New: Ochs und Junior Ore Due – dual timezones in titanium

Ochs und junior announces the first official piece in the Ochs line, the due ore or two time zones – the new Ochs und Junior Ore Due.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

Editorial commentary

Ochs und Junior is one of the little maisons which continue to delight with interesting and appropriately priced watches. The maison is family owned by the Oechslin family, founded by Ludwig Oechslin since 2006. The unique proposition for Ochs und junior is the approach to watchmaking. Ludwig, is a brilliant designer, and as he did not come through from a traditional watchmaking background. He was trained in Archaeology, Ancient History and Greek, completed a doctorate in Philosophy, History of Research and Scholarship, and Astronomy. As a result, he is often able to cut through the design process and propose workable solutions which are novel. He made his mark with Ulysse Nardin in its earlier days, with absolutely genius ideas like the UN Perpetual Ludwig – the first perpetual calendar which allows manipulation of the indicators bidirectionally. And mind blowing creations like The Freak.

Under the Ochs und Junior brand, their objective is to make the most legible and reliable watches by reducint the number of mechanical parts. Having simpler mechanics makes the watches more reliable and easier to service. They currently focus on three complications: astronomical watches, calendar or time. All with unique designs, and most are customizable. And all with the complications reduced to its simplest form possible, with the lowest parts count in the industry.

This new watch is a creation which came out of a desire to travel, after the last 2 years where the pandemic has forced most of the world to spend time close to home with little or no travel. Ludwig came up with, a watch that could not only tell the time, but also provide the time in a second time zone with a quick glance. Something practical, useful, and easy to read. The due ore.

And true to Ludwig’s genius, the implementation of the second time zone is intuitive to use. The second time can be read at a glance. Quickly and clearly without any mathematical gymnastics. And true to form, the second time zone facility consists of a module with only 2 parts. The base movement is an ETA ebauche.

The Ochs line, which this novelty is the first to be introduced, is intended by Ludwig to offer a more affordable, more accessible collection of Ochs und Junior watches, and the Ochs line now makes this possible. The Ochs line is serially produced, and as such cannot be customized. In line with this intent, the price is also reduced significantly from CHF 6,000 to CHF 3,500. A rather interesting, if peculiar pricing strategy.

The watch looks exactly like the Two Time Zones watch in the existing Ochs und Junior catalog. The only difference is that the former is customizable, with many options to select for the case size, colour palette strap material and colour. It also comes with a lifetime warranty. And the new watches are not customizable – available only in a 39mm titanium case and a blue dial with either orange or green smoked indicators. Warranty is also a shorter 2 years.

New: Ochs und Junior Ore Due

Retail price is set at CHF 3,500 with Swiss VAt or CHF 3,230 (export price).

The due ore serves as a constant reminder of your friends, and loved ones who might be far away but are always close to you wherever you are in the world.

The ochs line due ore, non-customizable, is 39 mm and crafted of grade 5 titanium. The dial is oj blue with a choice of smoke green or a classic orange indices, hands and 2nd timezone indication.

Overview

The two time zones watch uses an adjustable time zone disk to display two time zones on a single watch hand. A single glance will allow for simultaneous readings of two time zones. The moveable time zone disk can be quickly adjusted so that the difference between the time zones is displayed in the 12 o’clock aperture with the hour hand displaying both time zones..

Reading the functions

First time zone: The markers display the first time zone.
Second time zone: The adjustable time zone disk displays the second time zone. If the second time zone is ahead of yours (for example, +3 hours), you adjust the time zone disk until it displays this number at 12 o’clock. If the second time zone is behind yours, you subtract from 12, and set the result at 12 o’clock.

Mechanics

Ludwig Oechslin replaces the 31 tooth date disk that comes on a ETA 2824-2 base movement with a 48 tooth user-adjustable time zone disk (pictured below).

What was the motivation for the design?

Oechslin would like to read both the time and a second time zone with a single glance. His moveable time zone disk can be quickly adjusted so that the difference between the two time zones is displayed in the opening at 12 o’clock. The hour hand then displays the time in both time zones.

Ochs und Junior Ore Due specifications

Dimensions 39 mm x 10.4 mm
Weight 54 g
Water resistance 100 m (10 bar)
Case Made from two parts designed by Ludwig Oechslin, available in grade 5 Titanium. Visible machining and milling traces.
Base movement ETA 2824-2 with 38 hours of power reserve.
Manufacturer: ETA SA / Grenchen / Switzerland.
Crown 22 mm width in titanium designed by Ludwig Oechslin.
Manufacturer: Pibor SA / Glovelier / Switzerland.
Buckle Classic buckle in Grade 5 titanium, designed by Ludwig Oechslin.
Watch strap Navy blue Cordura strap in sizes S / M / L, handmade by Sabina Brägger.
Glass Sapphire crystal by Stettler in Lyss / Switzerland.
Night visibility Swiss Super-LumiNova ®, applied by Monyco in La Chaux-de-Fonds / Switzerland.
Swiss Made The ochs und junior two time zones watch is entirely manufactured in Switzerland. Each watch is hand-assembled and regulated at the ochs und junior workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Warranty The entire watch is covered by a 2-year guarantee.
Design ochs und junior, Non-customizable.
Order Order via Mail [email protected]