That will lead to intersting times at CW. A brand I followed a lot in the last few years but I haven't bought any of their watches in the last 3 or so years now. Good luck to Chris for the future of course.
Just seen this on the CW forum:
"As the Christopher Ward brand moves forward into the new decade with more optimism than ever, it’s tinged with more than a little sadness that it will be without Chris himself.
For, after nearly 16 years, Chris has now left the business and will no longer be involved on an ongoing basis.
Of course, as a co-founder and the man whose name adorns the dial, he will always be part of the history of the brand but as many people inside CW know, his involvement with the business has declined significantly in recent years and it seemed right for everyone, including Chris, that this was the moment to formally step aside.
Peter and I will miss seeing him on a daily basis although we certainly won’t miss the smug look on his face as his beloved Liverpool Football Club chalk up yet another win on their way to the title. We’re hoping to be together at the Everton v Liverpool derby game in March when I am confident the blues will take the three points!
So, we thank Chris for the last 16 years, the ups, the downs, the football banter and the laughs (mainly the laughs!) and we wish him every future success in whatever he chooses to do next as well as reminding him to not become a stranger to his many friends at CW.
Mike France
CEO & co-founder
That will lead to intersting times at CW. A brand I followed a lot in the last few years but I haven't bought any of their watches in the last 3 or so years now. Good luck to Chris for the future of course.
It'll be like Taggart when he was no longer in it.
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NOW maybe they will put the logo back at 9!!!
The marketing department have missed the opportunity here to add the words thrusting, and sunlit uplands. Slackers.As the Christopher Ward brand moves forward into the new decade with more optimism than ever
I always thought Christopher Ward was a terrible name for a watch brand. So many watch brands have simple 5 letter names that are timeless
Rolex
Omega
Seiko
Nomos
Tudor
Casio
Timex
If I was starting a watch company, it would have a simple non personal name.
Could never get past the name on the dial or the massive price drops. Really like a couple of the watches though, and that moon one they did recently looked very nice I think.
Never really liked their aesthetic but they've come a long way, constantly changing and seem to be going strong. We have to admire that, especially from a British brand and I wish them success. A little Q/A with Chris Ward that some may enjoy - https://www.thenakedwatchmaker.com/people-chris-ward
We've travelled this road before,
For many - me included the CW branding and logo has been a total turn off, many companies for example
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longines
And
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex
Chose not to plaster the company owners name across the dial favouring a snappier title and logo, even our modest Smiths brand is both historic and comes complete with an excellent logo,
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
I think Christopher Ward do a better job than I ever could. When I first got into watches I bought two from Christopher Ward which I still have. Well made watches and good prices. With their aggressive sales why would you ever pay full price. Just having ‘Ward’ on the watch dial would be an improvement.
Another British company that no matter what they'll do will never be good enough for some.
My wife bought me a "Bluebird" quartz chrono for my 50th, it cost what most microbrands charge for a Chinese NH35 and is absolutely beautifully put together, right down to the nicest crown I have on any watch - complete with 2-tone enamel bluebird motif. I have plenty of pricier watches, but none I value more than this. How they do it for the money beats me.
Doubt it'll be the last CW I'll own. Best of luck to 'em.
I actually like all the CW watches I've handled which admittedly isn't many-they seem very well built and the ones I've tried are comfortable too. I really don't like companies who change their logos though, it just smacks of no staying power.
Irrational I know but it really turns me off.
So much snobbery around this brand. I love the look of this but not a fan of blue dials - hopefully they’ll do a black one and I’ll buy it. In house five day movement and beautifully finished case for under 2k.
https://www.christopherward.co.uk/c6...iver-sh21-le-3
I’ll be watching with interest - hopefully they’ll develop the SH21 movement and make some other designs with it. Ideally hand wound, display back, slightly smaller and in black. Please!
Last edited by ped; 4th January 2020 at 16:38.
The CW logo and name has been a bone of contention for many for sometime, I'd have bought one of these had it not been for the logo, as for the quality and customer service I've only heard good things.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
Customer service was great a few years ago. But as reports on the forum and FB page go it has really gone downhill in the recent years. Especially since CW's wife left the team. Maybe that will improve going forward.
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Its nothing to do with where the company is located, its the fact that they massively devalue their own watches. a 1k watch on the site will be 500 - 700 quid in a fathers day sale, almost guaranteed. Along with it being a kick in the face of anyone who paid full price, the willingness to cut 30-50% of their watches speaks volumes to what the company really thinks they are worth. Take that 1k watch that everyone knows can be had new for 500 quid, resale is now in the toilet completely.
Build quality & design are generally good, nothing wrong there at all, but price slashing tactics give a real shopping channel vibe and in my head at least, removes the company from a set of reputable companies who stand behind their product, and moves it into the set of companies who dont care about the product and its all about the sale.
I’ve always thought just “Ward” would do fine...
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Trading under the founders name has always struck me as a bit of an ego trip.
I think, for any company looking to move from designer watches to a more a level of prestige, the name is almost irrelevant, as long as the values embodied by the company are admired by the majority of customers.
As mentioned previously in the thread, there are lots of high end companies with both human names and brand names. What matters at this level is usually some form of history, a unique selling point, a perceived commitment to quality and willingness to stand behind the value they and their customers place on their products.
While CW do make quality watches, they dont really have heritage, are willing to slash prices at a whim, devaluing their product & dont have anything particularly unique to them (IMO)
It is certainly a tall order to establish a new luxury watch brand.
Which is the youngest brand to have cracked it?
De Bethune? MB&F?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
They've certainly acquired a bit of a DFS aura, but what's a company to do if some designs don't sell as well as planned? It's hardly unique to them either - some of the established names do it. The main difference has been CW keeping their retail activity in-house, so less opportunity to slip watches out of the back door via a dealer network.
All that said, they're no longer advertising sale items at-all, so the criticism is somewhat dated.
I don't know where the company is going, but I have one watch from them, and another one on it's way. I am yet to find to find a watch at this price point (even the full RRP) with similar quality. The case polishing is much nicer (to me of course) than any Oris I've seen. And Oris is double the price most of the time. I also like the fact it's an UK brand. It'll remind me of all the good things that I love about this country when I'm no longer a resident (near future).
Just had an email with priority access to the 50% sale so looks like it’s still very much part of the business plan.
I hope you like Switzerland as well, as by it's own admission it's Anglo-Swiss. that's what the two flags 'symbol' is all about.
The in house movement came courtesy of the merger with the Swiss company that had already created it. Jorg Bader, of said merged company is the largest single shareholder in the Holding company (although the total value of the other two partners eclipse that total), or he was until they recently secured funding and two new directors came on board. No idea of the current situation.
Lets see....
A quick Google reveals that,according to an interview with co-founder Mike France inOctober 2018(Source: USA.WatchPro.Com)
- initial seed capital £50k
- first year of trading they sold 500 watches
- within 12 years they have increased to a staff of 40 and an annual turnover of $10m
- they have their own watch making facility in Biel and an in house movement.
That seems reasonably successful to me. Of course, the irrational view that some on here have of CW will blinker them to any success the company achieve. They are not for everyone but obviously they are successful.....