C60 Trident Lumiere

Geefiasco · Post by **Geefiasco** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:17 pm

Does anyone else reckon in around 3-4 years time the entire CW range will be priced right beneath Omega and Tudor?

Post by **welshlad** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:24 pm

Geefiasco wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:17 pm Does anyone else reckon in around 3-4 years time the entire CW range will be priced right beneath Omega and Tudor?

No. Because Omega and Tudor are unlikely to price on a 3x cost basis, particularly as they have to bake in margins for dealers.

MarkingTime · Post by **MarkingTime** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:29 pm

albionphoto wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 4:48 pm
manphibian wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 1:20 pm
albionphoto wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 1:02 pm

I found Rockwell B to be the most representative test and it shows that Grade 2 Ti and 316L are similar. It's not a good idea to believe what watch media says about hardness and scratchability. A scratch on a dark metal is easier to see than on a light and shiny one after all. I will also add that none of the tests Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell are actually representative of scratch tests. They are static indentation tests which is an entirely different failure mode. I have scratches on stainless steel and titanium watches so this is moot.
I don't believe what watch media tells me, but I do believe my 21 years experience as an engineering product designer
The most commonly used grade 2 titanium is softer than 316L stainless, whatever your links say. The hardnesses given have large ranges because of the different alloys that can be used, but in practice, titanium is most likely going to be less hard.

What makes it scratch even more is that the titanium gets a layer of oxidization on top, which is very easy to scratch, so in practice, even if the titanium underneath isn't scratched, your watch will have the appearance of being scratched, much more easily than a steel watch.

The good news with Ti is, it's easy to touch up with a scotchbrite pad or fibreglass scratch pen
Well you were the person who threw values out without context and asserted their merit. Perhaps I should say "whatever your values were" too. However, if we're talking alloys remember that Grade 2 titanium is not strictly an alloy as it is "commercially pure" titanium and not an alloy unlike Grade 5 titanium. 316L stainless steel is an alloy. You do ignore the process of oxidation for all titanium grades and this gives titanium its apparent healing property. The oxide layer will reform, albeit slowly at room temperature, which is part of the reason why it is known as a "self-healing". Changing the definition to "appearance of being" rather than actually being scratched is disingenuous. If you had reference cold hardened stainless steel used by Sinn or Damasko with Vickers values of 950+ then the argument that titanium is much easier to scratch is much easier to make. The stainless steels used in watch cases is about as easy to scratch as Grade 2 titanium. Most of the stainless used is not of the highest quality despite it being called 316L, in practice it's closer to 316 not 316L.

Titanium is not chosen for its hardness and scratch resistance, it's desirable property is its strength to weight ratio.
Grade 2 is used because it is significantly easier (cheaper) to work with than grade 5. Grade 5 titanium will bring increased tooling costs.

Post by **welshlad** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:41 pm

Kansas City Milkman wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 9:38 pm Where does this sit with the Trident 4? Is this it or is the 300 still referred to as the Trident 3.5 with (delayed) Trident 4 still to follow?

Thanks

The Lumière is part of the C60 Trident Pro 300 range, or the C60 Trident Pro Mk 3.1 range as it is referred to in the CW Archive. See here for full details of that range:

https://cwarchive.knack.com/cwarchive#c ... 0287c0c9b/

The Trident Mk4 is indefinitely on hold for the time being, according to the most recent pronouncements by Mike France.

Kansas City Milkman · Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:46 pm

welshlad wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:41 pm
Kansas City Milkman wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 9:38 pm Where does this sit with the Trident 4? Is this it or is the 300 still referred to as the Trident 3.5 with (delayed) Trident 4 still to follow?

Thanks
The Lumière is part of the C60 Trident Pro 300 range, or the C60 Trident Pro Mk 3.1 range as it is referred to in the CW Archive. See here for full details of that range:

https://cwarchive.knack.com/cwarchive#c ... 0287c0c9b/

The Trident Mk4 is indefinitely on hold for the time being, according to the most recent pronouncements by Mike France.

Thanks @welshlad

Rezn8r · Post by **Rezn8r** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:48 pm

I prefer the 300 Pro generally (other than titanium and chronometer), and don’t much like the lumed logo. I’d rather have a single large lume pip on a bezel rather than all numbers and/or marks lumed. In low-light, murky conditions, it’s easier to reference a single clear pip than a busy bezel , and similarly, the lumed logo just creates dial clutter under those conditions for me.

MarkingTime · Post by **MarkingTime** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:52 pm

Geefiasco wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:17 pm Does anyone else reckon in around 3-4 years time the entire CW range will be priced right beneath Omega and Tudor?

