A day at the races
What is the perfect lap time at Silverstone? Daytona? How about LeMans? These are some of the questions Charles LeMenestrel, CEO of Ollech & Wajs, and Hervé Charbonneaux–rally car driver, collector, and son of Philippe Charbonneaux (one of the designers behind the Corvette, as well as the Renault R8 and R16)—asked themselves during the design of the all new Rallychron.
To come up with the response to these queries, the two men delved into four seasons of racing between 1965–69—which also happened to be a period of time when O&W introduced some of its most emblematic racing chronographs. In the end, 11 iconic tracks and their hypothetical “perfect” lap times would find their way onto the Rallychron’s bezel, paired with a tachymeter.
In my neck of the woods, Saturday night is race night, so I took the Rallychron out to the Brockville City Speedway for a test drive. The BOS isn’t exactly Spa-Francorchamps. And you won’t run into Max Verstappen. But the spirit is the same. Fans come for the speed, the scent of motor fuel, and…the dirt. The BOS is less than ten minutes from my home, and during the summer months you can hear the growl of the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds drifting across the lake. On the night I went, they also had Sportsman, Crate Sprints, stock, and vintage racing. The Rallychron could not have been more at home.
Key Features of the Ollech & Wajs Rallychron
The OW Rallychron is machined from 316L stainless steel and measures 39.5mm in diameter. At 15.3mm in height, the case is a little on the thicker side. But I feel like its bulk is also part of its appeal. Keep in mind, as well, that aside from housing a chronograph movement, the watch is also rated to 300m of water resistance—which speaks to the “over-engineering” sensibilities at Ollech & Wajs. And I’m okay with that.
The case is entirely brushed in a lovely satin finish that looks great on the cambered lugs. It has a solid case back that—like the crown—is screw down. Throw in a set of pump pushers, and there you have it.
The bezel is a PVD-coated and bidirectional. It features the aforementioned track and race times—with track names in white, lap times in orange. The inner bevel is equipped with a functional tachymeter scale—and should I have desired, I might have used it to calculate track speeds over the 3/8ths of a mile circuit at the BOS. The bezel construction is actually one of my favourite elements. I love the double bevel, the coin edge grip, and the matte finish.
The grey dial is inset with black sub-registers, supposedly as a nod to the greyscale news coverage of that era. Whatever the reason, the colourway—with its touches of orange in the chronograph hand and thirty-minute tracker—is particularly attractive. Its graphic quality is also highly legible. There is a printed minute track in the chapter ring and white baton markers on the hours, which reflect the straightforward shape of the handset—coloured, as it is, like a black & white checkered flag.
Upon closer inspection, you will also find that the sub-dials are rendered in a fine “vinyl album” azurage and that there is a cleverly integrated date window at six. It is also worth noting that the Rallychron has an excellent treatment of Super-LumiNova for a chronograph.
In the belly of the beast, we find the automatic Valjoux 7753. The 4Hz movement is adjusted to five positions, with 27 jewels and a power reserve of 54 hours. The mainplate and rotor are signed.
For a strap, you can opt for a 20 mm black leather rally-style with brushed stainless steel hardware, including a signed, thorn buckle. The strap is handmade in Italy. Alternatively, you can choose the M-Heritage bracelet—a robust stainless steel mesh with reinforced ends and a signed buckle.
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SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 39.5mm Diameter 15.3mm Thick (excluding crystal) 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back 300m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Three Sub-registers Printed Indices Date Window @6 Customised Baton Handset |
| Movement | Valjoux 7753 Adjusted in 5 positions Seconds register, 30-minute timer and 12-hour totaliser 27 Jewels 28 800bph 54-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Handmade Leather Rally or M-Heritage Mesh |
Ollech & Wajs Rallychron
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Final Thoughts
The Ollech & Wajs Rallychron is a vintage-styled homage to motor car racing and its iconic tracks around the world. It has a real sense of presence on wrist and I really like the colour choices–the muted tones of grey and black with pops of orange. Car enthusiasts will love the bezel and the numerous Easter eggs throughout; however, anyone can appreciate the level of finishing, the robust specs, and emblematic chronograph movement at its heart. This is a thoughtful design, both aesthetically and conceptually. And it’s also built to last.
Pricing & Availability
Originally released as a limited numbered edition, the OW Rallychron will now be offered as part of the brand’s permanent collection. It will retail for 2,356 CHF (approx. $2625USD). For more information, please visit the brand website.
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About the author
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
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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