The Ollech & Wajs Ocean Graph - A new heritage inspired diving watch

This model is a tribute to the 1968 Ollech & Wajs Ocean-Graph and all the dive watches that formed the highly respected ‘Precision’ line....

These watches were equipped with decompression bezels, an essential instrument for the safety of any diver venturing into deep water. As both recreational and professional divers descended to previously unfathomable depths, one of the most perilous aspects was the ascent back to the surface. Once the body has been subjected to high pressure, the diver must allow for their body to readjust gradually on the way back up.

The markings on a decompression bezel calculate the time elapsed during a dive, as well as the decompression stages corresponding to the duration and depth of the dive. Back in 1968, these watches came in a variety of distinctive, colorful designs, intended to optimize visibility through the varying light levels the diver would experience at different depths. OW worked with the best technical divers of the day, including alumni of the legendary ‘Neapolitan school’, to field test and iterate on each design.

Fast forward to 202o and the decompression bezel of the new OW Ocean Graph has three concentric zones. The most central zone indicates the elapsed dive time, from 0 to 60 minutes. It also contains indications for the maximum depth of the dive, carried out in meters. In the intermediate zone are marked the dive times for which decompression will be necessary, according to the depth indicated in the most central zone. The outermost zone of the bezel indicates the decompression times, in minutes, that the diver must respect at a depth of three meters, calculated according to the depth and total duration of the dive.

The OW Ocean Graph is the product of modern Swiss watchmaking. It is powered by the robust ETA 2824-2 OW5, adjusted in five positions. The movement is modified with an engraved mainplate Ollech & Wajs Zurich 1956, and an OW rotor, machined with great care. The movement is housed in a 39.56 mm diameter 316L stainless steel case, manufactured in the Swiss Jura. The OW Ocean Graph is a compact diving watch, with a water resistance of 1000 meters, which is tested under a pressure of 120 atm. Its incredible water-tightness is ensured by a reinforced case back, a double-thickness case, a 5.6 mm thick, extra-strong, domed sapphire crystal, and a special screw-down crown with four gaskets. It is equipped with a bezel allowing divers to calculate decompression times. Its indexes and hands are oversized and covered with orange Super-LumiNova®, for increased readability in low visibility conditions.

With its vintage ‘livid’ blue and contrasting deep cadmium orange tones, the OW Ocean Graph is a colorful and summery alternative to the monochromatic OW C-1000. A beautiful combination of timeless functionality and design codes, reminiscent of the golden age of subaqua exploration. The OW Ocean Graph is available on a perlon-type nylon bracelet for 1,556 CHF, and in an OW Ocean Graph S version, on a beads-of-rice, stainless steel bracelet, for 1,696 CHF. The first 56 Ocean Graph sold will be numbered on their crown.

REFERENCE: OW OCEAN GRAPH
DIMENSIONS: 39.56 mm X 15.8 mm
CASE: Brushed 316L stainless steel, reinforced screwed back, special triple gasket screw-down crown, unidirectional decompression bezel, manufactured in Jura, Switzerland
GLASS: Domed 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
ORIGIN: Over 90% Swiss Made
BRACELET: 20mm wide, Perlon nylon strap, origin Great Britain
PACKAGING: Leather origin Great Britain, Italian Kraft paper
WARRANTY: 3 years against any manufacturing defect