At the recent RedBar Group meet, one of the watches I brought along was the C6(60) Kingfisher FLE. This was the CW forums first Limited Edition (2008) that eventually spawned the first C60 Trident Automatics. Originally offered with a silicone strap, stainless steel bracelet and the IPK center link bracelet.

Many of the comments were that this watch should be brought back using ceramic or sapphire bezel inserts and ceramic in place of the IPK on the bracelet. The feeling was to put it in an updated case and it would be a winner. What are your thoughts? Should CW consider this?

Is the overall style too outdated?

Would it degrade the FLE version of 16 years ago?

Does it have possibilities even as a limited run?

What would you change?

Just curious about the forums thoughts.

I think it’s a great idea. I would happily see the other C60 Kingfisher colours return too.

Is the overall style too outdated?

No. With a gentle refresh that wouldn’t matter. The case would presumably be in the lightcatcher design.

Would it degrade the FLE version of 16 years ago?

No, not for me as an owner of an original FLE.

Does it have possibilities even as a limited run?

I’d buy one. I think a limited run would be a good idea.

What would you change?

I’d change the hands, but keep the overall style. Something more complex/modern would be my choice. I’d like to see the bread blasted case kept. The way the bezel is made would probably have to change, but I’d like a similar aesthetic. I’d keep the same case size.

Updated case in ceramic too?

It would be an excellent alternative to a RADO Captain Cook Ceramic, or Bremont Supermarine.

Guy

There's always one, and that might be me this time, sorry.

For me, no. The overall design, while fitting well into the timeframe it was originally released, feels too outmoded in comparison with current offerings. There is always a time and place for re-releasing a slightly-tweaked classic (Seiko offerings from the 70's etc), I don't feel there's enough of a heritage or following to make the old model attractive. Aditionally while I know many will have a very different opinion, I'm not a huge fan of colourways outside of the 'classics' and the bezel inserts and shiny ceramics just cheapen the overall aesthetic.

If there were a business case to be made for either investing design time and retooling to re-release the Kingfisher or to, say, freshen up the C60 600, my money would be on the latter.

I'd love to see what an updated version would look like. I really liked the kingfishers but I think they look dated in their 'current' form. Definitely enough to work with to bring them back though.

I've been eyeing up a kingfisher recently as a CW nostalgia'thing' / because it's a really cute design that's different to anything else (and this is a good thing for someone who likes dive watches but never ends up keeping them).

But would I want an 'upgrade'? It would depend on the result obviously, but probably not. It wouldn't add value to me to 'tick more boxes' / 'upgrade' some things. I don't think it would be a Kingfisher any more.

The C11 on the other hand ....

The yellow face would be of interest. My interest would however be extinguished by updating too much. Would the original logo survive, for example?

Martin wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2024 1:42 pm Would the original logo survive, for example?

Can't see that happening, unfortunately.

atnits wrote:

Martin wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2024 1:42 pm Would the original logo survive, for example?

Can't see that happening, unfortunately.

On the contrary, CW's two previous Revival models have had contemporary, to the original, v_1 and v_2 logos.

Guy

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Maybe I'm missing something here.

If you change the bezel to ceramic or sapphire, change the bracelet centre links, have a new style case and then maybe change the hands also what of the original design would remain to call it a "revival" of the Kingfisher?

It wouldn't make me consider parting with my money but I've not bought many new CWs anyway.

Love a Kingfisher - especially the dial, handset and a matchigmng IPK bracelet to set eveything off.
Would need to respect the original design, but hopefully with some more protection for the bezel and the centre links on the IPK bracelet.
Whilst a little dated, I think they set themselves apart from other dive watches.

Ah-ha, we've heard Chief France allude to interest/demand for a revival previously.

Is the overall style too outdated?

The style is a product of its time and I reckon to wear a C6 Kingfisher maybe once a fortnight so I'm rather biased in favour. How many brands bring back old designs? If the C6/60 FLE was the progenitor of the C60 Trident Autos then it's surely not beyond belief to make a nod to the past using say the C60 300? But what beyond calling it a Kingfisher would give it credibility? How about a bezel design reprising the original?

Would it degrade the FLE version of 16 years ago?

I don't think so personally. The legacy FLE, if I can call it that, was a 2008 model variant of the quartz driven C6 Kingfishers. (Why I believe that there's a C6 Kingfisher Auto which has the case back erroniously marked as FL. )

I wonder just how well known today the legacy models are recognised by both the CW enthusiast market (us here plus the three facebook groups) and of possibly more commercial importance across the wider market? Certainly posting a photo of any C6 at the facebook groups tend to bring out at least one "what's that?" comment.


Does it have possibilities even as a limited run?

I'd say yes it does. Limited runs usually dial colour variants seem to be part of the CW experience nowadays: how many Bel Canto models and how many Sealander GMTs havecome from "the community"?


What would you change?

I'd like to see the name Kingfisher revived.

I'm not yer man when it comes to creating design. I know I'm not but here goes:

C60 Trident Pro 600 case

The original blue sunburst dial colour from the legacy Kingfisher

SH21 Chronometer movement

A textured bezel a la C60 Atoll giving a nod to the Kingfisher bezel

that would be my choice after about 20 minutes' of thought. Might Mike France have in mind a variant of the C60 Atoll 300 case and movement commencing with the blue sunburst dial and possibly rolling out the other Kingfisher legacy dial colours?

The previous revival models have been very faithful to the original. I wonder if CW have in mind keeping any revival models similarly'faithful'? I really like the idea of a C6 bezel on a 300, as a 'nod' as @tikkathree suggests

I’m just stunned at how far CW has come design-wise in such a short amount of time. The designs are so different than true nostalgia for the old ones has had time to set in!


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