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    This Archive section contains archived content from watch manufacturers websites. Information and pictures of many models disappear from their website after they are discontinued. This information here is provided for future reference for aficionados interested in these watches.

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    • Frank W

      Casio Oceanus OCW-T200

      By Frank W, in Oceanus,

      The basic function of a clock is to "display the time". The three hands of the long hand, short hand, and second hand are the main characters, and the question is how accurately the time can be displayed. Among OCEANUS, where multifunctional chronographs are the mainstream, the model that sticks to that one point is the 3-hand date analog “3 Hands Models”.
      Because it is a simple watch that has been stripped down to the bare minimum, the individuality, design, and technical capabilities are put to the test. In a sense, it can be said that the true value of the brand is questioned in the basic three-needle model.
      Therefore, this time, I would like to pick up the "OCW-T200S" series and approach the charm of "3 Hands Models", which is another face of OCEANUS.
      Oceanus blue, a new color full of personality
      The design concept of the “OCW-T200S” series is “Clean Elegance”. In the business scene where clothing is becoming more casual due to the influence of work style reforms and cool biz, we built a simple and sophisticated three-needle face that matches the business style of the young generation full of energy.
      The main model " OCW-T200S-1AJF] adopts a newly developed vapor deposition color on the dial with the theme of “emotional blue”. This new color was developed through trial and error with vapor deposition colors and processing methods, with the aim of creating a simple yet attractive blue that is typical of OCEANUS. 
      At first glance, the dial looks black, but depending on the viewing angle, a dark navy appears. In addition to the dial, blue vapor deposition is also applied to the inside of the flat bezel that has a linear texture, making it a piece that shines with the brand's individuality that has always been particular about the color "blue".

      Sharp and solid design
      Among the 3-hand models that aim to display the time, visibility is emphasized. High visibility is ensured by making the hands, which are the main characters, and the time characters that support them three-dimensional, sharp, and solid.
      In addition, the case and band of the "OCW-T200S-1AJF" are made of stainless steel, giving it a moderately heavy feel. 
      By incorporating a mirror surface based on the hairline surface and separately polishing it, we have achieved a finish that gives a sense of sharp and solid quality. In addition, attention to detail is alive and well, such as the scratch-resistant titanium carbide treatment, which can be said to be OCEANUS's specialty, and sallaz polishing that requires skill.
      Advanced technology that pursues basic functions
      Time management is one of the most essential elements of being a businessman. OCEANUS, which fuses digital and analog, fully demonstrates its technology here as well.
      Until now, the 3-hand model was a radio solar model that corrected the time on its own with a standard radio wave reception function, but the "OCW-T200S" series also has a time correction function with a smartphone link using Bluetooth®. The accuracy of ticking time has become more reliable and accurate. 
      In addition, the younger generation who are digital natives can handle it without difficulty, such as managing the condition of the watch with a smartphone, and it is perfect for backing up in the battlefield of business.

      From the left "OCW-T200SB-1AJF" "OCW-T200S-1AJF" "OCW-T200SCE-8AJR" "OCW-T200SLE-2AJR"
      Abundant variations of the "OCW-T200S" series
      In addition to the "OCW-T200S-1AJF", the "OCW-T200S" series has a lineup of 3 models that can be selected according to the scene and taste. First of all, all black " OCW-T200SB-1AJF" with black IP processing’. By using blue for the hour letters and hands as an accent, we have achieved a fearless design in which the brand color blue stands out in a chic appearance. Next, the calm gray dial is eye-catching " OCW-T200SCE-8AJR’. 
      It is possible to replace the gray military style cross band and the black leather band so that it can be used both on and off. And " OCW-T200SLE-2AJR " which adopted vivid blue for the dial .’. This is also a set of two leather bands, blue and brown. It is a specification that you can enjoy changing depending on the situation.
      In such a minimalist design, there are variations that express maximum individuality while keeping basic business colors such as navy, gray, black, and blue.
      The "OCW-T200S" series can give a clean and refreshing impression in business settings where first impressions are important. "3 Hands Models" will continue to pursue functions and designs that are close to the lifestyle of businessmen. I would like you to express yourself by wearing a simple yet high-quality, individuality that gives you a sense of the world of OCEANUS.
      Fresh and vivid vivid green

      “The OCW-T200S is a model based on the design concept of 'Clean Elegance' and is suited to the energetic business style of the young generation. I chose green because I wanted to have a collection with a new theme.”
      A stainless steel model with a simple and sophisticated 3-needle face has a green dial with good color development by making the material itself transparent green and applying vapor deposition from the top surface. Green, one of the three primary colors of light (blue is one of them), gives a calm and calm impression, while subtly asserting individuality.
      In addition, by adopting a light-shielding distributed solar that efficiently receives light and generates power, we are pursuing quality while being transparent
      "It's not the orthodox black or white dial, and it's not even blue. I hope it will be one that complements the individuality of those who choose the color green and value their youthfulness and playfulness. Blue is the only logo. The decisiveness of not using it is also filled with such thoughts.”
      Specifications
      Release date: April 2019 Price: Manufacturer's suggested retail price  ¥66,000 (tax included) Case size (length x width x thickness): 49.5 x 41.4 x 10.7mm Weight: 133 grams Case/bezel material: Stainless steel Band: Metal band (stainless steel) - One-push three-fold type clasp Waterproof: 10 ATM water resistant Time correction: Radio clock MULTIBAND6 for Japan, North America, Europe and China Power supply and battery life: Tough Solar (solar charging system) Mobile link function (function interlocking with compatible mobile phones via Bluetooth communication) Glass: Internal anti-reflection coating sapphire glass Surface treatment: Titanium carbide treatment Lume: Neobright Full auto calendar Needle position automatic correction function Power saving function (in the dark, after a certain period of time, the hands stop moving to save power) Drive time: When using the drive time function without solar power generation from full charge: About 5 months When power saving state: About 20 months Accuracy: If radio wave reception is not performed or smartphones are not linked, it operates with normal quartz accuracy (average monthly difference ± 15 seconds). Other functions: Date display Model range
      OCW-T200S-1A

