mike france christopher warddivinity 2 respec talents

Alongside the chamfered indexes and Trident hands filled with Super-LumiNova C1 Grade X1 GL its a wonder to behold., Like other watches in the Military Collection, you can find the regiments badge on the watchs underside. Only Christopher Ward could be Christopher Ward, and only Mike France and his cofounders Chris Ward and Peter Ellis could have made Christopher Ward what it was in 2005, what it is today, and what it will become 10 years from now. We ship out around about 20,000 watches a year, and we always aim to grow, between 20 and 35% each year. He kept on saying that it is the people who work at Christopher Ward that have all equally contributed to making the brand a phenomenal success. Now we had to let people know what we were doing. The GMT LE is only available in Black Sand, and is limited to 200 units. Expert Posts: 249 Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:10 pm QC Issues C9 Chronometer - Excellent Resolution by Mike France by DavecUK Fri Aug 30, 2019 1:25 pm My new Christopher Ward 40MM C9 Chronometer arrived today. It was the first online-only luxury watch retailer selling timepieces directly to the consumer. I wont take credit for being on the same page as Mike, and although it was an interesting exercise to answer his questions instead of asking him my own for a bit, I believe the brand is spot on. He, Peter, and Chris started to discuss the idea of creating a watch brand, and if they were to do so, how they would go about it. He wrote a post on Timezone, describing it as the best value mechanical watch in the world. It is rugged enough and legible enough (legibility doesnt always rely on Arabic numerals) to be worn on any adventure you fancy but its sophisticated enough to pass muster in the board room as well. We were staggered, firstly, by the fact that it seemed quite possible to access many of the components that these watch brands whod been around for many years and would use, still is. What about the price range you currently offer? We still love watches as much as any enthusiast. To me, the quality of the watch reflects the professionalism and excellence of the 21st century Paras., A further tribute to the Paras comes in the shape of #tide strap. How many watches is Christopher Ward producing each year? And we really think the watch industries is one of those and Ive seen nothing weve seen in the 10 years weve been in business that persuades me that were not right. What makes the case so special is its ergonomic dimensions and elegant design, as well as its delicate chamfers and sharp angles. One of them, a Dutchman, Hans Van Hoogstraten, set up an independent Christopher Ward forum which is still going strong today. Ready to make the leap? While Christopher Ward does not sponsor sports teams, the company has set up the Christopher Ward Challenger programme to support young talent with world class potential. We discuss the history, design an Nov 01, 2022 30:55 What Makes a Watch Good Value? We launched our first two watches in June 2005, the Malvern Automatic and the Malvern Chronograph. If I want a watch to look like gold Ill buy a gold watch . I spend my life - 8 days a week - working . [4] He was later announced as a director of TRIBUS, a new watch brand he had founded alongside his three sons, Jonathon, James and Jake. When he was 21 years old, he got a random vision, a thunderbolt out of nowhere or a moment of clarity. The State of British Watchmaking with Mike France 1,354 views Nov 29, 2021 In the latest instalment of our British Watchmaking series, we talk to Mike France, CEO of Christopher Ward. Were a different apple that has come from a different tree. [3], In January 2020, it was announced that Christopher Ward had left the brand. [16] For 2020 total, the company stated sales of "about 15m" for an increase of 30% over the previous year. What Mike eventually realized as cofounder and CEO of a successful independent watch brand constitutes the great stuff. Suddenly we were catapulted into the consciousness of watch aficionados around the globe. Although running ELC was doing good work, he now feels that his greatest success was making peoples dreams of owning a fine piece of horology a reality. In the Napoleonic wars, the Colchester Garrison was a base for 7,000 troops, and ever since, various British Army regiments have made it their home. Fifteen years after it has introduced its first watches online, Christopher Ward has now grown into a multi-million luxury watch company, manufacturing more than 20,000 watches a year at its own . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Christopher Ward seems to be a true family business even though the people who work there are not related. On one level, luxury should be, in my view, about the absolute integrity of the product. but they really do rank up there with ones costing many times more. Would you say a far percentage of those people who admire the disruptors are millennials seeing as they too, are disruptors, in that they are forcing brands to rethink their strategies and increasing also, their traditional marketing mixes? In a way, one of the things we decided early on is that although we operate at a different price level than the other brands, we will show ourselves in exactly the same places that they show themselves, and so over time that encouraged an increasing number of people to see us in that frame. Its like politics. Thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview and talk about your watches. To say the new C63 Colchester is ready for anything is an understatement: this is a precision