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Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 1:18 pm
by johnnyhomersimpson
Is it me or does it seem that CW has run out of ideas with its range of watches these days?

Just a few years ago, the choice in the range was quite big, everything from the slim C5 595, the C8, the jumping hour watches, the Makiairas, the various racing watches the Brooklands... the square watches, the list goes on...

However, now, I'm getting just a little bored with essentially the same watches with a different dial or strap - take the C60 sapphire orange for example. A look on the CW website sees a massive range of C60, C63 and C65 derivatives, and not much else. Don't get me wrong... I'm a massive CW fan - I've got 5 in my collection going back 10 years now... my most recent C60 Sapphire blue is great, but how many more C60 derivatives can they keep pushing out - its just getting a bit boring now.

Where's the innovation, where's the choice? Where's the aviation range gone, why aren't there more SH21's? Everything looks kind of the same now - same size, round watch, automatic... did the innovation and choice leave when Christopher Ward himself left the company?

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 2:17 pm
by Kansas City Milkman
I’d say there’s plenty of innovation but within a limited range. Clearly the C63s are new but agree there is too much focus on dive watches and a broader range would be welcomed

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 2:40 pm
by undetterred
I bought the blue le, now a tide version?

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 2:48 pm
by johnnyhomersimpson
Full respect to another Level42 fan - showing those true colours man!

BUT, the C63 is essentially a C60 with a different dial and the same SW200 movement.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 2:54 pm
by FloridaPhil
Totally agree.

The lovely Malvern range is gone, the C70 motorsport range is gone, the gorgeous C9's are gone, the C11 and other aviation watch line-up is gone. Low-hanging fruit is my guess.

I do long for the CW of pre 2017.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:21 pm
by Kansas City Milkman
johnnyhomersimpson wrote: Sun Aug 29, 2021 2:48 pm Full respect to another Level42 fan - showing those true colours man!

BUT, the C63 is essentially a C60 with a different dial and the same SW200 movement.
:) another 'True Believer'

OK, so depends how you define innovation. To me, the sapphire dial, pop out crown, tide straps and C63 elite cut outs are innovative. The C60 concept due in the next few months also promises some innovation. But the range is relatively narrow and there are lots of variation on a theme and largely housing the same movement. That's quite understandable, though as innovation is expensive an no doubt they'll get as much from each design as possible.

Edit: should add the Super Compressor to the list of innovations or re-engineering activities

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:36 pm
by albionphoto
My first thought when I saw the C60 #tide and the C60 Sapphire Ice was that these were a "Greatest hits remastered" rather than something new. I still think that but I've thought about it since and I wonder if we're seeing the effect of the pandemic and international current logistics problems.

At the C63 Sealander launch it was strongly hinted that the next launch would be around the C1 dress range. I suggest that this would involve a new case, new dials; in essence, the whole shebang. This would be a lot of work and involve new parts (at least), new assembly (new training for technicians/watchmakers) and a whole lot more. Switzerland has been seeing a rise in Coivid cases since the end of June and so it may have been difficult to re-introduce a new model with a whole bunch of new parts. Additionally, we know that some parts such as cases are sourced from China. China has had it's own Covid issues but there is also a real problem with shipping logistics into and out of China. Ships are massively delayed and I'm sure there are a lot of issues. Don't even ask about airfreight, it was ever cheap but now is horrendously expensive and fully booked for months.

Now, I don't know where CW source the parts for a sapphire dial or the dial paint for the #tide watch but my guess would be within Europe. What they seem to have done is take a creative look at the range and see what they can do with existing parts that were already in the supply chain. In that sense they've done a great job. I would have seriously looked at the C60 #tide if I didn't already own a C60 BLUE.

I share the OP's frustrations to an extent and I would have been interested in a new C1 even if I might not have been a customer. And that might be the other problem, in troubled times why relaunch a slow selling range? I'm adopting a "keep calm and enjoy my existing watches" approach for now. Hopefully we'll see a broader range in future.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:25 pm
by Richard D
I’m sorry I don’t agree with the OP. Adrian Buchmann has has produced some interesting and innovative designs. The C60 #tide has in particular caught my imagination. Not only with it’s design but also the backstory. Well done CW.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:28 pm
by johnnyhomersimpson
I respectfully disagree - the current re-hashing of the C60 line started with the the C60 Trident Bronze back in the 3rd quarter of 2017. I think its more of a marketing strategy. When I purchased my C8 PR Chronometer in the sale last year, I did ask whether they were going to introduce a new line of aviation watches - customer services informed me they were discounting the aviation line - since proved to be true, hence why this watch was on sale.

Yes - undoubtedly the covid situation has had an effect on the launch of new models, but I really hope they have some new things in the pipeline in the next 12 months, and not just another C60 / 63 / 65 re-working.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:39 pm
by Lavaine
johnnyhomersimpson wrote: Sun Aug 29, 2021 1:18 pm my most recent C60 Sapphire blue is great, but how many more C60 derivatives can they keep pushing out
Have you looked at the Tudor website recently? I don't know if any brand has leveraged a single model more than they have with the Black Bay. CW is a business. Like any business, they will produce what they can sell, and obviously the C60 range does well for them.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:43 pm
by Kansas City Milkman
^^^ Tudor came to my mind too. I'm not sure I see much innovation with them or other manufacturers either

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:48 pm
by Richard D
Lavaine wrote: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:39 pmI don't know if any brand has leveraged a single model more than they have with the Black Bay. CW is a business. Like any business, they will produce what they can sell, and obviously the C60 range does well for them.
Omega Speedmaster comes to mind.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm
by FloridaPhil
So other brands rehash their model lineup and that excuses CW doing the same thing? Wow, true believers indeed.

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:53 pm
by Kansas City Milkman
FloridaPhil wrote: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm True believers
It was a song reference

Re: Same old, Same old from CW?

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:55 pm
by FloridaPhil
Kansas City Milkman wrote: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:53 pm
FloridaPhil wrote: Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm True believers
It was a song reference
Huh?