      OCW-T200S-2A

      OCW-T200S-3A

      OCW-T200SB-1A

      OCW-T200SCE-8AJR

      OCW-T200SLE-2A

      OCW-T200S-7A

    • Frank W

      Casio Oceanus OCW-S100

      By Frank W, in Oceanus,

      From the classic line of "OCEANUS", a simple 3-needle model adopts high-quality finishing and materials, and is equipped with "Smart Access" that combines multi-function and excellent operability.

      Smart access allows you to operate the world time function simply by pulling and turning the crown, making it easy to adjust the time difference when using the watch overseas. The hour, minute, second hands, and date are driven independently, and the time in cities with different time zones across the day can be displayed quickly. 
      Furthermore, a 10.5mm thin design has been achieved. For the first time as a 3-needle model, dual-curved sapphire glass is used for the windshield. It suppresses the reflection of light and achieves both beauty and visibility. 
      In addition, attention has been paid to the fine details such as zaratsu polishing for a high-quality finish with little distortion, and a band with a structure that leaves a crosspiece that is beautiful and comfortable to wear. Introducing the New 3-needle OCEANUS that stands out in Oceanus Blue.
      "Smart Access", which combines an electronic crown switch that can be operated sensibly and 5 motor drives that independently drive the hour, minute, and second hands, allowing smooth use of various functions 6 stations worldwide (2 stations in Japan, China) , the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany) and automatically corrects the time. Hybrid mount structure improves the durability of the movement. Summer time automatic setting function that automatically switches to summer time Specifications
      Release date: February 2012 Case size (length x width x thickness): 45.7 x 41.5 x 10.5mm Weight: 90 grams Case/bezel material: Titanium Band: Metal band (titanium)- One-push three-fold type clasp Waterproof: 10 ATM water resistant Time correction: Radio clock MULTIBAND6 for Japan, North America, Europe and China Power supply and battery life: Tough Solar (solar charging system) Glass: Internal anti-reflection coating sapphire glass (dual curve) Surface treatment: Titanium carbide treatment Lume: Neo Bright Price
      2016: ¥68,000 (+ tax)
      2022: ¥74,800 (tax included)
      Functions
      World time: 29 cities around the world (29 time zones, with automatic summer time setting function) + UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) time display Calendar: Full auto calendar Needle position automatic correction function Power saving function (In dark places, the hands stop moving after a certain period of time to save power.) Battery charge warning function Drive time: When using the drive time function without solar power generation from full charge: Approximately 7 months When power saving state: Approximately 29 months Accuracy: When radio wave reception is not performed, it operates with normal quartz accuracy (average monthly difference ± 15 seconds). Other functions: date display Instructions manual: https://support.casio.jp/pdf/002/qw5235.pdf
      Simple instructions manual: https://support.casio.jp/pdf/002/pm5235.pdf
      Model variations
      OCW-S100-1AJF

       
      OCW-S100B-1AJF

       
      OCW-S100F-2AJF

      OCW-S100-7AJF

      OCW-S100G-7AJF

      OCW-S100P-2AJF

      OCW-S100-7A2JF

       
       
    • Frank W
      The first real summer in three years deserves a watch to match. Step forward the C60 Atoll Special Edition. An azure-blue, lacquered dial inspired by the atolls of the Indian Ocean. A 40mm Light-catcher™ case that’s waterproof to 600 metres. And a symmetrical layout that brings together our twin-flags logo with lume-heavy indexes and hands. Available as a limited edition of just 350 pieces – so every day can be the perfect summer’s day.
      Special edition, special price
      What do you want from a summer watch? Water-resistance to 600m so you can dive to your heart’s content? A Swiss-made, self-winding movement that’s accurate and able to cope with everything you throw at it? A design that’s both modern and classic – and makes timekeeping a joy, whether you’re by the pool or just dreaming of your next trip away?
      Welcome to the C60 Atoll Special Edition. Here, the dial is the star of the show. The azure blue colouring is light in the middle before gradually getting darker toward the edge of the dial.
      Achieving this isn’t easy: the manual process begins by spraying a darker shade onto the dial while it spins on a specially constructed turntable. Then a lighter colour is added on top of this. From then on, layers of colours are added, with the intensity of shade decided by the speed of the spin. Not only does this look fantastic, but it ensures no dial is ever quite the same.
      The dial plays host to a Trident handset, that’s not only easy to read, but deep-filled with Super-LumiNova® C1 GL Grade X1 for nocturnal timekeeping.
      A watch that’s made for whatever summer throws at it needs a case to match. That’s why the C60 Atoll uses a 40mm Light-catcher™ case that’s waterproof to 600m. Its ergonomic shape helps it sit snug on your wrist, and slide nicely under a cuff when occasion demands.
      Powering the watch is the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement – a Swiss-made calibre well regarded for its accuracy and robustness. And one that has found a happy home at Christopher Ward.

