Guy

Early 'Released' comments copied over from the New Sports Watch Preview thread;-

iain wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:00 am I saw this a few days ago when it appeared in one of the Facebook watch groups.

My initial thoughts were immediately about the price, which puts this firmly in competition with a lightly used Omega or IWC.

However I’m now seeing this as more of a halo watch for the brand which I think they are using to raise brand perception. Many other manufacturers make models that are priced well in excess of their core range but sell in very little numbers. It will be interesting to see how many of these CW sell. I won’t be a customer though.

missF wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:03 am This one's an open release. As MF said on the preview they want to be able to put it in as many hands as possible.

Does anyone else think that the front and centre first render picture on the website gives a really unimpressive impression of a watch that I think looks really quite beautiful and impressive?

nathanclarinet wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:06 am Was looking forward to this one with all the hype in the build up but as with most releases of late, I will default to impressive work but not for me. Not a fan of skeletons, I have enough in the closet.

Sent from my REA-NX9 using Tapatalk

DirkWatch wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:19 am Beautiful watch. Too bad its slightly too large for my wrist. The 40mm Twelve is pushing it. Going even larger and thicker will defeat the purpose. Extremely well done by CW, sure to be a great succes and propel them forward. Now lets hope to use these new techniques further down the line.

sproughton wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:20 am I'm not a fan of skeleton watches so it was never going to interest me.

My initial reaction was a bit of a shrug of the shoulders - it looks fine and I'm sure it will have plenty of people who love it, but it's just very... grey.

5oclockhero wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:25 am

missF wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:03 am

Does anyone else think that the front and centre first render picture on the website gives a really unimpressive impression of a watch that I think looks really quite beautiful and impressive?

A lovely watch. Looks superbly made. Not sure I want to swap my GS for one though. And this is my issue and I suspect others. Im probably just not ready for £4k CWs. That could be entirely my "issue" but I won't be alone.

I think the above comment has long applied to much of CWs website renders. (They are by no means alone). Does the website need an upgrade to match the new higher prices being asked?

BobMunro wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:25 am This moves CW even beyond the Bel Canto in terms of hype, image and price - and the latter, as others have said, moves CW into a whole new ball game in terms of competition.

Technically, I'm sure it is a fine watch and it will sell, but not in high volume. If I desired a skeleton watch I would go 50% or so higher in price and secure a nearly new Defy - but I have never desired a skeleton watch so for me it's a no. Those who like it, fill your boots and enjoy.

Guy

missF wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 8:03 am . . . . . . .

Does anyone else think that the front and centre first render picture on the website gives a really unimpressive impression of a watch that I think looks really quite beautiful and impressive?

Agreed, Lindsey. CW seems to use a mix of CAD and Real photos.

Looking through the full Gallery of pics, the real photos are excellent, superbly detailed 'High Definition'.

The CAD ones, used for say, the wrist shot, are lacking in definition, almost blurred / out of focus. Could do better.

Guy

^^^ Good to have all comments in one thread. Thank you, Guy.

The watch is not for me. I can admire a nice movement through a caseback, but I want a dial on the front.

When the Pompidou Centre in Paris opened in the 1970s an old lecturer said to me: “They should have put the plumbing on the inside.” It pretty much sums up skeleton and sapphire dial watches for me.

Ahhh the skeleton watch. Not bad but not for me. Two things that made me sit up and take notice was:
1. Microadjust on the butterfly clasp bracelet. Finally.
2. Use of the lume globolight. Does anyone have more info on this?

From the Web describing its use in a Moser watch:

...Globolight—a ceramic-based material infused with Super-LumiNova—for the block hands of their Streamliner watches, as well as the large numerals in their Heritage Centre Seconds timepieces...

@sproughton puts it well. While a technically impressive achievement, it doesn't seem very... exciting? No doubt a smart move to bring CW even more attention/clout and drag the brand further upmarket, but doesn't seem especially groundbreaking or innovative, aside from the supposed leap in finishing and intricacy etc. And I do think skeleton watches are awesome generally! Must say I'm a fan of how they've done the lume though.

My view, for what it's worth.........I think it's a stunning looking watch, 41mm is a great size for me, I love a titanium watch and the micro adjustment on the bracelet is a massive plus. It really does tick a whole lot of boxes on my wish list - I really enjoy a skeleton watch and my Concept is my most worn timepiece. But..................

