Anyone heard of Ochs und Junior?

[wolfeyes1974]

Since you ask...don't waste time/money.

For watches I look for 3 things: design, technology (could be movement or case/other part of watch), and brand prestige (this one comes with a price so not always a must). Price is of course a key factor but that's more about one's affordability as it's hard to equate watch with $ worth. Your that what-what-what brand watch doesn't pass my 3 criteria.

For cheap watches, I am not so persistent with the above, hehe.

Ludwig designs the Freak and is an innovative watchmaker.

He also designs MIH and MIH Annual Calendar looks pretty similar to Sinn (if you like Sinn, probably you'll appreciate brauhaus style).

Ochs und Junior watch is probably known to WIS and having an annual calendar in ETA movements means lower servicing cost. Eventually, Ochs und Junior may be using UN calibre.

The brand may be new, relatively unknown to many but the company has been around since 2001 or earlier if i'm not mistaken (taking into consideration the time when Ludwig introduced MIH into the market). Small watch output means more exclusivity.

Ochs und Junior watches are unique really. I like them...cost will set one back by $10K but it'll be fun and a novelty to own a customized watch.

Cheers

James

[pegasi]

Ludwig designs the Freak and is an innovative watchmaker.

He also designs MIH and MIH Annual Calendar looks pretty similar to Sinn (if you like Sinn, probably you'll appreciate brauhaus style).

Ochs und Junior watch is probably known to WIS and having an annual calendar in ETA movements means lower servicing cost. Eventually, Ochs und Junior may be using UN calibre.

The brand may be new, relatively unknown to many but the company has been around since 2001 or earlier if i'm not mistaken (taking into consideration the time when Ludwig introduced MIH into the market). Small watch output means more exclusivity.

Ochs und Junior watches are unique really. I like them...cost will set one back by $10K but it'll be fun and a novelty to own a customized watch.

Cheers

James

Thanks for sharing James! Obviously I am no WIS by your definition

Learned something new today (although I still don't like that brand of watch).

[Iceheller]

O&J watches give me sort of Alain Silberstien feel ( contemporary with quirky look IMO ).

[wolfeyes1974]

Thanks for sharing James! Obviously I am no WIS by your definition

Learned something new today (although I still don't like that brand of watch).

nah mate. dun take it this way pls. dunno a brand doesn't make u a non-WIS or make u one. besides, no big deal if one is considered WIS or not anyway. we're in it cos of interest and passion. everyone has to start off as be a non-WIS until they research more to satisfy their curiosity. i'm still a non-WIS too since I dunno a whole lot of other watches/brands and their makes.

have a good weekend! : )

[quacker]

Ludwig designs the Freak and is an innovative watchmaker.

He also designs MIH and MIH Annual Calendar looks pretty similar to Sinn (if you like Sinn, probably you'll appreciate brauhaus style).

Ochs und Junior watch is probably known to WIS and having an annual calendar in ETA movements means lower servicing cost. Eventually, Ochs und Junior may be using UN calibre.

The brand may be new, relatively unknown to many but the company has been around since 2001 or earlier if i'm not mistaken (taking into consideration the time when Ludwig introduced MIH into the market). Small watch output means more exclusivity.

Ochs und Junior watches are unique really. I like them...cost will set one back by $10K but it'll be fun and a novelty to own a customized watch.

Cheers

James

You certainly know your stuff.

[taxico]

i couldn't contribute to this thread due to being away for quite some time... i've been their customer since 2011 and here's my take:

i have three annos from ochs und junior. two are anno 39s. no price difference between 39mm and 41mm.

it is difficult to justify the purchase if you compare the price of it to what you can buy. if you do, you may as well stop reading here.

their watches are SGD 10k+++ (gst, shipping and misc fees) shipped to your door. more in silver. much more in gold.

but in the world of independent horology, 10k is an acceptable price for entry.

the watch is not that light weight although cased in titanium. probably due to the brass plate used inside.

but as with all independents... you can customize it any which way you like... it all depends on how deep your pockets are.

the look is distinctly german'esque... very bauhaus. some people like it, some people don't. i love it.

it flies under the radar and nobody has a clue what it is... neither will they care.

there's no need to look down on the 2824... it's honestly bullet proof out of the box and infinitely serviceable.

all ochs und junior watches come with a lifetime warranty and so that's even more reassuring.

for those that feel it is slightly thick (like me)... there will be a new model coming out next spring that is much much thinner (but it is not an annual calendar).

powered by a 2992 and 40mm in diameter, it will be only 8.5mm thick but packed full of information! (but it will also cost more than 8k CHF before tax)

i've seen the pre-production piece and it looks wonderful. ludwig has also been wearing one prototype since last year... i'm unable to share the photos due to confidentiality reasons.

it is difficult to find another place you can visit, play with all the parts that form the watch, talk to watch people, enjoy a coffee and feel enthusiastic about horology in general...

but let's be honest... 10k for a fully customizable annual calendar with lifetime warranty that does not have crooked day and month displays? i'll take it!!!

(i'm not that interested in their current moonphase and dual time watch, neither do i own them, so no comments...)

[taxico]

my wife's anno...





i forgot to mention the calendar system is robust enough to cycle through 1 year y rotating the crown non-stop without problems.

[Donlui76]

Never heard before

[Shanghaied]

Here's what I know about Ochs & Junior's moonphase: It uses only 5 components and it is accurate for nearly 3,500 years - if we last that long...

Amazing piece of work. It may well join the ranks of Arnold & Son eventually as a high-end watch, albeit with a lot less marketing.

[centrix]

i have been interested in this brand since finding out about it near the start of 2013. i personally am a student, so don't really have that much money atm, so i dont always keep up with the watch world. when i found out that ludwig is behind ochs und junior, i was simply over the moon, since the freak is my grail watch. ludwig's minimalist philosophy with regards to moving parts is something i consider to be a revolution in the watch world mindset. however, when i saw the current collection, i was a bit disappointed, since even though there was a revolution in technology, accuracy, and what not, i felt that it would be terrible to read the date off the 30+1 system. might warm up to the system in the future, who knows

i believe pictures would never really convey the full extent of the design of the watch.

[taxico]

...i felt that it would be terrible to read the date off the 30+1 system. might warm up to the system in the future, who knows

i believe pictures would never really convey the full extent of the design of the watch.

the calendar is intuitive once you get used to it. i would not describe it as anywhere near terrible, or even difficult to use.

it's like learning to tell the time - you don't forget what each hour marker means. with time, you learn to know at a glance what the date is. i almost never pay attention to the month. the day is customizable.

on my wife's watch, the weekend is represented by the bottom two dots. on my watch, sunday is the top most dot.

this is my anno (slightly different from my wife's):



you need more than pictures or even an hour with the watch to appreciate it. i did not warm up to the watch until a few months after (very infrequent wearing - about 2-3 times a month for a few hours each).

my wife mastered the calendar after a week.

but given the price, this is not a watch for everyone. this is definitely not a starter watch, nor a watch for anyone that is brand conscious.

like any other brand, this watch is NOT worth the sum of its parts. so there is no bargain to be found here (or discounts).