      Sellita SW200-1 Automatic
      An update on the classic Sellita SW200, this Swiss-made self-winding movement is known for its accuracy and reliability.
      The 26-jewel movement boasts a date wheel, 4Hz frequency (equating to a smooth eight ticks per second), and a 38-hour power reserve. It also has an in-built anti-shock system to maintain accuracy when faced with any sudden jolts.
      Technical
      SKU: C60-40ADA3-ATOLL-B0 Watch Model: C60 Size: 40mm Dial Colour: Azure-Blue Case Material: Stainless steel Case Colour: Silver Bezel Colour: Silver Height: 12.95mm Lug-to-Lug: 47.46mm Case Weight: 83g Weight inc. Strap: 178g Water Resistance: 60 ATM (600m) Movement: Sellita SW200-1 Power Reserve: 38 hours No of Jewels: 26 Complication Type: Date Vibrations; 28,800 p/hr (4Hz) Timing Tolerance: +/- 20 sec p/day Lume: SLN X1 GL C1 Strap Size: 20mm Strap Material: Steel Strap Colour: Silver Features
      Swiss made 26 jewel self-winding mechanical movement 38 hour power reserve Christopher Ward rotor with sandblasted finish  Anti-shock system Brushed and polished marine-grade 316L stainless steel case Screw-down exhibition caseback Unidirectional stainless steel bezel Unique engraved serial number Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Azure-blue gradient dial with twin-flag motif Date calendar Central hacking seconds Top-brushed indexes with diamond polished facets Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 GL C1-filled hands and indexes Marine-grade stainless steel bracelet with micro-adjustable ratchet clasp and quick-release system for easy changing Eco-friendly luxury presentation case and owner's handbook









    • Frank W
      Christopher Ward is synonymous with its sapphire-dialled watches. But this is our first Sealander GMT version – and it’s a limited edition of just 200 pieces. The grey-smoke interpretation requires greater ingenuity than usual to achieve, but the enticing glimpse of the chronometer-certified movement it delivers makes the effort so worthwhile. Was being able to monitor two time zones simultaneously ever this rewarding – or collectable?
      See the world through sapphire
      It’s been two years since Christopher Ward launched the C60 Sapphire – and proved that this ultra-tough, scratch-resistant mineral is perfect for those who want to see the visual poetry of mechanical watchmaking up close.
      Now we’re taking sapphire around the world with the C63 Sapphire GMT COSC LE. Limited to just 200 pieces, it brings the transparent beauty of ultra-thin pure sapphire with the flexibility of GMT timekeeping. At the heart of the watch is the Sellita SW330-1 COSC movement, which not only delivers chronometer-certified twin-zone timekeeping, but also boasts a power reserve of 42 hours.
      A movement this powerful deserves to be seen. And there’s no better way to do so than through the smoked sapphire dial. The ‘smoked’ effect is achieved through ‘physical vapour deposition’ (PVD), which involves placing the sapphire in a vacuum chamber filled with a vapour of silver and carbon graphite for three hours. It’s then put in another chamber, this time filled with silicon oxide vapour, which adds further protection.
      This delivers a moody transparent dial and provides the perfect canvas for the lume-filled indexes and handset. And because this is a GMT, there’s a fourth hand (painted a glorious shade of blue) with which you can set to the timezone of your choice using the 24-hour bezel. The bezel is coated with black diamond-like carbon (DLC) – another first for the Sealander range.
      Finally, because this is a watch that’s made for work, pleasure and everything in between, it looks as good on a leather, hybrid or #tide strap as it does on the marine-grade steel bracelet. And don’t forget: all our straps and bracelets are fitted with CW’s ingenious quick-release system which allows you to change your strap in seconds. The only thing you have to worry about is where you’ll take your C63 Sapphire GMT COSC LE first.
      Sellita SW330-1 COSC GMT
      The Sellita SW330-1 COSC is an alternative to the ETA 2893, and a movement that provides both superb accuracy and GMT timing.
      Just 4.1mm thick, the SW330-1 COSC has 25 jewels and beats at a rate of 28,800 per hour with a power reserve of up to 42 hours. The central GMT hand can be set independently from the hour and seconds hands.
      Features
      Swiss made Limited edition of 200 pieces • Self-winding chronometer certified mechanical movement 42-hour power reserve GMT complication Date calendar Central hacking seconds hand Anti-shock system Smoked sapphire dial Twin-flag engraving over ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the rotor Brushed and polished Light-catcher™ steel case Black DLC GMT bezel with SuperLumiNova® C1 BL X1 filled numerals and markers Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the movement Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1 hands and indexes Brushed and polished hands Top-brushed indexes with diamond polished facets Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand Black DLC exhibition caseback Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Unique engraved serial number Eco-friendly luxury presentation case and owner’s handbook





