The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Discuss Christopher Ward watches
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by albionphoto »

It is a good step for the Bel Canto. As the name suggests it is more of a "classic" design with the Roman numerals and guilloche. It moves the BC away from its modern design. It uses a lot of interesting technologies and is a demonstration of the efforts CW have made to re-engineer their supply chain. Do I like it? No. As I seem to be the anti-AVO...

Roman numerals - Yuck
Guilloche - Yuck

So, well done to CW but my wallet is safe.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by GrumpyFrog »

I think I mentioned in the ACT II thread that I was hoping for a Breguet Tradition vibe in the new release. However I never dared to hope for the classic longcase clock aesthetic with the brass / silver / black roman numerals look. I suppose they could have gone the whole hog with thermally blued hands in the observatoire / breguet style...but I'm not complaining...it's one of the most attractive watches I've ever seen. I ordered and paid for it last night. Guess that puts paid to skiing this winter.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by 15peter20 »

I've already got the red one one on order but I'm loving that gold/oro one. Blue one is very nice too but I've already got three blue CW watches haha.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by JasperCat »

timepieces_and_bags wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 9:51 am Small note on pricing. The Classic is GBP 215 more than the original on the Bader bracelet but GBP 300 more on the leather strap. I presume the driver of the difference is the quality of leather (Fine Italian vs. Vacona) and the new Bader buckle and deployment clasp - but it seems like a lot.
The Bader deployant clasp straps have always been approximately £100 more than the buckle straps, so this is understandable. I'm glad have on of the original blue with it's buckle strap, as it's no longer available, however these new straps look lovely too, so I may order one for mine :thumbup:
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by jbm90 »

Anyone see the adverts for the classic on TV? That was quick!

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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by JAFO »

cadbury wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 11:40 am
JAFO wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:17 am Initially, I thought the gold, but I would have liked to see a flash of colour on the beak. I thought the silver could really do with another colour on the exposed movement parts, say gold although maybe they just need to be polished steel.

So it came back to the blue and green, most likely the blue. However I just don't understand why the blue and green don't have self coloured hands, to aid normal readability. I will probably wait and see if that sort of variant appears for the moment.

Also I didn't think the watch had been released yet. I can only find it by searching for classic. Is there another way?
They answered this last night about the non-coloured hands on the blue and green. They found that readability in certain conditions made it too dark if the hands are coloured, with the blue/green dials in the background. since there isnt any lume, u wouldnt want to compromised readability in darker conditions. A light hand against the dark background is more readable... thats what was explained 8)
I heard that, but I'm as keen to read the watch easily in normal conditions, and blue and green hands would have been great. I sort of expect to peer in the dark. :D
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by JAFO »

GrumpyFrog wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 1:10 pm I think I mentioned in the ACT II thread that I was hoping for a Breguet Tradition vibe in the new release. However I never dared to hope for the classic longcase clock aesthetic with the brass / silver / black roman numerals look. I suppose they could have gone the whole hog with thermally blued hands in the observatoire / breguet style...but I'm not complaining...it's one of the most attractive watches I've ever seen. I ordered and paid for it last night. Guess that puts paid to skiing this winter.
I must say I agree. I'm not normally one for Roman numbers, but I like them here. I think the guilloche adds a touch of class, rather than classic. I would have liked the blue (and the green) with blue and green hands.

edit. Reading your post made me think of BA Robertson, "knocked it off". CW certainly seem to have knocked it off.

I thought the last watch I bought was up there as my most beautiful watch, and this one is in that ballpark.

