Messages: 10263 Location: London, UK
Registered: October 2003
NEW BASEL RELEASE from Concord
Wed, 11 April 2007 09:45
Hi All;
Concord have relaunched the newly owned company with a watch that could well be described as 'The Bigger Bang'. Masculine, almost to the point of irony, it is oversized and uses many innovatory manufacturing processes to produce what you have to agree is a very striking watch.
COSC Certified C1 Chronograph
Expect the unexpected
Forceful, C1 shows its ambitions in a monumental steel case measuring 44 mm in diameter and 16.70 mm thick, featuring a powerful design. Its strikingly modern graphic look heralds a structural watch utilizing an innovative approach to materials. Its radical construction gives it a rugged durability that leaves behind established standards.
Water-resistant to 200 meters and comprising 42 parts, the case benefits from a revolutionary assembly method, which absorbs shocks and thus optimizes the sturdiness of the watch. A metal protective ring coated in rubber and fixed laterally by self-blocking screws is enhanced by eight decorative elements straddling the bezel. These bastions protect a spectacular 3.30 mm thick sapphire crystal, which literally emerges from the case. The structure of the crown adds an additional complex touch. No fewer than three materials are required to manufacture it: rubber, composite and steel are clever combined to form one dense and highly resistant entity. Built according to the same technique, the pushers also make their contribution to the strong personality of the timepiece.
The C1 is a visionary model that redefines the high-end chronograph. Drawing upon the brand’s know-how, the watch’s original and boldly unconventional construction proves that creativity can be expressed in many different ways: from technology to aesthetics, from materials to decoration and from function to emotions. Certified by the official Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), this forceful, ultra-masculine watch is a concentrated union of performance and innovation.
Before earning the highly coveted title of official Swiss chronometer, its self-winding movement underwent a series of detailed tests in one of the COSC laboratories, for two complete weeks.
The perfectly readable dial has a distinctive layered construction with a depth and perspective that are accentuated by the subtle effects of shade and light. Made of carbon fiber and machined metal, it is encircled with sunken applied hour-markers, filled with luminescent material, that are flown over by equally luminescent, athletic hands radiating a sense of determination and purpose.
Partially hollowed out, their alternating solid and open parts create a fascinating asymmetrical effect through a real interplay of force on the central stem, calling for a particularly demanding assembly process.
The 30-minute and 12-hour counters face each other majestically at 12 and 6 o’clock. The surprising small seconds display at 9 o’clock aspires to capture time: its display, controlled by a disc in permanent rotation, represents a new technical prowess on the part of the brand’s watchmakers.
The first quarter of the minute circle matches the Concord blue color of the sweep seconds hand. Finally, the date display, progressively revealed in a semi-transparent manner, specifies the measurement of time.
The bracelet in black vulcanized rubber with a brushed matte finish produces a striking contrast in materials.
The chronograph is also available with a metal link bracelet, completely integrated with the case by an original system of articulation, for which a patent is pending. The conception of the attachments ensures perfect adjustment to the shape of the wrist.
The synergy between light and textures reinforces the visual language of the watch. The case finishing – polished-brushed, satin-brushed or mirror-polished for the screws – and the rounded angles at the corners, embody technical assertiveness and a unique inspiration. The transparent case-back reveals the beauty of the mechanism and a decorated oscillating weight. It is also engraved with the Concord seal, which will serve as the Company’s signature on all of its creations from now on: “Audacity – Know-how – Avant-garde”.
The C1 chronograph embodies cutting-edge design and technical mastery, expressed through a strong identity that turns traditional watch-making conventions upside down through its style and functionality. Intended for a discerning audience with a taste for rare objects, it offers a chance to view time measurement from a completely new angle.
The C1 Big Date automatic, also steps onto the watch-making stage. Its construction also represents a major technical feat, exuding a bold aesthetic. In addition, a ladies’ model is offered in stainless steel or 18-karat pink gold, enhanced by several variations of gem-setting. The settings feature original combinations that play on the materials and colors.
All of which provide ample proof that the new Concord C1 timepiece, beyond its function as an instrument for time measurement, is a stylish and exclusive object conveying an exceptional attitude, character and presence.
Good Luck
James
"'Tis with our judgements as our watches: none go just alike, yet each believes his own."
- James Dowling (MrRolex)