CWC Watches... Input anyone?

Kampfjaeger · Mar 19, 2005

Has anybody here owned or know about the reputation of CWC watches? I'm thinking very seriously about getting one of their dive watches (as I dive) and I like the looks of it - particularly the black one.

THey say on the website that they have been in business since 1972 and they have a three year warranty. Is this a good deal? Price is around $500.

How do CWC dive watches stack up against say... a decent Seiko or the like of comparable price? Thanks!

squid meat · Mar 19, 2005

either the CWC or a Seiko. I know that Silvermans in the UK is the main (or only) dealer that sells CWC, they do have a website.

Try this site http://www.broadarrow.net/http://www.broadarrow.net/

It's called the Military Watch Resource (MWR). These guys collect & specialize in military issue & military "styled" watches. CWC & Seiko threads are numerous there.

I own a Marathon SAR, that watch does rock !

Good hunting

Kampfjaeger · Mar 20, 2005

Thanks... I checked the link out as well as the accompanying forum (terrible format).

How does the CWC Dive Watch stack up against a similarly priced Seiko?

fishbulb · Mar 20, 2005

Kampfjaeger said:
How does the CWC Dive Watch stack up against a similarly priced Seiko?

Really, the only ~$500 Seiko diver that I'm aware of would be something like the Marine Master, which is a real-deal (very big) professional dive watch that I wouldn't consider suitable for everyday wear.

You can get a very nice Seiko 7s26 automatic diver in a variety of styles for around $200. These watches are well-made and reliable, and wholly suitabe for diving as most models are good to at least 200 meters. The only things that they have against them are that the movements are not hand winding and the bands aren't always that great. If you wear the watch regularly and are willing to consider an aftermarket strap or band, these aren't a problem.

I've never owned a CWC. It is my understanding that they are nice enough, but there are plenty of <$500 diver watches in the world using off-the-shelf ETA movements. In my mind, the business model where a company just assembles an outside movement into a different case is inherently unappealing and has been done to death over the last few years.

I don't see the CWC products as being anything special, and you are paying a premium for getting a "military issue" watch. Unless there is something irresistable to you about the styling of the CWC products, you could certainly get a product of comparable quality for considerably less. Ollech and Wajs comes to mind.

If the CWC style really does grab you like nothing else does, then great; go for it. If not, it would be worthwhile to look elsewhere.

Between the CWC and the Seiko, I would go with the Seiko hands down. The combination of the lower price and proprietary automatic movement offered by the Seiko divers is really unbeatable in this portion of the market.

I've never been impressed by the feel of the lower-end ETA movements. The Seikos feel much nicer when setting the time and date.

Steven Andrews · Mar 20, 2005

CWC's are overpriced. I had a quartz, date, G10. The back fell out and when I tried to knock it back in the luminous compound fell off the hands.

Go Seiko..or Omega..or Sinn..or Rolex..or Marathon - just not CWC.

gorlank · Mar 20, 2005

I like my CWC watches, I have a G10 and the SBS PVD divers watch. Both are quartz. The G10 was an issued watch the SBS is of the same type issued to the SBS (similar to the Seals in the UK). These are real military watches not the homage watches like the Luminox Seals or the MWC trash. In my experience the basic G10 is a very nice watch for around a C note, cheaper when used. It's handsome, light and keeps great time (natch). The diver's watches are pricier but if you're an enthusiast of genuine military equipment, there's not a lot to choose from. Watches like the Marathon SAR aren't exactly wallet friendly and in no way does Marathon have the pedigree that CWC does.

But, if you are looking for a dive watch/beater the basic Seiko diver can't be beat. I wouldn't dive with my CWC, to me it's a little pricey to beat around. Also the lume on the Seikos are unbeatable compared to the CWC's tritium.

fishbulb · Mar 20, 2005

gorlank said:
The diver's watches are pricier but if you're an enthusiast of genuine military equipment, there's not a lot to choose from. Watches like the Marathon SAR aren't exactly wallet friendly and in no way does Marathon have the pedigree that CWC does.

This is an excellent point.

To a large extent, with a CWC or similar products you are not paying for function or quality as much as you are paying for a "pedigree" of being genuine issue equipment.

There's nothing wrong with that, but it is something to be aware of. Only you can determine how important subjective things such as this are to you.

Kampfjaeger · Mar 20, 2005

Interesting points... Yeah, I figured that a fair bit of the price of the CWC dive watch can be attributed to the fact that it is issued to the SBS. To be perfectly honest, in an oblique way that is what attracts me and repells me from it.

First of all, I simply like the looks of it. I like its simple and straightforward look. That it is also black is nice as well. I do quite a bit of diving (since 1985) and I have always exercised a policy of being low impact in the water - especially visually. Regulators make enough of a racket to drive off some fairly interesting wildlife. Plus fish aren't colorblind. Colors and flashes are there for a reason thusly I minimize mine. I don't even wear my wedding band when diving.

The second attractive factor is that it is issued to the SBS. That means it is tough and durable - at least I hope so. It'll have to be as I would wear it all the time. I'm not a collector - just buying a tool and one of my few concessions to jewelry. I've had a basic Seiko dive watch for almost 24 years. It's great. (Bezel is bidirectional... That's how old it is

) I've had it refurbished a couple of times, but it costs a couple of hundred dollars a pop to do it (and it only cost me $110 when I got it!) Sooooo... I'm looking to put the old Seiko out to pasture and try something new.

The factor that makes me leery of this watch is that it is issued. Often times that means that it is not as good a piece of gear as you might like to have - but then it is SBS... So they tend to be well equipped. I just don't know.

Are they reliable? Do they keep accurate time? Is three years a decent warranty?

I really appreciate all your input guys! Thanks!

One other thing... Is one better than the other regarding automatic versus quartz?

fishbulb · Mar 21, 2005

Kampfjaeger said:
Are they reliable? Do they keep accurate time? Is three years a decent warranty?

As far as I know, the automatic CWC watches use standard ETA movements. This means that if properly adjusted they have the potential to meet chronometer standards, but the actual accuracy cen depend a great deal on what quality level of movement and adjustment the manufacturer opts for. You should plan on good but not perfect accuracy.

They should be quite reliable in terms of the movement, and service and parts should be reasonable as they are so common. The case and crown are a seperate matter, and it's hard to tell without handling one.

Three years is longer than most warranties offered in the watch industry.

The Seiko auto movements aren't known for stellar accuracy, but are regarded as being extremely tough and rugged. They can shrug off treatment that would put many Swiss movements in bad shape.

Kampfjaeger said:
One other thing... Is one better than the other regarding automatic versus quartz?

People have written volumes regarding this one. Even a cheap Quartz is more accurate than the finest mechanical movement, but they have an unfortunate tendancy of stopping without warning. I've seen too many "low battery indicators" fail to work properly that I don't consider them trustworthy.

Quartz gives you some functions that are simply not possible with an automatic movement. However, if you just want time/date I consider a mechanical movement to be the way to go.

Another thing to keep in mind - whether it is issued to the SBS or the FBI or anybody else, something being issue equipment in no way is indicative of it being higher quality or "tougher" than competing products. It is simply the product that won a government contract, which can be influenced by lots of other factors than quality and reliability.

Kampfjaeger · Mar 21, 2005

Gorlank... may I be so gauche as to ask what you paid for the SBS? And where/how did you purchase it?