Is the Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto the Watch of the Year?

I think they’ve made an impressive, unexpected step up in the watch world. If their goal was to be taken more seriously as a watch brand, I say mission accomplished. 
 

Beyond that, I don’t see the point in a watch like this. It’s a silly complication, and it’s difficult to read the time.  While this is a watch I’d like to see in person, there’s just no way I would buy one. 
 

Id vote for the Seiko GMT over this because that watch is more useful to more people. But to be fair, I don’t have any idea what the criteria should be with these kind of awards. 

I'd put it up there near the top. I've always wanted a chiming mechanical watch, silly as it may be. And this one is within realistic reach. Plus I really like the design with the little bird. It reminds me of the Swiss mechanical singing bird automatons (which I would also like to have some day).

I’ve got the bel canto. It’s a little hard to read the time - but don’t find the complication silly at all after some use. It’s a great little reminder of the passage of time and a wonderful little noise. It never gets old.

The automaton comment - so much. My parents collect musical boxes so I grew up around those little birds (and the hour single chime of various mechanical clocks.)

I can certainly understand the appeal of the Bel Canto, but have a hard time understanding why it's being treated like some sort of a game changer.  It seems to be well priced for what it offers, and is an interesting and attractive watch (beauty is in the eye of the beholder), but I'm not going to lose any sleep because I don't have one in my collection. I can think of several watches from 2022 that I'd rather have.

Good discussion last week

https://www.watchcrunch.com/Markell/posts/greatest-watch-of-2022-decade-21778

I cant think of anything that comes close to this sub 10k but I completely agree that it’s all BS really, if you like something or not it’s cool.  What would you put ahead of it?

I cant think of anything that comes close to this sub 10k but I completely agree that it’s all BS really, if you like something or not it’s cool.  What would you put ahead of it?

Some 2022 releases that come to mind which I would personally prefer over the Bel Canto, and would consider adding to my collection are (in no particular order):

-NOMOS Club Sport 37
-Tudor Pelagos 39
-Longines Zulu Time
-Breitling Navitimer B01 43mm with ice blue dial
-Omega CK589
-Omega Speedmaster 57 with blue dial
-Cartier Santos Dumont with lacquer dial
-Bulgari Octo Finissimo Sejima Limited Edition

There were also several watches that I would love to own but which are beyond my reach, including my favorite of 2022, the Cartier Masse Mystérieuse.

In addition to these, I can think of dozens of others from prior years that appeal to me more than the Bel Canto.

I appreciate that the Bel Canto offers something unique and interesting, especially compared to the "mundane" watches I've listed above, it's simply that I don't see it as the "game changer" that so many seem to see it as. If it was a true repeater at a reasonable price rather than a simple chime,  I might feel differently. As it is, I see it as a watch that certainly  deserves accolades for what if offers, but not elevation to the status of being a game changer. The Apple Watch is a game changer - the Bel Canto is a really nice watch with a unique feature that isn't found in most watches. I'm not saying that I wouldn't want one, but it's not near the top of my wish list.

I own a Xeric and enjoy the unique way of displaying time. I appreciate the engineering and uniqueness a watchmaker takes in making these pieces.

Yes.  Watch of the Year.  It is fucking amazing.  This young watch company took their already impressive jump hour movement as a base to invent this chiming complication.  Great thought went into everything from the aesthetics to the tone to the case and gong materials.  With the introduction of the Bel Canto, Christopher Ward has emerged as a brand worthy of taking that jump into Haute Horology.

When you compare the Bel Canto with other new releases this year, you find that there is no contest.  A few case size changes, a left handed Rolex, a couple fresh colors.  @tempus listed eight releases that he wouldn't mind owning but none of them offer a new complication.  They are all just modifications of the same old shit.  

There have certainly been some good watches this year that’s for sure.  I wouldn’t count the Apple Watch as a watch though, I think is a computer on your wrist but not unique, lots of companies are doing the same thing so I think it will melt into a pot where they will all do the same. With watches I think horology, aesthetics, craftsmanship, mechanics, engineering etc all play a part but it all depends on what you prioritise. I’m not a fan of me-2 watches so I wouldn’t buy a Tudor (in the same way I wouldn’t buy a Longines Dolcevita which is a clear copy of the Tank),. The Santos and the Otco yes, I tried on the NOMOS Club just the other day and I was actually tempted however I am chasing 4 watches so I’m trying to be good. I think the Bel Canto stood out this year because it was unique in a year where there wasn’t a lot of unique competition at that price point. 

