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A Swiss dive watch with “Caribbean” in its name went north with an Italian team in 1966. Ollech & Wajs identifies its Precision Caribbean 1000 as the official watch for an Arctic expedition led by underwater photographer Roberto Dei. The divers used watches to time their underwater work; the account does not say they tested the watch at its 1,000-metre rating.
What watch did the Italian divers take to the Arctic?
Ollech & Wajs names the Precision Caribbean 1000 as the official expedition watch in its retrospective account of the 1966 trip. The expedition took place in summer and was led by Italian underwater photographer Roberto Dei. Ollech & Wajs’s history and expedition account is the source for the brand’s identification and narrative.
The name can suggest warm-water diving, but the watch’s role was practical: the team used watches to keep track of time underwater in Arctic conditions. The story is about cold, darkness and a short working window beneath the ice, not a reported deep-sea trial.
Why did the team dive beneath Arctic ice?
The expedition aimed to photograph and observe Arctic wildlife, record the environment beneath the ice, and assess divers and standard diving equipment in sub-zero water. The team’s work included documenting the light below thinner ice. Ollech & Wajs reports Dei describing it as “shards of light flooding into a beautiful cathedral”; this is a recollection as relayed by the brand, not a separately verified transcript.
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- Material: CUSN8 bronze case, bezel, stainless steel case back, synthetic sapphire crystal, suede leather band, stainless steel buckle
Those aims distinguish the trip from a test of the Caribbean 1000’s maximum depth rating. Cold-water exposure and underwater timing were central to the account, while no source cited here establishes that the team descended to 1,000 metres.
How long were the divers underwater?
According to Ollech & Wajs’s account, 28 minutes was the agreed maximum dive time in the described conditions. The same account says Dei ended an initial dive after 20 minutes when he lost feeling in his hands and feet and developed severe tooth pain. These are details from the brand’s retrospective narrative, not independently established expedition statistics.
Rank #2
- HIGH-BEAT PT5000 AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT: Powered by a PT5000 mechanical movement operating at 28,800 vph (4Hz). It supports self-winding, manual winding and hacking seconds, with an approximate 38–40-hour power reserve for daily wear or watch rotation.
- THREE VINTAGE DIAL OPTIONS: Choose Aged Brown with an aged texture, Classic Black with gold-tone markers, or Retro Blue with a date window. Luminous hands and markers aid time reading, while the rotating aluminum bezel retains a classic diver layout.
- DOMED SAPPHIRE AND 316L STEEL: The domed sapphire crystal uses an inner AR coating to reduce distracting reflections while helping resist scratches. The polished and brushed 316L stainless steel case provides a durable, corrosion-resistant exterior.
- 200M WATER RESISTANCE: A screw-down crown and screw-down solid case back support a 200M/20ATM rating for swimming, snorkeling and regular activities around water. Keep the crown fully secured before water contact and rinse the watch after saltwater use.
- BALANCED 40MM CASE AND BRACELET: The case measures 40mm in diameter, 46.6mm lug to lug and 12.3mm thick. A 20mm stainless steel bracelet measuring approximately 18.5cm and an approximate watch weight of 129g create a balanced wrist profile.
What does the Caribbean 1000’s 1,000-metre rating mean?
Ollech & Wajs says it introduced the Caribbean 1000 in 1964 with a certified depth rating of 1,000 metres (3,300 feet). That figure describes the model’s stated specification; it is not the reported depth of an expedition dive. The surviving accounts consulted for this story do not say the Arctic divers took the watch to that depth.
For construction details, watch publication Fratello’s May 31, 2025 retelling reports that early Caribbean 1000 examples used a Jenny reference 702 monobloc case under licence, an ETA 2452 automatic movement and a domed acrylic crystal. Those details are Fratello’s technical context, rather than specifications independently confirmed here from a primary technical document.
Rank #3
- HIGH-BEAT PT5000 AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT: Powered by a PT5000 mechanical movement operating at 28,800 vph (4Hz). It supports self-winding, manual winding and hacking seconds, with an approximate 38–40-hour power reserve for daily wear or watch rotation.
