Since someone resurrected this thread, I'll take the opportunity to tell a somewhat long winded watch story.
Way back when men were made of steel and ships were made of wood (and I was about twelve years old), my grandmother gave me a subscription to Popular Science magazine for my birthday. In those days, the back of these magazines was full of classified ads for things like WWII jeeps "still in the crate", giant fishing magnets and even mail order handguns. One ad in particular caught my eye. It was for a Swiss watch made by a company called Ollech and Wajs. All I had to do was send $12.50 to Dept. 10, Zurich, Switzerland. While about right for a decent watch back then, it was a lot of money for a twelve year old and I was unable to convince my very skeptical parents. But I fell asleep dreaming of a Swiss watch for many, many months.
Fast forwarding 40 or so years, I never lost my fascination with watches and have accumulated a few nice ones, including some of the more expensive Swiss ones you've no doubt heard of. One day while browsing the internet for my next score, I came across one with a familiar looking logo on the dial. A little research led me to the website of Ollech and Wajs, still in business in Zurich after all this time. Needless to say, their watches are considerably more expensive now, and their older diving models are well respected and sought after by collectors.
I casually mentioned all this to my wife and related the story of being twelve and seeing the ad. As it happens, we were planning a trip to Europe at the time and MrsB suggested we include Zurich in the itinerary. Suddenly I was twelve again. I immediately emailed the company's address and the next morning I woke up to a reply from none other than Mr. Albert Wajs himself. I later learned that Mr. Ollech had passed away a number of years ago. They no longer have a retail outlet but Mr. Wajs would be pleased to meet us in his home and show us whichever watches I was interested in!
Arrangements were made, and at the appointed date and time we took the short train ride from Paris to Zurich. A tram from the station brought us to Mr. Wajs' front door, where he buzzed us in and met us at the elevator. There was never a more gracious gentleman. We sat at his dining table with his wife and daughter (a prominent attorney) and I told them the story of a boy and a dream. We chatted at length and Mr. Wajs brought out the proof sheets of those old ads and, of course, I bought a watch (two actually). Too soon it was time for our return trip to Paris. We said goodbye that day but have exchanged emails a few times since. Until that day in Zurich, I didn't even know I had a bucket list, but that was truly a bucket list moment that I will never forget.
Mr. Wajs, who must now be in his late eighties, has since sold the business. You can google Ollech and Wajs and learn their history. Attached is a picture of one of the watches which, whether $12.50 or $1,250, is priceless to me. The Model 67 (also priceless) is just because this is a S&W forum, after all.
Cheers,
Doug
