ochs und junior

Ludwig Oechslin's two time zones watch, the due ore, is the watch for long-distance relations. It shows at a glance the two time zones of relevance to the wearer’s daily life – more simply and more poetically than has ever been seen in a wristwatch.

The due ore achieves this by means of two concentric hour displays, the outer one fixed, the inner one adjustable.

Exceptionally, this ochs und junior watch displays digits! To adjust the second time zone, pull out the crown one click and rotate it to set the desired time difference. If the second time zone is ahead of the local one, you simply dial up the difference of hours between the two zones on the inner ring as indicated at the 12 o’clock marking of the outer one. If the second time zone is behind the local one, you simply subtract the difference from 12 and rotate the inner ring until the result is in line with the 12 o'clock marking of the outer hour ring. Done! The hands are now synchronous with both time zones and both times can be told at a glance.

The due ore makes an elegant travel companion.

Like all ochs und junior watches, it’s both functional and quick to adjust. As it’s devoid of any logo, it won’t attract potential thieves, yet will attract the attention of people who, like you, are drawn to the unconventional in life – and good design.

The focus at ochs und junior is always on functionality, and the due ore is typical of this ethos.

The story goes that Ludwig Oechslin woke his Boston-based watchmaking friend Moritz Elsaesser one too many times in the middle of the night. It was time to design a highly readable watch that would show two time zones at a glance.

The due ore represents an ingeniously simple solution to the two time zone problem.

Here Ludwig Oechslin describes his idea, his solution and his modus operandi:

An entire generation is growing up with a new interpretation of the pocket watch: the smartphone is replacing the wristwatch, and there is no doubting its usefulness. The only thing is, pocket watches were replaced by wristwatches back in the last century. A wristwatch makes a style statement, and having the time on the wrist also brings functional benefits that smartphones and pocket watches cannot match.

Try looking at the time using a pocket watch when you’re hurrying along a platform with hands full of suitcases and bags. Or surreptitiously sneaking a look at the time on your smartphone during a tedious meeting without appearing impolite.

In our view, the wristwatch plays an integral, functional role in our lives – and it should be designed accordingly.

Ludwig Oechslin does just that with his watches. The design of his timepieces emerges as a logical consequence of their functions, which makes it distinctive. Most of our timepieces make do without alphanumeric markings of any kind, and that includes any branding or logo.

You won’t find indications of the make and model on an ochs und junior dial, or of the watertightness, precision or country of origin. In fact, there is a logo, but it’s discreetly branded onto the back of the eco-tanned leather strap.

The design of ochs und junior watches is for people who live in the here and now.

Ludwig Oechslin’s guiding principle of functional reductionism is reflected in the mechanics as well as in the appearance of his timepieces. A prototype leaves his private workshop only when he has completed the first stage – incorporating his latest thinking into it.

By assembling the prototypes himself, he proves that they can be produced.

Small numbers of components ingeniously put together are easier to handle at a mechanical level, and thus a better solution in the long term, than one based on as many parts as possible.

Ludwig Oechslin creates and develops the mechanics and makes the initial prototypes.

He then lives with them for some time, carrying them either on his wrist or in a waistcoat pocket. These prototypes don’t have an easy life. They are stressed, handled roughly and subjected to the kind of treatment that our production watches never have to endure.

Talking of production, our approach is as distinctive as our designs and unlike that of any other watch company.

The technical drawings and a prototype are forwarded to Peter Cantieni. His main activity consists of machining ultra-precise titanium components for the Swiss Formula One racing team Sauber. Based in Hinwil, his experience allows him to manufacture most of the minuscule components we need for a pre-production batch of watches.

These components are then brought to master watchmaker Marion Müller.

In her workshop in Kappel am Albis, she assembles the initial few watches and corrects various aspects to ensure optimal functionality and ease of assembly when the time comes for the definitive production run. The radical nature of Ludwig Oechslin’s innovative functions remains sacrosanct throughout this process. Marion Müller does not reinterpret them, nor does she attempt to make them more conventional.

After all, experience has shown that the fewer interfaces there are in a mechanical product and in its production process, the greater its reliability and the longer its service life.

Marion Müller’s feedback now helps Peter Cantieni machine the definitive components, including the two-part case, the buckle (carved out of a single block), the functional dial and the wheels. In other words, almost everything we need to create our watches, not counting the movement itself.

Marion Müller then painstakingly assembles the due ore and regulates the movement, for which we use the self-winding mechanical ETA 2824-2.

We rely on this dependable and highly functional workhorse for most of our watch concepts.

When it comes to watches, what is important to you? Optimal readability with maximum contrast? Readability at night?

A black dial with white hands and indices and an orange ‘date dot’? This option would give you the highest contrast and best readability.

Or how about a dark bluish-grey dial, again with white hands and indices? This is currently the most popular ochs und junior option: still offering perfect contrast, it’s a little less ‘hard’ than the black dial. Or maybe a light-colored dial with black hands? … Almost anything is possible!

Our colors in-stock page shows the watches we have created for immediate delivery.

They all meet different wearers’ preferences. These particular watches are available off-the-shelf from Lucerne.

Or would you prefer to choose the colors of the dial, hands and indices?

Your personalized watch, tailored to your requirements! That is what we at ochs und junior are uniquely able to offer. A watch to suit your tastes.

The ochs und junior watch visualization technology is where you can test your ideas and email them to us:

build to order

We would be delighted to discuss your preferences and ideas via email, telephone or Skype. Or come and see us in Lucerne for an espresso served from our vintage Gaggia.

We’ll make sure you get the watch of your dreams.

The watch industry usually offers two years’ guarantee against manufacturing defects. That’s also the case here at ochs und junior.

The following timepieces also benefit from the ochs und junior long-term guarantee: moon phase, annual calendar, two time zones, date.

These watches come with a lifelong guarantee against manufacturing defects affecting the following parts made for ochs und junior by Peter Cantieni:

two time zones

• Case (not including the seal)
• Buckle (not including the pin)
• Dial
• Time disk

The watches are functionally extremely reliable thanks to Ludwig Oechslin’s reductionist approach to components. During the periodic service interventions (or during a repair intervention if needed) we can see how the internal works are doing in terms of service life. If our appraisals indicate possible issues, we can immediately revise the parts in question for new batches of watches and, if necessary, replace them in existing watches.

This guarantee also applies retrospectively to all watches in the above series that have already been bought.