- THREE VINTAGE DIAL OPTIONS: Choose Aged Brown with an aged texture, Classic Black with gold-tone markers, or Retro Blue with a date window. Luminous hands and markers aid time reading, while the rotating aluminum bezel retains a classic diver layout.
- DOMED SAPPHIRE AND 316L STEEL: The domed sapphire crystal uses an inner AR coating to reduce distracting reflections while helping resist scratches. The polished and brushed 316L stainless steel case provides a durable, corrosion-resistant exterior.
- 200M WATER RESISTANCE: A screw-down crown and screw-down solid case back support a 200M/20ATM rating for swimming, snorkeling and regular activities around water. Keep the crown fully secured before water contact and rinse the watch after saltwater use.
- BALANCED 40MM CASE AND BRACELET: The case measures 40mm in diameter, 46.6mm lug to lug and 12.3mm thick. A 20mm stainless steel bracelet measuring approximately 18.5cm and an approximate watch weight of 129g create a balanced wrist profile.
What is known—and uncertain—about the watch’s expedition role?
Ollech & Wajs’s account says the Precision Caribbean 1000 was selected as the official expedition watch and that the team relied on watches to time dives. Fratello’s independent retelling notes that the reason for choosing this model is unknown and that the number of watches carried is uncertain. Fratello also reports finding no accounts of water ingress, which is not the same as a controlled or independently documented test of the watch under Arctic conditions.
The official Ollech & Wajs site currently lists C-1000 models in its collection. That confirms a present-day collection listing, not that current watches are identical to the expedition pieces or that vintage examples are available. See the current Ollech & Wajs collection.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Stainless steel case 40mm diameter x 14mm thick; Exhibition case back; Black dial; Luminous hands and hour markers
- NH35A Japanese Automatic movement, 24 jewel; Assembled in Malaysia; Watch weight: 155 grams
- Stainless steel band, 210mm L x 20mm W; Band is adjustable by adding/removing links; Fold over safety clasp
- Mineral crystal; Screw-down crown; Diver stainless steel bezel with black top bezel ring; 200 meter water resistant: Suitable for professional marine activity and surface water sports. Suitable for diving.
Rank #4
- Refined Proportions & Vintage-Inspired Design: At just 11.8mm thick, this watch features a carefully re-engineered case and bezel for better visual balance. The inner rehaut is straightened (not sloped like the original 5513), which opens up the dial for improved legibility while keeping the overall dimensions compact. The bezel measures 40.7mm — slightly enlarged for a more natural, balanced look on the wrist
- Premium PT5000 / PT5004 Automatic Movement: Powered by the high-precision PT5000 (date) or PT5004 (no-date) movement, beating 8 times per second (28,800 vibrations per hour) for an incredibly smooth seconds hand motion. With 25 jewels to reduce friction, it delivers performance comparable to the Swis ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200. Plus, a 38-hour power reserve and hacking seconds let you set the time precisely, creating a fluid glide that feels just like a luxury Swis timepiece
- Scratch Domed Sapphire Crystal: Crafted from 316L stainless steel with a refined case finish for durability and a premium feel. The domed sapphire crystal features a high-clarity anti-reflective (AR) coating, delivering excellent scratch resistance and easy readability from any angle. Plus, the unidirectional rotating bezel offers crisp, satisfying clicks with 120 precise positions for reliable dive timing
- Super Luminous BGW9/C3 Light: This watch features Swis Super-Luminous BGW9 or C3 luminous material on the hands, markers, and dial. The BGW9 emits a cool blue glow for long-lasting visibility — lasting at least 5 hours in the dark — while the C3 provides a bright green initial burst for quick readability after moving from light to dark. Both recharge quickly in bright environments. The matte black dial with applied indices ensures perfect legibility by day
- 20Bar Water Resistant: Our WD5513P professional mechanical dive watch delivers true 20Bar/200M water resistance, built to meet ISO 6425 dive watch standards. The screw-down crown is a riple-sealed system that prevents water intrusion (please tighten crown before contact with water). And with the double gasket system - Reinforced at crown, case back, and crystal. Suitable for professional marine activities, swimming, water sports, and daily wearing. Not recommended for showering with hot water
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