Well, I've just been reading the Fratello launch report on the new Chrono and it seems all my conspiracy theories are just that. Here is the reason in black and white....

"The reason for making this watch a quartz chronograph is that the British Military’s quartz watches from the 1980s inspired this new release"

So now we all know !

Hicksmat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:24 am £715 for a quartz.

Unless you pay £550 for it.

I’ve only really started enjoying watches in the last 12 months (after being a habitual Apple Watch wearer before) and I don’t understand the dislike for quartz.

Sure - I love automatics. They’re machines of wonders. The fact that your wrist can “charge” your watch. They really are amazing. But a quartz has its place right? They tend to be slimmer. They tend to be more accurate. They tend to be cheaper. They don’t need winding.

I suspect the fact that CW had apparently said “no more quartz watches” is muddying (or amplifying?) the negative reactions slightly?

kev017 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:10 am I’ve only really started enjoying watches in the last 12 months (after being a habitual Apple Watch wearer before) and I don’t understand the dislike for quartz.

Sure - I love automatics. They’re machines of wonders. The fact that your wrist can “charge” your watch. They really are amazing. But a quartz has its place right? They tend to be slimmer. They tend to be more accurate. They tend to be cheaper. They don’t need winding.

I suspect the fact that CW had apparently said “no more quartz watches” is muddying (or amplifying?) the negative reactions slightly?

I don't think people are fundamentally against quartz but often the interest in watches is to do with the mechanical element and therefore many people are just less interested in quartz. They have a place and do a great job.

I've never quite understood the "grab & go" argument given setting a mechanical watch is rarely more than a 10 seconds job.

And yes, I imagine many people are slightly jaded by CW proclamations that tend to be over the top and the "no more quartz" one probably sits in that group.

To the watch: looks fine, reminds me of other quartz chronographs CW have produced previously and hopefully it's a good seller for them.

Hicksmat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:24 am £715 for a quartz.

£550 -strap
£675 - Bader bracelet
£715 - Consort bracelet

Kip wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:05 am

Hicksmat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:24 am £715 for a quartz.

£550 -strap
£675 - Bader bracelet
£715 - Consort bracelet

I don’t really know what you’re attempting to say to me. I have read the article.

kev017 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:10 am I suspect the fact that CW had apparently said “no more quartz watches” is muddying (or amplifying?) the negative reactions slightly?

I do feel slightly amused by all the brouhaha and people feeling let down about this; I gave up bothering about this sort of thing years ago. Back in the day, I used to get quite vexed when CW kept on producing things I didn’t like, retired things I did like and never got round to even contemplating things I would almost certainly have liked. They are still doing it, but I got over it. I stated in the survey what would get me reaching for the wallet, but I don’t think there is a snowball’s chance in Hades of ever seeing it. But then, I’m not the only customer and I’m almost certainly not high on the target audience list.

Sure, they said no more quartz, but that statement was made years ago and was hardly legally binding in the first place.

Bottom line; if you don’t like it, don’t buy it. I’m out for three reasons: I feel no connection to military watches; I don’t like panda or reverse panda; I don’t need another chronograph, or even another watch.

Hicksmat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:09 am

Kip wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:05 am

Hicksmat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:24 am £715 for a quartz.

£550 -strap
£675 - Bader bracelet
£715 - Consort bracelet

I don’t really know what you’re attempting to say to me. I have read the article.

Just wanted you to be certain there were less expensive variants available.

On the Instagram announcement it says it’s “the first chronograph of 2024” so there may be more on the way this year?

I’ve never owned a chronograph before and have been recently looking into what’s available. Mechanical chronographs in my price bracket all seem to be quite thick and chunky and the high servicing costs are off putting so quartz seems to be the way to go. This one is definitely an option so I’m looking forward to seeing some real on the wrist photos once it starts shipping.

Just looks a bit overly expensive by £50 for the strap and maybe £75-100 for the bracelets. I get bracelets cost individually but it is a bit of an ask for a quartz.

If they are all kept under £700 it would be an easier sell, mainly psychologically. CW have bust the older pricing brackets and the stealth increases and repositioning are here to stay.

A tissot pr516 quartz chronograph is £475 full price on bracelet.

This is a very good watch. It re-opens an accessible price point for the brand and an HAQ quartz movement is a good thing. I rather like the reverse panda with different coloured hands for each of the sub-dials and the applied indices are neat and well done. The military connection is what it is. CW have a licence to use the official crests and they should make full use of that licence. If you're not into the military link then don't look at the case back which is where the principal imagery resides. The rest is marketing.

I was lucky enough to be shown one of these at CW Towers recently. It is a very fine thing that looks great on wrist. The proportions work well with the Light-catcher(TM) case and reverse panda dials nearly always look good. I like it and quartz shouldn't bother anyone especially as it allows a wider audience to afford the watch. Inflation has been tough on everyone and this is a welcome return to the entry level price point that many say they want to see again. Will I buy one? No. I have a lot of chronographs in my collection already and my watch buying plans for 2024 were set in place well before the Valour was announced but I can see this being a good fit for a lot of people due to its size, design and even its water resistance. Ignore the military link if you must but many people like that story and either way, this is a good watch.

I’ve avoided mechanical chronographs because they are typically too bulky and often pricey. A quartz solution is an attractive one, especially at 39mm diameter and under 12mm thick.

I don’t think it overpriced.

I've never owned a chronograph and never been much interested. But if there was to be a chronograph experiment this would (might) be it.
Tissot may make a cheaper chronograph but it wouldn't come in a CW case on a CW bracelet. CW cases are just better than any I've handled at this or higher price points - an aspect of watches that I think is often undervalued. Bracelets I don't have as much experience of, but some around these parts rate them very highly. Specs are lovely for my requirements.

A great release for CW - nice one!

@missF Didn't you have an Alex sport chronograph?