timing device that brings innovative construction techniques and materials together with elite Swiss watchmaking. There are these known value items, increasingly known because the internet, which is something that is a great democratiser of information. We already have a showroom, and its by appointment only, and thats been phenomenally successful. Lastly, if you have ever bought a Christopher Ward timepiece, you will know that the brand has a solid reputation for super fast shipping. There are many, known value items, but there is this growing constituency of people who people are able to judge and understand what constitutes quality. Typically, this results in borrowing heavily from WWII era dial designs (pilot, trench, marine, etc.) It is not a coincidence, then, that Christopher Ward has become so popular, and although we dont all have the same taste in watches, we can perhaps all agree on what a good deal looks like. I personally love the brushed finish, particularly on the Dune Bronze with the bracelet. It was the worlds largest watch forum, based in the United States, moderated by a guy called Michael Sandler at the time. Director Inven 1996 - Present27 years Founder Christopher Ward London Limited 2005 - 20127 years Education St mary's college crosby - More activity by Mike Just to prove I love my team.. This vision has evolved each day since the companys founding and each time a change in leadership occurs. And, in my opinion, luck always plays a huge role, in all of these sorts of innovative business ventures. [14], A differentiating factor of Christopher Ward is their "60|60 guarantee." Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Worn and Wound/WindUp SF Mike France Interview albionphoto Tue May 17, 2022 7:41 pm Not a lot that's new but may be of interest. In 2015, The Sunday Times ranked Christopher Ward as 77th in the SME Export Track 100;[3] the only watch company on the list. They give us feedback. These are not cheap watches, these are expensive watches. It seemed the most quintessentially English name of the three of us. As mentioned above, the Light-catcher case not only comes with its distinct proportions, chamfers, and curves, it also comes with superb finish. Mike was clear in saying that he only plays a small part in the brands history and that the latter will survive long after hes gone. This interview was produced as part of the 2020 Virtual Windup Watch Fair,. Check out BMF here! The latter developed two in-house calibers for Christopher Ward: the C9 Jumping Hour and the C900 Single Pusher. We were lucky enough to get an interview with Mike France ahead of the launch of the brand new C63 Sealander Collection. Founded by three friends Christopher Ward, Mike France, and Peter Ellis in 2004, Christopher Ward was the first online-only luxury watch retailer. Some of the things we are working on, I wouldnt have thought possible five years ago. Of course, I know some people who will never, ever, ever want to have a Christopher Ward watch, and we have to accept that because we dont have that aura of a Patek Philippe for example. The skepticism was always about people not wanting to spend large amounts of money online. Synergies is a prime Swiss manufacturer of all things horology (and was also founded by Jorg Baders father), and now the two have become one. Though with one crucial and innovative difference. C65 Dune Collection If you're a frequent visitor to any of the Beans & Bezels social media channels, you'll know that I've been a fan of Christopher Ward ever since I got exposed to the world of micro-brands and smaller independents. The team quickly learned what they needed to know, and it was then that their ideas became more realistic. While there doesnt seem to be a horological taxonomy, to many in the hobby, the term is often associated with watches that focus on being tough and extremely legible. Weve changed the logo. Mike: There will definitely be other versions. B&B: Is there anything else you can share with us about what is in store for 2023? But look from where weve come. And I am pleased you like the matched date wheel colours! We chose a COSC-certified version of the Sellita SW200, says Adrian Buchmann. Its all about those challenges, and who knows whether we succeed or not, um, but trying them is going to be exciting! Over the years, Christopher Ward has refined its logo and visual identity by moving the first iterations of the logo from the 9 oclock position (which was unpopular with many watch enthusiasts) to the 12 oclock position. To us, a good leader is one that encourages others to embrace their talents and who is ruthless in defending the values on which their company is built. You know, I dont see any barriers to where we can go horologically speaking. Its very difficult to crack the Chinese market when youre purely online. I remember you teased a bronze bracelet for the C65 Sandhurst last year, but will this bracelet become a permanent fixture now? Bursting onto the scene in June of 2005, British watchmaker Christopher Ward shook the industry by creating the worlds first online only luxury watch retailer, selling timepieces direct to the consumer. They continuously become more creative and innovative. Cases, dials, hands, and bracelets sporting the logos and names of famous Swiss brands could be seen on the workbenches of Chinese manufacturers, and these watches were being sold for a profit margin 30 times higher than their manufacturing costs. But on the expansion note, do I think at some point we may well end up having our own retail outlet? And that seemed to really epitomize I think the level of independence which