With the burgeoning popularity of scuba diving in the 1960s, watchmakers were no longer measured by seconds and minutes alone, but by feet and metres. A dive watch that could safely function at 300 m (984 ft) was an incredible accomplishment that still eluded most major brands. However, testing had begun on a watch capable of going deeper than anybody had ever thought possible. In 1964 the Ollech & Wajs Precision ‘Caribbean 1000’ achieved a certified record-shattering depth rating of 1,000 m (3,300 ft), earning it a place in dive-watch folklore. Ollech & Wajs honour this iconic watch with the OW C-1000 S — the modern incarnation of the Caribbean 1000.
A product of modern Swiss watchmaking, the OW C-1000 is powered by a robust, modified ETA 2824-2 OW5P, adjusted in five positions. The movement’s mainplate is engraved with ‘Ollech & Wajs Zurich 1956’ and fitted with our own machined rotor, bearing the famous OW propellor monogram. The movement is housed in a 39.56 mm, 316L stainless steel, 1,000 m water-resistant case, which is stamped, machined and brushed in Jura, Switzerland. The OW C-1000 S is also equipped with a reinforced case back, an extra-strong, domed sapphire crystal and a special quadruple gaskets screw-down crown. The watch has a stainless steel rotating bezel with a mineral insert to measure dive times, and Super-LumiNova®-covered indexes and hands for extra readability when diving to extreme depths.
The OW S-type Mark II beads-of-rice, stainless steel bracelet of the OW C-1000 S was inspired by those found on past Ollech & Wajs models of the 1960s Precision line, including the legendary Caribbean 1000. Its links are individually machined in a solid block of 316L stainless steel, before being carefully brushed, assembled and screwed by hand. This process prevents the usual stretching common among pressed steel bracelets, ensuring both longevity and comfort to the wearer. The bracelet’s double-lock deployant clasp prevents accidental opening while remaining easy to handle for divers.
The OW C-1000 comes on a choice of two straps:
In honour of the ocean and Arctic explorers who wore the Caribbean 1000, there is the ever-popular rubber Expedition strap. Made from premium-quality, toxin- free rubber it is soft to the touch and adheres perfectly to the wrist. Its insulative properties help it remain flexible at low temperatures, ensuring comfort during cold-water diving. It is also abrasion-, distortion-, heat- and oil-resistant. Embossed onto the smooth, matt-black outer surface is a centimetres and inches rule and a 1:25000 cartographic scale. On the reverse is the Morse code alphabet and a metres, yards and feet conversion table. Manufactured by an artisanal Italian rubber specialist, with 40 years’ experience in strap development; and hand-finished in Switzerland; it with two brushed stainless steel keepers and a thorn buckle, signed ‘OWZ 1956’. This strap does more than just hold your watch in place — it helps you calculate, translate and navigate.
Alternatively, a premium-quality, highly durable and water-resistant black nylon RAF style band, hand-finished with a brushed stainless steel thorn buckle, signed ‘OWZ 1956’.
Just as the OW Caribbean 1000 expeditioned to the North Pole and was worn by record-breaking skin divers and elite deep-water commercial divers, the C-1000 continues its legacy and serves a new generation of elite professionals and sportspeople.
Year
2019
Dimensions
39 mm × 15.8 mm
Case
Brushed 316L stainless steel, screwed back, screw-down crown, rotating bezel 12H. origin, manufactured in Jura, Switzerland
Glass
Sapphire with anti-glare treatment
Dial
Hands and indexes in Super-LumiNova®
Water resistance
1000m/ 100atm
Movement
Automatic ETA 2824-2 OW5P, 25 Jewels. 28,800 bph, with a power reserve of +/- 38 h. Mainplate engraved Ollech & Wajs Zurich 1956, and OW machined rotor
S bracelet
20 mm 316L stainless steel, beads-of-rice OW S-type Mark II, with double-lock deployant clasp
Nylon RAF band
20 mm, premium-quality, highly durable black nylon one-piece band, made in Great Britain, hand-finished in Switzerland, with a brushed stainless steel thorn buckle, signed ‘OWZ 1956’
Origin
Swiss made.
