C1 Bel Canto Preview

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 7:54 pm

I bet any prototypes will attract interest on some future occasion.

hsukirk · Post by **hsukirk** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:42 pm

Most indie would require anywhere between 20-50% deposit & wait anywhere between 9 months - several years. I waited as long as 7 yrs once & trust me it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Full payment with 6-9 months wait is unusual for CW but I personally agree it is about trust that I have strong faith CW would deliver in timely manner as promised. We surely can't say the same as Kickstarter.

A smart move by CW launching new colours & why not considering this is marketed as limited colour not limited by movements. I tend to believe the blue preorder had gone much better than they expected so they quickly released the "already planned" green series.

Am I disappointed that I wasn't given an option of both colours at the initial launch ? Yes is the answer but I'm also happy that it isnt 6 months down the line that I would have to sell blue one myself to buy another colour.

Bahnstormer_vRS · Post by **Bahnstormer_vRS** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:17 pm

TheBeatles wrote:
Anyone correct me if I’m wrong as I might have missed something.

I always thought CW took payment on despatch unless it was via PayPal?

As I’m not interested in one of these I may have missed the small print about payment.

CW changed their T&C's something over a year ago, Brian.

Payment is taken in full, regardless of method, at the time of order for both stock and pre-order pieces.

Good for the cashflow, eh?

Guy

Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk

Kirigoi · Post by **Kirigoi** » Fri Nov 04, 2022 11:11 pm

Kalli64 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:35 pm Congratulations - looks really great, even if the "dial" at least on the photo looks a bit pale

Thanks all, and you can blame the photographer Kalli64; The dial looks much darker normally but I think it was reflecting my white ceiling.
I completely missed the announcement of the green dial version. I'm sure there'll be more colours along tomorrow; good luck to those trying to pre-order!

A1soknownas · Post by **A1soknownas** » Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:35 am

I've watched with interest as this was released first in blue and then green holding back to react to it until some time had passed.

I wasn't a fan at first but that was likely because I don't see the benefit of a musical watch. I wouldn't want it to make a noise and so despite the complexity and admiration in the movement addition I saw it as a gimmick which was a negative rather than a positive. The bird element added to this too, initially at least.

Well time has passed, and I have warmed to the watch and appreciate it for what it is rather than how it would fit into my own preferences and restricted world of watches that I would buy or like to buy. It is a hit for many and that is a great thing.

Here are some things I wondered and look forward to seeing if some of these come to light as the C1 Bel Canto story continues...

- I wonder if there was always a bird in the design or if that developed organically as it started to look like one so was embraced.
- Will there be yet more colours or even a non-colour such as a dark grey/almost black dial which I think would be truly class.
- If a watch is so successful why continue to make it limited in number when it could just be limited in availability.
- Is the cost model still the same or are they taking a hit, or maybe it just takes so much longer to produce and cannot be done at volume.
- How will the buzz around this beyond the forum and regular customer such as Watchfinder etc elevate the brand awareness and position overall.
- If this becomes non limited edition, but limited availability will I have to buy 10 other less desirable CW pieces to get on a future wait list

!

Congratulations CW on the latest success and to the many new happy owners that got on the blue or green list

.

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:26 pm

A1soknownas wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:35 am I've watched with interest as this was released first in blue and then green holding back to react to it until some time had passed.

I wasn't a fan at first but that was likely because I don't see the benefit of a musical watch. I wouldn't want it to make a noise and so despite the complexity and admiration in the movement addition I saw it as a gimmick which was a negative rather than a positive. The bird element added to this too, initially at least.

Well time has passed, and I have warmed to the watch and appreciate it for what it is rather than how it would fit into my own preferences and restricted world of watches that I would buy or like to buy. It is a hit for many and that is a great thing.

Here are some things I wondered and look forward to seeing if some of these come to light as the C1 Bel Canto story continues...

- I wonder if there was always a bird in the design or if that developed organically as it started to look like one so was embraced.
- Will there be yet more colours or even a non-colour such as a dark grey/almost black dial which I think would be truly class.
- If a watch is so successful why continue to make it limited in number when it could just be limited in availability.
- Is the cost model still the same or are they taking a hit, or maybe it just takes so much longer to produce and cannot be done at volume.
- How will the buzz around this beyond the forum and regular customer such as Watchfinder etc elevate the brand awareness and position overall.
- If this becomes non limited edition, but limited availability will I have to buy 10 other less desirable CW pieces to get on a future wait list !

Congratulations CW on the latest success and to the many new happy owners that got on the blue or green list .

About the cost model. My feeling is that more expensive watches make a lot of sense. I don't think CW have to keep these premium watches at 3x cost, but it's great that they do. The competition at this premium end of the market is more about brand recognition than the cost itself, isn't it?

There's also a lot of R&D and marketing to absorb, I imagine, with this sort of watch. The stellar reaction from the Watchfinder guy must make such a difference. That should make lots of people take notice.

Even if they do stick at 3x cost, I would have thought that selling 300 units at £3000 is a better business than selling 1000 at £900. It must be easier logistically, manufacturing, shipping and so on. Maybe proportionately less maintenance cost. I imagine the upmarket stuff lifts the image of the lower priced stuff as well. A profitable CW is much better than a struggling CW.

Finally given the undoubted cost of developing the avian striking movement, they need to recoup that investment. It surely hasn't all been recovered on 300 blue units, or even 600 units, so CW will need to use this technology in other watches.

It's not as if a few thousand premium CW watches means they will become commonplace in the wild. It's still going to be a pretty exclusive club. I've never actually seen many well known watch models in public to be honest. I might have seen a Rolex, but I can't tell for sure from a distance. I'm pretty sure I've never seen a speedmaster.

