Classic or Original: which Bel Canto is for you?

Life is full of difficult choices. And for watch enthusiasts, it doesn’t get more tricky than choosing between the Bel Canto Original and Bel Canto Classic.

At the heart of each Bel Canto is the FS01 module, created by Christopher Ward technical director Frank Stelzer, who adapted CW’s JJ01 ‘jumping hour’ movement to create a calibre that chimes on the hour every hour.

While there are similarities between Classic and Original, you’ll also find differences, from the finishing of the platine to the look of the time-telling dial. So, if you’re in the market for a Bel Canto but not sure which one to pick, keep reading.

The watch with the chime that was heard around the world, the original Bel Canto delivers a sound-and-vision experience unequalled at its price point. The sunray platine plays host to the Bel Canto's ‘songbird’ chiming mechanism, while the minimalist, no-numeral time-telling dial floats above it. A watch that manages to be both traditional and modern at the same time.

‘The Bel Canto is a masterpiece’
– Watchfinder & Co.

Imagine that the Bel Canto is going to the Oscars in 1962 – and is taking Audrey Hepburn as its date. Because that’s the Bel Canto Classic, a watch so sophisticated it should come with its own tuxedo. Its platine boasts textured ‘guilloché’ finishing that doesn’t just play with the light, but bends and changes it, while the Roman numerals give the dial a timeless refined aesthetic.

‘Absolutely out of this world value. This is a rare moment in watches’
– Zach Kazan, Worn & Wound