C1 Design challenge

Discuss Christopher Ward watches
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m500dpp
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by m500dpp »

I am tempted to say it woodn't work, but that would be awful!!!

Really the wood inserts have no place in a watch, not to my taste at all but each to their own. I guess if it was to work it would need to be fake wood.....
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Monkey »

m500dpp wrote:I am tempted to say it woodn't work, but that would be awful!!!

Really the wood inserts have no place in a watch, not to my taste at all but each to their own. I guess if it was to work it would need to be fake wood.....
I'd have to agree.....the wood inserts or whole wood face do nothing for me at all, but appreciate that there are those out there who will like this sort of thing.

I can see the wood being problematical due to it's nature, so would be interesting to see if Chris can pull it off, so to speak :)
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by bydandie »

Terminator 2 wrote: Image
With a date pointer and i'll buy it now! :)
Have - quite a few
Want - not too much
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Terminator 2 »

m500dpp wrote:I am tempted to say it woodn't work, but that would be awful!!!

Really the wood inserts have no place in a watch, not to my taste at all but each to their own. I guess if it was to work it would need to be fake wood.....
Everyone has different likes and dislikes and that is what makes the world such an interesting place. You only need to look at the different opinions voiced in the Sneak Preview threads of the forthcoming new CWL products to see that. If I knew the real answer to create something that people would love on mass then I would not be posting it here. I would be off down to the local patent office pronto lol.

Anyway all joking aside. I think there is a market for something like this and it could be made to look good on a watch. Especially where dark rich quality veneers were used. I totally disagree on the " fake wood " though. God forbid if a watch was made that looked like a piece of cheap tat from Ikea then it would be destined to bomb. However I think a watch that oozes quality using a high gloss dark burr finish would succeed. Many people appreciate the beauty of high quality wood in many settings and if it is good enough for the likes of Rolls Royces then it is certainly good enough for me. I also do not see how warping, shrinkage etc should be an issue. This would only require a thin veneer and as long as that veneer is properly bonded to a backing that cannot shrink ( ie very thin metal the same diameter as the dial ) then problems like this should not be an issue at all. For instance car interiors undergo massive temperature fluctuations that will be far greater than any watch should endure under normal conditions without compromising the veneer so why should a watch be a problem. I dont let any of my watches reach 130°F and I dont let them reach -20°C either.

If we are talking using sticky back plastic or cheap white pine then it will warp or shrink. If we use crap bonding material that is available at your local DIY store it will warp or shrink. Use high quality materials and it will work and last and quality with a capital Q is the whole point of doing an excercise like this. If CWL were not to produce quality then I would rather they just did not bother period.

:wink:
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Daz »

8)
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Terminator 2 »

Daz wrote:but to enable us to progress this as a Forum LE option we need to know from CW himself as to whether it is a starter or non starter.
I think you are picking me up wrong Daz. I am not suggesting this idea as a Forum LE. I am not even suggesting that a design based on a C1 should be the basis of a "woody". I just would like to see a watch manufacturer coming up with a decent quality watch that utilises quality high grain burr wood within the dial that will not cost me the best part of £6000. Those images only evolved as Kip and others were coming up with ideas for the C1. As for implimenting it then it will not be impossible. It just depends wether the likes of CWL think it would be commercially worthwhile and if they would have a market for it.

For me though the design could be any number of ideas for watches. It definetly does not have to be based on any of the designs within this thread.

Unless it is the following one of course. Damn I want one and I sooooooo want it now.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Daz »

:)
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Kip »

Okay "T", if CW ever makes any of these, it is going to be expensive because I don't know how much more my wallet can take. You have done it again. That camphor wood is stunning!! You should start a new thread........... C2 design challenge, or move this image to the LE 2 thread.
Build this one with an auto or manual and an exhibition back and chalk up another one to the collection!!
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Daz »

8)
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Terminator 2 »

And I will second this.
Daz wrote:Or even better a 'woody' C2 auto. :)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Actually out of the two I personally prefer the Burr Walnut but interestingly when shown the first C2 " Woody " pic posted above Chris actually replied with the following.
Christopher Ward wrote:
Camphor dial…interesting!
Just shows you how tastes differ lol. However I just know there is something in this wood lark. How it is done in the end is anybody's guess but if it is done right and hits the sweet spot it will work. Also the beauty of wood is that the possibilities are truelly endless.

If I am honest though it is the likes of a C2 Auto for me. I want beauty and class but I want brawn too. I reckon the two can compliment each other. I dont personally want to see a "woody" done in a girly way.

P.S. Just to show the endless combo's here is another which uses Olive Ash Burr. Wood can just be such bloody wonderful stuff.

:wink:

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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Kip »

Hey Terminator, you know I like gold. The SS is great but can you do the Camphor and Olive ash burl in gold case for comparison? I just can't picture it.
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Terminator 2 »

Oh okay. If you insist. :wink:

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Re: C1 Design challenge

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:)
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Terminator 2 »

This morning I finally found a couple of watch companies that have at least attempted a modern concept of a "woody". I had never heard of them but it seems they have been around a bit. One is a US company that like CWL tend to use swiss movements and the company is called Croton. They must specialise in limited runs of designs because virtually every Croton watch I have found ( not just wood ) that is for sale I do not see listed on their own website. The second company is called Vestal that only came about in 1997 and brand many products and not just watches. They do however seem to do a lot of watches based around a wood concept and are the best attempts so far that I have seen.

The images I am about to show in my own opinion how easily you can get a "woody" wrong. To me there is a very fine line between a piece of shopping channel tat and sheer class. Yet again these watches do not use really high quality veneers. For me it really has to be burr. It has to ooze quality and not look like the front of the doors on my kitchen cabinets.

You decide. :wink:

Image

I really dislike the two on the right. These retail for around $300. They are ugly and those dials are just way too fussy and girly for me. When I look at them I think Country Kitchens and of Laura Ashley or Martha Stewart. God who would want that on your wrist. Certainly not me.

I have to say though that I do if I am honest find the one by Vestal on the left actually quite interesting. If that dial had been done in burr walnut rather than what looks to me like teak it might have worked. Also the lack of indices makes the dial look bland and lacking in detail. I realise they are on the outer ring but they might have worked better on the wood itself. What I do really like though is the bracelet. Very cleverly executed if you ask me but presumably expensive to produce. In fact this watch also retails for around $300 which I guess is still not too crazy. To me it is a watch that is so very nearly there but just not quite.

So I reckon the reason "woody" to date have generally ( at least to my knowledge ) been reasonably unsuccesful is that none of then seem to have any real class. They always look to me like they are just nasty pieces of junk. That is why to me the mix has to be between brawn and class and not just fit for Morris Dancers ( do a google if you dont know :wink: ). I reckon real success with a woody will tread a very fine line.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

P.S. If anyone else finds or knows about any other woody's then please post the pics.
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Re: C1 Design challenge

Post by Terminator 2 »

I found more and much better pictures of that Vestal. It is both hideous and utterly fascinating at the same time. So much so I really want one lol. What a strange watch that is. Completely vulgar yet I cant stop looking at it. Surely a future collectors piece if I ever saw one just for being so unusual hehe.

Enjoy :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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