In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Discuss Christopher Ward watches

What should Christopher Ward do with their branding?

Keep it as it is - the rebrand is good
29
46%
Revert back to their old Chr.Ward brand and refresh it
24
38%
Create a 'heritage' and a 'modernist' line of watches
10
16%
 
Total votes: 63

User avatar
Kip
The Administrator
The Administrator
Posts: 35127
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
CW-watches: 150
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
LE-five: yes
LE-six: yes
LESeven: yes
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by Kip »

Although I did not partake in the poll, I have followed the topic with interest. The comments seem to be following the poll and and have provided a definitive and clear cut opinion as to what CW should have done. :escape:
These users thanked the author Kip for the post:
Amor Vincit Omnia
Kip

"Asylum Administrator"


Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
jf72
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:29 pm

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by jf72 »

Kip wrote: Wed May 04, 2022 11:49 pm Although I did not partake in the poll, I have followed the topic with interest. The comments seem to be following the poll and and have provided a definitive and clear cut opinion as to what CW should have done. :escape:
go on... scratch that itch and pick an option ;)

in all seriousness, I was very impressed with CW for their recent limited edition revival watches, like they could have just rereleased the Malvern exactly as it was and said 'here you go' but they took the time to redesign the watch case... i just wonder if they would consider doing the same for a LE of the MKII trident for the forum, addressing some of the gripes that people had about the MKII's? presuming interest from the forum members of course!
User avatar
asqwerth
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3537
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:47 am
CW-watches: 8

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by asqwerth »

jf72 wrote: Wed May 04, 2022 7:41 pm
...
and this is why i threw the reworking of the trident in the same category as the mentality came from the same place IMO. what seemed crazy to me was to replace the old trident rather than just have the new sword hand ones as a separate new line, it's like Rolex completely replacing the Submariner design with something unrecognisable!
But your poll/thread was about the 2016 rebranding and whether it was a mistake looking back. That is a specific question, totally different from reworking the Trident, even if you believe the actions of reworking the Trident come from the same mentality.

The Trident line has been refreshed and changed before. Original Trident had aluminium insert bezels, while Mk 2 had ceramic bezels and higher WR. The bezels were definitely an improvement.

There were other models that were changed, or new lines introduced (and old ones discontinued) before the 2016 rebranding. Then you had the introduction of Bader clasps + Cordovan straps, steel bracelets with better clasps. I think that is just part of CW refreshing their watch lines and improving products once in a while.

Some might not like the changes and reworking, others are fine with it, but I don't think refreshing the Trident line (Mk3) is part of the 2016 rebranding.

And I repeat what I said about the original Trident in my earliest post in this thread: when it came out, there were people who felt the hour (onion) and the minute hands' shapes looked too much like the Bremont Supermarine's. And the wavy dial was accused of being too much a copy of Omega Seamaster's look (I don't agree about the wavy dial, but there were such posts on this forum).

So you may think the original handset and dial was highly original and that the new one is not, but from posts in this forum, there were people who didn't agree with that. IMO, this is a subjective thing.
These users thanked the author asqwerth for the post (total 3):
Amor Vincit OmniaKipjkbarnes
C5As~FLE12R~W61~C60GMT~FLE15~SC
Orion33/Tetra2~BallEH~Montblanc~Tudor BB36~Archimede36~Damasko~Revue T~BremontSolo37~MJW
Vintage~Bulova23~Polerouter~Wittnauer~Longines~Omega~Soumar~Eterna~Gruen

Quartz~Matisse~FLE17~Ebel~Citizen
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35067
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »


jf72 wrote:
in all seriousness, I was very impressed with CW for their recent limited edition revival watches, like they could have just rereleased the Malvern exactly as it was and said 'here you go' but they took the time to redesign the watch case... i just wonder if they would consider doing the same for a LE of the MKII trident for the forum, addressing some of the gripes that people had about the MKII's? presuming interest from the forum members of course!
An interesting observation and suggestion considering that, in the third post within this thread, you seemed to be unaware that CW had released "their recent limited edition revival watches".


Bahnstormer_vRS wrote:
jf72 wrote: Sun May 01, 2022 7:57 pm . . ... .

I would love to see some limited editions with the old logo... . .
CW are ahead of you on this with the C5 Malvern Revival Special Edition sporting a V_1 logo and the C8 Pilot Revival Special Edition sporting a V_2 logo; both released in January this year.

Guy


. . . . .or am I misunderstanding your comments? :-k :-k

Guy


Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk



In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
User avatar
golfjunky
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 6827
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:32 pm
Location: Essex

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by golfjunky »

This result baffles me as i thought the Chr.Ward was the most disliked of them all.
Current collection = Omega Seamaster 2225.80.00, Omega Speedmaster 'Moonphase' 3576.50.00, Breitling Aerospace Evo, Vintage Azur, Vintage Seiko Sprtsman, Grand Seiko SBGX059, Omega SMP NTTD 210.92.42.20.01.001, Casioak Milkyway, Casioak Tiffany Sky.
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33723
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

golfjunky wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 10:11 am This result baffles me as i thought the Chr.Ward was the most disliked of them all.
Apparently 15 people like it. I like it too, but I didn’t vote.
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
A1soknownas
Senior Guru
Senior Guru
Posts: 631
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:40 pm

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by A1soknownas »

I voted but not sure why. I selected the third option.

