timepieces_and_bags wrote: ↑Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:39 pm Good evening everyone.

I was extremely excited to receive my new C1 Bel Canto Nero today. Thought I would share my initial thoughts. Photos also posted to Reference Gallery.

First off, I love the dial, design and size. Would I have preferred the blue instead of black based on pictures I have seen? Probably, but the Nero was the model available that I preferred the most and it still does the trick.

I ordered both the Bader bracelet and the black leather strap. It's my first Bader bracelet and I was a little surprised by the lightness to it, but that's just my unfamiliarity with it I think. I quickly switched it out for the leather strap (super easy process) and that's what I've worn it on so far (for the first 15 minutes...) My next step will be to re-size the Bader and see how it feels, but so far I'm preferring it on the leather for both feel and aesthetic. A very minor quibble is that the loops on the leather strap do feel a little thin.

Legibility is fairly difficult (not uncommon I think), but that's really not what you buy this watch for is it? If I was more disappointed anywhere it would probably be in the volume and sustain of the chime itself. I've watched a few videos of it online and on video it definitely seems to ring out more than in 'real life'. I have recorded a couple of videos myself and the chime definitely sounds louder recorded, so by no means do I think mine is faulty or anything, but maybe I was just expecting more from having seen those videos.

Probably a 7/10 so far but I think this is a grower and I'm going to love it over time. Maybe it's the weight of expectation from the perspective of the time since pre-ordering (more on that below), the higher cost relative to other CWs, and the rave reviews I've had plenty of time to digest.

My order process for information:
- Ordered third week of October 2023, for delivery end June 2024
- Update received mid-May indicating the gongs were not up to scratch and delivery would be end September 2024
- Payment link received last week of July saying watch would dispatch ten days after payment
- Watch dispatched eight days after payment

I'm pretty happy with the lead time. I knew it would be a long wait and ultimately it's been dispatched only around five weeks after the initial delivery date. Given some parts had to be sent back I would say this is pretty decent, and I'd much rather have a better timepiece a few weeks later than something under quality control standards.

Finally, my one rather silly and inexperienced question (this being my first CW leather strap), is in relation to the last photo I've posted. Do you remove the brown "hook" connected to the strap loop? It tends to bunch up and poke out when actually wearing the watch but doesn't look obviously removable. Sorry it's probably a very dumb question...

Best,
TB


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