British Watches - which one?

[anonymous-user]

Just posting this as a piece of trivia:

Christopher Ward has now left Christopher Ward and started a new brand called Tribus.

https://tribus-watches.com/collections/chronometer...

[FredAstaire]

Pupp said:

Isn’t it

id rather like one in either post office red or the pink (but i dont like the colour of the numbers on the pink face)

[RichB]

Lord Marylebone said:

Just posting this as a piece of trivia: Christopher Ward has now left Christopher Ward and started a new brand called Tribus. https://tribus-watches.com/collections/chronometer...

Tribus website says it was founded by his three sons (hence the name) but he has left CW after what appears to be some investment 18 months ago.

[anonymous-user]

RichB said:

Lord Marylebone said:

Just posting this as a piece of trivia: Christopher Ward has now left Christopher Ward and started a new brand called Tribus. https://tribus-watches.com/collections/chronometer...

Tribus website says it was founded by his three sons (hence the name) but he has left CW after what appears to be some investment 18 months ago.

The Tribus website can say whatever it likes, but I would put money on Christopher Ward being the driving force and brains behind Tribus, and he’s certainly listed as one of the directors along with his sons. He is pictured on the Tribus website.

I’m fairly sure he wouldn’t be able to leave Christopher Ward and start another watch brand called Christopher Ward, so has started another via his sons, with a different name, and a ‘reason’ for that name. New watch brands all like a backstory or a connection of some kind, don’t they?

Why not get his sons up and running in business I suppose? Good luck to them all.

All speculation on my part of course, and I’m not suggesting Tribus watches will be anything other than rather good. He has certainly had plenty of experience at CW.

[RichB]

I had a look at the Tribus watches but was disappointed to see that they are all 41mm. I cannot understand why manufacturers do not make something for people who have smaller wrists. I have a couple of JLCs and an Omerga Speedy 'Reduced' and at at 39mm it ample for me. I wouldn't buy anything over 40mm yet most manufacturers continue with this fashion for watches the size of bedside alarm clocks. They should offer a selection of sizes.

[joshcowin]

RichB said:

I had a look at the Tribus watches but was disappointed to see that they are all 41mm. I cannot understand why manufacturers do not make something for people who have smaller wrists. I have a couple of JLCs and an Omerga Speedy 'Reduced' and at at 39mm it ample for me. I wouldn't buy anything over 40mm yet most manufacturers continue with this fashion for watches the size of bedside alarm clocks. They should offer a selection of sizes.

I couldn't get past the terrible logo, looks cheap imo

[Mezzanine]

A recent Tribus social media post (seemingly created in era way before social media).







Cringeworthy.

[anonymous-user]

Mezzanine said:

Cringeworthy.

I almost didn’t believe that was real, so went and had a look

It’s like one of those 1970’s sports car adverts that tells you to buy the car so you can appear more sexually attractive to women.

Also, I hate their Tribus logo.

As I said, I’m sure the watches are excellent with regards to quality, but I think they have made an arse of their name, logo and marketing so far.

I think they are too expensive as well. A Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT with stainless bracelet is £900. A Tribus equivalent is £1700.

[Garemberg]

Timefactors are worth a look I have a speedbird II which is really nice. As said before the owner can be an acquired taste so good luck with aftersales

[Mezzanine]

Lord Marylebone said:

Mezzanine said:

Cringeworthy.

I almost didn’t believe that was real, so went and had a look

It’s like one of those 1970’s sports car adverts that tells you to buy the car so you can appear more sexually attractive to women.

Also, I hate their Tribus logo.

As I said, I’m sure the watches are excellent with regards to quality, but I think they have made an arse of their name, logo and marketing so far.

I think they are too expensive as well. A Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT with stainless bracelet is £900. A Tribus equivalent is £1700.

It’s terrible isn’t it - like something a letchy old uncle thinks is ‘edgy’ but is actually way past it’s time. I also thought the use of cigarettes in adverts was very frowned upon/illegal these days too.

[prand]

Lord Marylebone said:

I almost didn’t believe that was real, so went and had a look

It’s like one of those 1970’s sports car adverts that tells you to buy the car so you can appear more sexually attractive to women.

Also, I hate their Tribus logo.

As I said, I’m sure the watches are excellent with regards to quality, but I think they have made an arse of their name, logo and marketing so far.

I think they are too expensive as well. A Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT with stainless bracelet is £900. A Tribus equivalent is £1700.