I really like the Bel Canto.  Its a very interesting implementation and I'll probably own one some day.

I just have a super hard time feeling like a hour chiming complication based on an off the shelf movement is the best we've seen out of 2022.

For me, watch of the year is the Seiko 5 GMT.  I think I take the "standing on the shoulders of giants" approach to this.  The Seiko has absolutely killed the pricing for an entire generation of caller GMTs and we're going to see novel and exciting implementations of the complication by hundreds of microbrands over the next couple of years.  We can get an automatic GMT for sub $400 now! If you're willing to chance AliExpress, it's sub $200!  If you told me that this was going to be how the market shook out a year ago, I would have laughed at you! 

I suspect it will prove as consequential as the SKX in causing us to reevaluate how much is appropriate to pay for a watch.

I think the new NH34 is pretty "meh" news compared to Miyota dropping a "traveller" GMT with the 9075, unless you're a Seiko fanboy. 

That said, a GMT is a pretty "meh" complication overall, a chiming mechanical watch for less than the price of a BB58 is impressive. 

It's certainly the watch off the year for the Christopher Ward brand.

For its actual impact? Not so much, nothing at all like what the MoonSwatch did, not even close.

For its potential to influence the future? Not really. The affordable GMT movements from Seiko and MIYOTA have far more reaching consequences than a pretty watch that ding once in a while.

Easy answer, NO.

Thank you. You have my congratulations and my condolences in equal measure. Just don’t look into the eyes of the bird, I cannot confirm or deny it is cursed, but I‘m not brave enough to try.

It goes “ding” every hour, that’s enough to send people weak at the knees. It also has a bird on it and is semi-naked. 
The VC 222 has a lovely movement. I won’t go into it, people don’t seem to care anymore, but it’s a lovely watch that garnered a lot of attention at W&W 2022 as it’s a reissue of an icon and a lovely watch regardless.

You want exciting machinations, it’s the Cartier Masse Mystérieuse that should be at the forefront of your attention, closely followed by anything VC&A demoed at W&W, and then the Bvlgari/Richard Mille bunfight for the thinnest movement. 2022 saw some cool stuff movement wise.

Ok that's fair. I did learn a few things here. 

I share your feelings about the bel canto. It does not attract me. But I'm not that crazy about in house like many other people. I prefer the decades tested ETA and similar Sellita designs. Just my thing I suppose. 

Agree with loving solid ETA movements and agree all “in-house” are not created equal. However, the movement in the 222 is an excellent movement. 
 

Here are the words of the renowned Jack Forster…

“The reissue uses the caliber 2455 – this is an in-house, self-winding movement which Vacheron first introduced in 2007. At 15 years old, it's a well-established member of the Vacheron movement stable, and I think it's a very attractive caliber – 26.20mm in diameter, with a 40-hour power reserve, and with the Geneva Seal.”

Not trying to be funny. just saying it’s a beauty.

You are using the in-house calibre argument against Vacheron Constantin?

No I asked what mechanical innovation made this watch so desirable. And I got 'in house' movement. I still don't have an answer. 

The other gentleman provided a quote about how it's based on an older caliber that's "good and respectable". Still doesn't answer my question. 

Actually, I’d argue the opposite. The cal.2455/2 is well over a decade old and could be seen as a technical step backwards, but then you’d expect nothing less from me. I’m not going into specifics, but VC movements are based off JLC ebauches, and are very well-made. The movement itself, though, is lovely. I never offered technical innovation as the reason why the 222 is a good watch, rather it’s an iconic watch reissued to great fanfare, but it’s hardly accessible.

Ok cool. I'm aware of the importance of JLC in movements development. 

Not for me. My votes goes for the sheer audacity of this;

the technical innovation, even in their leather strap, of this;

and the ridiculousness of this;

That Van Cleef is phenomenal!

You got me with the Cartier.  They went one up on the UN Freak and you can read the time on the Cartier.

Not a watch I would buy or wear. I appreciate the work that must have gone into it. It's a clever marketing strategy too. It also feels somewhat like a vanity piece, wanting attention; but seriously, when or where does one wear a watch that looks like this? I own a couple of CWs so I do like the brand, but not sure about this one. I hope their next big release does not feel like it has to try this hard to make a point.

Its a unique piece and the skill in designing and making this watch alone should qualify it for watch if the year