Another Bel Canto thread: this one's for the non-owners, the unbelievers

[tikkathree]

A week doesn't go by when I don't go back into the CW website and stare quite wistfully at the Bel Canto in cielo dial colour. Cielo seems to be Spanish for sky btw.
I'm there now in fact.

I look at the other colours and the black dial is doing nothing for me though I acknowledge that it probably looks totally stunning in real life.

Purple? Well, the real life colour for me needs to be really deep to the point where it sucks in light and only gives 20% of it back: I need that colour to be like velvet. The other colour, rosa, reminds me of a winter's dawn sky on a clear frosty morning. I'd venture that I could be brave enough but, again, it's real life colour which matters, not the renders.

I'm dragged right back to the C7 IRR COSC which taught me a lot about how renders and reality were not the same thing. Maybe if I lived in equatorial ambient light conditions things would have been different but how disappointing I found that red colour in most British light conditions. If I'm fussy I know but it's my money, they're my eyes and it's my choice.

So, cielo or rosa: which will work best? I'm rather gambling on the cielo.

But the watch, in principle, what am I doing? I'm looking at a watch which I have not gelled with at an instinctive level. Maybe it's just time to put my money where my mouth is? I don't know.

I'm intrigued by the way the C1 Bel Canto has brought new members to the forum. I'm intrigued by the engineering achievement and the price point which by all accounts seems to be nuts, unbelievable.

I don't know why but I'd like to hear from Bel Canto buyers who've found it's not a watch for them.
I'd like to hear from Bel Canto owners who regularly/frequently/usually turn the chime off - if the watch doesn't chime what's it for?

[Richard D]

Today I finally took my Bel Canto out of its box. I worn it for 5 hours during which time I missed every chime and struggled to read the time.

It’s now back in its box.

[Mikkei4]

I'm not sure if I fit into what you want as I've not bought 1 but....

The design never ticked my box at any time, as excellent/impressive/ground-breaking the technical bits might be. However I was intrigued to look at it and try it on during a recent visit to the CW showroom.

It confirmed my initial thoughts.i.e. it wasn't for me, I couldn't read the time on it, indeed I was thinking it's almost not a watch but more an exercise in manufacturing ability and (maybe) an investment for some.

I'm not "rubbishing" it, it just isn't for me. Obviously from how well it has sold and been reviewed the industry love it, many personal purchasers love it and will wear it as part of their collection.

I'm happy to hold onto the money.

[Tonywalker]

I attended the previews. Whilst I really appreciated the engineering aspects and the profile CW would gain from this watch, something just didn't click - I couldn't see myself ever wearing it, and the lack of seconds perturbed me too.

I ended up buying a CW Jumping Hour and a CW Single pusher chrono for the same money I would have had to put down for a BC.

I still don't regret my decision.

That said, I am very happy for all those who did and enjoy their BCs

If we all liked the same thing, it the watch world would be a very boring one indeed.

[albionphoto]

. . . . .
I don't know why but I'd like to hear from Bel Canto buyers who've found it's not a watch for them.

I'm not really able to help you here, Pete. Sorry.

It's not the easiest of watches to read the time on, but then it's my only watch with a subdial sized dial for the main time and there are plenty of those from high end Manufacturers, so it's got to be an okay feature.

I've got used to it and maybe I don't look at it to 'tell the time' as often I would a regular watch; it's more the feel good factor of wearing something iconic (I can say that. Can't I?) and evocative.

The chime is distinctive, delightful and quite subtle, but not quiet. I don't hear it every time; but I'm not expecting to.

I really like the Titanium #5 case; proper tool watch stuff and hard as nails; beautifully finished, mostly brushed but with polished bevelled edges. It's not an all polished dress watch.

Bluntly; it's a watch for me and it's not going anywhere.

I'd like to hear from Bel Canto owners who regularly/frequently/usually turn the chime off - if the watch doesn't chime what's it for?

The chime stays on 24/7/52 for me.

Not much help I'm afraid to say but I have to call it as I see it.

Guy

[Bahnstormer_vRS]

Today I finally took my Bel Canto out of its box. I worn it for 5 hours during which time I missed every chime and struggled to read the time.

It’s now back in its box.