    • Admin
      Waterproof to 600m, with a COSC movement and a distressed ombré dial unique to each watch, this 500-piece limited edition is as tough and as individual as they come. Over time, its bronze case and bezel will – if you allow it to, of course – become as exclusive to you as its one-off dial.
      No watch more handsome, no watch more unique
      A watch that’s limited to just 500 pieces is already special. But for the C60 Bronze Ombré Green COSC LE, rarity is just the starting point. The big story here is the stunning hunter-green of the dial. Paired with the bronze case, it’s a match that speaks of the ancient world, nautical endeavour and military adventure in equal measure. And while green is bolder than the blacks, silvers and whites of most watch faces, it rivals blue as a wearable way to introduce colour to your wrist. No wonder it’s the watch industry’s go-to alternative shade of the moment.
      Christopher Ward’s ombré dials are unique – literally so. Each is hand-finished with a one-of-a-kind combination of scratches, which means that your watch will be subtly different to every other one we make.
      Of course, being a C60 Trident, expect no compromise in terms of performance – so the C60 Bronze Ombré is waterproof to 600m. Since most recreational SCUBA divers rarely go more than 20m down, and for even the best technical divers 100m is pushing it, it’s pleasingly over-engineered. Still, it’s nice to know your bronze Trident will operate at twice the depth of many big-name dive watches we could mention…
      This watch is no shrinking emerald. At 42mm, its bronze Light-catcher™ case – hard-wearing yet surprisingly graceful – makes a real statement, while the polished and brushed bronze bezel is striking too: after all, this is the first time we’ve rendered our more intricate and precise Elite-style bezel in anything other than ceramic. And, of course, this remarkable metal – tougher than gold, warmer than steel – makes the green ombré dial pop even more.
      Sellita SW200 COSC Automatic
      Robust, reliable, easy to fix, and officially designated a ‘chronometer’ by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, this Swiss-made automatic movement offers the very highest standards of timekeeping. If you love mechanical engineering, but value extraordinary precision too, then COSC are the four key letters to look for.
      What’s a chronometer? It’s a movement with a certified, independently verified timing tolerance of just -4/+6 seconds per day in a variety of temperatures and positions. Only the top six percent of Swiss-made watches are this accurate.

      Technical
      SKU: C60-42ADC3-B00V0-VT Watch Model: C60 Size: 42mm Dial Colour: Green Ombré Case Material: Bronze Case Colour: Bronze Bezel Colour: Bronze Height: 13.4mm Lug-to-Lug: 49.3mm Case Weight: 95g Weight inc. Strap: 120g Water Resistance: 60 ATM (600m) Movement: Sellita SW200 COSC Power Reserve: 38 hours No of Jewels: 26 Complication Type: Date Vibrations: 28,800 p/hr (4Hz) Timing Tolerance: -4/+6 sec p/day Lume: SLN X1 GL C1 Strap Size: 22mm Strap Materi: alVintage leather Strap Colour: Brown Features
      Limited edition of 500 pieces Swiss made 26 jewel self-winding chronometer mechanical movement 38-hour power reserve Twin-flag engraving over ‘Colimaçoné on the rotor Anti-shock system Brushed bronze alloy case Bronze sandblasted bezel with raised polished numbers Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Central hacking seconds Date calendar Hand-finished matte green ombré dial Deep-stamped, screw-down crown Deep-stamped marine-grade stainless steel caseback Unique engraved serial number Brushed and diamond polished hands and indexes Signature Trident counter-balance on polished seconds hand Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1-filled hands, indexes and bezel triangle Vintage oak leather strap with quick-release pins for easy changing Eco-friendly luxury presentation case and owner's handbook  










    • Admin
      Christopher Ward has had success with motoring watches over the years, but never has the range been as attractive or unified as it is with the new C7 Rapide Collection. And it’s alive with innovation too, including the most impressive cases the company has ever made...

      Motorsport has long been an enthusiasm of all three Christopher Ward founders, but Mike France is especially smitten. And, as so often, it started with his dad, a Formby chiropodist who – perhaps the surname has something to do with it? – developed a particular obsession with fast Gallic cars. Mike was eight or nine, maybe, when a badly broken Renault Dauphine Gordini (the sports version of Renault’s ’60s VW Beetle equivalent) landed on their drive, and he found himself spending the best part of nine months lying under it, passing his dad spanners, as a full-on restoration kicked in.
      “He did everything from fixing the seized engine to hand-stitching the uphol- stery and even – he didn’t have a spray gun – brush-painting it British Racing Green,” Mike says. “It was a great moment when he fired it up and drove it around the block. The neighbours cheered.”
      The France family’s love of cars continued, moving from Renaults to Citroëns – even now, Mike’s on the look out for a pristine Citroën SM, the sleek Maserati-engined GT of the early ’70s – and, in time, to more expensive British sports cars. Mike’s inevitable Corgi Toys James Bond Aston Martin DB5 model nurtured an Aston Mar- tin obsession which informed the very first Christopher Ward watches.
      “I remember fellow co-founder Chris Ward and I visiting what’s now the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire – the world’s largest collection of British cars, and very close to Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ – when we were first starting the company,” Mike says. “We looked at the dials in the Aston Martins they had there as inspiration for the C3 Malvern Chronograph Mk1. This Aston Martin/British sports car influence has since become part of the mythology of the company – people still comment on it – and helps hammer home just how deep the link between cars and watches goes.”
      Christopher Ward has produced many motoring watches over the years – perhaps best remembered are the C70 Grand Prix Series Limited Editions, with their bright colours and large numbers in circles at 12, 3 and 9, as well as the various TMB Art Metal collaborations – but the collection has never been as cohesive as it has with, say, the C60 Trident dive watches. That, of course, is about to change.
      The new C7 Rapide Collection comprises both quartz and automatic mechanical watches, three-hand models and chronographs, following the classic good/better/ best model we’re familiar with from the C60 Tridents and others. That means it’s a pretty compressive collection from launch, building from entry level quartz versions for just under £400 through more expensive quartz chronographs and automatic models to automatic chronographs selling for just over £1,500. There are even a couple of limited quantity special editions in the initial range.

