Clach77 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 8:56 am Of all the Bel Canto variations, this is my clear favourite. I like the black hour and minute hands and I love the shade of orange.

I just know from bitter experience that some orange dials just don't work on my wrist. I know when I look like a t1t!

tikkathree wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 11:13 am

Clach77 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 8:56 am Of all the Bel Canto variations, this is my clear favourite. I like the black hour and minute hands and I love the shade of orange.

I just know from bitter experience that some orange dials just don't work on my wrist. I know when I look like a t1t!

tikkathree wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 11:13 am I just know from bitter experience that some orange dials just don't work on my wrist. I know when I look like a t1t!

I'm very fortunate in that I'm blissfully ignorant when it comes to whether I look like one.

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 9:05 am @JAFO

From the information in the Oracle of Time article it is, to me, clearly a Bespoke order (Oracle of Time mentions collaboration).

In addition I've been in contact overnight with a McLaren owning close friend of mine, who was involved in the two previous McLaren Owners CW bespoke editions, and he is already aware of this Bel Canto.

Guy

Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk

I read the article as suggesting the idea came from McLaren enthusiasts, but that it was just a CW limited edition. I assume I just drew the wrong conclusion. Maybe there's McLaren branding on the case back. It seemed strange to me that a reviewer would even be aware of the watch unless CW had publicised it in some way.

The article has been taken down now.

It's a stunning dial... but at the risk of being a bit chintzy? I have my Trident 300 on a white dial with the orange rubber strap. Even in my conservative workplace where the suits have only recently been disposed of, it works. The Dutch lady who does the company eye tests was the only one that commented.

I'd been considering a bel canto as a more elegant, work of art or artisanry on the wrist. But I like a bit if colour. The purple seemed to be the one for me. Black maybe, but if I'm going avant guard, I feel I should go all in. And I like the red beak. The other new colours are a bit too understated for me since I already have a white dial CW.

And the Bel Canto is about gracefully marking the hour with a graceful note.

Now I do love orange, and the strap with the stitching looks awesome. But this is less graceful and more bat-out-of-hell. The bell should be bells from AC/DC's Hell's Bells. I had in fact been waiting for an orange dial after my preferred blue was gone.

I like the black hands make reading the time a little easier. Shame about the red beak going, but colour clash I guess.

This will get a lot of eyes and questions for sure. I can see me looking down at this and grinning, but the purple I'd feel like a sophisticated Willy Wonka - extravagent.

I think it will sell out pronto and go on the resale market though, so the best way to judge would be to buy and decide with it on my wrist. If they don't get snapped up within 10 minutes of going on sale.

Willy Wonka or Crash Bandicoot... decisions, decisions.

StrappedUp wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 9:29 am Will look good behind the wheel of the McLaren! I'm curious as to how CW have arrived at a cheaper price for a bespoke LE though compared to the regular production model.

Perhaps…

Commissioned and paid for, before the recent price increase.

Neil

@Moneypit - great summary

sproughton wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 12:17 pm

tikkathree wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 11:13 am I just know from bitter experience that some orange dials just don't work on my wrist. I know when I look like a t1t!

I'm very fortunate in that I'm blissfully ignorant when it comes to whether I look like one.

What was it Groucho Marx said "laugh and the world laughs with you, act like a tit and the world laughs at you"? At least it could have been Groucho Marx but maybe it was Dave Allen

^^^^
It doesn't sound like a word dear Julius would have used, for sure.

I've got a friend who is not a watch guy - he only really owns one watch, an orange C60 Sapphire (I may have sent him in the right direction on that one...) and he was messaging me about this one first thing this morning (I'll convert him yet! )

The phoenix orange looks stunning in pictures - such a shame its a limited edition as it'll take me years to save enough for one :'(

This colour is my third favourite; the first two LEs taking the top spots. I didn't think vibrant colours would suit the Bel Canto. I've been proven wrong.

I'm looking forward to other colour variants that may materialise, although, the production backlog will certainly make that a long wait.

Squalus wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 4:04 pm This colour is my third favourite; the first two LEs taking the top spots. I didn't think vibrant colours would suit the Bel Canto. I've been proven wrong.

I'm looking forward to other colour variants that may materialise, although, the production backlog will certainly make that a long wait.

A couple of years is nothing much in the grand scheme of things, especially if you are getting a watch that's a bargain at list price. If you were offered a guaranteed date for a Rolex you wouldn't ever pay a grey premium, would you?

I got quite excited about this...I'm partial to an orange watch...but the original article appears to have been removed...hopefully it may rematerialise at some stage

NB

I just noticed I'm tagged in this thread, so thought it best to clear up some misunderstanding in some interpretations of the Oracle report.

The press article was accurate in what it reported, as it was based on the PDF of the Bel Canto Phoenix, but there was room for inadvertent misinterpretation. I will try to address those points in my post.

The Bel Canto Phoenix is a bespoke project that is limited to 99 pieces. It is for my supercar groups and watch group from one of those supercar groups, and was never intended for general release. In fact only having 99 pieces there were never enough watches for that, as it's a tiny production run. Secondly, 40% of the production was pre-allocated even before a single person saw the design - just based on my description to my watch group. Finally, when members saw the design, it was universally loved so I expect it will sell out and be oversubscribed within these groups.

The watch is not discounted in any way whatsoever. (My understanding is that CW do not discount bespoke projects, and now do not discount their watches generally or offer vouchers.) The reason the watch appears slightly lower priced than current Bel Canto is simply because this project was underway for many months, and long preceded the price rise. The watch is in fact slightly more expensive than Bel Canto was pre-price rise, but that's another matter.

Regarding production, the Bel Canto Phoenix is not delaying production of Azzurro, Verde, or the four series watches that have already been ordered by customers. Its production slots in after those orders.

Finally, the watch has no McLaren branding whatsoever and is not related at all to the brand. My supercar groups also have Ferrari, Lamborghini and other marque owners. The only connection was to my own car which inspired me in terms of the colour etc. Contrary to speculation there is also no such branding on the case back, which has a Phoenix motif.

I hope this settles the speculation

@JasH Thank you for clearing that up. An article like that appearing out of the blue (or perhaps the orange) will always provoke speculation. I’m sure the discussion will continue, but at least we can draw a line under whether or not it will be available.