Funny, I have issues with the CH Ward logo and branding - in my opinion its a bit of a mess. Not helped with the long Christopher Ward name they insist on squeezing onto a watch face. Tribus seems ok to me. But by god, what's that advert all about! And interesting info about C Ward. I know from reading about the company he wasn't the current driving force, but didn't realise he'd left (or was pushed).

Either way, I wish all the best to all UK watch manufacturers. I'm confused by the negative comments about the "made in Switzerland" thing. I doubt too many people are that concerned about buying their lovely British Whyte mountain bike is made in the same Taiwanese factory as 90% of all other MTBs. To me it makes good sense especially if the IP design, marketing, sales are still in the UK, it's still a British business.

[anonymous-user]

Mezzanine said:

It’s terrible isn’t it - like something a letchy old uncle thinks is ‘edgy’ but is actually way past it’s time. I also thought the use of cigarettes in adverts was very frowned upon/illegal these days too.

The ban on tobacco advertising extends as far as ‘indirect advertising’, so apparently you are not allowed to ‘indirectly promote cigarettes’ by glamourising them within an advert for something else, for example.

I would have thought that Tribus advert is within microns of being illegal, if not already technically illegal.

[joshcowin]

Lord Marylebone said:

Mezzanine said:

It’s terrible isn’t it - like something a letchy old uncle thinks is ‘edgy’ but is actually way past it’s time. I also thought the use of cigarettes in adverts was very frowned upon/illegal these days too.

The ban on tobacco advertising extends as far as ‘indirect advertising’, so apparently you are not allowed to ‘indirectly promote cigarettes’ by glamourising them within an advert for something else, for example.

I would have thought that Tribus advert is within microns of being illegal, if not already technically illegal.

Its just naff, don't care if its illegal. I am not sure why you would spend £1700 tbh nothing remarkable about them.

[gregs656]

joshcowin said:

Its just naff, don't care if its illegal. I am not sure why you would spend £1700 tbh nothing remarkable about them.

Agreed. Was quite surprised at the prices when I looked yesterday, and that advert is just bloody awful.

[RichB]

Lord Marylebone said:

Mezzanine said:

Cringeworthy.

I almost didn’t believe that was real, so went and had a look
It’s like one of those 1970’s sports car adverts that tells you to buy the car so you can appear more sexually attractive to women...<clip>

Indeed, and as a non smoker there is nothing at all attractive about that image.

[Simon-k41v9]

Mezzanine said:

Britain was the ‘Switzerland‘ of watchmaking at one point, a pioneer and a world standard.

Roger Smith and the guys from Christopher Ward have started a grass roots organisation to promote and enhance a return to more British-centred manufacturing with the industry.

Linky

good link, some brands I had not heard of, and a couple of watches that I can see myself buying in not distant future.

[speedtwelve]

The Tribus logo looks like a stylised cock and balls. Their ad above is like a some Harry Enfield Cholmondley-Warner parody.

It's a bugger that Lorne Gifford pegged it as his Offshore Professional Chrono looked like a properly precision-engineered watch for £1600 or so. I have a Bremont as do a few other lads at work. They do get a bit of a pasting for 'heritage' etc but it's as well screwed together as anything I've seen for £3-4k. I'd have another.

[wombleh]

speedtwelve said:

The Tribus logo looks like a stylised cock and balls. Their ad above is like a some Harry Enfield Cholmondley-Warner parody.

Shame as I had hoped Tribus might give access to CWard engineered watches without the contentious logo but they seem to have another questionable logo and now doubled down by adding contentious advertising!

[Steve-B]

I've been very pleased to add several Marloe watches to my collection in the last 2 years. British design, the 2 owners are easy to speak with, and they've got some cracking watches.

They've recently announced a Donald Campbell and Malcolm Campbell memorial limited edition watches called Bonneville and Eyre respectively. Got one of the Bonneville watches and love the dial, and they glow like crazy at night! https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/collections/bon...

Also have one of their Haskell Black Edition which my wife gave me for my 60th https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/blogs/news/the-... which I love.

Their prices are reasonable, their quality very high with well designed components and they are all mechanical watches. They fit in well with my collection of other, much more expensive watches too ;-)

[RSTurboPaul]

Mezzanine said:

seefarr said:

The only British watch I'd consider currently would be a fume porcelain dial anOrdain.

Very nice indeed.

Interesting Hodinkee article showing the process for the dial!

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/anordain-model-1...