Hello,
I noticed Christopher Ward have released a few new models. The C1 Moonglow caught my eye.
What do we think?
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Link to the range https://www.christopherward.co.uk/wa...moonglow-range
Looks interesting. I can’t decide if it’s too much of a gimmick or really clever
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That’s a seriously good looking watch for the price. Were it not for the outrageous lies in the advertising copy or in the paid for review, I would buy one. I have limited funds to throw at such luxuries however and they cannot be directed at companies who lack basic decency. Shame really.
No denying it... That's lovely.
At least the Rapide range has had a giant using the newer branding, instead of the crazily placed Christopher Ward on much.
It's just a matter of time...
With their QC and customer service problems, not my cup of the tea.
If you want a laugh check their recent trust pilot reviews. There’s some good ones there. But their 5 star score has dropped to a 4 very rapidly over recent weeks.
The Rolex of the internet shouldn’t be having such simple customer service failures.
It’s a shame as I’d possibly try out 1 or 2 of their watches if knew the after sales side would be competent.
Last edited by jimmbob; 10th July 2019 at 08:12.
Too high score imo. They are more 4,9 company today.
I think it is funny that people have a go at CW who are doing some nice looking and high quality mechanical watches for relatively low prices especially when so many are gushing over some recent Dan Henry tat because they use a Newman-alike Daytona dial!
As for marketing copy, I think all brands are OTT, e.g. superlative chronometer anyone?
I think people need to stop knee jerking and look at the full situation. It is no different to so many brand across all areas. If you don’t like them fine. I don’t like lots of brand but I don’t go moaning about them all over the Forums!
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I like them, I own one, but the problem is qc and customer support, not the brand (for me).
I've bought quite a few bits from over the years and maybe I've been lucky, I've never had a problem with their customer services- Always bent over backwards to accommodate, nothing ever too much trouble etc.....
As far as gimmicks go, that's a nice one. Well done CW
I just had a look at the Christopher Ward Forum - multiple threads expressing dismay with the recent / current customer service situation.
I went there to see if there was a thread explaining the differences between the newly released Mark II of the C65 Vintage and the Mark I. After reading a thread on it, I decided I'll need to track down photos to compare myself, if I want to know how the case is different. I think perhaps it now looks a bit less like the Sinn 556.
Agreed. The forum is absolutely peppered with customer service failures. One of the founders actually said on there that they were dealing with the issues. Maybe there will be a turnaround, but as of this morning there's a guy who has started a thread because the 6 emails he sent to customer services have been ignored.
Maybe we've both just been lucky!
Not really had any QC issues, when I've returned bits they've always been quick to respond by email and always been very helpful- Spoke to Katie in their customer services a few weeks ago and she went out of her way to help. Read a few of the bad reviews myself and was surprised considering my dealings with them over the past 5/6 years.
Pretty sure i saw a moon phase with Lume from Ball on SC a while ago, not that was lovely, far nicer IMO
Looks like an interesting watch...still cant get over the horrible new logo though
Great looking watch - I think that for a young brand they are creating some of the nicest watch designs out there.
As an aside, thank you for brightening my day as it always makes me laugh when I read about the terrible Trustpilot rating for Christopher Ward.
As of today there are 5664 reviews for Christopher Ward with 81% being 5* and only 7% of reviewers rating them below 3*.
This from a business that deals direct with the consumer rather than having an AD to take the flak on their behalf - only 43 reviews for Rolex with only 42% rating it as 5* - whilst 31% rate the brand at below 3*!
I'm fairly sure that Rolex production far outstrips that of Christopher Ward so their customers are clearly not engaging online which bears out my theory.
In fairness when I sent my new Rolex off to RSC UK for a simple regulation to meet COSC standards (never mind +/-2 spd) it took almost 3-months, never met COSC and came back damaged.
I'm not sure that anyone could have done worse from a customer service perspective - yet people are giving Christopher Ward 1* ratings for successful repairs that took far less than that!
