Most Ollech & Wajs watches, to a lesser or greater extent, are inspired by our military heritage and informed by the research and development carried out by our special projects division - Dept.000. However, now and again a watch created specifically for military use crosses over into our general collection. The C-1000 FAGN is one such watch.
In 2021 Ollech & Wajs was invited to submit a watch to the National Gendarmerie Air Force for evaluation. The watch had to be equal to the extreme challenges faced 24/7 by its elite helicopter crews at a second’s notice. A standard C-1000 was selected for an extended period of testing by the National Gendarmerie Air Force, where is was worn on active duty in a variety of actual missions across an 18-month period on La Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean. The C-1000 was subjected to the rigors of daily use and outperformed several other watches from reputable Swiss and French manufacturers.
Chosen for the quality of its movement, its robust characteristics, and outstanding water resistance, the OW C-1000 was customized to FAGN’s own specifications. The diver’s bezel was replaced with a bespoke 60-minutes navigation bezel and the watch was equipped with a lightweight, single-piece military-grade nylon strap, inspired by the FAGN pilot’s iconic blue flying suits. A custom blue Super-LumiNova® handset was fitted to the dial which was then signed with the FAGN insignia.
The C-1000 FAGN will be almost identical to the operational version but with its own 60-minute pilot’s bezel. It will also have a special engraved case back bearing the regiment’s official badge..
The C -1000 FAGN is powered by a Soprod Newton Precision P092; an automatic, date-only calendar with a 44-hour power reserve. The Soprod Newton P092 movement is independently tested for dependability and durability at the internationally renowned Laboratoire Dubois in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and has been awarded a Chronofiable® certification. OW worked with Soprod for 6 months to develop a fully bespoke version of the Newton, fine-tuned to OW's exacting specifications and adjusted in 5 positions. The movement is finished with a co-designed, custom-engraved OW Zurich 1956 rotor. This inimitable movement carries OW’s own ‘Precision’ rating, which is reserved for movements of only the highest quality.
We also offer a COSC-certified version of this movement as an optional upgrade. A COSC-certified movement is one that has passed accuracy tests by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute. First of all, we select, match, and assemble the very best components, and our own specialist horologer tests each movement to ensure that only those that perform with the least variance are submitted to COSC. The certification process itself involves rigorous testing over 15 days, during which each movement is evaluated across various positions and temperatures to ensure it maintains a precise daily rate. Each chronometer-certified movement receives an individual serial number and a certificate from COSC. This unique certification serial number is engraved onto the main plate of each movement, assuring that it has undergone and passed stringent testing. A C-1000 FAGN fitted with a COSC movement will have a specially engraved crown to denote its chronometer status.
The C-1000 FAGN comes on a lightweight, single-piece military-grade ' FAGN blue' nylon strap, and the ever popular M-Heritage, stainless steel mesh bracelet may be purchased as an accessory.
