Cups and Balls

Cups and Balls Magic Reviews

Product: Brian Watson Anytime Anywhere Cups

Maker: Brian Watson Magic

Price:  £185

Overview: 10 / 10

At a Glance

Review

I was more than thrilled when I learned that Brian Watson had decided to design and produce a set of cups for those who love the ‘oldest trick in the book.’

Knowing Brian, how he thinks, and his unwavering attention to detail in all the props he offers, I immediately placed my order and waited in excited anticipation for one of the first sets made.

Can’t say that I have ever been more pleased with any magic purchase. These are absolutely stunning and feel incredible in hand. Beautifully turned and the workmanship is certainly top notch.

It is my understanding that later sets will ship with bags that have carved pewter tassels of a hand holding a cup on the end of each draw string.

A wonderful touch indeed that speaks again to Brian’s attention to detail. Since the first sets shipped without this embellishment, Mr. Watson generously included a copy of his brilliant, Anytime Anywhere Cups & Balls DVD. This routine is quite the worker and it is clear to me that these cups were born of Brian’s desire to have the perfect tools with which to perform his showpiece.

The Watson cups make the necessary moves nearly effortless and speak volumes to Brian’s constant search for perfection.

What's Included?:

• Watson Cups 
• Working balls (1 1/8" Red)
• Bag

Delivery Time / Packaging:

Ordering from Bri's website, shipping from the UK took only a few days. The cups were very well packaged in an oversized box with bubble wrap and tissue paper protecting them.

They arrived in perfect condition.

Construction / Durability:

For the sake of comparison where weight and height are concerned, I took two of my favorite sets from my collection and measured them side by side with the Watson Cups. The sets I chose to compare are the RNT2 Polished Copper Mendoza Cups and the Bret Sherwood Smooth Copper set. Like the Watson’s, these are both polished sets made in thick copper that take tennis ball sized final loads.

All three sets are in the ‘ideal weight range’ by my estimation. Neither of them are exceptionally heavy yet all three are certainly substantial enough to evoke a certain confidence and the hand feel that such quality props bring to the table. The Mendoza’s are the heaviest of the three at approximately 7 ounces per cup. The Sherwood’s are next at around 6.5 ounces per cup, while the Watson cups are a bit over 5 ounces each. In hand I found it difficult to feel a notable weight difference between my sets of Sherwood and Watson Cups.

The Watsons feel the most balanced of the three to me. I think this is because their weight feels more centered and evenly distributed. The Sherwood cup feels heavier at the mouth bead, while the Mendoza’s are decidedly heavier toward the saddle, likely due to the fact that they are combo cups.

Where height is concerned, the Mendoza set is the tallest at 3” per cup and 6.5” for the nested set. The Watson cups are next at just under 3” and approximately 6.25” nested. The Sherwood cups are just under 3” as well per cup and are approximately 1/32” shorter per cup than the Watson Cups. The Sherwood set stands nested at 6.125”. The difference in height between the Watson and Sherwood cups is nominal until stacked at which point the Watson set is about 1/8” taller.

Suitability:

As stated earlier, the Watson Cups take a tennis ball final load. They offer enough attic space to comfortably nest with three 1” working balls. Designed with a single shoulder bead, they have a very clean and pleasing silhouette and a long skirt which may in some way contribute to the fact that they so perfectly demonstrate the illusion that the final loads are larger than the cups themselves when displayed on the saddle.

The saddle is deep, well formed, and will easily display three 1 inch balls together. The mouth bead is round, full, and in good proportion to the shoulder bead. It is well formed and closes tightly against the skirt. These cups just feel ‘right.’ They nest tightly together with very little play when stacked. With a slight flick of the finger the cups roll completely back coming to rest with the mouth facing the performer.

This is one of the first things I do when initially handling a set of cups to gauge their balance. The Watson Cups handle admirably in every way and the overall shape and design are of the highest quality.

Overall:

With a collection of more than 50 sets of cups, I can emphatically state that the Watson Cups are my new favorites hands down. Absolutely lovely in every way and worth far more than the £175 asking price.

Highly recommended!

Available from: Brian Watson Magic

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