      But though it comprises six models from launch, it’s a range with plenty of space to grow, too. Christopher Ward’s motoring offerings have never before been so focussed, so comprehensive, so technically impressive – or so striking to look at.
      And it all begins with the case.
      “We’ve been making great strides with our cases over the past couple of years,” says Peter Ellis, another co-founder, “especially with the well-received C1 Grand Malvern case, which inspired the look of the C3 and C5 Malverns. But with the new C7 Rapides, we’re more ambitious than ever before. Adrian Buchmann, our senior designer, was convinced our new motoring range demanded a case with even more dynamism to it than you see in the C1 Grand Malvern. From that came quite an exhausting and involved process – much more than we initially thought it would be, truth be told – that finally resulted in the case you see here. I think it’s actually something of a masterpiece.”
      “I like cars – who doesn’t? – but I’m not as big a car guy as Mike is,” says Adrian, as he takes up the story. “I know he loves his Aston Martins, but I’m more a classic car guy. I’d rather have a DB5 than a DB11.”
      For Adrian, there were a lot of important points the new motoring range needed to address: firstly it needed to unify the offering, and it needed to introduce mechanical movements to the mainstream CW motoring collection for the first time. But, most importantly, it needed to bring a new level of engineering.
      “The case is the most tactile part of any watch,” Adrian says. “It’s the bit you hold in your hands. I tend to think of designing a watch as like designing a car. Unless everything is totally new, you already know the engine you’ll be using, so what you have to get right is the outside, the basic shape of it. Once you’re happy with that, you can move onto details – like the interior of a car, or the face of the watch. These matter too, but the body comes first.”
      And with the shape of the new C7 case, Adrian looked to cars: plenty of them, old and new, from ’30s blower Bentleys to the current Lamborghini Huracán. But mostly, he looked at the engineering behind them.
      One way to make a car go faster is to add power, but another is to lose weight and modern sport cars are awash with clever materials and weight-saving tricks. So would it be possible for this new case to reference those?

      From that came the idea that it might be possible to scoop out the lugs – not a little, a lot – for a really technical feel, and to play with colours and materials in quite a radical way. To this end, the C7s have a coloured aluminium ring around the belly of the case – not unlike a belt – which may be a plain black on many a watch, but could be many colours or textures. The first tranche of watches take great advantage of this, but there’s more to come – and, in the future, anything is possible.
      “Because of their big numerals and wide batons, these watches have more lume than anything else we do, and really glow in the dark,” says Adrian. “But imagine what they would be like with an entire ring of luminous material around the waist, for example? Such a thing might be possible for some future iteration – and with this as a design feature from the start, it will allow us to have a lot of fun going forward.”
      Indeed, we’re reminded of the sideblades just behind the door on an Audi R8 super- car, a design feature that can be as subtle or as lairy as you like.
      “It’s getting that ring to integrate with the case and the lugs properly which makes this case so difficult to create,” says Adrian. “Not to mention that the lugs need to be individually machined, which is expensive. Or that there are numerous different surface finishes used, some polished and some brushed, across the watch.
      “It all makes it the most expensive and involved case we’ve produced to date, but the reaction has been amazing. Our case manufacturer also makes cases for many of the most expensive Swiss watch brands, but it’s our watch that he was wearing at the recent Baselworld 2017 event, and was showing off to everybody. We got quite a kick out of that.”
      There’s a certain design language common to motoring watches that mainly comes from the faces, which tend to be clear and bold, with large numbers and high contrast – think a classic panda (or reverse panda) Heuer Carrera, say, with its strongly contrasting sub-dials.
      CW had already established its own distinctive look with the C70 Grand Prix series – which put bold circles around big numerals, like the stickers on old racing cars – and Adrian says it was very tempting to apply that look to the new range.
      In the end, though, this was felt to be a design feature with a rather Marmite appeal – some love it, others not so much – and a more measured approach was taken.

      The new C7 faces would be bold, sure, but also balanced and restrained. The use of colour can be either strong or subtle. After all, as Adrian says, “British Racing Green was incredibly popular with the C70s, and many people loved the blue and yellow dials too, but when it comes down to it, black is always the biggest seller for car watches.”
      Previous Christopher Ward motorsport watches have all been chronographs, but for this range Adrian had to come up with a three-hand iteration too: a simpler job, you might think, but actually in many ways harder, since chronographs – with all those sub-dials – are intrinsically dramatic to look at, to the point where sheer busyness can compensate for any minor design flaws. “With a three-hand watch, in contrast, there’s nowhere to hide,” he says. “The proportions have to be spot on.”
      And then there’s the logo. These are the first CW watches to carry the twin flags device alone on the face.
      “We couldn’t fail to notice how the current device not only references the Swiss and English flags, but looks rather like a motor racing chequered flag too,” says Mike. “It seemed natural that this should be the range that carries the logo alone.”
      And what about what’s inside?
      Seeing as this a collection with wide appeal, there’s no use of the Calibre SH21 in- house movement – don’t bet against it in the future, however – but instead a well-curated selection of quartz and mechanical movements from some of the industry’s biggest makers. The entry level Ronda 715.2 quartz movement is a reliable, well put together workhorse, while the Chronograph Quartz carries the Ronda 5021.D.
      The automatic has the SW200-3; the limited edition three sub-dial Chronograph COSC has the ETA 251.264 with preci-drive and power drive quartz movement; and then there’s the C7 Rapide Chronograph Automatic, which carries the famous ETA Valjoux 7750, currently the best-known and most widely used automatic chronograph movement of them all. It’s a robust beast used in many a high priced watch, including models by Bell & Ross and Breitling, TAG Heuer and Omega, Tudor and IWC; Christopher Ward’s Frank Stelzer talks about its virtues on p48.
      The straps are interesting too, with the entire C7 Rapide strap range being made of ultra soft piccari – yes, pig leather, as used in great motor racing gloves – which has both a natural pitted surface and holes stamped into it, but, says Adrian, “they don’t go all the way through.”
      Piccari leather is a material CW has used before, and especially on car watches – the C9 D-Type limited edition, for instance – but it’s joined by other options here: a metal bracelet; the same rubber strap used on the C60 Trident range; and twin-layer nylon straps. These aren’t actually NATO straps (which wrap around solid posts between the lugs, and so are slightly too messy for some as you have material tucked under the watch head), but give a similar look while using a regular attachment method and more conventional buckle. The best of both worlds, perhaps.
      Which is something you could say about the whole range, in fact. This is sure to become an important core collection for Christopher Ward, combining dynamic face design with great movements and highly attractive pricing. And in that innovative new case, it offers a degree of technical prowess to give anyone in the industry – at any price point – pause for thought.
       

