CW is asking for your feedback around a new section that will be added to their website next month. Below you will find a message from CW explaining what they are looking for, links to a message from CEO Mike France and a link to the feedback form.

Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Please complete by Sept. 22 24.

Do Your Research

We’ve always asked you to 'Do Your Research'. Soon, we will be publicly launching a new website section which will help you do just that, helpfully named: 'Do Your Research'.

As many of you may remember, we came to you, back in May, to ask you what you wanted from such a tool. We used your responses as a brief in creating new articles for the launch of the 'Do Your Research' section.

Designed for newbies and seasoned watch fans alike, this 'Do Your Research' section of the website hosts the story of CW’s foundation, our history and current product offering, plus general information on watchmaking and the industry as a whole. You will also find content on complications, trends, technological developments, and a comprehensive, jargon-busting A-Z of watch terminology.

While this new section of the CW website and Google Forms link are live, they are not findable anywhere other than through this post (and the CWE Facebook group). As this preview and feedback period is exclusively for members of the Christopher Ward Forum and the Christopher Ward Enthusiasts Facebook Group, we’d appreciate if you would not share either link outside of those these two groups.

And as this tool is built for you, we’re keen to hear what you think of it. Please submit your feedback through the Google Forms link below.

Message from Mike France video: (Approx. 1 1/2 min.)

https://we.tl/t-NOrwC6cdaA

The link to Do Your Research:

https://www.christopherward.com/do-your-research.html

The link to the google form:

https://forms.gle/U4pELsiN4E7G9BK98

Aside from the thoughts centered around the DYR theme being discussed here, I am curious about the thoughts around the layout and content of this new DYR web section.

I've had a good look around and sent them my thoughts - appreciate the opportunity to do so!

Aside from the thoughts I've shared on the branding itself elsewhere, I do love the idea behind this section, but I don't think they've got the titles and layout quite right, and it doesn't delve deep enough for me... it's pitched at being for both beginners and seasoned watch fans, but it seems to stop short of that. Appreciate it's unfinished, but I'd like to see more... after giving me a high level look at some different complications, let me then drill down into more detailed articles on each - give me more history and an insight into how a designer/watchmaker might consider these when contemplating a new watch!

Overall there's a big lack of any focus on history for me - this is a hobby where so much emphasis is placed on this, but what history is mentioned is under the label of 'opinion' - I'd love some real articles delving into different facets of watchmaking history - make me love the hobby and then tell me your place in it!

Perhaps a better way to comment on what I originally wrote is to suggest that the opinion pieces perhaps be a bit less prominent.

They can tonally be all over the place, and sometimes be more aligned to the tone I associate with the established brands we’re supposedly researching against.

MistaFroggyG wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 6:36 pm Perhaps a better way to comment on what I originally wrote is to suggest that the opinion pieces perhaps be a bit less prominent.

Since you deleted your original comment, we will have to take your word for it.

I’m very pleased to see the articles in the O-pinion section (a couple already that I’m looking forward to reading -one about watch placement in movies, another about customisation), though the title of the section makes me cringe. I understand the play on words, but I associate Pinion (albeit with a capital P) with another brand. I hope this section is renamed before it goes live.

0uatiOW wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 9:49 pm I’m very pleased to see the articles in the O-pinion section (a couple already that I’m looking forward to reading -one about watch placement in movies, another about customisation), though the title of the section makes me cringe. I understand the play on words, but I associate Pinion (albeit with a capital P) with another brand. I hope this section is renamed before it goes live.

Apparently you missed this article the first time around in Loupe 27 (Winter 2022). It is also listed in the Snippett section of the CWArchive.

I hope you enjoy the read.

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote:

MistaFroggyG wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 6:36 pm Perhaps a better way to comment on what I originally wrote is to suggest that the opinion pieces perhaps be a bit less prominent.

Since you deleted your original comment, we will have to take your word for it.

I thought it was better to stay general than express my specific dislike of the “don’t have fun, watches are investments” energy of a specific piece.

^^^ One thing that Mike pointed out in the video is that this is a preview of a somewhat embryonic new section. A big part of research for me is to examine and synthesise evidence, be it statistical, empirical, visual, anecdotal or opinion based. The articles quoted in the opinion section are ones written by Ken Kessler, and previously published in Loupe. I actually enjoy his articles, opinionated though they are. One would hope that as the section develops a broader range of opinion might be added, with the obvious caveat that this is part of the company’s selling platform, so you wouldn’t expect to find any negative opinion about their own products. That would be bravery verging on the foolhardy.

^^^ if doing as MF wants wouldn't one look at a broad spectrum of sources rather than just in an echo chamber of self congratulatory guff? ^^^

^^^ If you wish to put it like that. I did a lot of research when I was studying, and I’ve been doing a lot since I took up writing. I’ve always tried to access as broad a range of material as possible, some of which will be conflicting. Good research is all about harvesting material from these sources and synthesising it to form and inform your own opinion. Churchill is purported to have said that history is written by the victors, though I suspect it might have been more aptly attributed to Göring. But if I wanted an overview of World War II I would read both (as well as quite a few other historians).

I like the idea and it will good to see it develop. The difficulty is for sure in making it interesting across a range of 'commitment' to watches on all sorts of levels.

I will ask, since this is a British company that this bit of spelling gets sorted (some cut and paste here):
Our Do your research center
Our American friends may not appreciate this subtle "ouch"....

I want to thank those that have taken the time to submit a feedback form to CW about the pending ‘Do Your Research” section of the CW website.

On behalf of CW, we are asking that many more of you please take a few minutes to participate. As a little extra incentive CW is offering 3 Watch Rolls that will be awarded via a random drawing.

You will need to include your email address in the “Anything else;” section of the feedback form. If you have already submitted your form, please fill out the form again with your email if you wish to be eligible for the drawing.

We need many more feedback forms so CW can get a more balanced idea of what we truly think of the section and what it might still need.
Remember we need these forms submitted by Sept. 24.

Last day to get those feedback forms in and have a chance for one of the 3 Watch Rolls that will be awarded via a random drawing.

See my post above.