Ollech & Wajs C-1000 Yellow Black RAF Strap

Return of a Pioneer

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

Underwater Visibility

The luminous yellow dial is not merely a design gimmick, but a functional choice: in shallow zones, the color stands out; in greater depths, it tends towards a light grey hue, thus increasing the contrast with matte black hands and indices. Together with the oversized, triangular main markers, this creates a legibility that works reliably even in pitch-black depths.

Case and Proportions

The distinctive 39.5-millimeter case with its abbreviated lugs, affectionately called "Vampire Teeth" by collectors, remains true to the original but has been optimized for modern use: satin-finished surfaces meet polished chamfers, and the lug-to-lug length and construction ensure a secure fit on the wrist that makes the robust history palpable.

Technology, Chronometer Standards

Inside ticks OW's proprietary Soprod Newton Precision P092, a joint product with the Jura manufacturer, which in its regulated version possesses the necessary robustness — and is offered as a COSC-certified model upon request. This movement represents the combination of Swiss precision and everyday long-term reliability that professional users expect.

Diving Suitability and Protection

The C-1000 Y bears the technical signature of its name: pressure-tested to 1,000 meters, with a massive, domed sapphire and a screw-down crown, it remains true to its professional profile as a genuine work tool. This construction is not a stylistic exercise, but the consistent continuation of a concept that was considered pioneering back in the 60s.

Straps for Function and Style

Included is a robust RAF-style one-piece in black with an engraved OWZ buckle; optional straps are also available: the striking Cadmium Yellow Nylon-RAF, the fine-link M-Heritage Mesh, and the expedition-ready rubber with map and conversion scale. This allows the watch to be quickly adapted to its intended use or personal taste.

Workmanship and Details

The screwed-down case back proudly displays the historical wagon crest, deeply embossed and finely combined with polished and satin-finished surfaces — a small masterpiece of surface finishing. Such details demonstrate that the reissue aims to do justice to 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 semi-oscillations per hour; 23 jewels; 44 hours power reserve. The Soprod Newton P092 movement has been independently tested for reliability and longevity by the internationally renowned Laboratoire Dubois in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and awarded Chronofiable® certification.

COSC certification optionally available.

3 additional straps are available as accessories:

Cadmium Yellow Nylon RAF Strap

The distinctive cadmium yellow nylon RAF strap, which proved very popular with the 2024 Limited Edition C-1000 ANNIVERSARY Edition, is reminiscent of the yellow wetsuits worn by test divers Alberto Novelli and Cesare Olgjai of Ollech & Wajs.

M-Heritage Strap

A 20 mm wide, medium-strength stainless steel mesh strap, hand-brushed, with reinforced ends and a pin buckle with OW engraving. This comfortable strap not only emphasizes the vintage character but also gives the watch a touch of robust 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. Manufactured by an Italian rubber specialist and hand-finished in Switzerland, with two brushed stainless steel holders and a pin buckle, signed "OWZ 1956."