I don't think there is enough selections.

The rebrand in 2016 might have been good but that doesn't mean it should be kept as per the option.

It can be developed further without reverting back to the old logo or creating two.

My vote would be: Good - it got CW where it is now and was certainly a talking point. Now it needs further enhancement, such as placement at 12, how it would work along with the flags etc.

Probably easier to look forward rather than back and this is a mixture of the two.
These users thanked the author A1soknownas for the post:
welshlad
suicidal_orange
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1406
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:20 pm
CW-watches: 6
Location: Somerset

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by suicidal_orange »

What is the "keep" option keeping - "Christopher Ward" or the Swish?
User avatar
watchaholic
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1907
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:28 am
CW-watches: 4
Location: NE North Dakota, USA

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by watchaholic »

After some thought, I have finally voted for a refresh.
The company is referred to as CWL here and other places to the point it really has become synonymous with the brand. How about the large C with small internal w from V1, remove the name Christopher Ward from underneath and leave London. Hence, CWL. I have no skills for the illustration, especially on my phone. Maybe one of you photoshop whiz kids could give it a go.
I just don’t see the whole “swish only” on the dial being a solution at all. Firstly, if you have to explain the meaning of a symbol to people and their response is “oh yea, ok, now I get it” while looking both dazed and confused, I’m sorry, but IMO it’s a big fat FAIL. Secondly, can you imagine a Rolex with just the crown on the dial? Like them or not, you can’t argue with their marketing prowess. CW is no where near having enough name recognition to go about leaving their name, or at least some representation of it, off the dial completely if they want to grow the brand.
Time and money? I’ve spent most of mine on booze and women. The rest I just wasted…
Dwight
jf72
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:29 pm

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by jf72 »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 9:28 am
jf72 wrote:
in all seriousness, I was very impressed with CW for their recent limited edition revival watches, like they could have just rereleased the Malvern exactly as it was and said 'here you go' but they took the time to redesign the watch case... i just wonder if they would consider doing the same for a LE of the MKII trident for the forum, addressing some of the gripes that people had about the MKII's? presuming interest from the forum members of course!
An interesting observation and suggestion considering that, in the third post within this thread, you seemed to be unaware that CW had released "their recent limited edition revival watches".


Bahnstormer_vRS wrote:
jf72 wrote: Sun May 01, 2022 7:57 pm . . ... .

I would love to see some limited editions with the old logo... . .
CW are ahead of you on this with the C5 Malvern Revival Special Edition sporting a V_1 logo and the C8 Pilot Revival Special Edition sporting a V_2 logo; both released in January this year.

Guy


. . . . .or am I misunderstanding your comments? :-k :-k

Guy


Sent from my XPERIA 5 III using Tapatalk
sorry if i gave off the impression i wasn't aware of the revival limited editions lol, of course i was aware :)
User avatar
TheBeatles
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2594
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 8:36 am
CW-watches: 6
Location: England

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by TheBeatles »

watchaholic wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 12:28 pm How about the large C with small internal w
There is a brand, usually on Ideal World, Constantin Weisz that already use that logo.

Not sure they would want to align themselves with that brand, they’re pretty cheap.
Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night. Be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels, Frank Sinatra

All You Need Is Love, The Beatles

Too much of anything is bad. But too much of good whiskey is barely enough, Mark Twain
User avatar
watchaholic
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1907
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:28 am
CW-watches: 4
Location: NE North Dakota, USA

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by watchaholic »

TheBeatles wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 12:46 pm
watchaholic wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 12:28 pm How about the large C with small internal w
There is a brand, usually on Ideal World, Constantin Weisz that already use that logo.

Not sure they would want to align themselves with that brand, they’re pretty cheap.
Never heard of them, but your right if that’s the case.
Too bad, I think that might have worked.
Time and money? I’ve spent most of mine on booze and women. The rest I just wasted…
Dwight
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33723
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

^^^ Already been done, as a visit to your Omniscient Archive would have explained. :D
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
watchaholic
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1907
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:28 am
CW-watches: 4
Location: NE North Dakota, USA

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by watchaholic »

Thanks for the link Steve, but I think I need to edit my post.
It’s hard to describe, but I don’t think what I envisioned has been done.
“How about the large C with small internal w from V1, REMOVE the name Christopher Ward from underneath and leave London. Hence, CWL.”
But if that doesn’t work so be it.
And I’m not saying I wouldn’t buy a CW with the swish only logo, it’s not offensive in any way. I just don’t think it wise from a marketing standpoint to leave your name off what you are trying to sell.
Good discussion, lots of ideas.
Time and money? I’ve spent most of mine on booze and women. The rest I just wasted…
Dwight
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33723
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: In hindsight...was the Christopher Ward rebrand of 2016 a historic mistake?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

^^^ Sorry, Dwight, I see now what you’re getting at.

However (just my opinion) it would be a retrograde step. And also (just my opinion again) it wasn’t a particularly attractive logo in the first place. I have heard it referred to as the cattle brand.
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post