CW Dress Watches

Discuss Christopher Ward watches
markee
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by markee »

Czechia wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 9:39 am Both of those C5 Mk1's are beautiful watches.
I really hope we do see a new offering in the C5 range, or C1 Grand Malvern range - both stunning watches in their own right.

It's interesting reading the replies here, it's be such a shame if they stop making dress watches. There is always room for the classic, elegant watches.

I do like the moonglow and moonphase, but, well, I can't get my sights off the C1 Grand Malvern range - I really hope one crops up in the January sale, think I am going be glued to refreshing the forum and website when that time rolls around.
I agree. I don’t own any CW sport watches (I have the same watches as you @Czechia) but have always thought CW dress watches were more stylish and elegant than any of their competitors. I’ve been wearing my 595 (purchased thanks to @jaspercat) for a few months now and I absolutely love it. It is so slim and light you just don’t feel it on the wrist and the minimal dial means it can be dressed up or down.
I understand all of the well reasoned economic arguments outlined but still feel that all established watchmakers should have a flagship dresss watch in their collection.

Im just keeping my fingers crossed they pull something new out of the bag in 2021
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by jkbarnes »

I’b be curious to see how CW might implement an Apex version of a dress watch, in keeping with the celebration of the in-house SH21 movement.

We’ve seen a C7 Apex then a C60 Apex. Perhaps it’s time for a C1 Apex variation.
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Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

jkbarnes wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:55 pm I’b be curious to see how CW might implement an Apex version of a dress watch, in keeping with the celebration of the in-house SH21 movement.

We’ve seen a C7 Apex then a C60 Apex. Perhaps it’s time for a C1 Apex variation.
The style of the Apex models to date has been pretty bold. I think it would need to look rather different, certainly more subtle. Well, it would if there were to be any chance of my buying one. :lol:
markee wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:46 pm
Czechia wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 9:39 am It's interesting reading the replies here, it's be such a shame if they stop making dress watches. There is always room for the classic, elegant watches.
I agree. I don’t own any CW sport watches (I have the same watches as you @Czechia) but have always thought CW dress watches were more stylish and elegant than any of their competitors. I’ve been wearing my 595 (purchased thanks to @jaspercat) for a few months now and I absolutely love it. It is so slim and light you just don’t feel it on the wrist and the minimal dial means it can be dressed up or down.
I understand all of the well reasoned economic arguments outlined but still feel that all established watchmakers should have a flagship dresss watch in their collection.
I have always believed that the strict categorisation of watches according to type and function leads to some fairly entrenched thinking. Usually the argument against the so-called dress watch is that people tend to say that they don’t have enough occasions/attend enough functions where they could justify wearing it. Actually, if you like the style, you can wear them pretty much whenever you like. If you don’t like the style, fair enough.

The reverse is true of the so-called diver or sport watch. Lots of people happily wear these to formal or semi formal occasions, and again there is no problem. Think James bond with his Submariners and Seamasters. I have never scuba-dived in my life. I’ve snorkelled a little, and I tend to wear a well rated water resistant watch when I do go into water. If I’m swimming at my local gym club I’ll leave the watch in the locker, because I usually go into the steam room or sauna as well. Not good for watches. If I’m on holiday I wear a watch that I’m happy to jump into the hotel pool or the sea with.

But the point is that, like many of you, I have happily worn a sport or dive watch with a jacket and tie. Equally, I have worn plenty of so-called dress watches with very casual clothes. Most of the time I tend just to think of them as watches, and most of them are perfectly suitable for the things I do most of the time.

Now, it may well be that the so-called dress watches have not been selling quite as well as the so-called sport watches. What is certainly true is that (including military-themed releases) all the new models in 2020 have been in the C60 and C65 ranges. No (so-called) dress, motorsport or aviation models. I would certainly like to know whether there is going to be more of a focus on these next year.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by JAFO »

Good points, Steve. Maybe there are some circles where a simple dress watch slipping under a cuff is required, and a 14mm thick chronograph would lead to a horrified step back, but for most of us, it really isn't an issue. Sure looks like Archie Luxury chose the wrong day to trade into Patek.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by alanrolfe01 »

There's a C1 Grand Malvern Power Reserve that's just been added to eBay. According to the description the warranty is ok until 2024. It may be worth keeping an eye on it and possibly save some money, too.

