Maybe there is some inspiration to be found in CW's 'Firsts' nestling within the CWArchive.

For me, if one is including the C60 Apex then why not the C7 Apex, both the pinnacle of their range at the time, BUT both the C60 Apex and Concept are divers and introduced only a few years apart so should they both be in or should one be dropped.

My view, drop the Apex and keep the Concept.

Considering the Apex range, maybe the C1 Bel Canto is really the missing C1 Apex?

The C9 Harrison 5 day absolutely deserves a place for the first use of CW's in-house SH21.

Guy



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I think the notion of a halo model is a perfect descriptor for certain CW models. I think you’ve nailed it with your list with one exception: if the C60 Apex is on there, then shouldn’t the C7 Alex also be on there?

As you state, the purpose of a halo model is to show case what CW is capable of, to represent the level of design, engineering, and production that can be done. And maybe hint at the direction they’re heading? I think it’s analogous to a concept car produced by an automobile manufacturer for a car show.

And as Kip points out, I don’t think the Halo model is about driving sales of that model. It’s about driving sales of the standard offerings by generating interest in the brand and showing off what the brand is capable of - “Wow! If they can produce this, what else are they capable of? Let me go take a look.”

This is partly why I don’t understand some of the criticism of the Bel Canto. I think that criticism reflects a failure to see it for what it is - a Halo model. In that context, it’s damn near perfect!

I think Halo models are very much worth it and maybe even essential for Christopher Ward at the point.

My list would be:

1. C9 (900) Single Pusher
2. C7 Apex
3. C60 Apex Limited Edition
4. C60 Concept
5. C1 Bel Canto

The C60 Apex was a continuation of the Apex design language. It ended up being the watch that proved that the Apex design language didn't have much further to go and the C60 Concept was the logical consequence of that realisation. I'm not familiar with the C9 Single Pusher but will trust the judgement of Guy and Kip.

The trouble is the definition of a halo watch. If you're thinking of something that raised brand awareness in the broader community then the list might be:

1. C7 Apex due to its GPHG appearence
2. C60 Concept
3. Bel Canto

And the presence of the C60 Concept could be disputed.

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 2:38 pm Maybe there is some inspiration to be found in CW's 'Firsts' nestling within the CWArchive.

For me, if one is including the C60 Apex then why not the C7 Apex, both the pinnacle of their range at the time, BUT both the C60 Apex and Concept are divers and introduced only a few years apart so should they both be in or should one be dropped.

My view, drop the Apex and keep the Concept.

Considering the Apex range, maybe the C1 Bel Canto is really the missing C1 Apex?

The C9 Harrison 5 day absolutely deserves a place for the first use of CW's in-house SH21.

Guy



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Totally agree about swapping out the C60 Apex for the C7 “original” Apex

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 2:38 pm My view, drop the Apex and keep the Concept.

The C9 Harrison 5 day absolutely deserves a place for the first use of CW's in-house SH21.

I agree with this completely.

Whilst I think the C900 SPC ranks with the best of them, it's interesting to note that since the ME 109, which used the JJ02 in October 2017, there has not been a whiff of any sort of mechanical chronograph. That's five years, so it begs the question as to what extent that movement and watch informed the company's subsequent direction.

As John Hunt, an early master of Himalayan logistics, could have told you, you need to keep the high camps supplied if you are going to use them as a springboard to go higher. Yes, individuals will need to return to Base Camp but if the whole expedition does it you won't get very far. "Altiora Etiam Petamus". ("Let us aim even higher" or" Let us also aim higher")**

** That was my old school motto and yes, I'm playing my favourite game again.

^^^^ For clarity, my list would be;-

1. C9 Harrison 5 day SH21
2. C900 SPC
3. C60 Concept
4. C1 Bel Canto.

Guy

Cool idea, Kip!

Not sure my <3 year tenure here qualifies me all that well in broader historical terms.
That said a Halo is what it is, and in my time the C60 Apex and the C1 Bel Canto are what that means. Albeit, one was too big for me and the other I worked and slept through the purchasing windows. Que sera sera.

For me they tell the world that CW is not just a great value practical watch company: they aspire to be, and are, much more than that.
CW is in the Special Watch business. That those watches are more affordable than others for these kinds of watches is in a way by-the-by.
First make them special and CW is doing that. It's been a fine time to be along for the ride.
There will be more and CW has my attention!

In my opinion, there "were" a few Halo models at different period of time.

First, JJ01 jump hour MKI, it was def a step up back then but becoming a production model probably lose its status a fair bit. Same applies to JJ02, JJ03 & JJ04. However, C9 (900) Single Pusher might be a tier higher than the rest due to less being produced (difficulty in sourcing movements ?)

Then, in house SH21 which pushed CW out of microbrand for a lot of ppl. However, I doubt it's considered as halo model anymore considering they were constantly discounted a few yrs back.

C7 Apex was sitting at the top before C60 Apex was introduced & I would argue the same for C1 Bel Canto (production models & mostly limited due to production.)

I understood C60 is CW's quintessential series so my vote for the true “Halo” models from CW is "C60 Concept".

I don’t have the contemporary history with CW to know how the JJ movements or the SH21 were received. I feel they must be signposts on the road to halo-dom. Of the little I do know, I see these CWs as halo watches:

C7 Apex
C60 Concept
C1 Bel Canto

There could be others; I see these three for certain. What else is lurking in the minds of the designers?

albionphoto wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 3:01 pm
The trouble is the definition of a halo watch. If you're thinking of something that raised brand awareness in the broader community then the list might be:

1. C7 Apex due to its GPHG appearence
2. C60 Concept
3. Bel Canto

And the presence of the C60 Concept could be disputed.

I'd agree with the entirety of the above i.e. the C7 Apex and C1 Bel Canto would be two true Halo models for the reasons you give.

Just realised there is no mention of the Sealander Elite with it's pop-out crown in this thread - not a limited edition but no less technically impressive, much like the JJ0X movements.

^^^^ I’ve not commented on this thread so far but I don’t think the elite would be classed as a halo model, despite its unique crown design.

For me a halo model is the top model which sits there above all others. I would argue there can only be one halo model at any one time as a new top dog comes out to knock the old halo off its perch, therefore becoming the current halo.

Those listed so far, the Bel Canto, the Apex models, the concept and some of the JJ calibres, the single pushers all qualify as at one point they were the best that CW sold at the time even if they aren’t the current halo.

For me the elite was never the top watch in the range.