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New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 3:16 pm
by Stone Hall
I really love what CW did with the Mk 3 Trident, but I’ve noticed the quartz Tridents are still un-updated. I also noticed they’re out of stock for the 38mm quartz Tridents...or list them but you can’t buy them?

Any rumors on a possible new version of the quartz Trident?

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:28 pm
by albionphoto
At the Bristol GTG Mike France stated that the quartz movements were being phased out because CW feel that the future is mechanical watches. They don't see much demand for quartz movements. On this basis, I don't see that there is much chance of a quartz Mk 3 Trident.

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:56 pm
by Commisar
albionphoto wrote:At the Bristol GTG Mike France stated that the quartz movements were being phased out because CW feel that the future is mechanical watches. They don't see much demand for quartz movements. On this basis, I don't see that there is much chance of a quartz Mk 3 Trident.
Probably for the better. Quartz divers, chronos, and dress watches are dime a dozen and come from almost every watchmaker that isn't at or above Rolex levels of prestige.

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Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:10 pm
by PaulJS
Mixed feelings over the demise of CW quartz. On the one hand they have, IMO, been getting disproportionately expensive compared to the automatic option - especially the Trident. On the other hand CW have produced some great entry level quartz models (C7 and C4 for example) and some lovely COSC models (C70).

I think there are few people who don't value the convenience of a quartz in their collection and don't necessarily want it to feel cheap,

It seems sensible to delete the quartz options where they go head to head with an auto version but it is a shame if there is no room for quartz specific models in the range.

I believe it is folly to presume that the average punter views quartz as a poor relation - on the contrary, for a lot of people who just want an accurate timepiece that they won't necessarily wear every day and isn't a phone, a manual wind or even an auto is an inconvenience.

Then again maybe trying to compete with Seiko in the quality / vfm stakes is a futile endeavour.

Cheers,

Paul

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:41 pm
by monkeymax
All good points Paul, and I tend to agree. More than that, though, surely the quartz models were great lower priced entry points into the world of CW. I know that was the case for me - though I've only got quartz ones at the moment (as you say, the convenience for a watch I relied on for work outweighed the emotion of the automatic) they were my first CW watches and there's no way I'd have tried them out at £600+. In fact my quartz C6 was one of my first 'expensive' watches and it was in the couple of hundred pound range (if not less) and it's one of my favourite watches. I'd absolutely love an automatic CW again but can't ignore the fact that if it wasn't for my cheaper quartz I'm not sure when I would've been turned on to the idea of nice watches in the first place!

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:36 am
by PaulJS
monkeymax wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:41 pm All good points Paul, and I tend to agree. More than that, though, surely the quartz models were great lower priced entry points into the world of CW. I know that was the case for me - though I've only got quartz ones at the moment (as you say, the convenience for a watch I relied on for work outweighed the emotion of the automatic) they were my first CW watches and there's no way I'd have tried them out at £600+. In fact my quartz C6 was one of my first 'expensive' watches and it was in the couple of hundred pound range (if not less) and it's one of my favourite watches. I'd absolutely love an automatic CW again but can't ignore the fact that if it wasn't for my cheaper quartz I'm not sure when I would've been turned on to the idea of nice watches in the first place!
Well put - while my first CW was an auto Trident it was the subsequent purchases of the C7, C4 and C70 that really accelerated me into eventually owning 8 CW watches.

With a change of lifestyle I now find that my most worn watch is my Scurfa Diver One and I am seriously considering letting all my non quartz go to new homes (except the Omegas) as I can't be bothered to phaff around setting the time and date just to have a change of scene. Ironically, my second most worn is my hand wind Speedmaster as, with no date, it is the quickest to set the time and give it a wind.

I can't see my CW quartz going anywhere, even though I should really sell the C70 since it is so vulnerable to damage that it rarely makes it out of the house. However, it is such a glorious thing to own and just look at I know I would regret parting with it! No logic to that, I know, but whoever said watch collecting is logical?!


Cheers,

Paul

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:47 am
by downer
I think the real endangered species may be the genuine "swiss-made" quartz at a keen price point.

The "swiss-made" rules have recently been tightened (in Jan 2017 with a two year implementation period), meaning that it is now 60% of the watch manufactured cost, rather than 50%.

As we all know, quartz movements are a relatively inexpensive component cost, and I imagine the other components and assembly costs make it tough to make a "swiss-made" watch at a competitive price.

