Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:40 pm @RichM

Early publications were of the brochure type, and morphed into the magalogue style. Again, look at the CW Publications section of the archive.

Looking back at the brochures actually the C8 is still the only model I would go for in the range on offer.

The watches have definitely improved in style IMHO since then and I could happily choose from any number today - absolutely CW having found their style now - except for they are now less affordable I think.

In 2009 it was probably an auto CW, maybe a Seiko, and what else for £200/300 with an automatic movement? Now for a little more than a CW maybe you would go for an Oris or even a Tudor instead given the outlay involved.

I think that's a change: from industry disruptor to established watch company.

I’ve been here nearly ten years now, I haven’t owned a CW for a few years now and have certainly moved on from the brand ( still enjoy being here). Unfortunately nothing really grabs me anymore .
Here’s a pic of my CW collection from 2015, I think we can safely say they have evolved

jkbarnes wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 11:28 am How has the value for money proposition changed over the years? Prices have clearly creeped up making them noticeably more expensive than they used to be. Do you feel the over quality has improved along with it, maintaining the value for money proposition?

I can’t say that I notice a significant difference in the overall feel and fit & finish between my C65 Trident Vintage from 2017 and my C63 Sealander from 2021 (or was it ‘22?). Are those two models too close in production runs to notice significant change? With those two models, I’m not sure what the price difference is when adjusted for inflation.

This really got me thinking. I paid $250 for my nearly new C5 Aviator in 2009 but the retail was around $500. I paid I think around $575 for a new C63 auto in 2021, with a $125 off voucher. The quality has improved equally with the price in that instance in my opinion.

When you get into the JJ calibres and other specialties, the price really jumps up, I believe commensurate with the quality. I'm very happy with the prices I paid for my C1 Moonglow and my C63 Elite for what they are.

I think most people are accepting of the fact that you can't produce a titanium chronometer or an aventurine-dial moonphase, let alone a sonnerie au passage, for the price of a 2005 Malvern auto.

The "bread and butter" models are still well under £1k, and in my opinion the brand as a whole does still give good value for money.

jkbarnes wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 11:28 am How has the value for money proposition changed over the years? Prices have clearly creeped up making them noticeably more expensive than they used to be. Do you feel the over quality has improved along with it, maintaining the value for money proposition?

I can’t say that I notice a significant difference in the overall feel and fit & finish between my C65 Trident Vintage from 2017 and my C63 Sealander from 2021 (or was it ‘22?). Are those two models too close in production runs to notice significant change? With those two models, I’m not sure what the price difference is when adjusted for inflation.

According to the archive the Trident Classic Vintage automatic released May 2016 ranged from $745 (strap) to $845 (bracelet). At the time it was discontinued in Feb 2019 it was $845 - $965. I think the trick here is vouchers which were readily available.

When adjusted for inflation the RRP range is $955-$1083 at release.
Voucher numbers adjusted are $763-$891 also using the release pricing.

The Dune which is pretty close to the old Trident Vintage (I would argue a little nicer) ranges $895 (strap) to $1095 (bracelet).
The Sealander 39 on strap is $810 and $980 on bracelet. Which is actually a little cheaper than the original RRP for the Trident.
The Sealander is looking like a bargain at only $50 over the voucher priced Trident in 2016 (on strap).

So there has been some creep over the last 7 years but not as much if you look at RRP without vouchers.

EDIT to add:

The 36mm Sealander was released in July 2022. RRP at release $765.00 - $925.00. Current pricing $810-$980. Since that was on the cusp of the vouchers you did really well grabbing one at the voucher price at release.

I will add to the point of what's changed in 12 years... Sure I bought a CW in 2009, and made about 4 posts on the forum between then and 2011, but then I was absent from the forum and from the watch world as a whole until 2020. That's when I got back into collecting and started acquiring more CWs. At that point, CW seemed to me like an entirely different brand that I remembered; fully formed, professional and established. There was still a bit of work to be done at that point re: the logo/branding, which I feel has since resolved.