we are driving, which is a luxury in itself. If youre a frequent visitor to any of the Beans & Bezels social media channels, youll know that Ive been a fan of Christopher Ward ever since I got exposed to the world of micro-brands and smaller independents. Mike: Dont believe everything you hear on a podcast I think 2023 is our strongest year of releases ever. Christopher Ward is a brand that I have much respect for, and it has been a pleasure to be able to see you receive more mainstream success lately. The Light-catcher case is the work of Swiss designer Adrian Buchmann, who Mike met a few years back around a coffee or a glass of wine (alas, I didnt catch the details of their meeting). That seems to be becoming a trend in this new world so to speak that being, the removal of intermediaries in a supply chain, or cutting out the middlemen. I really wanted it to be an online business and something that could traverse the world quite easily, so selling sofas was definitely out. Announced on 2 July 2014, the merger between Christopher Ward and its Swiss production partner Synergies Horlogres solidified a long-standing relationship between the two companies and created a new, shared company titled Christopher Ward London Holdings. And I can only see it going one way. Let me start off by saying that Ive been a big fan of your bracelets since I got into the brand, and the recent changes/upgrades have taken them to a whole new level. Mike France, CEO at Christopher Ward. So in his twenties he was building watches that were retailing at such 5,000 pounds, 100,000 pounds, and hes just a remarkable talent, and hes our watch-maker. He was one of the leading posters on Timezone and was hoping to expose us as charlatans, but to his credit and our good fortune, when he got the watch he was wowed by it and wrote a long post saying he had found the best-value automatic watch in the world. Then on the 8th of December we got a telephone call. The three cofounders couldnt decide on what to call it, so out of sheer despair, Mike thought that Chris name sounded just perfect. During our interview, Mike said more than once that his vision was to make high-end watches attainable to all watch enthusiasts to the point of making the cheapest most expensive watches. Dont get me wrong: there are many brands out there that make exceptional watches, especially when looking at Swiss independent watchmaking. It isnt straightforward to achieve as the four squares of the logo require 2 separate pins each to be attached to the dial and must line up perfectly. "It caught the eye because of its arresting looks combined with the exceptional engineering. And thank you for your kind comments about our bracelets. I dont get easily star-struck, but I must admit that sitting down in a New York City coffee shop with Mike France was akin to meeting a celebrity or a hero figure. So lets talk about the logo and its new facelift turning the two dimensional printed logo into a three dimensional applied logo feels like a natural progression, especially considering how much depth your dials have with their multi-faceted hands and indices. People who like driving cars and are also interested in watches. Things were starting to move in our favour. Or example, the biggest one we found was 34 times the cost price. Theres the route of just having high prices and calling yourself a luxury brand, but that isnt the road were going down. For a lot of people, luxury, and the concept of luxury is tied to the price with the price reflective of how luxury an actual item is. But we could actually using pretty much the same componentry and design sell watches directly to the consumer at prices that, at the time, were unheard of. ELC manufactured and sold educational toys for children, which retailed in more than 200 stores in the United Kingdom. Doing so means that the different people involved in the creation of the watches eventually got into a smooth groove. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In this video you can hear how the company started, Mike's watch inspirations, and why Christopher Ward adopted a new logo. What is your overall vision for the business going forward? rn%26Wound Bremont, Casio, Citizen, Christopher Ward, Omega, and Oris albionphoto Senior Forumgod Posts: The case may come in certain declinations based on which collection it is used for, but it always comes with the same design principles. Yes, there are certainly more and more people are working in businesses, that are in the process of disintermediating, where the middle men are falling away all the time. The day I interviewed him, I also talked to Will Brackfield and Jorg Bader, a designer and a head of production respectively (more about them in an upcoming article). [6], Christopher Ward released their first watch in 2005. These watches have an array of beautiful dial textures and colors, and the beautifully highlighted light catcher case. And, this was about 10 years ago, and back then, the bloggers hadnt really emerged as the key opinion leaders they have become now. Christopher Ward (London), founded by Christopher Ward, Mike France and Peter Ellis in 2004, is a British watch company. Kip "Asylum Administrator" Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. We were relatively early into bronze which is a difficult material to work with (which is why many dont even try) and we wanted to push to having a bronze bracelet. One of the realities of playing in the Chinese market as big as that is, is that you need to have a physical presence there. The biggest challenge is to a deliver that, but also deliver it whilst retaining this