@missF
Thanks Lindsey for the pics and write up. Easy enough to take a load of pics, however adding your thoughts in “Lindsey style” takes time and thought.

I remain tempted by the Farer Portobello.

I am pleased that you had an enjoyable time.

Neil

Wonderful writeup and photos in your own inimitable style, Lindley. Thank you.

I probably need to reread the thread several more times to take it all in and look at the photos on my laptop, especially the Mk3 AnOrdain.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

Ok. CW last.

Here are some random observations.
1. CW watches are consistently of better build quality, and intricacy of design and finish, than almost anything else I saw yesterday. (Exclude an Ordain who are really doing their own unique thing). Isotope I believe are matching CW in these respects - I was very impressed by isotope.
2. CW watches I tried on and love : The Moonglow blew me away. Thought it would be chunkier, squarer, more industrial. Instead it’s just more flowy, classy, but STILL the funkiest watch I saw (perhaps apart from the turbines…). Definitely one of my few favourite watches of the day. Mulberry Sealander on consort bracelet- a colour revelation. Gorgeous to behold. Looks far classier than the slightly brassy and blingy colour representation you get on the website.
3. The Bel Canto - - see my above comments regarding titanium watches. The bracelet is not for me as I find it too light. But oh! Purple on purple is the combination to go for! I could only own a bel Canto if the bird’s beak was red. So this narrows down my choices. But no matter - purple is the clear winner as far as I’m concerned. And yes - I answered the question ‘could I own a Bel Canto?’ Absolutely. Even engaging and disengaging the chime is a lovely and satisfying thing. The chime is lovely, and audible even in the noise of the room. For anyone who has complained about legibility while looking at a picture, judge once you’ve seen the watch itself. Apparently meetings at CW are more joyful now that the ting from Mike’s bel canto is what signals the end of the meeting
4. The twelve is a class act, but not for me. Sizing didn’t quite suit, though the 36 was definitely the one. There seemed to be an initial’need’ for the press to compare the 12 with the prx. Price wise this makes no sense. Design and quality wise this makes no sense. Let’s put those comparisons to rest right now! IRL the 12 is more delicate than I thought it would be. Not sure if I was expecting an ingenieur! I do like a bit of heft
5. I wanted to try an all bronze Dune but I forgot. Not sure if there was one there or not.

Here are some pics
And a few more thoughts:
I spoke with Patrick from CW and a woman whose name I can’t remember Having flashed my C11 I introduced myself as missF. The young woman has been working for CW almost as long as I’ve been chatting on the forum. I mentioned how much of a change she’ll have seen over the years, but she said the change has mostly happened in the past year. Both of them agreed that the Bel Canto has really inspired the whole company to believe that they can be in this new space and build these sorts of watches.

One thing that came across very clearly was that even though they are PR / marketing people with their own briefs, their sense of ownership in the company is so obvious and enjoyable. Elsewhere I talked about watches. Here we talked about the company and their sense of pride was really on display. I reiterated what I said to Mike France when I wrote to congratulate the company on the success of the Bel Canto - don’t go forward and try to create the next bel canto. Go forward and recreate all the conditions- the space for creativity and big thinking, the support of staff, the pride in what the company is doing - that allowed the bel canto to appear in the first place.

Finally - the updated wish list:

1. Moonglow
2. Mulberry Sealander on consort
3. Model two an Ordain in flax
4. Isotope hydrium California
5. Formex essence leggera 41 in grey
6. Bel canto purple on purple

Ah well - I’ll keep dreaming

missF wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:05 am I spoke with Patrick from CW and a woman whose name I can’t remember Having flashed my C11 I introduced myself as missF. The young woman has been working for CW almost as long as I’ve been chatting on the forum. I mentioned how much of a change she’ll have seen over the years, but she said the change has mostly happened in the past year.

I think you might have met Olivia Blakstad, Lindsey. She organises the events (Events Manager, I think her title is). As you say, she has been there for several years. She is the main contact for the zoom previews we get from Mike.

Thanks, Lindsey. You've done a great job of reporting back what you discovered. That takes a lot of time and effort, so thank you for going to such great lengths.

There are lots of things for me to consider, particularly in the Farer camp.

One random observation from me: the Fears bracelet looks very similar to the CW Consort bracelet.

Thanks for sharing all this Lindsey, I’ve really enjoyed reading your thoughts and looking at the photos. It sounds like you had a great time.

I was going to comment on my favourite watch but I’m waiting until you’ve added the Bremont write up…..

welshlad wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:25 am One random observation from me: the Fears bracelet looks very similar to the CW Consort bracelet.

Yeah that’s true. It’s hard to compare the two visually because the fears table was by a window. Their bracelet certainly seemed more highly polished. I’m afraid I didn’t pay any attention to bracelets beyond that observation

iain wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:27 am

I was going to comment on my favourite watch but I’m waiting until you’ve added the Bremont write up…..

Well, Bremont were one of the sponsors of the event but they weren’t there yesterday

I guess they must be using ‘aloof’ as a business strategy

missF wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:30 am I guess they must be using ‘aloof’ as a business strategy

Or in the bath…

missF wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 8:30 am Well, Bremont were one of the sponsors of the event but they weren’t there yesterday

I guess they must be using ‘aloof’ as a business strategy

WHAT?!!???!!?

I was looking forward to getting one of the free caps you were planning on acquiring for everyone on the forum.

Looks like I’ll have to make do with re-reading this thread now.

Fantastic updates - I'd love to get an Accutron on my wrist, such amazing technology (although I'd prefer a more classic green to the Redbar LE red one!).

The An Ordain's look stunning - I bet they look amazing in the flesh/metal/vitreous enamel! The model 2 is the one that looks best to me too, but then I do just love field watches

Thank you Lindsey for taking the time to post your reports on what you saw at the Red bar event and also for making the time and effort to fulfill as many requests as possible.

Well done Lindsey.

scooter

scooter wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2023 12:15 pm Well done Lindsey.

There’s no ‘well done’ scooter - it was just necessity. Can you imagine if I poured out all of this watchie stuff to my friends??? At least I know that here I may be vaguely interesting to one or two people