Ollech & Wajs C-1000 Yellow Black RAF Strap Source: Ollech & Wajs C-1000 Yellow Schwarzes RAF Band

Return of a Pioneer

The C-1000 Yellow is more than a reissue: it reactivates a true chapter of dive watch history and brings the bold DNA of the 1960s back to the wrist. OW has delved deep into the archives to reconstruct the distinctive, easy-to-read yellow variant of the historic Caribbean model, thereby restoring an iconic look once familiar to professional divers and military units.

Visibility Underwater

The luminous yellow of the dial is not just a design gimmick but a functional choice: in shallow zones the color stands out, while at greater depths it tends toward a light gray shade, increasing the contrast with the matte black hands and indices. Together with the oversized, triangular main markers, this creates legibility that works reliably even in pitch-dark depths.

Case and Proportions

The characterful 39.5-millimeter case with the shortened lugs affectionately called “vampire fangs” by collectors stays true to the original but has been optimized for modern use: satin-finished surfaces meet polished chamfers, the lug-to-lug length and construction ensure a confident fit on the wrist that tangibly conveys the robust heritage.

Technology, Chronometer Standard

Inside ticks the OW proprietary Soprod Newton Precision P092, a joint product with the Jura manufacturer, which in the regulated version offers the necessary robustness — and is optionally available as a COSC-certified example. This movement represents the combination of Swiss precision and everyday reliability that professional users expect.

Dive Suitability and Protection

The C-1000 Y carries the technical signature of its name: pressure-tested to 1,000 meters, with a massive, domed sapphire crystal and screw-down crown, it remains true to its professional profile as a genuine tool watch. This construction is not a style exercise but the consistent continuation of a concept that was already groundbreaking in the 1960s.

Straps for Use and Style

Included is a robust black RAF-style one-piece strap with engraved OWZ buckle; additionally, optional straps are available: the striking Cadmium Yellow nylon RAF, the finely linked M-Heritage mesh, and the expedition-ready rubber with map and conversion scale. This allows the watch to be quickly adapted depending on the purpose or taste.

Craftsmanship and Details

The screwed case back bears the historic wagon crest, deeply embossed and finely combined from polished and satin-finished surfaces — a small masterpiece of surface work. Such details document that the reissue aims to honor the heritage not only visually but also in manufacturing quality.

Specifications OLLECH & WAJS OW C-1000 MkII

• OW Soprod Newton Precision P092 (COSC) 
• 1000 m / 100 ATM
• Diameter (without crown) 39.5 mm
• Swiss Made

Movement

Automatic movement, custom-made OW Soprod Newton Precision P092; calendar with date display only, with semi-instantaneous changes and quick adjustment via the crown; hacking seconds; 4 Hz, 28,800 vibrations per hour; 23 jewels; 44 hours power reserve. The Soprod Newton P092 movement was independently tested for reliability and durability by the internationally renowned Laboratoire Dubois in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and awarded the Chronofiable® certification.

COSC certification optionally available.

Three additional straps are available as accessories:

Cadmium Yellow Nylon RAF Strap

The striking cadmium yellow nylon RAF strap, which was very popular with the 2024 Limited Edition C-1000 ANNIVERSARY Edition, recalls the yellow neoprene suits of the test divers Alberto Novelli and Cesare Olgjai from Ollech & Wajs.

M-Heritage Strap

A 20 mm wide, medium-strong stainless steel mesh strap, hand-brushed, with reinforced ends and a pin buckle engraved with OW. This comfortable strap not only emphasizes the vintage character but also gives the watch a touch of rugged elegance.

“Expedition” Rubber Strap

This strap is a tribute to the explorers who tested the original OW Caribbean 1000 in the Red Sea and the North Atlantic under the frozen Arctic ice pack. A 20 mm wide, abrasion-resistant, deformation-resistant, heat- and oil-resistant, non-toxic rubber strap. With embossed centimeter and inch scales and a cartographic scale of 1:25000. Morse code and conversion table for meters, yards, and feet. Made by the Italian rubber specialist and hand-finished in Switzerland, with two brushed stainless steel keepers and a pin buckle signed “OWZ 1956.”