I'm not saying that Christopher Ward are perfect (who is?) but they are a growing brand, developing their infrastructure as they grow and offering good quality watches at a fair price - so let's give the knocking a break.
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Last edited by adg31; 10th July 2019 at 12:32.
Moaning/whinging is the favorite sport of 21st century.
Just like I am moaning about the moaning.
I always smile when peoples comment on the ‘dreadful logo’.
Is it just the lumed moon that's new?
I quite like the look of it, I must admit, but I don't think I'll buy one - I bought a Certina HAQ to satisfy my moonphase itch as I don't keep mechanical watches running on a permanent basis.
Still, I like the CW, it's not horribly expensive and it looks pretty decent.
I've had 3 CWs, but only my Makaira dive watch remains. The others were OK, except for a faulty spring bar on a Trident I bought, but CW fixed that quickly, swapping the orange strap for a black one at the same time (I found the orange strap a bit insipid).
No complaints on service or quality of the watches from my experience.
M
Last edited by snowman; 10th July 2019 at 12:16.
More horological standard of excellence, which is marketed, it's not just plain marketing
https://www.fhs.swiss/eng/2016_04_28_01_Rolex.html
Speaking objectively I really like the design, I haven't seen a full dial moonphase like that before, it's nice to see an original idea. A friend of mine has a Trident and loves it, I've tried convincing him to get something more expensive but he won't have it!
They are indeed different cases. The new one is based on the current slimmer "light catcher" profile. The mk I was based on the previous trident case. I owned the mk I for a while and it was a nice watch but think the new case is an improvement. In fact I think it is a really good looking watch but I personally couldn't hand over any cash while they are going through these issues.
Sorry but for me it's more the ultimate marketing machine (sorry to paraphrase BMW) rather than a standard of horological excellence.
When it comes to customer service and based solely upon personal experience I'd take Christopher Ward every time.
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That's fair enough, it's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I'm more inclined to go along with The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.
Interesting you say "When it comes to customer service and based solely upon personal experience I'd take Christopher Ward every time." Out of curiosity, compared to which other brand or brands?
So a industry marketing group talks about Rolex’s strengthening its classification of its own watches (not independently measured) which Rolex now continue to call ‘superlative’, now if that isn’t marketing guff for a product feature then I don’t know what is!
My comment/example wasn’t on Rolex quality which I agree is high but the use of over the top marketing copy which all brands use including CW as it is basically essential in the luxury arena to build a sense of exclusivity or attitude to allow customers to buy into your story!
In the same vein as using Oystersteel which we are told 'belongs to the 904L Steel family'. Now tell me again how that's not branding?
Dials 'designed and manufactured in-house, largely by hand to ensure perfection.' No hyperbole there so far as I can see!
Rolex are amazingly good marketers and have built one of the true global luxury super brands and I salute them for their achievement.
However let's consider how much of your purchase price is taken up with horological excellence and how much is accounted for by brand building and promotion.
In contrast the Christopher Ward model is based around (I believe) a 3x multiple of cost to retail so you can see how much is accounted for by the watch and how much on everything else.
As such, I'd say the new models look like excellent value - which seems to be reflected by decent residuals.
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It’s actually based on the 2836.
The moonphase module is driven by modified gearing for the 2836 day mechanism. Pulling the crown out to the 2nd position, then turning it one way sets the date whilst the other way rotates the moonphase display.
It’s seems like a simple solution that allows you to simply set the moonphase, without the need to keep the thing perpetually running on a winder.
It’s actually a very nice looking watch.
I found the customer service excellent along with the products I’ve bought.
I really fancy a new blue dial sports watch, something with a slightly vintage look, not overly large and with standard lug width, were it not for Christopher Ward on the dial I think I'd be "in like Flynn",
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
I agree CW make some great looking watches but the Christopher Ward on the dial puts me off.
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Just remove the name, leaving the weird dimply thingy, I'd be good with that.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
I agree.
For me it's just another example of "if only".
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.