I notice a few comments about the increase in price, but not many seem to appreciate the increase in complexity and enhanced features that don't come for free.
This is a very nice watch that we are discussing and it is chock full of nice features that you don't see on many other watches, this will sell well, no doubt about it.
I suspect that some of these features could cross over to the steel versions and if the SW300 was dropped in favour of the SW200, a few hundred would be shaved off of the price, but that wouldn't then, be the same watch.

I think that there might be scope for a higher end version too at some point, as the case size might allow the use of the SH21, the real "Ultimate", if you will.

Post by **Bahnstormer_vRS** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:03 pm

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 8:48 am . . . . . . ..

Buy on bracelet to get one 'In Stock'.

The Aquaflex straps trigger 'Pre-order early September', although that's only a week / 10 days away.

Guy

Checking at 22:55hrs BST (a few minutes ago), all colours on bracelet are now on pre-order for Fri Sep 20 2024

Clearly the initial stock of 200 pieces (split between the three colours) have been sold as a result of the preview and today.

mvlow · Post by **mvlow** » Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:40 pm

I really like the look of this and the size is perfect for me. What has really sold me though is the Helium Escape Valve. I am going snorkeling soon and plan to hold my breath to a depth of at least 10 feet. That Helium Escape Valve could potentially save major damage to the watch during my snorkeling vacation. I cannot afford an Omega Seamaster at the moment so this feature has come just in time.

I have shared the link to purchase this watch on my favorite FB page, "Deep Dive Snorkelers" so I am sure many of my other snorkeling buddies will snatch this up as well. Had they made exactly the same watch for less money without a Helium Escape Valve, I doubt many people would have purchased it.

Post by **Kip** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 12:00 am

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:01 pm
CBMVic20 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 9:52 pm . . . . . . .. .

Isn't CW opening up a showroom in the US? If so, would that not lessen the import fees?
Yes, CW is opening a Showroom in Dallas, TX, but it's just that, a Showroom (only).

Any resulting purchases will be online and fulfilled from CW Towers, Maidenhead, UK.

Guy

The USA showroom is expected to open mid/late October. Hopefully there will be some perks for visiting. I am told it is only 30 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.

chif123 · Post by **chif123** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 12:11 am

Some youtube videos on the black/grey version.

The video renditions on the watch seem much better than the stock pictures.

Leon O · Post by **Leon O** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 1:49 am

I'm glad to see the SW300 being put into use. The titanium doesn't influence me one way or the other. 41mm is a good size for ME. I also like the dial's texture. However, it is too expensive for my wallet. (We need a new roof).

I hope owners of the Lumiere enjoy their new treasures.

Leon O · Post by **Leon O** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 1:56 am

jkbarnes wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:37 pm
nycWATCHnerd wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:33 pm
jkbarnes wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:20 pm It’s been my experience that CW’s USD pricing is not simply a straight exchange from GBP to USD. The last two items I bought from CW I bought in GBP because with the exchange rate it was a better deal than their USD pricing. Perhaps that’s reflected in these numbers?
And this is why for 2 out of my 3 CWL purchases, I paid in GBP.
One had to be paid in US currency because the coupon I received (don't ask because I won't tell) only worked on the US site in US currency.

American Express does not charge foreign transaction fees and uses that day's current exchange rate so (for me) it is the best card to use.
I just ran the numbers on the Lumeire on the strap. With included taxes (duty and MD state tax), it was $167 cheaper to order in GBP. That’s based on Mastercard’s current published exchange rate and no service fee on my card. Not buying it though. Still too rich for my blood!

Retired Teacher math and practicality.

Devon · Post by **Devon** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 5:32 am

Geefiasco wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:17 pm Does anyone else reckon in around 3-4 years time the entire CW range will be priced right beneath Omega and Tudor?

It looks like this is what CW are aiming for. It would be interesting to make a graph of the average price of CW's watches since the company's start up, prices seem to be shooting up and I don't think these new watches represent VFM particularly, which is why the marketing is focusing on selling the new range as a beautiful piece of art as well as a reasonable quality watch.
High luminosity? It is about bragging rights, a bit like 600m or a 1000m water resistance, it isn't really relevant to everyday wear.
I bow to the knowledge of a lot of contributors on the forum but this range isn't particularly ground breaking and CW as a business know it's all about marketing.
Imho, it's just another nice enough, expensive watch, mostly manufactured in China like so many watches.

Post by **Amor Vincit Omnia** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 6:51 am

Devon wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2024 5:32 am It would be interesting to make a graph of the average price of CW's watches since the company's start up…

Feel free.

Original prices are recorded here.

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