Is your judgement perhaps being affected, Richard, as you are currently under the weather with COVID?

I remember when I had it, COVID that is, in June last year although arguably it was only a mild case, my thinking was noticeably clouded and foggy for several days.

Maybe you should reassess when you have recovered.

Guy

Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk

[tikkathree]

Thanks guys, including Guy! Your views are appreciated and I thank you for speaking honestly. Rest assured that I won't be calling you out over whatever decision I make: it's on my shoulders alone.

Readability is clearly a theme, no surprise there. Do we always use a watch to check the time at a constant frequency? I certainly don't so psychologically there's room in my life for a "wrist ornament which tells the time" and, come to think of it, a good number of my watches provide excess information which I mostly and subconsciously ignore.

[Richard D]

Is your judgement perhaps being affected, Richard, as you are currently under the weather with COVID?

I don’t think my judgment has be clouded by COVID, well I hope not. It’s true I’m feeling poorly but not to the point that I’m struggling with my eyesight and hearing.

[rkovars]

It wasn't for me right from the start. Being important for the company and something I would want to buy are different things.

Not for me but I am glad they made it. Pretty bonkers for the price they are asking too. I expected it to be higher. Signing off until next week.

Quoting myself here but only to throw out that my feelings haven't changed. I think that the price is fair given the work that went into it. I was never the target buyer for this. I do feel that they leaned a little too far into the 'World changing grand watch world will stop everything in its tracks' pre-messaging.

As far as the looks, for me, looking like something out of MB&F does nothing for me. If I were in the market for something like this the looks of this watch wouldn't have me reaching for my wallet. Not to say that there is anything inherently wrong with it on its own but it is outside my personal wheel house.

[nbg]

Pete my take on the watch is as one of the believers, so probably won’t help. I have stated my positive views on more than one occasion.

I find it interesting that both Guy and myself regard the watch as something special, even though there probably isn’t much of an overlap between our favourite watches. We do though both generally favour no nonsense tool watches, however the Bel Canto doesn’t fit that category.

On the legibility front, I certainly don’t have 20:20 vision, but have never had any difficulty in reading the time with a quick glance.

Neil

[tikkathree]

Pete my take on the watch is as one of the believers, so probably won’t help. I have stated my positive views on more than one occasion.

I find it interesting that both Guy and myself regard the watch as something special, even though there probably isn’t much of an overlap between our favourite watches. We do though both generally favour no nonsense tool watches, however the Bel Canto doesn’t fit that category.

On the legibility front, I certainly don’t have 20:20 vision, but have never had any difficulty in reading the time with a quick glance.

Neil

Neil, positives and negatives, positives and negatives.... and I'm reassured that the time is readable.

[jkbarnes]

Is anyone buying this watch simply to tell the time? I honestly can’t imagine that’s the case.

I’m not a player with this one, but if I was I’d be buying it purely for what it is - an impressive piece of mechanical engineering offered at an equally impressive price. It really is a piece of art, and that’s what I’d be buying it as.

I also think this is a watch where one knows instantly if one is going to buy it. The idea of someone having to think over it suggests to me it’s not the watch to buy.

[tikkathree]

Is anyone buying this watch simply to tell the time? I honestly can’t imagine that’s the case.

I’m not a player with this one, but if I was I’d be buying it purely for what it is - an impressive piece of mechanical engineering offered at an equally impressive price. It really is a piece of art, and that’s what I’d be buying it as.

I also think this is a watch where one knows instantly if one is going to buy it. The idea of someone having to think over it suggests to me it’s not the watch to buy.

Well, that's been me from leak/hint number 1 My complete contrast was the C60 Concept: I'd tried skeletal dials before and not been charmed and I distinctly remember thinking "I've got one chance to bag one of these...NOW!"

And yet I keep giving the BC another look.

[stefs]

It's a nice looking watch but at the end of the day it's still thousands of pounds for a watch that quietly goes ding once an hour. Probably not the most useful complication of all time. One for those that can afford to indulge themselves and probably have a very decent collection already.

[JAFO]

I could have had any of them, but I wasn't keen. I keep mulling them over, without deciding to buy. I think the possibility of turning a profit by flipping might influence a buy, but I'm not desperate to speculate like that.