    • Admin
      The hand-wound C65 Trident Diver has been Christopher Ward’s biggest hit in years, but here comes a piece to challenge it: the attractive new automatic version. And the changes don’t end there...
      With the ’60s cool of Connery-era Bond never out of style, the team at Christopher Ward always expected the retro styled C65 Trident Diver to be something of a hit – but no-one thought it would do quite as well as it has. Indeed, this new range’s initial hand-wound iteration immediately became one of the company’s best sellers, the first watch in ages to really challenge the long established C60 Trident as top dog.
      Clearly, then, the hand-wound version wasn’t going to be the only C65 Trident Diver, and we’ve had a couple of spin-offs already – a GMT version, and a limited edition, bronze-cased model. The automatic you see here, though, is the really important one: an everyday self-winding C65, with the same 41mm case and glass box sapphire crystal as the hand-wound, and Sellita’s SW200 automatic movement inside, complete with Christopher Ward’s twin flag pattern engraved on the rotor. Crucially, it will sell at exactly the same price, while offering a unique look all its own. If any C65 is going to eclipse the spectacular sales performance of the hand-wound, it’s this one.
      “As we’ve developed the range, the core DNA of the Trident Diver has become increasingly clear,” says Mike France, Christopher Ward co-founder. “The shape of the case is a major part of it, of course – it has a sleek yet rugged feel, and sits at the current sweet spot in terms of size, being 41mm across. But perhaps even more important is our particular take on the 1960s diver aesthetic, which is retro but also distinctively Christopher Ward, and strong enough to accept various interpretations.”
      An automatic C65 Trident Diver was planned from the very beginning, of course, but the hand-wound came first because the Christopher Ward team had fallen so deeply in love with the idea of a watch that you interact with regularly. “Going hand-wound seemed more purely ’60s somehow,” Mike says, “though there were, of course, plenty of automatics around in that period, too. The really important thing was that any C65 launch model should do well enough to justify exploring other iterations, because from the start this collection clearly had such amazing potential.”

      In that spirit of exploration, then, a GMT version was fast-tracked – the team felt it important to add a genuinely useful complication to the range early doors – as was the development of a bespoke bracelet for the C65 case; taking advantage of the trend for bronze, and wanting to combine the vintage look with CW’s in-house Calibre SH21 movement, saw the arrival of a bronze-cased limited edition too. Both had different bezels and faces to the Trident Diver hand-wound, but the family ties were clear.
      The really big news, though, was always going to be this automatic, which manages to squeeze its bulkier movement into the same height case as the hand-wound. “As with the width, the height seems at a sweet spot too,” Mike says, “being tall enough to have presence, yet slim enough to look elegant on the wrist.”
      There are two ways to go when developing any range. You can make each version look basically the same as the others – so a BMW 7 Series looks very similar to a 3 Series, just much bigger – or you can play around with the styling, while keeping the underpinnings similar. (The thinking that brought us the Ford Capri and Volkswagen Scirocco, sports coupes with everyday underpinnings.)
      With the C65 range, Christopher Ward is taking something of a middle path, so each version looks different to the last, while retaining much of the same design language. The hand- wound has stylised numbers at 12 and 6 and batons elsewhere; the GMT has batons only, directing attention to that big GMT hand; and the LE has a small second sub dial, as well as that unusual case material. This new automatic, too, has its own look, with a bespoke bezel and – perhaps even more noticeable – the use of bold dots instead of batons.
      In doing so, it more directly references that most influential of dive watches – the 1960s incarnation of the Rolex Sub- mariner – than any C65 before it. “The more complications you add to a watch,” says senior designer Adrian Buchmann, “the easier it actually is to design. Take a chronograph, which is easiest of all. As soon as you add all those sub dials, it immediately looks interesting; it almost designs itself. My job is much harder with a relatively simple watch, like this one.”
      Indeed, the design process here was surprisingly involved, Adrian and the team going through dozens of permutations and directions, all inspired by the dive watches of the 1960s but each quite different to the last. “Eventually, though, we decided that if the original hand-wound version references the early ’60s, then the new automatic should look forward to the late ’60s,” he says. “It’s around then that design became a little clearer, bolder and more practical. Thinking like this allowed us to keep the two core C65s separate from each other in a way that made sense, while allowing them to remain closely linked too.”