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:55 am
by monkeymax
downer wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:47 am I think the real endangered species may be the genuine "swiss-made" quartz at a keen price point.
My quartz C6 says Swiss Movt on the bottom and I've never felt hard done by. This probably isn't a massive deal-breaker. Interesting about those rule changes though; I didn't know about that.
Ultimately CW have the sales numbers and I guess they're just seeing that the quartz models don't sell anymore... :(

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:03 am
by downer
monkeymax wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:55 am
downer wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:47 am I think the real endangered species may be the genuine "swiss-made" quartz at a keen price point.
My quartz C6 says Swiss Movt on the bottom and I've never felt hard done by. This probably isn't a massive deal-breaker. Interesting about those rule changes though; I didn't know about that.
Ultimately CW have the sales numbers and I guess they're just seeing that the quartz models don't sell anymore... :(
Yeah, I guess I was pondering whether all brands will struggle with the combination of "swiss-made", "affordable" and "quartz" in the same sentence...

CW have firmly hitched their wagon to the "swiss made" ethos, so I guess quartz will slowly disappear for them - simply because the pricing doesn't stack up.

As for the early "Swiss Mvmt" CW's, I've had a few myself and they were all good.

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:46 am
by DEV.Woulf
4 of my CWs are quartz. I love 'em, but I greatly prefer automatics so the discontinuation is not bad news to me. :yes:

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 12:12 pm
by Kip
downer wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:47 am I think the real endangered species may be the genuine "swiss-made" quartz at a keen price point.

The "swiss-made" rules have recently been tightened (in Jan 2017 with a two year implementation period), meaning that it is now 60% of the watch manufactured cost, rather than 50%.

As we all know, quartz movements are a relatively inexpensive component cost, and I imagine the other components and assembly costs make it tough to make a "swiss-made" watch at a competitive price.
This is the real issue relative to CW quartz watches. A decision of whether the "Swiss Made" vs. "Swiss Mov't" against potential sales is decision that must be looked at from a corporate standpoint. CW has been an all "Swiss Made" company since August 2008. Stepping back to some models being "Swiss Mov't" regardless of the movements that might be selected, I am sure, has/is being evaluated.

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 12:27 pm
by what-time-is-it
Whether it's related to the Swiss Made rules, or just the Marketing bods making changes on the website, but on the CW home page under the main slideshow you'll note that we have 'Hand built in Switzerland', which appeared a few months ago.

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 3:24 pm
by iamwbs
I only have one CW quartz and it's the only one I'm likely to buy. It's the C7 Rapide COSC Chronograph in blue. I prefer mechanical/automatic TBH and the loss of quartz movements won't be such a great loss to me. I only want my C7 because it's a 10spy :D

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:05 am
by CW257
monkeymax wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:41 pm All good points Paul, and I tend to agree. More than that, though, surely the quartz models were great lower priced entry points into the world of CW. I know that was the case for me - though I've only got quartz ones at the moment (as you say, the convenience for a watch I relied on for work outweighed the emotion of the automatic) they were my first CW watches and there's no way I'd have tried them out at £600+. In fact my quartz C6 was one of my first 'expensive' watches and it was in the couple of hundred pound range (if not less) and it's one of my favourite watches. I'd absolutely love an automatic CW again but can't ignore the fact that if it wasn't for my cheaper quartz I'm not sure when I would've been turned on to the idea of nice watches in the first place!
This summarises my feelings too. My quartz Malvern Chronograph was a gateway into CW watches back in 2012 and, at £350ish, it's still regularly on my wrist to this day. I recently picked up a NN Trident for £550 which I certainly wouldn't have done were it not for a prior positive experience with the brand.

However, I will admit that I also recently purchased a quartz Grand Tourer which looks absolutely gorgeous, but when held next to the Trident does feel considerably lightweight and cheaper. I understand why people favour autos, but I wonder if/how the brand will change if/when the entry point for owning one becomes c.£700.

Re: New Quartz Trident?

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2019 10:08 am
by H0rati0
For me, I see quartz as utilitarian, mechanicals collectible. With very few exceptions, who would trade/buy a SH quartz?

So while I own a few quartz watches (non CW) for me they are just there for specific uses revolving around situations where I wouldn't dream of risking a precious mechanical.

Given CW's strategy and target market why put effort into quartz models? A low entry price is all very well, but is one really getting a "CW" then?