CW. Maybe you could make that a build option, somehow. Also a red beak option on the gold/silver.
That wouldn't be too hard, surely.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by Mikkei4 »

Sorry CW but I'm bored now.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by Grand Seiko »

I like the approach taken here
Go a bit upscale with the etched dial and deployment clasp, with pricing sliding up (value perception as you feel like you get more for your increase payment with these features)
Also lets them bring back colors close to the original LE versions, plus new colorways, gold and silver
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by PGR101 »

I'm torn on this one as I have been on the Bel Canto (do we call the first version the original? :lol: ). Like others I admire it and felt I should have one so got a Nero. I just didn't click with it and couldn't quite put my finger on why. Thought it might be the colour and seriously considered the Azzurro blue on the second hand market as it looked great, but had the niggle that the BC wasn't for me so held back.

I'm in the camp that prefers the look of this version and especially the silver and blue. Really looks the business. Am I still on the fence? Yes. I've been doing some fairly serious reorganising of the collection this year and don't have space for another CW or something in that price range, which is a factor for me. But that might be a useful excuse not to get one and I can see myself remaining intrigued by the Classic, considering it every so often, but never committing, then regretting not getting the Azzurro blue when it is no longer available :?
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by tikkathree »

At one point in the preview MF gave an explanation on current policy on under what circumstances CW now take a deposit for a watch which may have been - someone please correct me if I got this wrong - when availability of a watch for delivery is three months away or more.

The sentiments expressed were that given the value of these watches, CW doesn't want customers who like the idea of ordering one, rather they need customers to commit to ownership. I get that CW is moving away from where they were with BC in the early days "we can put your name on a list and contact you when we're ready to process your order". I don't recall anything being said about deposits becoming non-refundable.

Am I closer to becoming a BC owner? Well maybe but I don't possess a single watch with roman numerals on the dial and honestly I think I'd need the full showroom experience with the four dial colours to get me any closer than I am right now. I like the dial colours but not the bright blue elements on the argento/silver dial and overall I'm not sure about the "little red beak".

EDIT: having now received the Loupe issue 35, it's the gold/brass dial dark hands and stealth beak for me.!! Ordering now? Actually no. I'd like to take delivery of two CWs on pre-order, the Twelve XTi and a facebook forum LE, the CW 63 SEALANDER GMT SUNSET version before committing to anything else.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

tikkathree wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:40 pm At one point in the preview MF gave an explanation on current policy on under what circumstances CW now take a deposit for a watch which may have been - someone please correct me if I got this wrong - when availability of a watch for delivery is three months away or more.
I remember something similar. I was taking notes about the watch for the Forum Archive, but I didn’t write that down.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by maclink »

A very nice looking iteration of the Bel Canto. Very impressed. It had me thinking that the design team is full of very tasteful ideas in their designs. I think this impressive especially when looking at the wide range of designs to come through over the years. Apart from the Bel Canto, nothing particularly ground breaking but such tasteful ways of taking established designs that a bit further.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by rkovars »

maclink wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:32 pm A very nice looking iteration of the Bel Canto. Very impressed. It had me thinking that the design team is full of very tasteful ideas in their designs. I think this impressive especially when looking at the wide range of designs to come through over the years. Apart from the Bel Canto, nothing particularly ground breaking but such tasteful ways of taking established designs that a bit further.
I think the groundbreaking stuff is coming behind the scenes in the manufacturing processes. They are pushing their manufacturers in a lot of different ways and as a result pushing the build process farther. Using novel machining practices, using different laser technologies to cut dials, materials etc. For example when Wil was explaining the process they used to coat the dials of the Classic without losing the sharpness of the Guilloché cut by laser.
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Re: The C1 Bel Canto Classic is now available!

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

nbg wrote:@Bahnstormer_vRS
Guy IIRC MF indicated that there was an initial supply at launch ready end of November.

All sold already, or spin?

He also indicated they can produce 750 BCs a month and current wait list from order to delivery is approximately 6 weeks (subject to my comment above about having an initial supply of the classic).

Neil
May well be already sold out, Neil.

I'll eat my words, after your comments, as I've learnt that orders were being placed after the preview (@GrumpyFrog ) and I was looking at the website about half an hour after the Classic went live this morning.

Ergo, initial stock sold out and availability moved to pre-order.

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