A1soknownas · Post by **A1soknownas** » Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:27 pm

JAFO wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:26 pm About the cost model. My feeling is that more expensive watches make a lot of sense. I don't think CW have to keep these premium watches at 3x cost, but it's great that they do. The competition at this premium end of the market is more about brand recognition than the cost itself, isn't it?

There's also a lot of R&D and marketing to absorb, I imagine, with this sort of watch. The stellar reaction from the Watchfinder guy must make such a difference. That should make lots of people take notice.

Even if they do stick at 3x cost, I would have thought that selling 300 units at £3000 is a better business than selling 1000 at £900. It must be easier logistically, manufacturing, shipping and so on. Maybe proportionately less maintenance cost. I imagine the upmarket stuff lifts the image of the lower priced stuff as well. A profitable CW is much better than a struggling CW.

Finally given the undoubted cost of developing the avian striking movement, they need to recoup that investment. It surely hasn't all been recovered on 300 blue units, or even 600 units, so CW will need to use this technology in other watches.

Every brand will have a price limit the customer will tolerate before it impacts demand. In the case of CW for a smaller number that price may be £3k and they will happily pay it. For many others, no matter the technical specs etc it will be much lower at around £1k or less. Granted the C1 BC is a special exception.

I guess it would be a very difficult and gradual process to reach the level of income that a qty of 20k+ watches at the current prices generate each year by replacing this with the required volume of customers at a much higher price. The customer will also be even more demanding.

Wouldn't be surprised if they are not reliant upon the C1 BC recovering its full cost or using the movement in volume as the increase in sales across the brand would likely fill the gap if any.

What you say about the upmarket stuff lifts the image of the lower priced stuff as well is bang on in this scenario I think which is why the line may be limited. Create the buzz, raised awareness and carry on slowly in that direction of increasing price/quality across the whole product lines.

Will be interesting to see where CW are in the next few years.

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Mon Nov 07, 2022 12:11 am

For those who aren't sick and tired of the Bel Canto yet...

Mike France on Casual Watch Reviews.

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 3:20 pm

I will put this thought here on the original thread.

Which picture is going to be photo of the month next month?
Has the winner been submitted yet even?

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 5:26 pm

A1soknownas wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:35 am
- I wonder if there was always a bird in the design or if that developed organically as it started to look like one so was embraced.
- Will there be yet more colours or even a non-colour such as a dark grey/almost black dial which I think would be truly class.
- If a watch is so successful why continue to make it limited in number when it could just be limited in availability.
- Is the cost model still the same or are they taking a hit, or maybe it just takes so much longer to produce and cannot be done at volume.
- How will the buzz around this beyond the forum and regular customer such as Watchfinder etc elevate the brand awareness and position overall.
- If this becomes non limited edition, but limited availability will I have to buy 10 other less desirable CW pieces to get on a future wait list !

Congratulations CW on the latest success and to the many new happy owners that got on the blue or green list .

In his interview on the Casual Watch Review Sunday Social Mike France answered a lot of your questions. I'll go from memory

The resemblance of the hammer to a bird's tail feathers was noted early in the design process and was deliberately continued into the final design.
More colours - Maybe but don't hold your breath. (I expect that there will be more as the waiting list is over 2,000 people long)
Availability - They can make 25 C1 Bel Canto's a week and have to assemble all the other watches as well.
Mike didn't comment on the specifics of the cost model but I doubt it has changed. They can make 25 of these a week. One of the bottlenecks is the hand polishing by Chrononde. Chronode can't really increase production even if CW could.

The "buzz" and waiting list issue I can't comment on. I doubt that CW will impose a buy 10 to get on the list. That's a cheap (well expensive) trick reserved for ADs of other brands.

I hope the C1 Bel Canto does elevate the brand though. CW need to make the shift from a value brand to a luxury brand. This will be painful for us and them but will probably be necessary for long term growth given how crowded and competitive the sub $1,000 dive watch space has become. Just my opinion on this anyway.

JasperCat · Post by **JasperCat** » Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:27 pm

We’ll here she is… the C1 Bel Canto (#66... my birth year) has just arrived... weeks earlier than expected

Torrential rain here today, so not ideal for photos outside

First impressions… beautiful, super light and comfortable, superbly finished and the chime is lovely

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Fri Nov 25, 2022 4:01 pm

Another Bel Canto makes its debut

I have the bracelet but it's never going to be worn that way.

Thegreyman · Post by **Thegreyman** » Fri Nov 25, 2022 4:22 pm

^^^congratulations to those of you starting to receive your Bel Cantos. It looks superb and if I were lucky enough to own one, I think I'd also be choosing the leather strap over the bracelet.

Richard D · Post by **Richard D** » Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:01 pm

JasperCat wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:27 pm We’ll here she is… the C1 Bel Canto (#66... my birth year) has just arrived... weeks earlier than expected

That’s interesting, I was told that watches were to be despatched in numerical order. I’m waiting for my watch numbered #57, birth year too. Congratulations on your watch, enjoy.

rkovars · Post by **rkovars** » Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:21 pm

Richard D wrote: ↑Fri Nov 25, 2022 5:01 pm
JasperCat wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:27 pm We’ll here she is… the C1 Bel Canto (#66... my birth year) has just arrived... weeks earlier than expected
That’s interesting, I was told that watches were to be despatched in numerical order. I’m waiting for my watch numbered #57, birth year too. Congratulations on your watch, enjoy.

Since they are making 25 a week it would be reasonable to me that they are going into production in numerical batch order (1-25, 26-50 etc). Since they are being worked on in parallel some within the group might get done before others.

Even if they hold an entire batch and ship them all at once transit times are going to be all over the place this time of year even within the same geographic location.

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