C1 Bel Canto Preview

jnash · Post by **jnash** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:27 pm

I didnt see anything other than a leather strap, if you went for the preorder did you get the option to order a bracelet?

nbg · Post by **nbg** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:34 pm

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 1:59 am Some fun facts or snippets of information that I was able to glean from the evening;-

1. There will be a follow up version, already in the pipeline, for release in Spring 2023.

2. I confirmed that whilst the case is Grade 5 Titanium, the bracelet is only Grade 2. However, at a quick glance one would never know the difference. 60% of watches sold have been on the bracelet.

3. On the bracelet, it is the same style/spec as the latest bracelets with extra taper, single sided screws for link removal, longer deployant clasp.

4. Whilst, not unexpectedly, on the quiet side the chime has a delightful tone to it.

5. The Vicuna leather straps are to the latest spec Vintage Oak.

6. The chime mechanism is stunning with several engaging features / touches.

7. Adrian Buchmann is very much alive and well as Head of Design for CW; we had a good chat

I met some interesting people, not least of whom are CW Challengers; Atlantic Rower, Rosalind Chaston and Conservationist & Arctic Explorer, Tom Hicks.

Guy

Looks rather good in those pics Guy.

Did anyone at CW mention why they have gone for what looks a far simpler case shape, than a typical light catcher case?

Neil

ajax87 · Post by **ajax87** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 11:28 pm

nbg wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:34 pm Did anyone at CW mention why they have gone for what looks a far simpler case shape, than a typical light catcher case?

Neil

I’m also curious if anyone at CW mentioned anything about this.

This is from the new issue of loupe in the Bel Canto article:
“…the 41mm C1 Light- catcherTM case has been given a subtle sporty makeover.”

My guess is that it would have increased the cost too much to machine a typical light catcher case out of grade 5 titanium, so they went with a simpler design.

nbg · Post by **nbg** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 11:34 pm

^^^ That is what I am thinking Alex.

Neil

ajax87 · Post by **ajax87** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 11:45 pm

^^^ Right. Maybe also an element of wanting to tone down the case to draw more attention to the dial. It would be nice to have a one on one sit down with the design teams on these. It’s fascinating!

Bahnstormer_vRS · Post by **Bahnstormer_vRS** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 1:56 am

nbg wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 11:34 pm ^^^ That is what I am thinking Alex.

Neil

Indeed, Neil.

There was no particular comment as to why CW had going for a simple case shape.

However, I recall my visit last year to Bremont at The Wing and looking at a, then recently introduced, watch (the desert coloured pvd case one) which had a Grade 5 Titanium case which was not as detailed as other similar pieces. I was told that, due to the hardness of the #5 Ti a 'simpler' case design was used to make it easier to machine.

I guess the same applies to the Bel Canto.

Guy

Peteo · Post by **Peteo** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:15 am

Late to this party, and I had not seen any of the previews, but I definitely appreciate the effort and the accomplishment. Very cool! Well done, CWL!

Internaut · Post by **Internaut** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:19 am

Very late to this one. Me and my Sealander GMT say hello from Lanzarote. First thoughts? Sod the limited edition/small numbers stuff. CW needs to become the company that very routinely sells a four grand watch (but please, keep the stuff I can afford).

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 11:49 am

jnash wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:27 pm I didnt see anything other than a leather strap, if you went for the preorder did you get the option to order a bracelet?

When I was asked to confirm my pre-order the email requested that I state which strap/bracelet option I wanted. I choose bracelet and blue leather.

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 11:54 am

nbg wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 11:34 pm ^^^ That is what I am thinking Alex.

Neil

Grade 5 titanium is an alloy of titanium, aluminium and vanadium. It is the "commonest" aerospace grade of titanium. Grade 2 titanium is commercially pure titanium. Grade 5 is harder than Grade 2 and is correspondingly harder and more costly to machine.

Adrian Buchmann referred to this in the preview for the C60 Concept (I think). For the Bel Canto they choose Grade 5 because it gave a better sound to the chime. My guess is that once this choice was made then changes to the exterior case became necessary to control costs. It is possible to machine and polish complex shapes into Grade 5 (or even Grade 23 titanium - I'm looking at you Blancpain) but the case becomes correspondingly more expensive. CW have chosen to spend the money on other things for the Bel Canto.

Kirigoi · Post by **Kirigoi** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 1:38 pm

Sooo...
This arrived this morning.
Serial number less than 50 and UK address so best case for delivery. I ordered with bracelet and blue leather strap after the preview on Friday.

Kalli64 · Post by **Kalli64** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:35 pm

Kirigoi wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 1:38 pm Sooo...
This arrived this morning.
Serial number less than 50 and UK address so best case for delivery. I ordered with bracelet and blue leather strap after the preview on Friday.
20221104_123640.jpg

Congratulations - looks really great, even if the "dial" at least on the photo looks a bit pale

tikkathree · Post by **tikkathree** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:43 pm

jnash wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:27 pm I didnt see anything other than a leather strap, if you went for the preorder did you get the option to order a bracelet?

At launch your three options were sand/tan strap, blue strap, titanium bracelet. For whatever reason CW now only show the blue strap version on the website.

I can't find the link to register interest against a possible second batch and I guess the number of such registrations of interest might well determine how big a second batch might be.

gannet · Post by **gannet** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:47 pm

Kirigoi wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 1:38 pm Sooo...
This arrived this morning.
Serial number less than 50 and UK address so best case for delivery. I ordered with bracelet and blue leather strap after the preview on Friday.
20221104_123640.jpg

Congratulations and what a 1st first!

Chris375 · Post by **Chris375** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 4:43 pm

Kirigoi wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 1:38 pm Sooo...
This arrived this morning.
Serial number less than 50 and UK address so best case for delivery. I ordered with bracelet and blue leather strap after the preview on Friday.
20221104_123640.jpg

Congratulations

. Looks great! Hoping mine will be through soon too

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