^^^ I don’t use the FB groups now, but I sense plenty of enthusiasm for the new models on the Forum. Just not within the general purlieu of the demographic outlined above.

Who are they targeting? In a quote from MF -

We are very clear about who our customers are. We could categorise them social-demographically, but that is all a bit hit-or-miss. What know they are quite wealthy, and aged 25 to 55. What differentiates them more than anything is that our customers are typically curious men. They are curious about life in general and not the classic brand ponies. They are independent of mind and spirit, and their curiosity leads them to brands like ours.

Also the accounts from mid 2022 give a clue -
Sales were down 12.5% in the UK and up 14.2% internationally. With excellent USA growth of 14.9% for this year and 42.4% over two years. The UK accounts for around 37% of turnover, Europe 20%, USA 29%, Other 14%.

Regardless of the above a watch could still be a hit with anyone, depending upon what someone already has, what they now want and even when each individual started their watch buying journey which we are all very familiar with.

The styling and quality are better than ever in my opinion. CW has successfully, incrementally gotten better and better and miraculously the prices seem about equivalent to 2008 if you ask me.

I’m not a fan of the pre-ordering, and I’ve made that pretty clear. It’s a mistake, but I’m sure CW will make the best of what they face and keep getting better. I’ll probably grumble a little more before I get over it, then get back to loving the watches.

I look around my watch box, and out of 35-40 watches, I have a few I enjoy more than my CWs, but no watch in my box offers what CW does for the price. Nobody is close right now. CW has always been that to me since my first C40 Speedhawk PVD, but never more so than now.

A1soknownas wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:36 am What know they are quite wealthy, and aged 25 to 55.

Well that’s me done, "I'll get my coat".

Richard D wrote: ↑Sat Oct 01, 2022 10:48 pm

albionphoto wrote: ↑Sat Oct 01, 2022 9:26 pm I'm happy with the watches I have whether they are CW or otherwise.

I’m happy with my watch collection too but I could not but feel guilty having not bought a watch when I visited the CW showroom. I’ve never not come away without a watch. I’m definitely not their target audience, I’d be interested to know who is? Like you my bank account has had a reprieve. Having said that, my wife is delight as today I did buy a new oak table and chairs for our kitchen diner.

Legend has it that Declan manages to help 90% of the victims at No. 1 buy a watch. I have been that victim a few times but I've also managed to escape without a purchase. Declan's role and the role of "your consultant" at a shop or boutique is to get you to buy and to make the process as painless and pleasant as possible.

I'm not sure who the target market is. Looking at CW's and other watch releases it is someone who likes watches smaller than 40mm, likes dive watches, retro copy watches, overly fussy design and fauxtina lume. C60 300 aside the market trends are moving away from my taste. Once upon a time there would be a lot of 42mm variants, makes you wonder how long that will be the case.
I hope your wife likes the oak table. I sank my CW budget on a new camera...

I must be part of the target market (though slightly older) as I like a lot of the watches in the current line up and have bought two of them this year. I went through a long phase where nothing in the CW range took my fancy but the introduction of the Sealander last year changed that and I eventually took the plunge a few months ago, along with the Atoll which was an impulse purchase. Even though I’m comfortable wearing watches up to 42mm, I do prefer them to be smaller so the move towards watches below 40mm meets my approval.

albionphoto wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:47 pm I hope your wife likes the oak table. I sank my CW budget on a new camera...

Declan had the day off but I doubt if he had been there the result would have been any different. As for the oak table, my wife is delighted and that’s a result. Hope you are enjoying your new camera.

I bought my 1st CW in November 2013, with others following shortly after.

I have never understand the view often expressed on here that CW are a gateway brand and that after a while people will move on to more exalted brands.

At the point that I bought my 1st CW I had already owned a JLC for over 6 years. Up until mid 2016 I bought a combination of further CWs and additional watches from more expensive brands, including watches regarded as iconic or grail like, for those that like to categorise their wrist wear in such a manner (I don’t!).

I then went into a fallow period as far as buying CWs were concerned, until I dipped my toe back in the water with a Dartmouth in 2020. Further CWs have followed, including a C65 Aquitaine GMT that I seem to have worn far, far more since I bought it almost 3 months ago, than twisty bezel Dive/GMT models from the brand that has a crown on the dial.

I don’t think that I fit in with the supposed CW target market, but when I like a particular CW model it hasn’t stopped me buying it.

Neil

nbg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 5:07 pmbut when I like a particular CW model it hasn’t stopped me buying it.

….and that’s were I am too but I don’t see anything that I like nor do I see anything on the horizon. I would love to be surprised.

There is so much diversity in the lineup, I doubt I will ever experience such a drought of interest. Maybe I should be pickier?

DavidHRC wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:37 pm There is so much diversity in the lineup…

Go back about 7 years, there was much more diversity.

As someone who is on a lot of Watch manufacturers emailing list, there is an abundance of same, same watch designs coming out from high end and low end watch companies and I think it can result in boredom replacing desire.
Christopher Ward is still capable of bring an excitement to a design such as the Super Compressor and the Cholchester, but they still need their mainstream watches such as the Sealanders.
You cannot question the quality of CW watches but I find myself are drawn towards watches that give a little off piste design, I have just pre ordered a Studio Underdog just because its a little different but I still expect CW to produce something soon that that I desire and not just like.

... i feel like you.
i like almost watches of brand but in
this moment there is not one just for
buy, because a reason or another...
tastes and needess change. i know in
future (no far away) another cw will come home

Richard D wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 5:31 pm

nbg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 5:07 pmbut when I like a particular CW model it hasn’t stopped me buying it.

….and that’s were I am too but I don’t see anything that I like nor do I see anything on the horizon. I would love to be surprised.

Forgive my bluntness, but I just think you are overthinking it and angsting over nothing (see your guilt over not buying anything at CW HQ).



I've long known that CW's main target customer base did not include me (Mike France: "curious men").

But yet, even from the old days when they had a quartz women's line, I always found their men's watches attractive and tasteful, and not overly a macho man's watch, if you know what I mean. I could see the difference between CW's designs, and some other small (at that time) watch brands specialising in tool or military-themed watches. That was my opinion anyway, when I first got to know about CW around 2010.

So yes, when I saw a CW watch I liked and which my small wrists could handle, it didn't stop me buying it. But I am also content just admiring certain CW watches that I find objectively cool or attractive, but which I don't think are for me, size or style-wise.

asqwerth wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 11:54 am
Forgive my bluntness, but I just think you are overthinking it and angsting over nothing (see your guilt over not buying anything at CW HQ).

I think it’s good to be blunt and be honest. I did feel guilty having left the showroom empty handed, I had spent 2 hours there. Thoughts of ‘I’ve wasted their time and why wasn’t I excited’ did cross my mind, but nothing more. The watches I saw were all beautiful presented but nothing caught my imagination. Coincidentally, in the same week I posted on FB car group a list of ‘dislikes’ about my new car at 5000 miles. It was a personal honest reflection, adding that I’m throughly enjoying the drive and have no regrets. No surprise then when I got hammered by some people. That’s not to say anyone has done the same here, it’s as it says, “I’ve reached a cross road with CW”.