      It was with the late ’60s very much in mind, then, that the watch started to take on something of an early Submariner look, with raised old radium dots and indexes surrounded by slim polished bevels. “The Sub is, of course, an iconic design, and few dive watches – even famous ones like Omega’s Seamaster escape its influence,” Adrian says. “But we also enjoyed taking this route because people like our vintage lume so much, and we wanted to give them more of it. The dots allow that, while also softening and lightening up the overall look of the watch – and perhaps making it even easier to read.
      To make the look our own, though, we’ve avoided such obvious design elements as Rolex’s triangle at 12 o’clock, and we’ve paired the new face with a modified version of the C65’s narrow bezel, but the same hands as the hand-wound. We’ve taken an iconic design and refined it in a very Christopher Ward way, one that makes it a little more dressy and less sporty; this really is one watch that would be at home in any situation.”
      The success of the C65 range is definitely down to the ongoing interest in vintage to some great degree, so does the team see this fading any time soon? “I don’t think so,” Mike says. “After all, it’s been an influence all century – the new Mini came out in 2001 – and, if anything, recent years have seen it step up a gear. It’s no secret, for instance, that the watch that most closely inspired the C65 Diver range in spirit, if not in detail, was the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, which we were so impressed by at Baselworld 2015.
      Our Trident Diver was encouraged by the reaction that it was getting, though it was also very much an extrapolation from the existing, retro designed C65 Trident Vintage. The Oris showed us where to go, but the C65 Vintage showed us how to get there.” This being the case, there must surely be further models in the pipeline too? “We’ve already got a new, khaki face version of the hand-wound,” Mike says, “and at some point we’ll be looking at a chronograph and a Super Compressor.”

      The chronograph will doubtless look spectacular, but the Super Compressor is really interesting, more of a hard-core diver’s version, but using period tech to cope with the pressure of being deep underwater. Super Compressors have a distinctive look – with dual crowns and an internal, rather than external, rotating bezel – but it’s the way the case com- presses as you go deeper, becoming ever more water-tight, that’s really fascinating. Many of the great watch brands offered models from the ’50s ’til the ’70s, and in recent years there’s been renewed interest.
      “Not every modern watch with ‘Super Compressor’ in its name has been a genuine Super Compressor, though,” says Mike, “as they often take the look, but forget about the compressing case. Ours, however, will be – which points towards another great thing about retro design. It allows you to explore retro technology too, which has an authenticity people really respond to.”
      That’s in the future, though. In the meantime, there’s this C65 Trident Automatic, a gorgeous watch, very easy to live with – “most modern watch wearers prefer automatic movements, after all,” Adrian says – and, it’s worth reiterating, at the same accessible price as the hand-wound. It will initially be offered with black or blue dials, and on a stainless steel bracelet or a range of leather straps.
      “With the hand-wound, the blue dial version is outselling the black 65% plays 35%,” Mike says. “But with this new automatic, I think I prefer the black face. It’ll be interesting to see if every- one else agrees, but having the two designs look quite different certainly offers real choice.”
      The C65 Trident Automatic is available now, £695 - £760
      Details, technical specifications and more pictures:
       
    • Admin
      Considering the variety of models under Christopher Ward’s Trident dive watch umbrella, it’s becoming increasingly rare to release something that is actually new. Yet the C60 Elite GMT 1000 delivers on this promise, offering the brand’s first true dive watch with GMT functionality – all whilst water-resistant to 1000m.
      Grade 2 titanium case
      Boasting a case made from Grade 2 titanium, a material with the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metallic element, the C60 Elite GMT 1000 weighs in at only 77g. It’s light enough you could forget you’re wearing it; but with its graceful ‘light-catcher’ case design combining brushed and polished surfaces with arcing lines, that remains unlikely.
      Quick-release titanium bracelet
      We’re all about choice here at Christopher Ward, which is why we’re pleased to reveal a brand-new titanium bracelet for the Trident 3 family (including the pre-existing C60 Trident Elite 1000). Constructed from the same Grade 2 titanium, it’s wonderfully lightweight, durable and – thanks to a quick-release system and micro-adjustable clasp – convenient.
      Certified chronometer
      Backing up its technical brawn with horological beauty, the C60 Elite GMT 1000 is powered by a chronometer-certified Sellita SW330 movement. A self-winding movement with GMT functionality, it’s also been rigorously tested by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, placing it within the top 6% of all Swiss-made watches for accuracy.
      Exhibition caseback
      Yes, we did create a dive watch water-resistant to depths of 1000m with an exhibition caseback! Not only does it speak volumes of the materials used in the Elite 1000’s construction, but also allows its owner to admire the Sellita SW330 movement inside – all complete with twin flag-decorated rotor.
      Helium release valve
      With the immense pressures present below the ocean’s surface, a helium release valve is essential for any dive watch that’ll be working at depths (and especially 1000m). Assisting with the release of molecules that expand during the ascent from a dive, the C60 Elite GMT 1000’s automatic valve is located on the side of its case.
      Choice of colours
      Black and red or blue and orange? With two colour schemes available – the black featuring a tool-influenced brushed bezel, with the blue version glossy – we’ll leave you to pick which one you prefer the most…
      Boasting a case made from Grade 2 titanium, a material with the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metallic element, the C60 Elite GMT 1000 weighs in at only 77g. It’s light enough you could forget you’re wearing it; but with its graceful ‘light-catcher’ case design combining brushed and polished surfaces with arcing lines, that remains unlikely.
      Technical
      Diameter: 42mm Height: 16mm Weight: 77g Calibre: Sellita SW330 (COSC) Case: Grade 2 titanium Water resistance: 100 ATM (1000 metres) Vibrations: 28,800 per hour (4 Hz) Timing tolerance: -4/+6 seconds per day Dial colour: Blue/Black Lume: Super-LumiNova? Grade X1 GL C1 Lug to Lug: 49.3mm Strap width: 22mm Features
      Swiss made 25 jewel self-winding chronometer mechanical movement 42 hour power reserve Dual-time GMT function Central hacking seconds Anti-shock system Twin-flag engraving over ?Colima?on?? finish on the rotor Brushed and polished Grade 2 titanium case Embossed screw-in crown Unidirectional brushed or polished zirconia ceramic bezel Integrated automatic helium release valve 3.8mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal Polished dial with ?twin flags? matte finished at 12 o?clock Flat 24-hour dial ring with printed numerals Super-LumiNova? Grade X1 GL C1 hands, indexes and bezel Top-brushed indexes with diamond polished facets Sandblasted and polished hands Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand Screw-down exhibition caseback with 3.4mm crystal Unique engraved serial number  
















