Are you looking for a relatively affordable yet high-functional luxury watch? Christopher Ward is definitely worth your budget and time!
This young brand is a combination of midcentury design cues, complex finishing, and unique English designs.
They offer features much like the high-end brands but taking their products to a more affordable price bracket.
If you want to know more about how Christoper Ward rose to the top chain in the industry, as well as the timepieces that marked their success, you may check out this review.
Calibre SH21: The Game-Changer
In 2014, Christopher Ward introduced the Calibre SH21 to mark their 10th anniversary. This launching has boosted up its game well enough in the time industry.
Due to the dwindling supply of third party movements in the world, they addressed the issue early on by investing in developing a movement independent from other brands. This led to the introduction of Calibre SH21.
As a young brand back then, many industry experts were surprised by the brand’s commitment to offering great quality watches. Since then, the company has introduced many new editions of timepieces with the Calibre SH21 as the basis.
Best Watch Collections
These are the top collections of Christopher Ward.
Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor
The C65 Super Compressor is the first super compressor dive watch in 50 years. It is reverse-engineered in Switzerland used to help you dive 500 ft deeper.
The C65 is also the first watch with an ‘exhibition’ caseback where you can see the ultra-thin compression spring. The crown in the chr.ward C65 is ensured to be watertight by using two internal and two external gaskets on the side.
Wearing it feels comfortable as it is slim on the wrist with a ‘60s look to match your taste. It also has a new cushioned light-catcher case back that would suit different styles, even in casual gears.
The dial also comes in different colorways: Ocean Blue, Deep Blue, and Black Sand. The indexes and hands are also coated with Super-LumiNova to illuminate your way as you go deeper into the water.
Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire
The Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire has budget-friendly elements with a vintage-tinged design to fit a sporty look.
Its vintage look can be seen on its 40 mm stainless steel case. Rather than plastic, the dial is a .6mm thick sapphire crystal with a blue polycarbonate that gives the dial a translucent shine. The steel dive bezel of the C60 Sapphire also adds a tint of modernity to the watch.
The C60 sapphire maintains a 600-meter depth rating, which is an impressive water-resistant timepiece. The watch is also equipped with the classic Sellita SW200, a self-winding Swiss movement. It also has an anti-shock system to maintain its accuracy well.
The C60 Sapphire dials have a two-tone lume application in blue and green. Its tone changes to brilliant blue when it’s bright and a cool dark blue when in the dark.
This also has a 60-day free return and 60-month movement guarantee.
Christopher Ward C60 Trident Bronze
The C60 Trident Bronze is not your typical dive watch on the side. Its bronze case makes it durable and resistant to salt-water corrosion. The deep blue ombre dial has its distinctive feature as each one has been distressed by hand, giving the dial a unique texture.
The hands and indexes are filled with Super-LumiNova for luminosity in low light. It also has a countdown bezel, a revolutionary light-catcher case, and a marine-grade steel caseback. With a 40mm in diameter strap, this Chris Ward watch is slim and comfortable, suiting any wrist size.
The Christopher Ward C60 Trident is equipped with the Sellita SW200, a self-winding mechanical movement that delivers accurate timekeeping without problems. It boasts a 4Hz Frequency, 38-hour power reserve, and a day wheel.
Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow
Moonphase watches are known to be high-level horology, and with the C1 Moonglow, you can accurately capture the track of the moon’s orbit for 128 years. Thanks to the Calibre JJ04 that enables you to read the phases through an aperture at 12 o’clock, while the rest remains dim.
One of its spectacular features is the 3-dimensional moons on the dials. They are both coated with Super-LumiNova for the moon glow. The same goes for the date window to allow you to read the date in the dark.
Aesthetics aside, the C1 Moonglow is comfortable with a 40.5mm diameter strap, which is easy to wear, and a 30m water resistance. Its Italian Shell Cordovan bracelet has quick-release pins to help you change the strap easily.
Christopher Ward C8 Power Reserve Chronometer
The C8 Power Reserve Chronometer is an aviation-inspired watch that offers a whiff of modern and vintage design with a matte black theme and vintage leather bracelet. It is equipped with the in-house SH21 mechanical movement.
The watch also operates at 4Hz and a 5-day power reserve. Not to mention the 11mm thick case, which allows comfort for customer satisfaction.
It is available in three colors of vintage Tibor leather straps, which added an old-fashion style to the modern design. However, some reviews say that the strap is quite rough and long, which may not easily fit those with smaller wrists.
Price Range
Christopher Ward’s collection of timepieces differ in cost depending on the watch’s category. The lowest one is a watch with a quartz movement for only $450, while the highest one is in the $2,000 bracket, which is automatic or hand-wound.
Why is C65 Super Compressor the Best Watch?
Christopher Ward revived the old divers’ watch style of the past with the all-new Super Compressor. This was designed to increase its integrity as the watch is descended deeper underwater.
What sets this aside from other watch brands is its genuine super compressor compared to those who have used it only as design inspiration for dive watches. This makes it the first real super compressor diver’s watch in the 21st century.
It’s got a water resistance of 150m and a domed sapphire crystal, protecting your watch from scratches. Despite the high-end quality, its price is affordable compared to others.
Brand History
This brand was founded by three retail business pioneers: Mike France, Peter Ellis, and the man named Christopher Ward.
With their intention to cut the markup prices, they reduced the cost by selling it online and cutting off middlemen that may likely make the cost spike up. As a result, they opened their brand to the masses.
In 2005, the C5 Malvern Automatic and C3 Malvern Chronograph were introduced in their online store. To cut off endorsements, they only posted an ad in The Telegraph. Their sales started to boost when an influential watch expert, Dave Malone, posted a review on Timezone.com.
Since then, they collaborated with Synergies Horlogeres, a Swiss watchmaking company, to build the “JJ Calibres” movement. In 2014, they introduced the Calibre SH21 to make their 10th anniversary.
They grew into a reputable brand as they continue to offer feasible top-tier watch collections.
Is Christopher Ward a Good Brand?
Christopher Ward is a gateway to the world of luxury watches as it is relatively affordable given the great finishing and quality.
The brand does not remain stagnant as they keep pushing for innovation, creating in-house movements proven to be accurate after years. Their designs are also top-notch, with the comfort of the users still in mind.
Moreover, this company also offers a 60-day free return policy and a 60-month movement warranty. This pretty much reflects how they value the time and money of its users. They put the art of watchmaking as their priority without having compromises.
Where is Christopher Ward Watches Made?
Christopher Ward watches are said to be the best of both worlds. As a British brand, the designs are made in Britain but are engineered and assembled in Switzerland. This gives the brand a unique and ingenious British styling while also keeping the quality of a world-class Swiss watch.
Where to Buy Christopher Ward Watches?
Chris ward Watches can be easily bought online from their official website. It currently ships across 109 countries, including the USA.
Conclusion
Despite the slightly mixed reviews, the reputation, design, and quality put this brand on a pedestal. To think that this brand would offer good products like those of the high-end luxury companies at a much more affordable price, Christopher Ward is a good choice.