Hands-On with the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300
When evaluating brands, we often look at their greatest and most complex creations, while their more entry-level offerings tell us so much more. Most brands are capable of creating greatness, but can they also do so on a budget? At Christopher Ward, the C60 Trident Pro 300 is among the least expensive models of the brand as it stays in this configuration well below $1,000 with its price tag of $895, but does that mean that you are getting a bang for your buck?
This watch is part of Christopher Ward's highly successful Trident collection. The brand, which sold its first watch in 2005, quickly discovered that diving watches are the highway to a watch connoisseur's heart, and as it turned out, Christopher Ward has a knack for making them. Instead of being big and bulky, the brand went slim and sophisticated. While this C60 Trident Pro 300 has a generous diameter of 42mm, its height is kept at a, for a diving watch, modest 11.5mm. This also means that the weight is kept in check at 86 grams, strap and buckle included.
As it is a fact that most diving watches rarely see more water than comes out of a faucet, Christoper Ward rightly focussed on beauty and wearability. The stainless steel case of the C60 Trident Pro 300 is surprisingly well-crafted and finished. The brand calls this the 'Light-catcher' case, even trademarking this name, and when wearing the watch, the reflecting light does seem to highlight it on nearly every occasion. It is almost like the halo appearing above the head of Roger Moore in the role of Simon Templar in the 1960s TV series 'The Saint.' The curves of the lugs, which are modest in size, also play an essential role in the perception of this Christopher Ward on the wrist, and the same can be said of the bezel. It consists of two parts, with the black insert being made of ceramic, which is not an obvious choice for a competitively priced watch such as the C60 Trident Pro 300.
The Christopher Ward's water resistance of 30ATM/300 meters proves that it is not only good-looking but also quite capable and worthy of being called a diving watch. The dial is easy to read, and I especially enjoyed the little details, such as the trident-shaped counterweight on the seconds hand. Added charisma is also brought to you by slightly oversized hour markers with a bit of a bold look to them. They are filled with Super-LumiNova, so the sight in low-light conditions is also quite spectacular, more so because Christopher Ward fitted the C60 Trident Pro 300 with a big, arrow-shaped hour hand. Orange details add a bit of color, which is also the visual connection to the same colored strap.
Christopher Ward cut no corners when making this strap, as it not only looks great but also feels good on the wrist. The texture on both the outside and the inside is pleasant, as is the simple but elegant pin buckle. For the movement, Christopher Ward went the obvious way and opted for the Sellita SW200-1. This time-tried automatic movement is a robust workhorse, perfect for a watch like the C60 Trident Pro 300, and Christopher Ward even gave it a decent finish, visible through the insert in the caseback. While my experiences with the SW200-1 have always been good, I wish Sellita would finally upgrade the 38-hour power reserve of this caliber to meet more modern standards. I am, therefore, more impressed with the caseback construction that Christopher Ward put on this Trident, with its elongated slots for opening and closing the case.
The C60 Trident Pro 300 is among the most affordable offerings of an already very affordable brand, but you wouldn't know from handling the watch without knowing the price or background. This Christopher Ward can easily stand its ground among its competitors, even those with much higher price tags. The fun thing is that because of the price, the watch also becomes increasingly more wearable with less to worry about, allowing you to truly enjoy what it is made for, in and outside the water.
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