Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

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gaf1958
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Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by gaf1958 »

After an impatient wait over Christmas and New Year, my COSC C7 prototype has arrived. This is the second of the current C7s that I’ve bought; the first was a quartz chrono on green.

While the green dial did not disappoint, one of the much vaunted design features of the C7 did. Well, not so much the feature itself, but the lack of it. It turned out that the hollow lugs that had been a design feature that I was looking forward to were not used on the quartz models (except for the COSC quartz chronograph).

The other feature of the C7 Mk3 is the four part case, with the possibility of a Bremont-esque coloured centre case. The quartz one uses a silver mid-case, so the net effect is that the four part case looks just like any other case; much like the Mk2 C7 in fact. It didn’t last.

Since then, I’d been looking at the blue 3 hand automatic models for ages, but never bought one as I’d usually managed to buy something else at the time and funds were not really there for it. For once I was actually awake and online when the last archive sale took place. I saw the C7 prototype with a day/date COSC movement, blue dial orange mid-section and second hand with hollow lugs and immediately decided it was one that I really wanted. Did I mention the orange mid-section. :)

Anyway, it’s now here and it does not disappoint. The blue dial is quite a dark blue (much darker than for example the C65 diver). As a result it works well with the black bezel in a way that a brighter blue dial wouldn’t. The orange mid-section is darker than it looks in my photos, but is a nice orange-gold colour that’s not too dazzling or ... too ... orange. It matches the second hand and the first ten minutes of the minute track nicely. The hollow lugs look great too, much better than the solid ones on the quartz models.

It suits the CW strap nicely, but I’ll undoubtedly get a bracelet for it as I really liked the green C7 on the bracelet. It’s been mentioned before that the C7 is nowhere as popular as it could be. I don’t understand why that is the case - this is a fabulous watch, with a lot of character. It deserves to be popular as it has a hell of a lot going for it...

Anyway, here are some photos...

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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by nigelb001 »

Lovely watch Gary. Love the orange highlights with the blue. Well worth the wait I reckon :thumbup:
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by Macca »

That’s a stunner I love it


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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by Baco Noir »

Great looking case Gary. I can see why you grabbed that one.
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by jkbarnes »

I've got to be honest, I wasn't particularly taken with the new C7 Rapide autos. This one, however, is a stunner. I agree, the shade of blue dial is something else. I'd love to see a C60 or C65 Trident in that color.

You've got yourself a beautiful watch! Enjoy it.
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by Essex Paul »

Many congrats.
A great looking C7, and suits that strap very well.
:thumbup:
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by smegwina »

That really is a thing of beauty Gary. God only knows why these were not more popular. They are a decent size for most, have a glorious look about them and have a technically advanced case/lug arrangement.

Love the orange accents and mid case.

Superb purchase.

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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

Top notch purchase Gary. :clap:

How would you say the blue compares to the blue used on the Trident Blue and/or Acan?

For the orange looks like it's the same as on the C7 Hornet.

Either way, unique and stunning.

Guy

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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by Clach77 »

That looks absolutely brilliant. I missed the archive sale before Christmas (I received no email), and if I had you may not a got that one. :D

Enjoy it. :thumbup:
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Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by gaf1958 »

Thanks all...

I’ve been wearing it all day today and it’s a beauty on the wrist. Superbly readable too, in good or poor lighting. I’m really glad I picked this one up. There were a couple of PVD models available as well, one with a blue mid case in place of the “standard” COSC red (it was a nice one), but I’m happy with my C600 remaining as my only PVD watch.

I’m very happy to have a true one of a kind watch, along the lines of Guy’s green trimmed C60 chrono and Kari’s Vintage C60 chrono.
smegwina wrote:God only knows why these were not more popular. They are a decent size for most, have a glorious look about them and have a technically advanced case/lug arrangement.
Totally agree Nick, I think it’s a great watch, something you’d pay a *lot* more with many other brand names on the dial. Come to think of it, it only has the applied twin flags logo, so you’d think all the 9 o’clock logo naysayers would find it a more attractive option.
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote:How would you say the blue compares to the blue used on the Trident Blue and/or Acan?
Hard to say Guy, I’ve not seen either one in real life...
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by MiniMpi »

Congratulations Gary :clap:
That is just fabulous mate 8) 8) 8)
A great colour combo and also the strap, the whole watch works very well.
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by EddieTheBeast »

Well done on getting that one Gary :clap: it's superb :thumbup: :cuinlove:
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by Renton »

Great watch, nice to see it, thanks.
I think those various C7 auto prototypes were the pick of the bunch. I was sad to miss out!
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by timor54 »

I’ve not really paid any attention to these in the past. Having now looked I’m really impressed with the case design, the coloured mid-case reminds me of the Bremont MBII. However, not so sure about the dial design.

Now if CW did a sports watch in this case with coloured mid-cases then that would be very appealing to me...
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Re: Archive Prototype: C7 Rapide Day Date COSC

Post by StrapMeister »

Great acquisition Gary....lovely watch :thumbup:

On the question of why they are not as popular as they should be!
Not sure really, but, having owned 2 C7's, of which both were moved on, I can only put forward a theory regarding their popularity that perhaps it's the styling - by that I mean, it's not, imo, an out-and-out sports watch and is somewhat of a hybrid.
Perhaps loose the black bezel and you have the "sports" watch!?
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