I've a problem with it being an open series at the price point. I know (far too well!) that watch collecting isn't about holding value, but with these being freely available new the used prices are likely to drop quickly and I'd much rather somebody else took the depreciation hit - I'm more than happy to buy 'Nearly New' or used in the future. I'm surprised they haven't gone down the Bel Canto route with some initial Limited Edition runs.

And on that point, Mike was very open on the preview about the possibility of LE's in the future. And in all honesty, for me a pop of colour on the dial would be most welcome. Some electric blue bridges or similar - think the Defy Night Surfer - would be far more appealing to me. But that's personal taste.

So for now I'll be sticking with my Concept - but the watch itself looks fantastic and is a testament to the design team at CW. Hopefully it sells well......mainly as I'll have more chance of picking up a bargain in the future!!

Yoobaldy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 9:23 am Ahhh the skeleton watch. Not bad but not for me. Two things that made me sit up and take notice was:
1. Microadjust on the butterfly clasp bracelet. Finally.
2. Use of the lume globolight. Does anyone have more info on this?

From the Web describing its use in a Moser watch:

...Globolight—a ceramic-based material infused with Super-LumiNova—for the block hands of their Streamliner watches, as well as the large numerals in their Heritage Centre Seconds timepieces...

Yes; the Green Wedge of Globolight @ 12 on The Twelve X is a similar concept to that used by CW for the Orange Triangle @ 12 on the C60 Concept.




I wouldn't be surprised if CW now uses this on other watches in the future.

Guy

Yoobaldy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 9:23 am Ahhh the skeleton watch. Not bad but not for me. Two things that made me sit up and take notice was:
1. Microadjust on the butterfly clasp bracelet. Finally.
2. Use of the lume globolight. Does anyone have more info on this?

From the Web describing its use in a Moser watch:

...Globolight—a ceramic-based material infused with Super-LumiNova—for the block hands of their Streamliner watches, as well as the large numerals in their Heritage Centre Seconds timepieces...

The Halios Seaforth 4 uses globolight, can't give you anything technical about it but it creates brilliant lume.

Saw this in the Monday preview and it looks great. I've been looking at skeleton watches for a while and this will be on the short list.

I like the combination of titanium, finishing and the stripped back design to see as much of the movement as possible whilst still making it useful to accurately tell the time, something the C60 Concept doesn't do as it doesn't have a minute marker.

I don't even mind there not being a date window and power reserve gauge. Never heard of Globolight but even the lume looks fabulous. For the money, I think it's competitive, especially with the SH21 powering it. I never liked the Twelve series so as of today, this is the only one I'd consider.

Thing I don't like?

Not much but the massive Christoper Ward logo on the rotor looks crass. Reminds me of those velvet pants that have Juicy scrawled over the buttocks (and what's not to say that CW were going for the same approach ). Not a fan of integrated bracelets either but wouldn't be a blocker to buying one.

After a string of (for me) underwhelming releases (Bel Canto, original Twelve, C63 quartz, C1 Moonphase, etc), this has sparked my interest back in CW watches

Yoobaldy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 9:23 am 1. Microadjust on the butterfly clasp bracelet. Finally.

Mike did mention at the preview that this would be rolled out across the Twelve range, but it would take some time.

I’m not sure whether I will bother. I had mine sized slightly loose the way I like them, and I’ve worn it summer and winter with no discernible discomfort.

I'm the perfect target market for this watch..

Love skeleton watches
Love integrated sports watches
Love titanium watches
Size is fine

What I don't love is the price. I won't be spending over £4k on a cw and I doubt many other people will either.

In case anyone who didn't attend the Preview on Monday and missed the opportunity to get in early doors is wondering, the current 'Pre-order for end October 2024' has been the status of availability from the start. CW has not had any available to buy from stock.

Mike France also commented in the preview that CW is keen not to repeat the increasingly long pre-order / delivery dates that occurred with the Bel Canto. To this end, CW will accept pre-orders up to a point and then close the books (for orders). Once demand has been satisfied to an extent they are happy with, the order books will be re-opened.

A reminder, this is an Open Series watch. There should be no FOMO, just a case of how long do I have to wait. Hopefully this will stabilise the supply / demand / price / value point raised by @iain

Guy