    • Admin
      Always inspired by the most exciting materials and ideas throughout the watch industry, this time our team turned their collective minds to uniting the robust technicality of our Trident collection with the exciting potential of bronze. Water resistant to a depth of 600m, the result is a watch that will develop its own unique patina out of the water as beautifully as it performs beneath it.
      Description
      Presenting you with the unique opportunity to own a watch that will become completely one of a kind, this new Trident answers the call to those who requested the addition of bronze to our bestselling dive range.
      Bronze, although an ancient alloy, was only introduced to the world of watches in the past thirty years - by Officine Panerai spin-off Ennebi Fondale. Always inspired by the latest in watchmaking engineering and styling, our team have pulled out all the stops to ensure this latest Trident crafted in bronze will develop its own distinctive patina. The result is a watch that will become one of a kind throughout your time with it.
      The inclusion of a matte marine-blue dial is also a first for our Trident collection, contrasting against the vintage-brown hue of the alloy used in its case and Old Radium SuperLuminova®-filled hands. The result is an effortless blend of styling, robust materials and construction - all qualities that our Tridents are renowned for. But the beauty of bronze - in particular, knowing that you are wearing something completely unique on your wrist - is what makes the C60 Trident Bronze Pro 600 truly special.
      Movement
      With 26 jewels and an anti-shock system (necessary for ensuring smooth timekeeping throughout everyday use), the Sellita SW200-1 is an industry-revered movement. Dependable and accurate, it features a self-winding mechanism and a 38 hour power reserve, while a date wheel sits at 3 o'clock.

      Boasting a classic frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (that's eight ticks a second), the SW200-1 powers the C60 Trident Bronze Pro 600 with supreme precision.
      Technical
      Diameter: 43mm Height: 13.30mm Case weight: 107g Calibre: Sellita SW200-1 Vibrations: 28,800 per hour (4Hz) Timing tolerance: -20/+20 seconds per day Case: Bronze C5191 (CuSn6) Backplate: 316L Stainless steel Water resistance: 60 ATM (600 metres) Dial Colour: Deep Blue Lume: Old Radium SuperLuminova® Strap width: 22mm Strap colour: Marine Blue Lug to Lug: 51.5mm Features
      Swiss made 26 jewel self-winding mechanical movement 38 hour power reserve Bronze C5191 (CuSn6) case with stainless steel backplate Date calendar Hour, minute, central seconds Anti-shock system Embossed screw-down crown Unidirectional bronze C5191 (CuSn6) bezel with minute track 3.4mm anti-reflective flat top sapphire crystal Smooth matte dial SuperLuminova® indexes and hands Signature Trident counter-balance on second hand Screw-down deep-stamped 3D backplate Unique engraved serial number Premium quality canvas webbing strap with Christopher Ward buckle Luxurious presentation case and owner's handbook  









    • Admin
      A vintage-inspired technicolour dial – complete with authentic decompression scale. A renowned hand-wound Sellita calibre that’s both accurate and slim. And a price that’s every bit as retro as the watches that inspired it. The C65 Divetimer Special SE is an unforgettable timing device that does justice to the movement that powers it. Limited to just 150 pieces. £495 – US$ 595
      Elegance, affordability and ingenuity
      The story of the C65 Divetimer Special Edition begins in 1962 with Dr Hannes Keller – physicist, mathematician and extreme deep-sea diver. With a plan to break the world depth record, he worked with Vulcain to create a watch that featured a decompression scale to help him calculate decompression stop on his ascent.
      Now that scale returns on the dial of the C65 Divetimer Special Edition – a watch that not only harks back to the subaquatic pioneers of the past, but also delivers style and technical excellence in spades.
      All at an unbelievable price.
      At the heart of the watch is the hand-wound Sellita SW210 movement. Making its Christopher Ward swansong – there’s only 150 left – it boasts a power reserve of 42 hours. And thanks to its 3.35mm height, the watch’s Light-catcher™ case can afford to be both slim and elegant.
      The dial is dominated by the precision-printed decompression scale, with bands of orange contrasting beautifully with the deep blue base. The brushed and polished indexes – vital when using the scale – add depth and clarity, and partner perfectly with the baton-style hands.
      As a diving instrument, the watch delivers water-resistance to 150m, while the rotating bezel can be used to time your ascents while you’re in the water.
      And while we’re sad to say goodbye to the Sellita SW210, we couldn’t think of a better way to send it on its way.
      Sellita SW210 hand-wound movement
      Previously used on Christopher Ward watches like the C65 Trident Diver, the Sellita SW210 hand-wound movement combines accuracy (it has a tolerance of +20/-20 seconds per day) with a slim profile and a generous power reserve.
      At only 3.35mm high, the Sellita SW210 shares many of the same components as its self-winding cousin, the Sellita SW200-1. A frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (that’s eight ticks a second) delivers 42 hours of continuous timekeeping once fully wound.









       
       
       
    • Admin
      We design many watches that never reach the final collection. The beautiful C1 Powerglow made it as far as the prototype stage with only three pieces ever produced. Three pieces that we can now offer exclusively to you. Powered by our in-house movement, Calibre SH21, the Super-LumiNova accented sapphire dial plays host to both small-seconds and five-day power-reserve subdials, plus an unusual radial date display. The exhibition caseback delivers a view of the lume-lined rotor. This is your chance to own a small piece of CW history.





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