Christopher Ward. What can you tell me?

[Emsman]

Afternoon all.

What can anyone tell me about the above?
It may be somewhat further down the scale than most threads here, but has anyone got any experience of them?

[Don1]

That you need a G-shock.

CW are well-liked and respected on here. British, classy, good value for money.

[Dan_1981]

Had this about three months now...... my post from when i got it.....



Anyway got home and opened it up - as mentioned above the packaging and presentation is superb. An actual hand signed letter, and personally addressed to me, the presentation box - again i didn't pay for the upgraded special box - is superb, big black chunky and very well presented, a free micro fibre polishing cloth.

Oh and a watch. Which is bloody lovely. Its nice and weighty, nice and chunky but not too big which was a big worry for me as i have super weedy wrists - although the bracelet does need resizing.

I guess you'll want some pics?

Sorry - quite a few but i got a bit carried away!









Cheers

Dan

[jonty247]

Dan_1981 said:

Had this about three months now...... my post from when i got it.....



Anyway got home and opened it up - as mentioned above the packaging and presentation is superb. An actual hand signed letter, and personally addressed to me, the presentation box - again i didn't pay for the upgraded special box - is superb, big black chunky and very well presented, a free micro fibre polishing cloth.

Oh and a watch. Which is bloody lovely. Its nice and weighty, nice and chunky but not too big which was a big worry for me as i have super weedy wrists - although the bracelet does need resizing.

I guess you'll want some pics?

Sorry - quite a few but i got a bit carried away!









Cheers

Dan

I have the exact same watch, bought just over a year ago - very happy indeed! Excellent service from CW, and the quality is untouchable for what you pay.
Just got an email from them offering a limited edition Aston Martin DBR1 themed chronograph - set to be available in October, but can pre-order now. Looks spot on!

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/new-arrival/c70-d...

[West9]

VERY VERY good. I have two the speedhawk and a orange divers watch. I love the new range that is out. I find they are very good quality for not a lot of money.

[Scooby72]

Very nice watches for the money !

I currently have a Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chrono which will be on ebay in the next couple of days, to make way for another Christopher Ward C8 Pilot MkII.

[MikeO996]

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

[CommanderJameson]

MikeO996 said:

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

Ah, now, that's not true. Since buying my CW I've bought an Omega and a Junghans, both of which were considerably more expensive. (and a couple or three G-shocks, but that's not important right now).

The CW (C8 Pilot mk 1) is a fine watch at the price point (circa £250), and quite frankly mullers* the likes of Rotary on build quality and presentation, but being realistic, it's not a patch on the Chronoscope and it's definitely not in the same league as my PO. For £250 it's a no-brainer. For double that - well, I'd be looking at Seiko mechanicals, some of the non-auto Junghans watches, perhaps even second-hand (or even new) Longines.

The recent range of watches are interesting. Prices are going up and I would expect build quality and design to go along with that. I found it most perplexing that CW launched a watch to commemorate the Harrison chronometer with a regular movement, and then launched a different watch with a COSC chronometer-grade movement in it.

The designs are also looking less fresh than they did a couple of years ago. I also struggle to identify a CW "house style".

*see what I did there?

[Revs_Addiction]

CommanderJameson said:

MikeO996 said:

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

Ah, now, that's not true. Since buying my CW I've bought an Omega and a Junghans, both of which were considerably more expensive. (and a couple or three G-shocks, but that's not important right now).

The CW (C8 Pilot mk 1) is a fine watch at the price point (circa £250), and quite frankly mullers* the likes of Rotary on build quality and presentation, but being realistic, it's not a patch on the Chronoscope and it's definitely not in the same league as my PO. For £250 it's a no-brainer. For double that - well, I'd be looking at Seiko mechanicals, some of the non-auto Junghans watches, perhaps even second-hand (or even new) Longines.

The recent range of watches are interesting. Prices are going up and I would expect build quality and design to go along with that. I found it most perplexing that CW launched a watch to commemorate the Harrison chronometer with a regular movement, and then launched a different watch with a COSC chronometer-grade movement in it.

The designs are also looking less fresh than they did a couple of years ago. I also struggle to identify a CW "house style".

*see what I did there?

Agreed..

However, since having serious issues with both the company and founder himself, I will never be buying a watch from them again. Quite frankly if it wasn't for the tireless efforts of Mrs Ward putting right all of the incredible cock-ups they make with startling regularity, I'm sure they'd have gone to the wall by now...

[MikeO996]

CommanderJameson said:

MikeO996 said:

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

Ah, now, that's not true. Since buying my CW I've bought an Omega and a Junghans, both of which were considerably more expensive. (and a couple or three G-shocks, but that's not important right now).

The CW (C8 Pilot mk 1) is a fine watch at the price point (circa £250), and quite frankly mullers* the likes of Rotary on build quality and presentation, but being realistic, it's not a patch on the Chronoscope and it's definitely not in the same league as my PO. For £250 it's a no-brainer. For double that - well, I'd be looking at Seiko mechanicals, some of the non-auto Junghans watches, perhaps even second-hand (or even new) Longines.

The recent range of watches are interesting. Prices are going up and I would expect build quality and design to go along with that. I found it most perplexing that CW launched a watch to commemorate the Harrison chronometer with a regular movement, and then launched a different watch with a COSC chronometer-grade movement in it.

The designs are also looking less fresh than they did a couple of years ago. I also struggle to identify a CW "house style".

*see what I did there?

