O.k., guys, what do you think about the latest material on the Kingfisher?

My current feelings:

What I like:

- the dial: this is a diver, the big hour-markers and broad hands really give the watch a sturdy toolwatch-feeling!
- The rubber straps with CW-logo look good, the two-toned metal one on the last pic even better, I'll probably need both
- 300M!! I will never need this, but still I'm a sucker for those thinks, hey, it beats my Seiko SKX007 diver!
- The NDL-table, again, will never use it, love it still the same


What I don't like:
- The second-hand on the last pics, with the bird! For me it doesn't go with the broad hands, and I don't want a bird in my diver It's not a Flieger!
- Quartz, but CW is forced to start with Quartz simply because there are not enough ETA-calibers being supplied; but CW is definately planning a mechanical Kingfisher, in the design the position of buttons and case-dimensions are already prepared for this!

What I hope to like:
- The price, would be great if it would beat my Seiko SKX007 on that too!

My personal conclusion:
Based on the latest images, if the Kingfisher was supplied with mechanical movement, this would certainly become my next diver. Now that the diver starts with Quartz, I will have to think about it, if it is not to expensive, this still might very well become my next diver.

I noticed two different markers on the bezel, a round one at 15 minutes and a triangle at zero minutes. Hmm, couldn't that cause confusion when resetting the bezel?
And what about the count-up/count-down bezel? Almost every diver is counting up, this one is counting down. I guess that would mean a no-go for a professional diver because they are used to count-up...

Sorry guys,I wrote this in a different thread before i read this one,so i repeat it here.

I like the name of the Watch very much and hope the second hand gets the bird attached same as the C4 carrying on the bird theme although the pics seem to show bird on the tip this time.

Hope there's not to many colours to choose from because i will not know what to pick,all look good.

I very much like the look of the bezel except I don't like both the dot and triangle for the same reason Hans stated. Plus, as I have already stated, I prefer a count up bezel. I tried telling the waitress how long she had as one forum member suggested, but that didn't work, so it really needs to count up in my opinion.

I like that the NDL table is on the back. I don't even know what an NDL table is. but I assume it is diver info which lends legitimacy to the watch as a diver. I also like the way the case back gripping holes (have no idea what you call them) align with the NDL table. That suits my need for symmetry

I am not fond of the name Kingfisher either. I think a cool British submarine name would be better. Something like the Dreadnought or Sceptre, or maybe even Nautilus..better yet, the Viperfish!

I would be much more likely to go with the bracelet as opposed to the rubber strap, but I think the rubber straps look good and integrate very seamlessly with the case. I wish the braclet would integrate as seamlessly.

I am not crazy about the dial or hands. I would sure like to see a lot more (a lot lot lot more) lume on the dial. And, I hope there is a nice bright yellow dial to choose from. I feel like the yellow dial colors look a little different (less good) on my tube monitor here at work right now, than they did on my flat panel at home last night. On the tube, they look a litlle 'mustardy'. On my flat panel, they looked brighter.

But, I mist say that the case and bezel look very sharp. I think it will be a big hit for Chris once he can get the automatic movements in it...and assuming a price to value ratio consistent with what we have been seeing for his oither auto watches.

I think that I must see things slightly differently to everyone else here - count up or down would not be ab issue to me due to the fact that I look at the hand position in respect to the marker point (not that I am a hardened diver, just in general).

Also for the same reason I couldn't care less about lume on the dial as long as the hands are very clear and bright and you could throw the second hand away for all I care...

As for overall impressions - I think that the rubber strap actually looks a lot better at the moment than the bracelet.

Overall I will definitely be buying one when they become available as long as the price is not silly.

As for quartz vs mechanical - I think that this would end up being my every day watch so from a "green" point of view I guess mechanical would be better, from a coolness factor to show off to other people it's better too - but from experience the back of automatic watches can be quite fragile especially with a heavy case and substantial bracelet.

jamestux wrote:... but from experience the back of automatic watches can be quite fragile especially with a heavy case and substantial bracelet.

Can you elaborate on that?

Hans wrote:My current feelings:

What I like:

- the dial: this is a diver, the big hour-markers and broad hands really give the watch a sturdy toolwatch-feeling!
- The rubber straps with CW-logo look good, the two-toned metal one on the last pic even better, I'll probably need both
- 300M!! I will never need this, but still I'm a sucker for those thinks, hey, it beats my Seiko SKX007 diver!
- The NDL-table, again, will never use it, love it still the same


What I don't like:
- The second-hand on the last pics, with the bird! For me it doesn't go with the broad hands, and I don't want a bird in my diver It's not a Flieger!
- Quartz, but CW is forced to start with Quartz simply because there are not enough ETA-calibers being supplied; but CW is definately planning a mechanical Kingfisher, in the design the position of buttons and case-dimensions are already prepared for this!

What I hope to like:
- The price, would be great if it would beat my Seiko SKX007 on that too!

My personal conclusion:
Based on the latest images, if the Kingfisher was supplied with mechanical movement, this would certainly become my next diver. Now that the diver starts with Quartz, I will have to think about it, if it is not to expensive, this still might very well become my next diver.

