The last time that I visited CW Towers was in November 2015. The only time since when I had an opportunity to try on a selection of CW watches at the same time was at a London GTG in August 2019.

Time for another visit.

As I arrived a fellow forumite had just finished his visit. We knew that we had booked back to back sessions and it was good to put a face to another long term forumite.

I have met Declan the showroom manager a few times and have always found him helpful and informative. Whilst I settled in, surrounded by an array of watch boxes, Declan made me an excellent flat white. We chatted about the watches and about forthcoming releases, that have been trailed in previous editions of Loupe magazine.

I think it is fair to say that, there are further watches to come this year that I am keen to try on.

A few of the existing range that I did try on. Trying on the watches reinforced for me how important it is to try watches on, to decide if a watch really is one that is likely to stick.

My favourite three tried on, were certainly not what I expected. If I do decide in the future to go for a Trident Pro 300 I will pick the 40mm. I had thought I might pick a 38mm, as an alternative to the other 39mm-42mm dive watches that I have.

Prior to seeing the actual watch, my view (based on pics posted on the forum) was that I didn’t like the Ombré style dials. Seeing a watch and trying it on has changed my mind.

I also don’t like bronze watches, or so I thought. I am not a full convert, as I don’t think I would go for one with a bronze bezel and let it become dull and grubby. However I do think I would happily wear the bronze Aquitaine and ensure that I kept it from developing too much patina.

Overall the absolute favourite that I tried on, was the one that I came home with. Neil

Looks a good reason to drop it! Thanks for the pics. One day if I’m in country I hope to make such an appointment as well. And the Bel Canto looks as appealing as always. I’ve a few pennies to be putting away.

Excellent thoughts, Neil, thank you for taking the time to set them down. And the Bel Canto is amazing. I must admit I’m slightly kicking myself!

Interesting report, Neil. Thanks.

The Bel Canto is absolutely not my cuppa but I must admit the bronze Aquitaine looks great!

downer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 9:56 am Interesting report, Neil. Thanks.

The Bel Canto is absolutely not my cuppa but I must admit the bronze Aquitaine looks great!

This was my thoughts exactly. I had discounted the Aquitaine line because it was "too shiny", but the matte finish of the bronze looks to be a compelling compensaton to this.

Cheers,

M

The Bel Canto on bracelet? It confounds my expectations and looks amazing IRL. You wear it well.

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 9:56 am Some nice photos Neil and a good write up. Thank you.

I'm intrigued to see a Blue Hybrid strap next to your Bel Canto; almost akin to me wearing mine on a NATO, which I know you'd never do.

Are you planning to wear it, the Bel Canto in a daily wear/ GADA vein?

Guy

The hybrid and tan straps are two that I picked out to wear with the BC as alternatives to the bracelet. Although I will likely keep it on the bracelet for most of the time.

I don’t really view the BC as a dress watch - to me it is a category of it’s own. I don’t intend to wear it as a GADA watch, so don’t expect any pics of me wearing it, scrambling along a Lake District ridge! I will stick to a Sealander, Speedmaster, NF or Explorer for that type of activity.

The BC will though make the cut for the visit to the restaurant or pub in the evening, assuming that I don’t wear a dress watch.

I also have red and blue straps that are identical to the tan one, that will get a run out.

NATO? Never say never. Whilst I don’t think I will wear it with a true Nato, I may give it a go with my light blue EB webbing strap.

The idea of the hybrid is that it will give an alternative, but to me similar, “industrial look” to the bracelet.

It is fair to say I really like the BC. It will likely reduce the number of times that I will bother to wear a Rolex.

Neil

Great pictures, thanks for posting. One of these days I'll get across the pond again and hopefully get the time to visit "the towers"

What were you thoughts on the green Trident 300? That blue on blue Trident looks really good.

Agree on the bronze Aquitaine. I need to see one of those live, but it sure looks good in your photos

Looks like a great visit to the showroom and glad you've finally come home with your Bel Canto

I've also not even considered the blue hybrid for the Bel Canto, but could indeed be a good option

Still haven't tried mine on the bracelet yet, as I just absolutely love it on either the blue or camel leather

Love all of this. My wife got me the green hombre Sealander three-hander as an anniversary gift. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I do, but I've found that I really like the added interest of that dial. And yes, the Bel Canto is amazing. Not my cuppa either, but that doesn't keep me from recognizing how incredible it is. Great pics, and so cool that you got to visit -- I'm hoping to get there this coming summer. Fingers crossed.

Congrats on picking up the BC, Neil! Thanks for all the great pics, too.

That C65 Cranwell series 2 really pops in your picture. I liked it before, but I REALLY like it now. There's a nearly new one in the sale that I'm trying really hard not to buy.

ajax87 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 2:28 pm Congrats on picking up the BC, Neil! Thanks for all the great pics, too.

That C65 Cranwell series 2 really pops in your picture. I liked it before, but I REALLY like it now. There's a nearly new one in the sale that I'm trying really hard not to buy.

Thanks Alex.

I think that the new Cranwell is a big improvement.

The only reason there was no wrist shot, is that the bracelet had already been adjusted to fit a wrist of less than 6”.

Neil

ROF68 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 2:11 pm Love all of this. My wife got me the green hombre Sealander three-hander as an anniversary gift. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I do, but I've found that I really like the added interest of that dial. And yes, the Bel Canto is amazing. Not my cuppa either, but that doesn't keep me from recognizing how incredible it is. Great pics, and so cool that you got to visit -- I'm hoping to get there this coming summer. Fingers crossed.

Cheers, certainly worth a visit if you get the opportunity when in the UK.

Fortunately for me, only an hour drive, with numerous routes.

And yes, as you say, the green Sealander is very nice indeed.

Neil

MichaelMD wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 1:44 pm Great pictures, thanks for posting. One of these days I'll get across the pond again and hopefully get the time to visit "the towers"

What were you thoughts on the green Trident 300? That blue on blue Trident looks really good.

Agree on the bronze Aquitaine. I need to see one of those live, but it sure looks good in your photos

I think that all of the Trident 300s worked well. I liked the green, but would probably wear it less than the other colours. The shade of green did look dry slightly different to that on the 36mm LE Sealander.

Neil