2013 FLE Progress Report #16
- Kip
- The Administrator
- Posts: 35171
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
- CW-watches: 150
- LE-one: yes
- LE-two: yes
- LE-three: yes
- LE-foura: yes
- LE-fourb: yes
- LE-five: yes
- LE-six: yes
- LESeven: yes
- Location: New Hampshire, USA
2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Well here we go again.....
In my last report I stated that we would have the FLE in our hands about now. That is not to be. Chris fully expected this to be true, but ran into another problem.
I have been in constant contact with Chris, who has been trying his best to overcome some serious technical difficulties. Let me get to the facts.....
Apparently we have designed something that will not work without a major reworking to the case and/or dial. The dial, as you will see below, will not be exactly the way it was conceived, but I do not think it looks bad at all...just a bit different. The problem is that we designed the dial with a rehaut and the case is just not deep enough. No more metal can be removed or the case will be to weak. The internal bezel cannot be made thinner or it will look ridiculous. As it stands now, the crystal cannot be secured properly without a dial/crystal modifications and then the crystal is too thin.
Then they ran into a lume issue. that has now been corrected.
(Kip)-- Regarding the rehaut issue......is it just that the case was not deep enough because it was never designed for one originally?
(Chris) Mostly yes.... One of the reasons it's dragged on is because I asked for o.5 mm to be taken of the crystal so we could get it underneath with out the Rehaut applying upward pressure... This didn't work as the crystal became too thin...we then looked at the possibility of taking 0.5 mm out of the top case rebate but there isn't enough wall left to seat the crystal properly.
Dropping the whole movement down etc meant a new case back and new tooling... Ie a new case... So the compromise is on the dial.... Ie you are correct... We are trying to get a quart into a pint pot.---
As a result, we are facing further delays. Chris has stated definitely before Christmas, but most likely mid November.
Chris again expresses his most sincere apologies, as he hates the fact that we have had to wait so long. He truly appreciates our continued patience regarding this FLE.
Below are photos of the prototype in process. Note that only the bezel is polished here. Chris has reconfirmed that the cases will be brushed as per spec and not bead blasted as shown in these photos.
As I stated in the last report.....
Your personal options remain the same as always. You may keep saving and hope that the delivery date is reasonably accurate....you may just wait and see what happens...or you can cancel your reservation if you feel you must.
The 2013 FLEC has approved the dial and given Chris the go ahead.
In my last report I stated that we would have the FLE in our hands about now. That is not to be. Chris fully expected this to be true, but ran into another problem.
I have been in constant contact with Chris, who has been trying his best to overcome some serious technical difficulties. Let me get to the facts.....
Apparently we have designed something that will not work without a major reworking to the case and/or dial. The dial, as you will see below, will not be exactly the way it was conceived, but I do not think it looks bad at all...just a bit different. The problem is that we designed the dial with a rehaut and the case is just not deep enough. No more metal can be removed or the case will be to weak. The internal bezel cannot be made thinner or it will look ridiculous. As it stands now, the crystal cannot be secured properly without a dial/crystal modifications and then the crystal is too thin.
Then they ran into a lume issue. that has now been corrected.
(Kip)-- Regarding the rehaut issue......is it just that the case was not deep enough because it was never designed for one originally?
(Chris) Mostly yes.... One of the reasons it's dragged on is because I asked for o.5 mm to be taken of the crystal so we could get it underneath with out the Rehaut applying upward pressure... This didn't work as the crystal became too thin...we then looked at the possibility of taking 0.5 mm out of the top case rebate but there isn't enough wall left to seat the crystal properly.
Dropping the whole movement down etc meant a new case back and new tooling... Ie a new case... So the compromise is on the dial.... Ie you are correct... We are trying to get a quart into a pint pot.---
As a result, we are facing further delays. Chris has stated definitely before Christmas, but most likely mid November.
Chris again expresses his most sincere apologies, as he hates the fact that we have had to wait so long. He truly appreciates our continued patience regarding this FLE.
Below are photos of the prototype in process. Note that only the bezel is polished here. Chris has reconfirmed that the cases will be brushed as per spec and not bead blasted as shown in these photos.
As I stated in the last report.....
Your personal options remain the same as always. You may keep saving and hope that the delivery date is reasonably accurate....you may just wait and see what happens...or you can cancel your reservation if you feel you must.
The 2013 FLEC has approved the dial and given Chris the go ahead.
Kip
"Asylum Administrator"
Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
"Asylum Administrator"
Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
- Cirrus
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:24 pm
- CW-watches: 2
- Location: Sunny North Wales
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Am I taking the wrong message from this post by thinking we could keep the rehaut if we had a thinner ie hand-wound movement, or would that also result in too much redesigning?
I like the rehaut, but I don't mind the design without it - I'm still in either way ,)
--
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
I like the rehaut, but I don't mind the design without it - I'm still in either way ,)
--
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
“The church says the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the church” - Fernão de Magalhães
- Konketsu
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 1870
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:56 am
- CW-watches: 6
- Location: Vancouver, Canada
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Looks good to me! It's nice to have some prototype photos to drool over while we wait. I think it has a very unique, sporty and casual style.
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." - Sir Winston Churchill
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
It's good to know - finally - what caused the delay.
If this had been disseminated earlier, I think there would have been less concern or worry from those interested or who ordered the watch. I'm sure most would have been understanding.
I didn't order it (due to the size), but I think it's still fine-looking after the dial changes.
If this had been disseminated earlier, I think there would have been less concern or worry from those interested or who ordered the watch. I'm sure most would have been understanding.