With that said, it actually feels like CW has just in the last couple years come into their own, in full. The future looks bright for both new and exciting releases as well as continuing to establish old standards as longstanding brand favorites/classics.

Thinking back to 2008 when I joined, one factor so far not mentioned is the tools available to someone searching for a new watch. In my youth, one went to town and visited a jeweller. In 2008 I wanted something a bit different, something a bit more special. By then, we had the internet and google was still a useful search engine. Using the internet allowed me to add to my very patchy knowledge. However, when I searched for a mechanical watch, all the top end brands came up. Nothing much else. When I added price parameters my memory is that CW came up over and over again. So I researched, found the forum and read as much as I could. I was reassured by what I read.
Now, fifteen years on, the same search brings up some surprises. The first brand I came across was....CW! Then a long list of alternative brands. There is now a lot more choice online. Add in youtube as a resource ( it came into being in '05 - the same as CW) and one sees that Cw now has a great deal of competition. There were hundreds of watches for sale in 05 - just not all were visible to online buyers.

One thing that's changed is we have the CWArchive which is an amazing resource with data collected over the last 20 years by our Adminstrator, Kip, then created and maintained by the Forum Admin Team.

This is a publicly available resource of all CW watches and more.

With the discussion here having gravitated to 'what my watch cost' where else but the CWArchive will you find the RRP (when it was available) of any given watch, along with the resales with average prices to the current time.

Priceless.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

@Martin For all the convenience, I still dislike buying things online. I like to go to a bricks and mortar establishment, be served by a flesh and blood human and, for less expensive things, pay with folding and jingly stuff!

I am going to stretch the twelve years out to 16 1/2 plus years since I joined.

I have seen approx. 340 models launched with about 23,500 variants.

The forum has grown from 120 members to over 15,000

I have worked with 2 owners and 10 moderators.

I have seen a founder leave CW and watched the company expand from 6 employees to over 50.

I have watched as prices, market share and quality have increased while, still maintaining the value proposition (imo).

I have seen the move to Swiss made production as well as the merger with Synergies Horlogères.

We have seen the development of the SH21 movement.

We have watched a company continue to grow and improve while moving through 3 logo changes.

I have seen far, far more then I can possibly mention and it actually boggles my mind.

I still wear my original CW purchase. A C4 Peregrine (C4-SBS) that I paid $210.00 for and could sell for more than that today.

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 6:52 pm @Martin For all the convenience, I still dislike buying things online. I like to go to a bricks and mortar establishment, be served by a flesh and blood human and, for less expensive things, pay with folding and jingly stuff!

The irony being you are a moderator on an online forum of a watch company without a bricks and mortar outlet.

I’ve only been here for 5 or so years but have clearly seen major changes in both CW as a business and the range of their products.

I was aware of CW for a few years before I actually became a customer. However, back then all I ever saw were a very wide selection of designs that did nothing for me so it took time for me to become a customer, basically the refinement of the Trident range. Since then the range has further reduced and the quality demonstrable improved.

In parallel with this, observing purely as an outsider, the company has become more professional as the management structures have evolved. It feels less like an adventure for a few friends and much more like a professionally run business with a real focus on P&L, strategy and investment for the future.

Both of these are probably attributable to hard-headed external investors and management changes which undoubtedly will continue. I suspect that in 2-4 years time CW will bear little resemblance to its current self.

rkovars wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 5:10 pm
According to the archive the Trident Classic Vintage automatic released May 2016

I have just been trying to find the same watch - how did you manage it?

Anyway, my point is that I purchased mine in 2015, assuming you mean this watch?

@Caller I think @rkovars meant this one

Caller wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 5:17 pm

rkovars wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 5:10 pm
According to the archive the Trident Classic Vintage automatic released May 2016

I have just been trying to find the same watch - how did you manage it?

Anyway, my point is that I purchased mine in 2015, assuming you mean this watch?

@Amor Vincit Omnia is correct. The one @jkbarnes has is listed under the Dress/Classic collection and then the C65 Trident Classic Range. The main difference is yours is a C60.

Here is the direct link in the archive.