The Concord C1

By Don Ellis

s there a Concord watch cult?

Absolutely. This small but loyal congregation was given a huge boost by the release of the Concord C1, which is indeed a cult enabler. Yes, Concord's latest product is a great design showpiece, and certainly aimed to be seen. But its over-riding purpose is to make us forget the watch company's previous product line, which the C1 line replaces.

Nearing its 100 anniversary, Concord is celebrating with the launch of not just one watch, but a beautiful new series, artfully designed to replace the watch company's previous line-up. Concord's message is that slim is out; bold, heavy and oversize is in. The C1's 44 mm casing comes in a variety of materials from stainless steal to gold plating. Crystal sapphire and 23 jewels adorn the face.

<--quote#left--> This work of timepiece art puts every watch that came before it – including the previous Concords - to shame. A rubber strap firmly clamps the watch to your wrist and does it with style (though a metal strap is available for anyone who feels rubber is beneath them). This strap, neatly integrated into the case, is a world's first for a chronograph watch.

Made of carbon fiber and machined metal, the C1 also features a 3-layered dial sports a date indicator at 3 o’clock, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 12, a 12-hour chronograph counter at 6 and the patented Concord seconds disc at 9 o’clock. Engineers have painstakingly crafted the C1 to be precise.

The design is so complex that owning the watch is almost like having a little work of art strapped to your wrist. Any man who unwraps this on Christmas morning has by default become the coolest kid on the block.