I'm curious about your personal watch journeys and which brands you "upgraded" to after CW. I know that this is entirely subjective, but I'd like to get a loose idea of which brands you also tried after CW where you started to notice some discernable improvements in the quality of the watch. Obviously this can differ depending on models, but try to think about the "overall" quality of the brand.

For me, I "upgraded" to Tudor. Laterally, I'm thinking about checking out Monta since I've heard some good things about them.

I actually bought a CW after my First Omega but then realised it was a stepping stone brand so I kind of went about it the wrong way.

Oris, Tudor plus several others on the way, and eventually Bremont, where I seem to have settled.

0uatiOW wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:22 pm Oris, Tudor plus several others on the way, and eventually Bremont, where I seem to have settled.

Interesting. Would you consider Oris a step up? They have some great stuff.

Haven't been able to see a Bremont watch in-person, but they seem to be very well respected.

I’ve come to CW after experience with both Rolex and Omega. Both of those brands are nice but no longer within my value preferences. Since CW I’ve been exploring microbrands and other independents such as Vario, Kurono Tokyo, and Ming. The likes of Oris interests me some; Tudor does not. Longines moves the needle for me. I remain open to looking. But “upgrading” is likely a dead end in my case. There are other interests for my money.

After my first CW I bought another, then moved probably sideways to Elliot Brown and now have 2 Omegas.

Ducs4rs wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:35 pm

0uatiOW wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:22 pm Oris, Tudor plus several others on the way, and eventually Bremont, where I seem to have settled.

Interesting. Would you consider Oris a step up? They have some great stuff.

Haven't been able to see a Bremont watch in-person, but they seem to be very well respected.

Yes, I very much think Oris is the next level up from CW; I bought my first CW around 2016 (a Chr. Ward C60 - I wore it yesterday in fact), and at the time the Aquis had better finishing and a better bracelet. I bought 2 different Atelier models (beautiful, both of them), then Oris launched the Diver 65, CW followed soon after with the C65, very much an homage, in more than just name. Oris now has its Calibre 400 widely available, while the SH21 hasn’t yet become mainstream.

Recent improvements CW’s quality has closed the gap somewhat, but in my view Oris still has the edge, though they are in the next price bracket.

Bremont is my favourite brand. You need to put one on to really appreciate them. Customer service is excellent, build quality is superb, and they make their customers feel special. The brand is often maligned by those with long memories; the hater comments on Hodinkee & ABTW articles are legendary; I don’t know why people feel the need to express themselves that way. There are plenty of watches I don’t like, but I don’t spend my day looking for articles about them so I can say how terrible I think they are.

I didn’t mention Brellum earlier, but as I bought two, well after my first dalliance with CW watches, I would certainly consider these an “upgrade” to CW. They are superb, excellent quality too.

I have loads of different brands, but I am very happy with CW, and don't see my other brands as an "upgrade". I prefer the styles of some other watches, but that's all. Not as a brand in general, but particular watches. For example I'm not ever so keen on CW chronographs.

I don't understand the idea that watch collecting is a linear journey that takes you away from CW. I bought a Zenith El Primero and then turned around and picked up a nearly new C60 Sapphire. Was one an upgrade over the other? I would say both are high quality, serving different niches. It might help if you refined your question so that it's limited to the dimensions you care about: Movements? Cases? Dials? Accuracy?

I don't know. Maybe my answer would be different if I could afford a Patek or FP Journe, but so far, I either like a watch or don't like a watch. I can't "upgrade" something I like. It would no longer be the same.

zacharrry wrote: ↑Sun Apr 23, 2023 2:08 am I don't understand the idea that watch collecting is a linear journey that takes you away from CW. I bought a Zenith El Primero and then turned around and picked up a nearly new C60 Sapphire. Was one an upgrade over the other? I would say both are high quality, serving different niches. It might help if you refined your question so that it's limited to the dimensions you care about: Movements? Cases? Dials? Accuracy?

I don't know. Maybe my answer would be different if I could afford a Patek or FP Journe, but so far, I either like a watch or don't like a watch. I can't "upgrade" something I like. It would no longer be the same.

I like this post. I used to think in terms of upgrading, but this resonates with me now. CW has been my “home” brand, if you want to think of it like that, but it’s also my “horse-trading” brand. Over the years I’ve had 18 CWs, and the most I ever had at one time was eight.

As frequently documented elsewhere, two of my watches were inheritance/memento purchases. I was never interested in any other modern Omegas, but I always wanted the Moonwatch. Similarly I had always wanted a Cartier Tank. Brand cachet certainly played a part there, but I think one Cartier in my box is enough.

I’ve tended on the whole to avoid most other brands that are popular on the forum. Oris, Tudor and Bremont seem to be getting a good mention. Nothing against the brands, they just don’t seem to make watches I like.

The whole idea of avoiding too much repetition began to develop, and during Covid lockdowns I began to search for “left-field” options that weren’t like other watches I (or others) had, and weren’t “forum darlings”. The MeisterSinger and the Ulysse Nardin appeared at the right time.

Two of my CWs are in fact my latest acquisitions. I now have three (and I suspect it will soon be four).

All the watches I have now were bought because I like them as individual pieces, rather than moving towards a brand or brands (Cartier excepted), and CW is the only brand with more than one watch.

I’m came to CW after owning a Tag and was saving for an IWC. I first bought a C10 aviator and then one of the new mk2 tridents shortly after they came out.

I’ve not “upgraded” from CW and they are one of a few brands I keep buying and selling and coming back to time and time again. I’ve had 14 of them so far but apart from a paid for, but not delivered FLE, I don’t currently own one.

Other brands I keep coming back to are Bremont, I’m on number 5, and IWC, I’m on number 4. However I’ve made a conscious decision to try to keep my collection small and rotatable so I only have 5 watches now, with the FLE making 6.

I think these 3 brands are ones I’ll alway have in my collection, even if the one in the box moves out. Seeing as CW is one of those, I can’t see me ever “upgrading” from them.

Chronologically which brands joined the CWs or caused CW watches to be moved off even if temporarily? Hmm, Omega and Brellum. But what else have I owned or currently own? Seiko, Casio, Vostoks and even had the dalliance with Chinese made lookylikeys. Right now it's mostly CW and Omega with the two Brellums living on the top shelf literally and metaphorically. I can find my "lifetime" ownership Seikos and apart from an ETA apprentice piece and an OW chrono which I built/had built from separately bought parts that's about it.
I guess you could say that CWOB cover my needs.

I have had several other 'up the range' watches, but for me, CW hit the sweet-spot between value and quality, hence owning too many CW's but I am working on letting some go.