Bel Canto - wow, what a stunning watch!

I just received mine this week and am utterly smitten with it.

What a stunning watch! Hard to believe but I think it looks even better in real life than in pictures. It's also a bit louder than I expected the chime to be.

I'm super happy with it.


Chime recording link:

https://youtube.com/shorts/9C6l78tZcps?feature=share




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Congratulations. This represents a milestone for British watches, or at least British/Swiss watches. Wear in good health.

Looks fantastic like mb and f

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Beautiful! I prefer it on a strap to a bracelet but that's just a personal preference.

As long as you like it, that's all that matters. Enjoy. [I do like the chime.]

I’m glad this and watches like it exist as they add interest to our wonderful hobby. I personally would never wear it but that’s not the point.

I hope you enjoy it and as said, the chime is very cool!

Sounds wonderful. Congratulations.

Nice photos. The depth of the dial and components is quite striking. Like a wearable Jacob and co.

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Looks fantastic and right up my street.

I wish I jumped in on the first batch when released.

Great photos, look better than CW's own!

As others have said, a watch I definitely admire, but will probably never own.

No less practical than my Xeric, but breaks my golden rule of not having a man's sized case with a ladies' sized dial.

At least, though, it's visible why that's the case with the Bel Canto.

Great watch, I look forward to seeing how CW top it!

M

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I agree, it’s a stunning watch, but I passed when they were originally announced, thought about it again when, imo, the better looking purple version was announced, and passed again. It’s strange because it’s got so many things going for it that I would normally be all over. I think it’s a case of the hype surrounding it that put me off. So much has been said about how innovative it is, but I owned a sixties watch for many years that chimed on the hour, it’s nothing new, and this is just a repurposing of their jumping hour module which is, again, nothing to shout about. It’s also been said how great of an advance it is for British watchmaking, except it’s not, it’s Swiss designed and Swiss made by a British company that acquired a Swiss manufacture. If It had been made by Garrick, or if CW had gone down the Bremont route and purchased the machinery to at least make it here, I would have been first on the list, at probably a much higher price.
I’m sure I’ll succumb eventually, just need to get over the hype first.

How noticeable is the chime with a bit of background noise? Thx

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To say I don’t get this watch would be an understatement of massive proportions.

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Originally Posted by learningtofly

To say I don’t get this watch would be an understatement of massive proportions.

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You’re not the only one but each to their own…

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Originally Posted by jason.humphrey.180

Congratulations. This represents a milestone for British watches, or at least British/Swiss watches. Wear in good health.

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Thanks, and I agree. It's a game-changer - at anywhere under £20k.

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Originally Posted by misterzero

Looks fantastic like mb and f

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Yes indeed, and I believe the platine is made by the same specialist company as MB&F.

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Originally Posted by theancientmariner

Beautiful! I prefer it on a strap to a bracelet but that's just a personal preference.

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I agree, and thus far also think it works better on leather.

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Originally Posted by jukeboxs

As long as you like it, that's all that matters. Enjoy. [I do like the chime.]

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Glad you like the chime at least :)

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Originally Posted by Zolawinston

I’m glad this and watches like it exist as they add interest to our wonderful hobby. I personally would never wear it but that’s not the point.

I hope you enjoy it and as said, the chime is very cool!

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I've been wearing it daily since it arrived. Very comfortable and wearable watch. Albeit not very legible.

Not an issue with something so beautiful. This one is very much form over function.

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Originally Posted by Tony-GB

Sounds wonderful. Congratulations.

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Thanks.

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Originally Posted by stefmcd

Nice photos. The depth of the dial and components is quite striking. Like a wearable Jacob and co.

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Exactly how I see this watch. Like an easily affordable and very wearable Jacob & Co. No bad thing :)

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Originally Posted by ben4watches

Looks fantastic and right up my street.

I wish I jumped in on the first batch when released.

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Grab a purple?

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Originally Posted by snowman

Great photos, look better than CW's own!


Great watch, I look forward to seeing how CW top it!

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Thanks. Yes CW are on a roll, and I too look forward to seeing what they do next.

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Originally Posted by Danstone

I agree, it’s a stunning watch, but ...... it’s nothing new, and this is just a repurposing of their jumping hour module which is, again, nothing to shout about..

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They have been very transparent (as always) about the movement. But the breakthrough IMHO is what they achieved in repurposing it at this price, and with this above the platine design with visible chime mechanism, and with this level of finishing.

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Originally Posted by amcneill

How noticeable is the chime with a bit of background noise? Thx

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I now hear it most of the time even with the TV on, and I am used to the note. But not in a moderately noisy environment. At my desk and PC, I always hear it. It's louder than I expected.

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Originally Posted by learningtofly

To say I don’t get this watch would be an understatement of massive proportions.

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Have you seen it in real life? Perhaps reserve judgement until then? :)

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Originally Posted by JasH

Thanks, and I agree. It's a game-changer - at anywhere under £20k.

Yes indeed, and I believe the platine is made by the same specialist company as MB&F.

I agree, and thus far also think it works better on leather.

Have you seen it in real life? Perhaps reserve judgement until then? :)

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Congratulations. A lovely watch.

Beautifully finished and I think the best finish to price point of any watches I have. I certainly obtain more enjoyment from wearing the Bel Canto than one of my usual mundane everyday watches like a Submariner.

I bought a few straps for mine ahead of the watch arriving. After a few strap changes I have ended up wearing it most on the bracelet.

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Originally Posted by learningtofly

To say I don’t get this watch would be an understatement of massive proportions.

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Is that in an aesthetics kind of way or a rich person driving a Porsche GT3 at 10mph through Knightsbridge kind of way?

