OLLECH & WAJS OW Rallychron

The OLLECH & WAJS OW Rallychron is a love letter to the golden age of motor racing and the legendary tracks that witnessed some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history. One of the key characteristics of this era was the diversity of tracks and the challenges they presented. From the fast and flowing circuits such as Monza and Spa-Francorchamps to the tight and twisty street circuits of Monaco, each track demanded different skills from drivers and teams alike. The Rallychron’s bezel displays hypothetical historical ‘perfect lap times’ for 11 of the world’s most iconic race tracks. It also features the characteristics of Ollech & Wajs’ classic competition chronographs and rally timers from the 60s and 70s.

OLLECH & WAJS OW Rallychron in Detail

In collaboration with Hervé Charbonneaux – a classic car collector, rally driver, rally historian, and author – Ollech & Wajs hypothesized perfect lap times for each circuit based on a range of criteria and variables. This included an in-depth analysis of the 1965–69 racing seasons, four years that saw the introduction of some of Ollech & Wajs’ most popular racing chronographs.

Drawing on Charbonneaux' extensive archives, lap times and other data from selected Grand Prix cars of the era – including the Ferrari 312, Cooper Maserati, McLaren M4B – as well as the performance of various drivers, were taken into account. This task was by no means straightforward, as racing conditions varied wildly from competition to competition; even track lengths, surfaces and configurations would change. The theoretical metrics engraved on the bezel are sure to ignite discussions among motorsport enthusiasts that last long into the night.

The Dial

The dial’s grayscale scheme is a tribute to the monochromatic news photography that captured the 60s racing action and continues to inspire generations of racing fans. In contrast, the chronograph hand and 30-minute timer hand are tipped with orange Super-LumiNova® to maximize readability in low-light driving situations.

The Case

The Rallychron inherits the chronograph case characteristic of OW’s most iconic chronographs from that period, and its distinctive black and white checkered baton hands are a nod to the universally recognized chequered racing flag. In addition to minute and hour timers, the watch boasts a tachymetric scale, a must for all racing chronographs, used trackside to measure speed and distance between competitors.

Under the hood of the Rallychron is a highly tuned and track-tested, individually engraved automatic Valjoux 7753 – a descendent of the historical Valjoux 72 movement that powered the best Swiss chronographs of the 60s and 70s, including several OWs. The movement is fitted with an OW-milled rotor. It is then regulated in five positions, adjusted, and power-tested, qualifying it for the OW Precision rating.

Specifications

Dimensions

• 39.5 mm × 15.3 mm

Case

• Brushed 316L stainless steel chronograph case
• Screw-down caseback
• Screw-down crown
• Double pushers with 4 gaskets
• Date adjustment with special diver's pusher at 10 o'clock

Bezel

• Black PVD-coated, unidirectional rotating bezel
• 11 perfect lap times
• Tachymetric scale

Crystal

• Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Dial

• Checkered baton hands with white Super-LumiNova®
• Small seconds, 30-minute timer, and 12-hour totalizer
• Main chronograph hand and 30-minute timer hand with orange Super-LumiNova® for optimal visibility

Water Resistance

• 300 m / 30 ATM

Movement

• Automatic chronograph Valjoux 7753 OW PRECISION 5, adjusted in positions, 27 jewels
• 28,800 VPH
• Power reserve of +/- 54 hours
• Main plate engraved "Ollech & Wajs Zürich 1956" and OW-milled rotor

Strap

• 20 mm black racing-style leather strap, natural underside
• Handcrafted in Italy, finished in Switzerland
• Brushed stainless steel pin buckle, signed 'OWZ 1956'

M-Heritage Bracelet (optional)

• 20 mm medium-gauge stainless steel mesh bracelet, hand-brushed
• Reinforced ends
• OW-engraved pin buckle

Origin

• Handcrafted in the Swiss Jura