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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by panamavin »

I would love it if CW would make a chrono that is less "sporty" and lean more towards being a dress watch. Heck I miss the Gen 1 hand wound slimline collection which IMHO was one of their best made watches. I regretfully sold mine and thinking about hunting another.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by Czechia »

Looks like I’ve struck a chord with this subject. Let’s get the CW dress watch movement going!
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by alanrolfe01 »

The C1 went quickly on eBay for only £700. Someone got an amazing bargain or they will be flipping it soon.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by H0rati0 »

alanrolfe01 wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:36 pm The C1 went quickly on eBay for only £700. Someone got an amazing bargain or they will be flipping it soon.
Pretty typical, sell quickly at low prices or hang around looking for love. Shame really.

But since I prefer "elegant" to tool, suits me fine to know the leverage is on my side when I'm looking for something.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by alanrolfe01 »

I love my C1 Grand Malvern Power Reserve and I'd never consider it a 'tool' to tell the time, it's more like a glorious work of art and precision timing. IMO
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by Czechia »

alanrolfe01 wrote: Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:35 pm I love my C1 Grand Malvern Power Reserve and I'd never consider it a 'tool' to tell the time, it's more like a glorious work of art and precision timing. IMO
That's good to hear Alan, I am building further hope one will appear on the January Sale. I tried emailing CW Towers directly to ask if they have any lurking around, to get a headstart on the January sale but got a wishy washy response about signing up for the mailing list so I know when the Sale goes live incase a C1 Power Reserve crops up... of course, I am already on the mailing as I have 7 CW watches already with 1 final space in my CW collectors box ready of the C1 Power Reserve (or C1 Moonphase White Dial) :)
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by Czechia »

H0rati0 wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:37 pm
alanrolfe01 wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:36 pm The C1 went quickly on eBay for only £700. Someone got an amazing bargain or they will be flipping it soon.
Pretty typical, sell quickly at low prices or hang around looking for love. Shame really.

But since I prefer "elegant" to tool, suits me fine to know the leverage is on my side when I'm looking for something.
Not sure if I could bring myself to use ebay when spending a big chunk on a watch... each to their own I guess
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by albionphoto »

jkbarnes wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:55 pm I’b be curious to see how CW might implement an Apex version of a dress watch, in keeping with the celebration of the in-house SH21 movement.

We’ve seen a C7 Apex then a C60 Apex. Perhaps it’s time for a C1 Apex variation.
The C1 Apex has been rumoured for some time. It was supposed to have been released in May 2021. I'm already on the list for it to go with my C7 and C60 Apices. When I spoke to Mike France and Adrian Buchman about this (benefit of a visit to the showroom) they were talking about the C1 Apex having a very different design to the other Apex watches. Then everything went quiet and I wonder if it will happen at all.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by jkbarnes »

albionphoto wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 12:43 pm The C1 Apex has been rumoured for some time. It was supposed to have been released in May 2021....Then everything went quiet and I wonder if it will happen at all.
If memory serves, when the C7 Apex was announced, they said all the major lines would get an Apex version - C7 motorsport line, C60 Trident line, C8 Aviation line, and C1 dress line. With how the dress line up and the Aviation line up have been left to wither on the vine, it makes me wonder what the plan is.

Considering The SH21 has always figured prominently in the dress watch line up, there really ought to be a C1 Apex.
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Re: CW Dress Watches

Post by albionphoto »

Indeed Andrew. With the decline of the C8 line in particular I wonder if we will see a C8 Apex. I remain hopeful for the C1 Apex but time will tell. In his interview for Worn&Wound as part of the virtual WInd-Up fair in November Mike France was realistic about how Covid had affected the 2020 launch cycle (badly) but he was enthusiastic about 2021 launches. Looking at the CW Archive CW likes to launch a lot of watches per year (average is 20+/annum) so I'm going to remain hopeful that the C1 Apex is one of them for next year. The C8 Apex may never happen but that's just my view.
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