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Though the more famous forms of rally racing would come later in the 1970s and 1980s, the ‘50s and ‘60s hosted some of the most daring, grueling, and downright perilous rally races in history. Without the comforts and safety considerations of our modern cars, rally drivers in the “golden age of motor racing” were just a few layers of sheet metal away from careening off mountain faces and flying into crevasses, paving the way for even more extreme rally categories, like Group B, to follow. In a celebration of the raw emotion of the Coupes Des Alpes, or “Alpine Rally”—one of the most hairball (and scenic) rally races of the midcentury—Zurich-based watchmakers Ollech & Wajs have partnered with automotive event organizer Rallystory to create the Rallychron “Coupe Des Alpes” Edition chronograph.
Founded in 1956, the Swiss brand has based the design and functionality of the Rallychron on their own competition timers from the 1960s. The brushed 316L stainless steel case measures in at a sporty 39.5mm in diameter and 15.3mm in thickness; appropriate sizing for both legibility at high speeds and comfort in high-endurance situations, like motorsport. Twin pushers and a screw-down crown fill out the heritage-style construction of the case, while the date is manipulated with a pusher at the 10 o’clock position. The unidirectional bezel is PVD-coated in black and features a tachymetric scale and inscriptions of “11 perfect lap times”, a fun motorsport Easter egg that belies the otherwise straight-laced functionality of the watch and gives it an almost GMT-style look at first glance.
The gray dial is dominated by chequered baton hands and three black subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, covering the running seconds register, 30-minute timer, and 12-hour totaliser functions. Where the Rallychron stands out, however, is its use of Alpine blue detailing on the otherwise subdued colorway; the bright hue can be seen on the lacquered main seconds and subdial hands (also coated in white Super-LumiNova), as well as on the “Coupe Des Alpes” text on the dial, and lap times around the bezel. It gives the watch a standout shock of color without seeming heavy-handed, and in my opinion, elevates the Rallychron from a fairly utilitarian timepiece to a charming-but-subtle fashion statement.
Furthering that attention-grabbing sentiment, the strap options add even more flair, with a 20mm stainless steel mesh bracelet and an Alpine blue and white nylon strap (both wearing engraved OWZ 1956 pin buckles) included with the watch. Of course, a rally-inspired timepiece needs an equally hardy heart, and the Rallychron is powered by a Valjoux 7753 automatic chronograph movement, which boasts a power reserve of about 54 hours, and a water resistance of 300 meters—you know, in case you or your co-driver mistake a short left 2 turn for an open right 5 and zooms into a pond just off-course.
By partnering with Rallystory, who have been organizing rally events since 1987, Ollech & Wajs look to cement the new Rallychron as a purpose-built tool for drivers, and a commemorative collectible for enthusiasts. The modern iteration of the Coupes Des Alpes celebrated its 36th year on June 19th-21st, with a route that saw 150 drivers (several of whom wore Rallychron watches) from fifteen nations and 25 marques race from Évian on the shores of Lake Geneva to the Croisette in Cannes.
The Ollech & Wajs Rallychron “Coupe Des Alpes” Special Edition is limited to 56 pieces in recognition of the brand’s founding year, and retails for $3,083 (CHF 2,456). Ollech & Wajs