I'm not sure in what way my 500 quid Speedhawk is any way inferior to the equivalent several thousand pound Breitling - same internals, same level of detailing on the case and dial - where's the difference? Rightly or wrongly I buy their argument that if you take out the massive marketing costs and jeweller's markups you can sell a high quality watch at hugely less than the big names.

I agree about house style.

[chrisr29]

MikeO996 said:

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

That's a bit like saying that once you've owned a Ford you'll never want a Ferrari.

[Pappa Lurve]

I picked one up 3 months ago and could not be happier. I got the C7 Chrono with a metal strap and it looks fantastic and the build quality is excellent. In fact, I think it is excellent for a watch 3 times the price. I collected it personally and met Wera there who I had spoken to over the phone a couple of times. She is delightful and nothing seemed to be too much trouble. I also chatted to Chris who seems like a lovely chap. Chris did tell me, without me asking, that despite the fact I was collecting the watch myself so I could look at it in the flesh, he would still be more than happy to accept the watch back if I did not like it within 60 days. A couple of friends have since purchased from there and have had similar positive experience.

So impressed am I that I have recently introduced Chris to one of my companies key clients as they may be able to do a little work together.

I do agree about the in house style comment, but if they make a watch you like, I would suggest you go for it. Can't fault them and a lot of companies, both on and off-line could learn a lot about the way to treat customers if my experience is anything to go by.

[MikeO996]

chrisr29 said:

MikeO996 said:

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

That's a bit like saying that once you've owned a Ford you'll never want a Ferrari.

I'll admit to playing at being a bit of a troll on this - but the truth is that you're paying 10 times more for a product that's maybe 5% better - I think that a Ferrari is more than 5% better than a Ford, but it's a fair point, and it's like with hi-fi the higher you go the more the cost rises for lesser percentage of improvement. But if it's just label you're paying for (rather than gold plated pick ups or whatever) then it does make you think twice.

[Scooby72]

Scooby72 said:

Very nice watches for the money !

I currently have a Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chrono which will be on ebay in the next couple of days, to make way for another Christopher Ward C8 Pilot MkII.

As promised

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[Don1]

Don't you hate it when the OP never repies to the topic? :shouts: Emsman, where are you?

[Morba]

Scooby72 said:

Scooby72 said:

Very nice watches for the money !

I currently have a Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chrono which will be on ebay in the next couple of days, to make way for another Christopher Ward C8 Pilot MkII.

As promised

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

I'll be selling / swapping mine soon. I want a CW forum 09 LE!

[chrisdk]

Relly glad I stumbled across this thread, been looking for a watch for my GF's birthday and although I really like my watches she doesn't share my same enthusiasm for spending thousands on a timepiece. So these seem like the ideal option right ?

A decent mechanism for a low price, but does this extend the women's range ?

I have my eye on this:

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/women/view-all/s3...



Is this a better bet than anything else I can get on the high street for the same price ?

Actually, maybe not such a great price overall though, just saw the same C40 Speedhawk as discussed in earlier posts, looks amazing for the price, think I'll take one of those after Christmas, thanks very much...

[Emsman]

Don1 said:

Don't you hate it when the OP never repies to the topic? :shouts: Emsman, where are you?

sorry folks- and thanks for the comments.

Looks like I shall tale the plunge very soon.
My brother has just bought himself a bell & ross which looks lovely, but way ahead of my price point!!

[Stu R]

Damn this thread.

Never really looked into or considered CW watches before, but browsing their site and I'm really quite fancying a couple of them.

[mft]

MikeO996 said:

chrisr29 said:

MikeO996 said:

The problem with CW is that when you've bought one you'll never allow yourself a Rolex, Omega, Breitling etc because the prices suddenly seem ridiculous.

Only reason to avoid is if you care about labels.

That's a bit like saying that once you've owned a Ford you'll never want a Ferrari.

I'll admit to playing at being a bit of a troll on this - but the truth is that you're paying 10 times more for a product that's maybe 5% better - I think that a Ferrari is more than 5% better than a Ford, but it's a fair point, and it's like with hi-fi the higher you go the more the cost rises for lesser percentage of improvement. But if it's just label you're paying for (rather than gold plated pick ups or whatever) then it does make you think twice.

It depends on why people are buying the watch.

A proportion of people who purchase expensive watches do so for reasons other than its appearance, or its mechanical excellence - largely, I'd venture, related to ego, status, and ostentation. It's the same in other areas of life - only a small proportion of the people who purchase a 911 will do so with an appreciation of its rear-engined handling, its flat-6, or Porsche's Germanic engineering prowess and motorsport heritage.

However, are there not are a different group of people who do buy nice watches for other reasons: their design, or an appreciation of the manufacturer's heritage, or in awe of the mechanical engineering required to create such things? Surely such people would purchase a Patek if it was within their means, but be happy with a Christopher Ward or a Seiko automatic, if not?

I've got a couple of watches which would mean nothing to the man --or woman-- on the street, registering zilch on the status/ostentation scale. But I love them: a Damasko, as it's the most achingly beautiful pilot's watch I've seen (I looked at a range of IWC pilots, for example, expecting to buy one, but they looked clumsy in comparison) and a Zenith, which is cute as a button, with heritage and a phenomenal movement to boot.

Would a Tag, Breitling, or Rolex be objectively better than either of those watches? I'd argue not (and I'd actually argue they'd likely be objectively worse, in most ways)... unless your objective is for someone to recognise that, 'ooh, that's a TAG', or 'ooh, he's wearing a Rolex, he must be successful/great/well-endowed'. And it's the same with mid-range monstrosities like Bell & Ross or U-Boat - £400 watches with an ETA movement and a huge marketing budget to bump their price up.