I didn't order it (due to the size), but I think it's still fine-looking after the dial changes.
C5As~FLE12R~W61~C60GMT~FLE15~SC
Orion33/Tetra2~BallEH~Montblanc~Tudor BB36~Archimede36~Damasko~Revue T~BremontSolo37~MJW
Vintage~Bulova23~Polerouter~Wittnauer~Longines~Omega~Soumar~Eterna~Gruen
Quartz~Matisse~FLE17~Ebel~Citizen
Orion33/Tetra2~BallEH~Montblanc~Tudor BB36~Archimede36~Damasko~Revue T~BremontSolo37~MJW
Vintage~Bulova23~Polerouter~Wittnauer~Longines~Omega~Soumar~Eterna~Gruen
Quartz~Matisse~FLE17~Ebel~Citizen
- chrisjohnson
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 1473
- Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:42 pm
- CW-watches: 40
- LE-two: yes
- LE-three: yes
- LE-fourb: yes
- Location: Somerset
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Thanks Kip for the update. I think it looks great - and that is my case number in the photos!
Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Chris
"A thing of beauty is joy forever."
John Keats
"A thing of beauty is joy forever."
John Keats
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Kip: thanks very much for the helpful update. First thing - I'm still in. Having photos to look at only reinforces my admiration for the watch and the work of the FLEC. It will probably go down in CW history as a prolonged production process, but it is well worth the wait. The rehaut issue is not a problem for me at all; I think it still looks great.
To have it promised for Christmas is good enough for me. Appreciate all you do for the forum.
To have it promised for Christmas is good enough for me. Appreciate all you do for the forum.
- PaulWB
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 6565
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:10 am
- CW-watches: 62
- LE-two: yes
- LE-fourb: yes
- Location: UK
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Kip,
Many thanks for the very comprehensive update - I hadn't realised how big the problems were with the design.
I must admit I do like the look of the FLE - very clean design.
Many thanks for the very comprehensive update - I hadn't realised how big the problems were with the design.
I must admit I do like the look of the FLE - very clean design.
C1, C2, C3, C5, C6, C8, C9, C11, W6, C7/C70, 2009 FLE, 2012 FLE Red, 2013 FLE, 2015 FLE, C9 JH2, C900 WT
Member CWL Double Figures Club
Member CWL Double Figures Club
- paw3001
- Trusted Seller
- Posts: 2798
- Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 8:50 pm
- CW-watches: 4
- LE-two: yes
- Location: Berlin - Brexit Refugee!
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Nice idea but then we would run into a cost issue!Cirrus wrote:Am I taking the wrong message from this post by thinking we could keep the rehaut if we had a thinner ie hand-wound movement, or would that also result in too much redesigning?
I like the rehaut, but I don't mind the design without it - I'm still in either way ,)
--
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
Mainly, as I believe sourcing movements and ensuring a good fit would increase the delay and costs overall and we have a strict budget of £450 which already has pretty much no margin for CW at this stage!
Watches - Too many but not enough!
- welshlad
- Moderator
- Posts: 11301
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:33 am
- CW-watches: 27
- Location: Yorkshire, UK
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Also, the forum voted for an automatic movement, not a handwind.
Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. - Niels Bohr
- kardnal
- Senior
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2011 9:36 pm
- CW-watches: 2
- LE-foura: yes
- Location: Toronto, Canada
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Looking sharp! The photos do the watch more justice than the rendered drawings were able to achieve.
The information about all the problems certainly helps put the delays into perspective.
The information about all the problems certainly helps put the delays into perspective.
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
I like the look of the watch!
Please consider no. 95 still reserved.
Please consider no. 95 still reserved.
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
looking nice
more than happy with that...
Alasdair
more than happy with that...
Alasdair
Tracking Christopher Ward watch prices on ebay globally at Watchroll
Tracking Bremont watch prices on ebay globally at Watchtrace
Tracking Bremont watch prices on ebay globally at Watchtrace
- PaulWB
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 6565
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:10 am
- CW-watches: 62
- LE-two: yes
- LE-fourb: yes
- Location: UK
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Had another good look at the pictures (used the iPhone earlier and the pictures were a bit small).
The blue minute numbers look far better on the flat face rather than on the rehaut (it now looks somewhat like the C2 FLE with the clean white face).
Thanks to Chris for keeping going with this one - I think it works better.
Looks like it's getting closer now
The blue minute numbers look far better on the flat face rather than on the rehaut (it now looks somewhat like the C2 FLE with the clean white face).
Thanks to Chris for keeping going with this one - I think it works better.
Looks like it's getting closer now
C1, C2, C3, C5, C6, C8, C9, C11, W6, C7/C70, 2009 FLE, 2012 FLE Red, 2013 FLE, 2015 FLE, C9 JH2, C900 WT
Member CWL Double Figures Club
Member CWL Double Figures Club
- mabotham
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:10 am
- CW-watches: 5
- LE-two: yes
- Location: Chesterfield
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Can somone a bit more savvy than me place the pic of the original dial next to the now accepted one for easy comparison...?
Ta!
Ta!
- AliBar
- Senior Forumgod
- Posts: 1053
- Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:37 pm
- LE-two: yes
- LE-three: yes
- LE-foura: yes
- LE-fourb: yes
- Location: Up Hill, Down Dale
Re: 2013 FLE Progress Report #16
Close as I can get .mabotham wrote:Can somone a bit more savvy than me place the pic of the original dial next to the now accepted one for easy comparison...?
Ta!
Alastair.
Double Member of the C80 Owners Club
Double Member of the C80 Owners Club