Looking at the pictures in the "News"-Section I had the same thoughts.

I definitely like:

- dial
- case
- 300 m
- the design in general

I do not need:

- NDL-table
- rubber- ore metal-strap (I am always wearing leather straps)

I do not like:

- bird on the second hand
- quarz movement (This is a no-go for me)

My summary:

I will wait for the final pictures to make my decision. Only the mechanical version will be an option for me. I already have a Citizen Promaster Automatic and I am thinking about a Seiko SKX 007. Both are about 150,- Euros (100 Pounds) and offer great value for the money .
I think the CW Kingfisher is in competition with these to watches and will be measured up to the Citizen and the Seiko in price and quality.

Nico

Okay, there's a lot of info to digest and I may change my mind on some things.

I'll get the stuff that jumps out at me out of the way first.

I don't like the bezel on the lower versions very much. Mainly the recessed sections. It's just a place to collect dirt. I think it should be smooth like the ones toward the top.

I don't have a problem with the watch being called a Kingfisher, but I don't want a bird on the dial. I think if one is added to the second hand it should be on the short side. The diving version. Not the one getting ready to dive. Another possible location for said animal is on the case back. I do like the the NDL table though. Not sure how relevant it is on the back of my watch, but I trust Chris's judgment on it's importance.

The upper versions of the bracelet looks identical to my Seiko bracelet so a bit of a disappointment. I was hoping for a SEL bracelet because I don't have one and I'd like to get both rubber strap and bracelet.

Dials: I want lots of lume. I like the first watch shown that has triangles at 3,6,9,12. The other hour markers are large too. I like this style. I like the skeleton hands for no other reason than I think they look cool. If the are bright, all the better. I also want a dot on the second hand.

So many color choices you really need to see the whole watch to get a good feel for it. I'm leaning toward something with a little orange or red in it.

If I had to pick one of the watches today it'd probably be the the one that's third from the left in the row of four.

Movement: It's a shame an auto will not be available for some time. I know it's not Chris's fault, but I'm still disappointed. I'm really curious as to the movement he has planned.

joerattz wrote:

jamestux wrote:... but from experience the back of automatic watches can be quite fragile especially with a heavy case and substantial bracelet.

Can you elaborate on that?

I did in another post but here goes...

I had a Seiko kinetic - a really solid top of the range one when they were all circular about 10 years ago. One day playing rugby I got kicked in the face and my lip was split badly so I was rushed to hospital.

Someone threw my kit bag containing my watch to the physio who was not very good at catching...

The sapphire crystal on the front was fine, but the bracelet shattered the glass in the back filling the movement with lots of tiny pieces of glass - the repair bill seemed excessive (I could have bought a cheaper kinetic for less than the repair) and they were going to put the parts in from a cheaper watch anyway.

It was my last automatic and is now cloging up a land fill somewhere

jamestux wrote: but from experience the back of automatic watches can be quite fragile especially with a heavy case and substantial bracelet.

I had a Seiko kinetic ...

I just stumbled onto your explanation in that other thread.

I think it would be a little misleading to say that automatic watches can be fragile with a heavy case and substantial bracelet. Many automatics have a solid stainless steel back so there is no problem whatsoever like that. I assume you mean those with exhibition backs. In that case, yeah, I can see that perhaps being an issue. But now that I think about it, I am not sure Chris has ever indicated whether the diver would have an exhibition back or not. On the one hand, I have previously stated that I think all automatics should have an exhibition back, although my monster that I love so much does not. On the other, I can see divers being an exception to that because perhaps an exhibition back hampers water resistance?

But, I am confused as to what kind of watch you really had. You said it was a Seiko kinetic, but you also said it was an automatic. Since it apparently had an exhibition back, and since I have never seen a Seiko kinetic with an exhibition back, I assume it was really an automatic, and not a Seiko kinetic?

Hans, I see in the News forum you stated that the price of the KingFisher might be 160-190 BP, but that is not a fact. Did you get any sense...is that non-factual price meant for the quartz version alone, or both versions, indicating that the quartz might be somewhere near the bottom of that range, and the auto somewhere near the top?

The Quartz KingFisher I prefer without display-back!

Oh yeah, that's right, we saw what the back is going to look like in the mockups. It has the NDL tables on it. If NDL tables are useful for divers, then I am all for it being on the watch since it is a diver. But, if it weren't, it would be nice to get some oither useful information on there. Like maybe international country calling codes for example...or maybe standard to metric conversion factor.

Chris, how about a watch for computer geeks with ASCII to EBCDIC tables? Or, operator precedence?

joerattz wrote:Hans, I see in the News forum you stated that the price of the KingFisher might be 160-190 BP, but that is not a fact. Did you get any sense...is that non-factual price meant for the quartz version alone, or both versions, indicating that the quartz might be somewhere near the bottom of that range, and the auto somewhere near the top?

Joe, as I understand this is for the quartz-version, no idea where in the range the price will and, but I would be greatly surprised if it would be outside this range...