Story Highlight
– Nico Leonard received a death threat after criticism.
– He called Christopher Ward watches “an embarrassment.”
– Leonard has 538,000 followers for provocative content.
– Christopher Ward fans defended the brand vigorously.
– Mike France condemned the threats against Leonard.
Full Story
Nico Leonard, a social media influencer and secondary market watch trader, has reported receiving a death threat following his critical remarks about Christopher Ward watches on Instagram. He described the brand as “an embarrassment” and likened it to “a copy machine with a logo on it.”
In his comments, Leonard expressed his frustration, stating, “Every time one of these horrible copies drops … you are paying a company to strip-mine the work of people who actually created something. You’re funding the laziest business in this industry and calling it a bargain.” His substantial following of 538,000 on Instagram has been cultivated through a blend of controversial takes and candid opinions regarding the watch industry.
While Leonard has shown appreciation for Christopher Ward in the past, notably praising the first Bel Canto as “genuinely brilliant,” his recent remarks have sparked a different type of engagement. Unlike the enthusiastic responses he received for prior critiques of high-end Swiss watch brands, particularly Hublot, fans of Christopher Ward quickly rallied to defend the British manufacturer.
One user, known as @casualwatchreviews, acknowledged the brand’s achievements, commenting, “Big CW fan, don’t agree with everything they do but the quality is up there. And arguably one of the most successful British brands of recent times and that should be celebrated.” Another user, @time_never_wasted, noted the brand’s ability to create “inspired” designs while maintaining affordability, commending them for the Bel Canto and their efforts in providing impressive complications at reasonable prices.
However, Leonard highlighted that the backlash escalated to such an extent that he found himself the target of a death threat from an individual who did not attempt to hide their identity. He reflected on the situation, stating, “I could post his name and ruin his life, or call the police,” but added that he prefers to move forward instead.
Mike France, the managing director of Christopher Ward, condemned the threats, asserting that such intimidation is unacceptable. “I heard [Nico Leonard] say he had threats which, if true, is terrible,” he conveyed to WatchPro.
Christopher Ward has experienced notable growth recently, attributed largely to their engaged customer community, which interacts through an online forum boasting 17,000 members and at collector events. Sarah Baumann, the chief operating officer, commented in a recent interview, “We are very much led by our community and how our ‘Ward’ of mouth spreads,” underscoring the significance of customer feedback in shaping their brand.
