Joseph Ollech was a Swiss entrepreneur and watchmaker best known as the co-founder of the Ollech & Wajs (O&W) watch brand. His professional legacy is defined by his role in establishing one of Zurich’s most respected independent watch companies and pioneering direct-to-consumer retail models in the mid-20th century.
In 1956, Ollech partnered with his friend Albert Wajs to form a watch company based at 55 Stockerstrasse in Zurich. While some historical accounts describe him as a trained watchmaker, his primary contributions to the partnership focused on the commercial, marketing, and design aspects of the business. Ollech is credited with designing the brand’s famous “OW” propeller monogram, introduced in 1959, which symbolized the brand’s enduring connection to aviation.
Under the leadership of Ollech and Wajs, the company adopted a revolutionary business model for the era by selling watches directly to customers via mail order. This approach bypassed traditional retail markups, allowing them to offer high-quality, professional-grade tool watches at accessible prices. This strategy proved particularly successful with military personnel, divers, and pilots. During the 1960s, Ollech & Wajs became a preferred choice for American GIs during the Vietnam War, who purchased models like the M-65 through postal orders and PX stores.
Ollech was also instrumental in the brand’s technical milestones. In 1964, the company collaborated with Jenny Watches to launch the Caribbean 1000, a dive watch with a record-shattering depth rating of 1,000 meters. Furthermore, in 1978, Ollech and Wajs played a critical role in preserving horological history by acquiring tooling and stock from the liquidated Breitling brand, allowing them to continue the production of the Navitimer under the “Aviation” name.
Joseph Ollech remained an active leader of the company until his death in 1992. His partnership with Albert Wajs created a brand that successfully navigated the “quartz crisis” by steadfastly adhering to mechanical watchmaking. Today, Ollech & Wajs continues to operate, maintaining the founding principles of durability and functional design that Ollech helped establish over six decades ago.