a real personality. First, it is particularly well integrated, and a triangular screw securely binds it to the case. Then, it adjusts thanks to a spring system embedded in the mass. Finally, the largely openworked links give it a unique look.

Be careful, under a versatile appearance, this is still a radical watch: "made by divers, for divers". Thus, the safety clasp, exclusive to ZRC, seems extremely reliable, but is also delicate to handle.
Same for the double waterproof screw-down crown with reverse thread.
I use it as an all-terrain watch, but against all expectations, it is perceived by those around me as a luxury watch. The Submariner effect?
It is true that certain details, such as the polishing of the beveled edges of the satin-finished case, bring it closer to models from other brands, sold more expensively...
This watch achieves the feat of meeting all the standards of diving watches, but with a clear difference.


She didn't steal her crown!

A watch with character, the finishes are top notch. To start with, the back is slightly scratched, which allows for slight golden flashes by playing with the light, which is accentuated by the fact that the "Magnum" hands are semi-full. I found the bronze a bit flashy, but over time the magic happens! The bronze tarnishes like the instruments of an old sailing ship.

the return of bronze

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)

ZRC Grands Fonds 300 Owner Review : Precise, addictive and adventurous

An original and little-known diver!

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