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Ollech and Wajs is probably not the first brand that comes to mind when you think of high-performance tool watches. After doing some research into the brand, they deserve more credit than they get, especially for their technical achievements and impressive sales numbers back in the 1960s. During a booming high point right around the Vietnam War, O&W sold thousands of watches to soldiers, becoming a popular option for American troops. They even beat Rolex and Omega out by creating the first 1000m dive watch. The brand was also responsible for picking up parts and equipment from the freshly-defunct Breitling and continued to make the Navitimer (they called it the “Aviation”) chronograph for nearly 20 years. Even though Ollech and Wajs might not be a household name today, they’re making a comeback. O&W’s focus has always been on obtainable, military-inspired tool watches and their new offerings from a recent reboot of the brand hold true to the brand’s DNA.
Today, we’re looking at the O&W P-101, a 39.5mm pilot-inspired watch with a bi-directional 12-hour bezel. The P-101 draws inspiration from the McDonell F-101, a supersonic jet fighter that was the first to break the 1000mph speed record back in 1956. Let’s take a closer look at this bold, yet wearable pilot’s watch from O&W.