polite contact that we have, or try to have, with our customers. [1] Christopher Ward watches are designed in England and manufactured in Switzerland. I am really proud of what we have developed. Virtually every watch brand now has a transactional website and if they dont they surely will. We have creative freedom. There's also an amusing section on market segmentation . In short, a watch that does the Paras justice. Well, yes, because as I said, we havent reached the barrier in terms of what we can do and what watches we can offer. In their About Us video (which I recommend you watch), Mike explained that they make the cheapest, most expensive watches and the Light-catcher case demonstrates that. So we had sold it, and what little we had got in gains were in the bank, just sitting there, not doing anything, and I suppose I, particularly, was quite bored and basically looking to carry on doing something. The Military Collection is the result of a partnership between the company and Britain's Ministry of Defence. We had the chance to discuss a variety of subjects including the . What I call Posh-London, which are places like Notting Hill, Kensington, or Mayfair itself, residencies and hotels. The two start the show by reminiscing about the early days of ABTW, and how Ariel first learned about the brand. [13], In addition to using the internet for sales, Christopher Ward handles customer service requests through an online form. This is big news for us, another big jump forward as one of the key platforms is seeing its third evolution. Bahnstormer_vRS Moderator Posts: 32867 Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm CW-watches: 38 By Not everyone, however, was as happy as us. Malvern Hills, source: www.visitthemalverns.org. He was promptly banned from the site, and he had therefore decided that if he couldnt use Timezone to tell the world about this brand, he was going to ring the brand directly and ask if he could set up a forum. "[10], Christopher Ward London was the only watch company to rank in The Sunday Times SME Export Track 100, ranking 77th in 2015. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and . And the great thing with carbon is that if you scratch it, it stays black so always looks smart., While the construction and materials are something to celebrate, its the subtle design touches that strengthen the bond between it and the Paras. It was only the beginning then. How are you adjusting to all the new attention, new fans of the brand, and what I suspect is an explosion in order quantities thanks to the Bel Canto? Well, for instance, we were taken into watchmaking factories, behind-the-scenes, and we were shown, first costs, so in other words, the actual cost price of watches. In other words, the more people involved in the process, the more success a brand has. The markups from manufacturing costs to RRP (Recommended Retail Price) were staggering: one famous Swiss brand was marking up by 34 times! Dave Malone is a lecturer and watch expert from Tasmania. They had websites but no commercial presence. Anyone who is into watches has dreamed at some point in their lifewhether or not they care to admit itof owning a fine Swiss or Japanese watch. His plan was to write a scathing review on the worlds largest watch forum, Timezone.com. He is of course right. In this video, Mike goes in-depth about the military watch collection. The vanguard of the next set of change, which is something that were beginning to take up to the next phase of what is just a remarkable period in history. Debuting on the C63 Sealander Elite, its now making its first appearance in the Military Collection. This gave us the opportunity to create a pretty unique online-only model that could avoid the mark-ups that other brands were applying. So we then looked at what our interests were. The company even unveiled its first television advert on the day Boris Johnson said we had reached the peak of the Coronavirus . WRITTEN ARTICLE: https://www.watchgecko.com/blogs/magazine/the-world-of-christopher-wardFor all your watch needs check out our website!https://www.watchgecko.com/LINKS:Website: https://www.watchgecko.com/Blog: https://www.watchgecko.com/blog/SOCIAL:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watchgecko/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watchgecko/ It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. For example, last year, we brought out our own movement. [5] TRIBUS ceased operations and filed for insolvency in the summer of 2022. Therefore lots of luxury brands not just in the watch industry but lots of luxury brands, simply can not afford to be truthful. Their first sketches were wild in the sense that they had no idea that movements came with a certain hand configuration, meaning that the hour, minute, and seconds hands, as well as chronograph hands, could only be placed in certain areas of a dial. The brand itself was taken to new heights of success from customer satisfaction, so it makes sense that that would continue to be a marker. And when we think about the the way web is changing, its not about just having sites anymore. And will that increase? All-carbon, all innovation the new C63 Colchester is a fitting tribute to the British Armys Parachute Regiment, and a stand-out addition to our Military Collection. [7], For the company's 10th anniversary in 2014, it merged with Swiss manufacturing partners Synergies Horlogres SA to create Christopher Ward London Holdings Ltd.[8] This culminated in the launch of Christopher Ward's first in-house movement, Calibre SH21, in July 2014.

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