Bel Canto

I also am intrigued by this watch. If other CW are any indication it should be a good watch.

I pre-ordered the watch after doing some research for Jan 2024 delivery. You are not going to hear the chime in a noisy environment, but it is a nice complication. Also the design and execution of the watch is really good, but I think it's going to be hard to read. I sat on it because it was from CW, I associated CW with watches you find on an airline catalogue, mostly made in CN for cheap.

Several of my friends own CW. They are quality timepieces without any doubt and compete favourably against more established and expensive brands.

Definitely not a catalogue brand!

I think the Bel Canto looks amazing. Every review I have read concurs. I haven't seen it yet in the flesh more is the pity!

That's good to hear 😊. Thanks for sharing

The Bell Canto is an amazing watch and I will sell you my blue one for $100,000.00 cash please.

Same here, haven't seen it in flesh. Sounds encouraging to go for it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zERZ3x8AEJg

I’ve owned it and it’s a little miracle. The finishing and the chime are what really stand out. Charming. Well made.

I just hopped on the hype train as I just got my bel canto yesterday. What I can say for now is that it is a stunner. The finishing is way beyond the expectations. It really is a totally different watch that feels nothing like my other existing watches. The only thing is the strap. It is okay, but not 'wow' like the watch itself. It will be on my wrist for a while for every day, and I can give you some answers for questions you might have.

That would be great and some pictures would be welcome 😁

I'm a Christopher Ward fan. Been buying their watches for well over 10 years and as recently as a few months ago. There's no accounting for taste, of course, but to me the Bel Canto is incredibly ugly, resembling nothing so much as a grinning cyclops. And once I had that impression, there was no un-seeing it.

Not a CW fan, but this seems to be a very nice watch. I don't think I need an hour repeater, but it seems quite useful. Look at this review by Evan.

https://youtu.be/W_gDUHHus9Y

Thanks 😊

Hi Justin, you use the past tense 'owned'. Did you sell or trade the BC? If so what was the reason you opted to let it go please?

I was slimming down the collection / generating funds for an aquanaut - so reluctantly got rid of some watches I loved. Unlike most of them the bel canto did at least turn a big profit (offset a good few losses!)

I want to get another one one day. Blue was my favourite - but of the new ones - black is the choice for me.

Recommend a delugs navy blue saffiano. Suits the watch brilliantly. And you can get a taper on it so less bulky. I much preferred it to the CW strap.

If you are a fan of chiming watches, then the Bel Canto is the closest thing you can get without going bankrupt. It is an hourly chime setup similar to setting a Casio watch to beep every hour. Not the most useful function but you get to experience the little single chime and CW has done well to incorporate it into a watch at that price.

The movement base is a Sellita SW-200 with the chiming module stuck onto it, so in terms of service over a short time, you should be good and probably a watchmaker who works on ETA2824/SW-200 can take a look at minute issues. But in future for a complete service, you probably have to send it back to CW to get it serviced because of the parts for the chiming module.

It is a cool watch, I’ve seen one in the flesh. My main issue was 1. Very hard to tell time ( my buddy even said he did not get this for telling time )2. the chime is cool but it is not very loud. The finishing is nice and for them to get this complication at this price is cool but you will see the corners that had to be cut a bit to do this. As my buddy said if you like it and are ok with these items then it’s great. For me, as much as i appreciate what they are doing, this is not enough to justify the price. With that said, they are at least pushing innovation and I hope this will drive other independent brands and micros to do the same in such a saturated space

Well, I mean, for an Aquanaut, sure 😁.

That's great

She’s a good one

I'm a bit tortured on this one as well, looks like such a great and unique watch to add to the collection. BUT -for me, it's still got too many other minor points that bug me:

No running seconds, poor daylight legibility (as per reviews), and no date... If just one of those things was in alignment with my preferences, I might spring for one!

Love the complication and way it's implemented, so maybe someday with a new design!

Just saw it last weekend. Looks even better in the metal 👌

I got to see one at windup and it’s a very very cool thing to see. It’s pretty far from something I’d own but it’s undeniably cool. I agree it’s not very legible and lacking a seconds hand is a bad thing for me, but I don’t think you buy this watch for that.

For a particular kind of watch person, it's the cat's pajamas. And I say a 'particular kind' because I consider myself a watch person too, and I couldn't give a bugger about it. So, for a particular flavour of watch person, yeah, great. Just don't expect anyone - even other watch people - to necessarily gush over it. Like any watch purchase, get it because you really, really like it, not because it might impress other people.

Now I have to wait for 10 months to find out. Review coming. (Next year).

There is a 60/60 guarantee for CW watches. You can return an unworn watch within 60 days for a full refund. 5K is cheap for a mechanical chiming watch. If you buy a watch because of hype, you might regret it.

Agree, i just wanted to get an opinion if it makes sense to invest from people who love it despite all these limitations appreciate it