Tribute to the Stratofortress & the B-905

Watches are at the confluence of so many of the things that I love. Not the least of which is history. Case in point, Ollech & Wajs began producing watches in Zurich in 1956 and in the sixty-eight years between now and then a lot of water has passed under the bridge. A lot of history. Known primarily for its military-styled tool watches, the small Swiss house of Ollech & Wajs has often found itself navigating the waters under that bridge. And that’s part of what makes the new OW M-52B such a special timepiece.

Arguably, Ollech & Wajs made its first splash in 1964 with the Caribbean–the world’s first 1000m dive watch with its ‘Triple Safe’ monobloc case. However, a year later the brand would find itself at the heart of the Vietnam conflict as one of the most commonly worn, “un-issued” watches on the wrist of American servicemen. At one point during the war, Ollech and Wajs was shipping more than 10 000 timepieces a year through the Army and Airforce Exchange Service stores–more commonly referred to as the PX, or Post Exchange. Military personnel could also order them through the mail directly, as Ollech & Wajs had become the first Swiss brand to offer the service.

The conditions under which the servicemen lived–particularly the heat and humidity of the jungle–required robust watches with added protection against ingress. Even the chronographs built by Ollech and Wajs in the late sixties offered 200m of water resistance, and were particularly popular among airmen.

Another watch on many American aviators during this time was the brand’s B-905 ‘US Airforce,’ custom made for crewman on the KC-135 Stratotanker, a midair refuelling aircraft US forces used in Vietnam. The dial of that watch featured a bold silhouette of the aircraft at its centre, and is the inspiration for the brand’s M-52B.

Key Features of the Ollech & Wajs M-52B

As Heraclitus wrote, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Likewise, the OW M-52B is not exactly the same watch. The Boeing B52 Stratofortress was sister aircraft to the KC-135 and finds itself at the centre of the M-52B. The B52 was produced between 1952 and 1962 and also saw action during the Vietnam war; however, as a production aircraft, it took its maiden flight in 1954–making this year the 70th Anniversary of that flight. Along with the two prototypes, more than 740 of Stratofortress have seen active duty, and more than seventy still ply the skies today.

Aesthetically, there are many similarities between the two watches–black dial, black bezel, a mix of dot and baton markers, and, of course, the aircraft silhouette. However, the M-52B features an M-Type case with squared off lugs. It is forged in 316L stainless steel and measures 39.5mm in diameter. It is 47.5mm lug to lug and 12.5mm thick. Instead of a 12-hour bezel, the M-52B sports a PVD-coated, 60-minute, bidirectional friction bezel with a chamfered edge and fine-toothed knurling. The design is modelled after the nose cone of the B52.

The dial features intermittent Super-LumiNova on the hands and cardinal markers, while the date wheel has a touch of vintage-inspired red in an otherwise monchromatic colourway. Both the case back and the over-sized crown are screwed down and help provide the M-52B with a solid 300m of water resistance.

Behind that case back is the customised Soprod P024. The automatic movement beats at 4Hz and has a power reserve of 38 hours. It also has a date wheel at six. While you can’t see it, the rotor has been engraved with ‘OW Zurich 1956,’ and is equipped with custom screws. It has also been adjusted in three positions.

The watch comes on a 20 mm military-grade black nylon single pass (featured here) with a signed stainless steel buckle. Alternatively, you can choose the brand’s M-Heritage stainless steel mesh bracelet for a premium.

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SPECS

Case	316L Stainless Steel 39.5mm Diameter 47.5mm Lug to Lug 12.5mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Crown & Case Back 300m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire Crystal Textured Black Dial Applied Markers Dauphine Handset Super-LumiNova
Movement	Soprod P024 25 Jewels 28 800bph 38-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Nylon Single Pass /w Steel Buckle

Ollech & Wajs M-52B

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Final Thoughts

The Ollech & Wajs M-52B is a quirky niche offering that I could not image being issued by many Swiss watchmakers. And exactly the reason I like OW so much. When Charles LeMenestrel took over from Albert Wajs in 2017, he was already a longtime admirer and enthusiast of the brand. Since then, he has never lost sight of the watchmaker’s original philosophy and practice to manufacture tool watches for professionals. This describes the M-52B to a tee. On one hand, it celebrates a brand heritage model, while on the other it provides a rugged, no-nonsense design with superior materials and craftsmanship. You can feel the quality in your hand and experience it in the tolerances and details. The friction bezel, for instance, must be one of the best in the business.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary with genuine provenance and a robust build, look no further than the M-52B.

Pricing & Availability

The watch was initially released in a limited run of 56 pieces; however, it is now available in a non-numbered format for $1375USD or $1510USD on the mesh bracelet. For more information, please visit the brand website.

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About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

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