BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
ochs und Junior isn’t a household name even in the watchmaking community; perhaps it should be. It was founded in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 2006 by Ludwig Oeschlin along with two others and makes watches which are technical marvels disguised behind ultra-simplistic façades. Oeschlin himself is no newbie in the world of horology. He’s worked extensively at Ulysse Nardin in the past, been the director of the Musée International d’Horlogerie, restored multiple historical clocks and much more.
For 2025, ochs und junior’s newest watch is the two time zones + date, not the most imaginative of names but it does the job with little frill or fuss. Little frill or fuss could well be ochs und junior’s tagline, as this watch provides you with all that you need in a simplistic manner with absolutely nothing you don’t need.
The dial features quite a lot of information. The time is read as usual, via the hands, and yes, that large squared-off hand is the hour hand. The reason it’s large and square like that is so it brings the number below it into focus. This central wheel is what displays the hours of the secondary timezone; it can be set independently of the hour hand and is used in different ways depending on whether the local timezone is ahead or behind the home timezone.
If the local timezone is ahead, set the number of hours between the two timezones at the 12 O’clock (top) position, placing number 1 at the top means the local timezone is 1 hour ahead, 2 at the top means it’s 2 hours ahead etc. The local hours will be shown in the hour hand. If the local timezone is behind the home timezone then you subtract the number of hours it’s behind from 12 and set that at the top position. For example, your local timezone is 6 hours behind the home timezone, 12 minus 6 is 6, so you set 6 at the top position on the disk and then your local timezone’s hours are displayed in the boxy-shaped hour hand. I think I need a lie down after all that. Let me know in the comments if you need me to clarify it further.
There’s also a date indicator, which is discreetly set in the form of a ring of dots around the time display. There’s also a power reserve indicator, the subtle circle with a dot at 6 O’clock, and mirroring that just below the 12 O’clock marker is a power reserve indicator. If the reserve indicator dot is pointing to the right, the watch is wound, and if it’s pointing left, it needs winding. I imagine when you get used to it it’s very easy to interpret.
All of this is set in a customisable case measuring 42mm x 12.5mm with 100m of water resistance. The case can be had in grade 5 titanium with a bare version, PVD gunmetal colour or PVD black as an optional extra. It’s also available in 925 sterling silver if you choose. There’s a whole array of other options, including dial colours, marker colours, and even the colour of the dots on the power reserve and the seconds indicator can be customised to suit your taste; even SuperLumiNova is an option. These watches are made-to-order, which is why they’re so customisable; you should have a play around on their website when you’re done here.
Inside the new two time zones + date watch sits a modified Ulysse Nardin UN-118 calibre, a self-winding movement with 60-hours of power reserve. ochs und junior have modified this movement with a bespoke set of 10 components, which make up the dial and complications.
Pricing for these depends on how much customisation you want done, but they start at a reasonable CHF6,900 before VAT. ochs und junior will take a 50% deposit upfront and estimate a four-month wait on delivery for your customised watch.
