C2 Automatic Chronograph GraffitiGrey Y-12 Limited Edition
Concord C2-GrafittiGrey Review by Monochrome
Just a few years ago Concord put itself back on the horological map when it launched the new C1 collection in 2007. Two year later Concord was talk of the town during Baselworld 2009, when they released the world’s first external tourbillion in the C1 Tourbillon Gravity.
By Frank Geelen
In 2011 Concord launched the C2 collection, as an alternative for customers who are looking for a watch with the same sporty looks as the C1, however slightly smaller in size. We got to test the latest C2 GrafittiGrey!
Concord did have a life before the launch of the C1 collection, however it looks like an entirely new group of watch enthusiasts rediscovered the brand because of the new C1 collection. The C1 was widely discussed on the different forums and in watch magazines of course.
Especially the launch of the C1 Tourbillon Gravity was an earth shaking moment and the C1 Quantum Gravity that was launched a year later, was again a talking-piece at the Baselworld watch fair. Just two years after the decision was made to re-energize the brand they had won the Best Design prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève and they were known around the world.
Overall appearance
The in 2011 launched C2 collection was made to please a larger audience with a taste for more reasonably sized watches. With a diameter of 43 mm it can be considered an average size timepiece and also the height of the case, which is 12.75 mm, is quite nice for modern standards.
The C2 GraffitiGrey was introduced in 2012 and is part of the C2 Y-12 collection. Its monochromatic grey looks are very stylish and the shaped alligator leather strap, with a raised mid section, looks very good.
Features
The Concord found the inspiration for the C2 GraffitiGrey in the guerilla graffiti circuit on the streets. I find this a bit of a strange combination; a watch costing € 5k inspired by the graffiti scene. However the result is a modern, robust and sporty chronograph with enough class and elegance to be combined with a shirt and jacket as well. Inside ticks an automatic chronograph and the date is positioned at 6 o’clock.
Dial/hands
The dial offers a very nice three-dimensional view, from the slightly sloping sides with raised hour markers to the lowered 12-hour counter sub-dial and the raised 30-minute chronograph counter and small seconds with bass-relief edges.
The dial itself is pitch black and all writing and markers are in grey, giving the C2 GrafittiGrey a very cool and collected look. The smoked sapphire crystal adds even more charisma to the monochromatic style. However this also has a down side, as the hands aren’t easy to see in lower light conditions.
The partially skeletonized hands show grey paint (or SuperLuminova) on the hour hand is placed in the first half of the hands, which is closest to the center. The same filling of the skeletonized minute hand is done in the half that is furthest away from the center. This looks very playful, however the drawback is that it negatively affects legibility.
The date window, positioned at 6 o’clock, shows a black date wheel with grey date fonts. This is the kind of detail that simply rocks! Another great details is the design of the small seconds, which is not simply a small seconds hand, but something quite different.
Case/strap
The 43 mm large case sits nice on the wrist, due to the screw-on strap mount system. Looking from the side of the case, the C2 shows a lot of details. This is no run-of-the-mill case; Concord spent a lot of attention to details and that pays off in an intriguing design. The stainless steel case does feel kind of heavy.
Like the multi-level dial, the case also features several levels of case parts and a similar three-dimensional view. On the right side we find the crown and two chronograph pushers, which are filled with grey paint matching the overall monochromatic color scheme. The strap, that feels rather stiff, is closed with a double folding deployant buckle.
The strap attachment shows similarities with that of the C1, because it is also screwed in the side of the case. Where the C1’s rubber strap was formed to be mounted and screwed to the side of the case, the C2’s strap isn’t. It is shaped with a raised mid section, which looks very nice. The strap is fixed to the strap attachment with a simple pin and the strap attachment is screwed to the side of the case.
Movement
Inside ticks a super reliable ETA 2894, an automatically wound chronograph movement, with a power reserve of 42 hours. The movement is well-known and used by many brands in today’s watch industry.
It has a so-called tri-compax layout where the small seconds are positioned at 3 o’clock, the 30-minute counter is positioned at 9 o’clock and the 12-hour counter is at the 6 o’clock position. The date window is placed at 6 o’clock.
The verdict – pros and cons
Pro’s:
- Nice and original design
- Stays close to some of the C1 design elements
- Three-dimensional dial design and smoked sapphire crystal
- Great looking strap
Con’s:
- The watch feels heavy on the wrist
- Legibility in poor light is not good
- Strap fixation feels rather flimsy, while the strap attachment is solidly screwed to the case
- Strap feel stiff
More information can be found on the Concord website.
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