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

The Dietrich OT 3 is a watch or rather a sculpture in an atypical watch case... Difficult to define but for me it is a work of organic art and there is this little star of the seconds which turns... A high quality glass and an exceptional watch and above all a watch which does not leave one indifferent

Exceptional

The BR a circle in a square recognizable in the world of watchmaking... A favorite for me as soon as the BR 01 46mm came out there is also the BR 03 42mm and the BRS 39mm and I chose this model which for me now is quite large, because you should not trust its dimension of 39mm because it is a square and it is larger than a round of the same dimension and of course the look of the dial and the hands brought towards the dials of aviation... The quality is there and the look is apart for me in watchmaking

A circle in a square

A favorite watch with a special case and a large crown at 6 o'clock which makes it a case different from other watches and what can I say about the super readable Magnum hands with superb luminosity... The quality of the case and the glass are impeccable... I have no regrets about my choice

Favorite

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)

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!

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<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)

ZRC Grands Fonds 300 Owner Review : Addictive, completed and admirable

Gorgeous

Other reviews published by marc.coulon