I've been dipping in and out of the Longines website because I think they are producing some of the best watches around at the mo', often revisiting their long and illustrious past. They've been around a long time, over 150yrs and counting. In the last ten years they have revisited a lot of watches from their extensive catalogue, with many of these re-introductions having really stood the test of time and becoming classics a second time around.

Now to Christopher Ward. Their history is markedly shorter, but their watch output has been pretty gargantuan for a relatively small independent. And they have clearly produced some lovely watches, some with very unique design language and aesthetics. So here's the weekend quiz... List three CW watches that you think will stand the test of time; that will have people talking in, say, forty years time. Perhaps, in the manner of Longines, they could reproduce and have the watch buying public saying, "well that's a classic, so good to see them re-releasing it after X amount of years."

Go on, wrack your brains. I'm sure we'll see some repetition, but I've no doubt some dark horses too.

Des

I'll start Des. My controversial trio....

1. C1 Bel Canto as it's so unique
2. C60 MK3 (and iterations beyond) with the light catcher case. CW's flagship offering IMO
3. C65 Aquitaine GMT (with sapphire bezel and an all-round timeless looker)

I'm certain other forumites will disagree

I don't think there are any wrong answers here and I would expect to see a wide range of watches.

Here are my three:

1. C60. I could see them releasing a revival edition with onion hands sometime down the road that will have long time CW watchers drool (although I prefer the newer handset myself).
2. C9 Small Seconds. I can see this one coming back someday with a newer version of the SH21 in it.
3. C8 UTC World Timer. A personal pick here as this is still one of my favorite looking watches they have ever made.

I’m going to be controversial here and say none. CW need to keep models in production for longer and go with an evolution not revolution approach. As much as the trident dive watch has been a long-standing piece in their product range, in only 3 generations it looks a completely different watch.

For a watch to stand the test of time and still be relevant in 40 years time there needs to be some thread of continuity throughout its life.

There’s a reason the submariner, speedmaster and El primero still look good, they look like the older models. I don’t there’s been a watch through CW history that this applies to sadly.

This one will be a future classic for sure.
scooter

@iain I agree 100% with most everything you have said. The near frantic pace of new releases, and subsequent dismissal of others, makes my head spin. To become a classic, it has to be a design unique to the brand, and needs to survive, unchanged more than a few months. That being said, the C8PR, my first CW, is the one I will always consider a CW classic. Not a classic design in the same sense as the C9 small seconds, but classic as being unique to the brand.

iain wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:02 pm For a watch to stand the test of time and still be relevant in 40 years time there needs to be some thread of continuity throughout its life.

I don't necessarily share your opinion, Iain, sorry. I think the Super Compressor is a good case in point. CW revisited outdated tech, but really honoured old tradition. There was no need to do so, modern cases and screw down crowns have made the S C case redundant. CW only offered the watch in three colourways, with only one being now available. It's a stand alone piece that made a lot of people aware of the appeal of Super Compressor's. If nothing else CW will be responsible for a spike in search engine searches for EPSA. They also paid respect to the Super Compressor's of yore in their own inimitable way.

Des

^^^^^ absolutely fine to disagree. I have owned 2 super compressors and I wouldn’t have bought the second I’d I didn’t like them.

However as you point out many of the colours are discontinued already. I see most of CWs range as being very much “great at the time” but not necessarily a long standing classic. To achieve that they need to be around longer. The quick turnaround of the range seems to be chasing fashions rather than setting a trend.

If I can mention Zenith who seem to be releasing some old “classics”. Every time I see them I tend to think that they stopped making them for a reason.

Classic or dated? It’s a fine line and we won’t always be on the same side of it. In my mind to be classic they need to be timeless.

I am also going to disagree @iain at least with one of your examples. The Rolex Sub of 1953 was very different from the Sub of 1973 (20 years on which is where CW is sitting right now). Handset, dial, case and bezel all different. While the 1973 Sub is closer to the 2023 Sub you can most definitely see the differences side by side. What will remain to be seen is if the C60 changes radically from here on out. The other examples are probably closer to your point, especially the Speedmaster which has been largely unchanged.

But as I said, there is no wrong answer here and yours is just as valid as any other.

I half agree with Iain. Nothing produced up to now has had the longevity to be recalled clearly by enough people in 30 years time to be called a classic.

If there was one, I’d say it would be the Super Compressor. It was a celebrated release, and still available 3 years later and much loved by CW enthusiasts.

I could round it out with the C60 concept and the Bel Canto. Both really strong designs, largely celebrated and successful watches, but the Concept being a one time limited release doesn’t help it go down as a classic.

I totally see the sense in Iain and Dwight’s view. However…

Let us not forget that they have already introduced two “revival” models, albeit as limited editions.

https://cwarchive.knack.com/cwarchive#m ... 570_page=1

Just my opinion, but they erred on both. They based the C8 on the Mk2, and the Mk1 was a much nicer watch. And they made the C5 too big. But hey, what do I know?

C5 Mk1
C63 GMT
Twelve Ti

Based on personal preference, of course. I don’t care for Tridents. I’d love to see a C9 SS with whatever the SH21 v2 happens to be, but whether it was popular enough to revive is a moot point. Popularity will probably outweigh class.

Steve, I am with you in wishing to see a C9 SS with the new SH21 movement at some point in the future. The C9 SS was based on a design that goes back most of a century in watchmaking. So, in my book, it already is a classic. Of the current CW watches, I believe the Super Compressor would come the closest to being revisited as a classic design at some time in the future. I will agree with what has been written that the CW ranges do need to have a shelf life of more than two or three to have a chance at future “classic” status.

Delmar

scooter wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:05 pm This one will be a future classic for sure.

43B45973-832E-4C47-A067-004F64E1460E.jpeg

scooter

^ that is THE iconic CW Forum LE @scooter - completely agree !

I’m with @iain and @watchaholic on this one.

Twist my arm though, and I’ll say the C65 Trident Vintage, but I'm biased.

ajax87 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 18, 2023 6:12 pm If there was one, I’d say it would be the Super Compressor. It was a celebrated release, and still available 3 years later and much loved by CW enthusiasts.

I could round it out with the C60 concept and the Bel Canto. Both really strong designs, largely celebrated and successful watches, but the Concept being a one time limited release doesn’t help it go down as a classic.

These would probably be my choices too, Alex, although I don't have any skin in the game. Just because the Concept was an LE it doesn't mean that it couldn't enter mainstream production years down the road. Wasn't the BC a LE too? I think classic status can be conferred by how a watch is received by the wider watch buying public, sometimes this is achieved with a short manufacturing run. Shaking up the apple cart is as worthy of classic status as long manufacturing runs.

Des