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Originally Posted by theancientmariner

Is that in an aesthetics kind of way or a rich person driving a Porsche GT3 at 10mph through Knightsbridge kind of way?

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It's the aesthetics, in the main. They don't work for me, and the whole design seems a bit... clumsy.

I really like the way it looks personally, lovely purchase OP.

I've only ever seen videos of it chiming once though - I'd assumed it was a repeater. Does it just do one toll regardless of the hour?

It’s certainly different,in a good way I think,I’ll go and do some research.


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Originally Posted by gbn13

Congratulations. A lovely watch.

Beautifully finished and I think the best finish to price point of any watches I have. I certainly obtain more enjoyment from wearing the Bel Canto than one of my usual mundane everyday watches like a Submariner.

I bought a few straps for mine ahead of the watch arriving. After a few strap changes I have ended up wearing it most on the bracelet.

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Thanks, and glad you are enjoying it so much too. So far mine has been on leather 99% of the time, but I will switch it to bracelet in a week or so.

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Originally Posted by mk1974

It’s certainly different,in a good way I think,I’ll go and do some research.

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Lots of reviews online and on youtube.

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Originally Posted by hughtrimble

I really like the way it looks personally, lovely purchase OP.

I've only ever seen videos of it chiming once though - I'd assumed it was a repeater. Does it just do one toll regardless of the hour?

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Thanks.

It's not a repeater. It only chimes once, on the hour. Always one chime.

I believe it's called a Sonnerie au passage.

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Originally Posted by learningtofly

It's the aesthetics, in the main. They don't work for me, and the whole design seems a bit... clumsy.

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I can see what you mean but it works for me. I can imagine the design being quite 'marmite'.

The little bridge across the dial would make it illegible at a glance which I’m afraid rules it out for me. Mind you I’m the same with most GMT’s. Sold Explorer II’s and GMT 2’s in the past as my brain has to do a double-take every time I glance at the dial. No such issue with a normal 2 or 3 hander. As others have said it’s a very Marmite watch - I can’t say I’ve ever even vaguely considered a skeletonised movement of any description but this seems to have been a hit with many

I think these are amazing watches for the price and I love how they have made the chiming mechanism look like a bird with its beak as the on-off and it’s tail striking the chime.

Very clever to repurpose the jumping hour in such a way.

Kudos CW, kudos!

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Originally Posted by RobDad

The little bridge across the dial would make it illegible at a glance which I’m afraid rules it out for me.

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I agree it's not a very legible watch. Due to the size of the mini dial and the silvery colours of all those parts. Oddly it's a LOT more legible in the dark thanks to its lume. But it's very much form over function, which is exactly how the Bel Canto ought to be.

I have other watches for legibility, primarily my divers.

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Originally Posted by paw3001

I think these are amazing watches for the price and I love how they have made the chiming mechanism look like a bird with its beak as the on-off and it’s tail striking the chime.

Very clever to repurpose the jumping hour in such a way.

Kudos CW, kudos!

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It's truly a work of art :)

It reminds me of the robot from lost in space! Danger! Danger Will Robinson!

Agreed! Seems like a Ulysse Nardin inspired watch as well.

Fmf

Excellent and thank you for introducing me to this lovely watch and concept. For me, I think it would be more wearable if the hands were a more contrasting colour to the rest of the dial.

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Originally Posted by LondonNeil

It reminds me of the robot from lost in space! Danger! Danger Will Robinson!

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Ha, yes, I can see that too now :)

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Originally Posted by FrogmanFreak

Agreed! Seems like a Ulysse Nardin inspired watch as well.

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It does have that vibe too.

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Originally Posted by catch21

Excellent and thank you for introducing me to this lovely watch and concept. For me, I think it would be more wearable if the hands were a more contrasting colour to the rest of the dial.

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I agree, and legibility is a real weak point of the design, which is very much form over function. I can forgive it for that though, as it is a beautiful design and I can see why they made that choice.

Contrasting hands would make for an interesting option though.

It's actually very easy to read in the dark, as the lume stands out more that the hands in daylight.

I think it's stunning

Tried to resist but thanks to this thread I have pulled the trigger this morning and ordered a Viola on bracelet delivery for Feb 2024 which I guess indicates popularity, it’s different to anything I currently own and is so different to anything else out there for the price point.

The wait begins …. Ding dong

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Originally Posted by pete-r

I think it's stunning

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:applause:

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Originally Posted by TKH

Tried to resist but thanks to this thread I have pulled the trigger this morning and ordered a Viola on bracelet delivery for Feb 2024 which I guess indicates popularity, it’s different to anything I currently own and is so different to anything else out there for the price point.

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That's also my pick of the 4 new colours. Congratulations :encouragement:

Mine was arriving in September, so now, but email says it has been delayed until Jan 24, so ordered in Dec 22, arriving in 2024, that's a long wait after paying £1000 deposit.

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Congratulations. It’s a stunning and unusual piece. My Viola has been delayed from July to December.

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Originally Posted by learningtofly

It's the aesthetics, in the main. They don't work for me, and the whole design seems a bit... clumsy.

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I agree but then my preferences are simplicity and legibility.

What I love about this hobby is that we all like different things and it's great to see that owners are enjoying these. For someone like me who values clarity and simplicity I just don't get this watch. A tiny little sub dial tells the time and it goes 'ting'. It's also ugly and costs £3.5k.

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Originally Posted by TaketheCannoli

It's also ugly and costs £3.5k.

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That is cheap for a lot of ugly watches.

One of the reasons of its attraction is that it looks well made for the price. The primary reason for its being was to create attention for the brand and for that it has been totally successful. I wish other companies did the same instead of playing marketing stunts.