Buffy Acacia
It wasn’t that long ago, but it would have been fair to consider Christopher Ward winning the King of Microbrand title. now? IT status exceeds the “micro” prefix and feels much more at home than a bigger name. However, part of the transition from microbrands to affordable independence involves having a global physical presence, and the box is now officially checked. We announced Christopher Ward’s first London retail debut, but it’s time for the Southern Hemisphere to turn.
If you’ve always wondered about Christopher Ward, but haven’t felt brave enough to buy an invisible figure, here are five of my favourites you can try at Melbourne Watch Discovery Studio on Collins Street.
Upon receiving the coveted GPHG Award in 2023, C1 BEL CANTO pushed Christopher Ward into a high-end watchmaking conversation. At $6,465, this is a watch that can give you the taste of owning a tiny repeater at a small cost. The FS01’s movements only ring out the time of time known as the complexity of “Sonnerie Au Passage” but are visually stunning as they flow onto the vivid Sunburst dial. The skeletonized watch face is neatly stacked on top of a vertical gear train, hanging by struts reaching for a large gong that doubles itself before moving almost the entire dial. Seeing the hammer is fascinating and feels like an 18th century masterpiece, recreated with spacecraft technology. Price: $6,465
Almost every brand needs a recently integrated bracelet sports watch, and Christopher Ward’s C12 does an amazing job avoiding derivative design. Of course, the case and bracelet still have a blocky 1970s charm with sharp, refined chamfers, but the 12-sided bezel and subtle crown guard give it a rather clear silhouette. Next, the focus is on the dial texture as the Christopher Ward logo, made up of crosses in honor of the Swiss and English flags, is rendered in incredible depth. It almost creates a kind of weaving effect that contrasts with sharp application time markers and alpha hand. The Glacier Blue dial is breathtaking, but our favorite is the astral blue with a Fumé dial finish and a lightweight titanium case. It is also COSC certified for chronometer accuracy, and is equipped with the Sellita SW300-1, which allows for a total thickness of just 8.95mm, even with automatic windings and 100m water resistance. Price: $2,930
Before Bel Canto, C1 Moon Phase was one of Christopher Ward’s bestsellers. The case is simple and elegant, serving the sole purpose of framing the seductive dial. Moonface is perhaps the most romantic of all clock complications, and while it once had a significant astronomical obligation, it now mostly looks pretty. The Christopher Ward C1 Moonface transforms the entire dial into a homage to complications, transforming the giant light aeristic moon made from bright globolites and two layers of aventrin glass. Caliber JJ04 uses an in-house module on a Sellita SW200-1 basis, replacing date complications with a monthly phase that remains accurate for 128 years. Price: $3,650
It’s been a few years since bronze tool watches were really into the wild, but the C65 Dune Aeolian Bronze feels like it’s never over the trend. Whether you consider it a homage to the sci-fi franchise, Dune’s Windswept Dial is totally fascinated. It evokes a gloomy and barren landscape at dusk, but the cream-tone Super Luminova exudes warmth and readability. The bronze case provides the promise of gold elegance and patina when clean, and can form a personal connection with its appearance, as varied by the chemistry of the body. With a diameter of 38mm and height of 11.7mm, it is extremely compact for swimming watches thanks to its 150m water resistance. It is equipped with the Sellita SW200-1 and is COSC certified for even more value. Price: $1,950
The diving watch is slowly edged from the spotlight, but the Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 300 is an explosion of cold air with fresh white and blue colour schemes. The refined lacquer dial is extremely refined for a 300m diving watch, and its sheen reflects the finish of the bicolor ceramic bezel insert. The bright blue of the GMT hand punches the entire dial, allowing you to easily track three time zones, including local time. The baton hour markers maintain a clean aesthetic, and the balance between the wide arrows of seconds and the trident of seconds gives some of its classic cheeky character. The SW330-2 GMT movement offers a 56-hour power reserve at 4Hz beat rate, helping to keep your 40mm watch slimmer at 11.7mm height. Price: $1,825
