OW 56 M (LIMITED EDITION)

The classic case silhouette of the 56 M is a throwback to the military pilot watches of the late 1940s, and collectors of vintage OW will recognise it from historic models such as the Valjoux 7733 Flieger and the MP series.

In reference to OW’s long military heritage, Morse code dots and dashes have been incorporated into the bezel and dial, with a combination of white and beige Super-LumiNova®.

The 56 M utilises OW’s last remaining stock of ETA 2824 automatic movements, which have been fully serviced and reconditioned after many years in the vault. Other parts upcycled from the OW historic inventory include the traditional plexiglass crystal and the admiralty-grey dial.

One detail that breaks with tradition are the words ‘Ollech & Wajs’ printed on the dial. The 56 M is only the second watch in OW’s 67-year history to bear the founders’ names on a dial. Our watches usually only carry the company initials, framed by the famous propellor monogram. 

This deviation is to ensure that years from now the 56 M will be easily identified as a vintage / new stock hybrid and will not be confused with earlier OW models sharing the same parts.

The OW 56 M is presented on a rugged, heavy-gauge, stainless steel mesh bracelet, with ‘OWZ 1956’ engraved on a thorn buckle.

Given the finite availability of parts, the OW 56 M was limited to only 56 numbered pieces. 

Model
OW 56 M

Year
2023 (limited to 56 pieces)

Dimensions
38 mm × 11.5 mm, and 45 mm lug to lug.

Case
NOS brushed 316L stainless steel screwed back and screwed crown, finished in the Swiss Jura 

Bezel
12-hour markers in Morse code dots and dashes (spelling ‘SOS’), in white Super-LumiNova®

Glass
NOS plexiglass crystal 

Dial
Admiralty-grey
Hands and hour indexes in beige Super-LumiNova®
5-second numerals printed (non-lume)

Water resistance
50 m / 5ATM 

Movement
Automatic ETA 2824, 25 jewels
28,800 bph, with a power reserve of +/- 38 h
Mainplate engraved ‘Ollech & Wajs Zurich 1956’, and OW-machined rotor (time only)

Bracelet
18 mm medium-gauge, stainless steel mesh bracelet, hand-brushed; ‘OWZ 1956’ engraved on a thorn buckle

Crown
Screw-down, engraved OW logo

Origin
Handmade in the Swiss Jura