Rare Owix 17 Jewel 1960's 33mm Gentleman's Watch
A Rare 17 Jewel Gentleman's watch by Owix, the watch has been serviced, and is in good condition, excellent champagne silver dial, with applied stick batons, minor wear marks on the 33mm x42mm brass case.
Owix was a small Swiss watch manufacturer founded in Grenchen, Switzerland in 1929 by brothers Walter and Otto Wälti. Though the brand left behind relatively few historical traces, it produced reliable, standard-quality Swiss wristwatches—such as mechanical and automatic models featuring Nivaflex mainsprings—before being absorbed during the "Quartz Crisis" of the 1970s. The brothers Walter and Otto Wälti set up their watchmaking factory in Grenchen. They initially operated under the name W. & O. Wälti. The trademark "Owix" was officially registered in 1932. By 1934, the company formally became the Compagnie des Montres Owix. Over its lifespan, the company also registered or produced under sub-brands like Duray, Fastmaster, and Wadesa. Following Otto’s death in 1951, Walter continued running the business independently under Wälti Frères (Owix). Later family successions saw Willy Wälti-Zweiacker take control in 1961 and Ida Wälti join management in 1965. Facing heavy economic pressure from the global rise of cheap quartz movements, the factory was taken over by fellow Grenchen manufacturer Fabrique d'Horlogerie Wega (led by Max Kessler). The brand merged to become Wega & Owix Uhren AG. In 1976, the combined Wega & Owix firm acquired the brand Delbana. Shortly after this consolidation, the Owix brand name was phased out and abandoned. The parent entity, Montres Wega & Owix, officially went bankrupt in 1983, bringing an end to the production lineage.
Today, Owix watches are highly obscure and difficult to find on the vintage market. Historians note that it was common practice for small Swiss manufacturers at the time to deliver private-label timepieces without engraving the brand name on the dial, meaning many surviving Owix movements are completely anonymous to collectors today. They are mostly recognised by vintage enthusiasts for their distinct 1950s/1960s dress styling, gold-plated cases, and standard mechanical or automatic movements.
