The Diverse Universe of Christopher Ward
Explaining a success story in four watches
One should always be wary of sudden casual encounters — they may well lead to the birth of a new watch brand. For Christopher Ward, it all began in May 2004, when friends Mike France, Peter Ellis, and Chris Ward enjoyed a boat trip down the Thames. All three were entrepreneurs: Ward was importing T-shirts, while France and Ellis had recently sold their ethical toy company, Early Learning Centre. What started as a relaxed day on the water planted the seed for a brand that would go on to become one of the trailblazers of the British renaissance in watchmaking.
As seasoned businesspeople and passionate watch enthusiasts, the trio set out to create a brand built on value for money and direct engagement with customers. Selling directly through their own website became central to the Christopher Ward model, allowing the brand to bypass traditional retail markups and maintain a close relationship with its audience. The name “Christopher Ward” was chosen for its quintessentially English character, and in 2005 the brand launched its first two watches: the C5 Malvern Automatic and the C3 Malvern Chronograph.
Operations began modestly in a converted chicken shed on a farm in Berkshire, but steady growth followed as collectors began to recognize the quality and value the brand delivered. A major step forward came in 2008, when Christopher Ward began working with Synergies Horlogères in Biel, Switzerland. This partnership elevated the brand’s watchmaking capabilities and introduced it to master watchmaker Johannes Jahnke.
Through Jahnke’s expertise, Christopher Ward began developing distinctive complications based on reliable ébauches — staying true to its philosophy of value while venturing into more ambitious territory. Early results of this approach included the C9 Jumping Hour and the C900 Single Pusher, watches that demonstrated the brand’s growing technical confidence. A shared vision between the founders and Synergies Horlogères owner Jörg Bader eventually led to a merger in 2014, strengthening Christopher Ward’s position within the industry.
Today, nearly two decades on, Christopher Ward offers a broad but carefully balanced collection that combines strong design identity, competitive pricing, and solid mechanical credibility. Few brands illustrate their trajectory as clearly as the following four watches.
C1 Bel Canto
A well-sounding success
A sonnerie au passage — a complication that chimes the passing of each hour — is typically rare and rarely affordable. With the C1 Bel Canto, Christopher Ward not only made it accessible but also placed it front and center. The hammer and gong dominate the lower portion of the dial, allowing the wearer to see the mechanism lift and strike at the top of every hour.
To ensure the sound is as refined as the visual presentation, the case, bezel, and caseback are crafted from Grade 5 titanium, chosen for its acoustic properties. A pusher at 4 o’clock allows the chiming function to be silenced when discretion is required. The C1 Bel Canto encapsulates Christopher Ward’s ethos: ambitious complications, thoughtful engineering, and pricing that invites a wider audience into genuinely interesting watchmaking.
Price: $3,795
The Twelve 36 (Titanium)
Versatility, integrated
With The Twelve, Christopher Ward entered the integrated-bracelet sports watch category on its own terms. The bracelet is easily interchangeable thanks to quick-release pins, allowing it to be swapped for a rubber strap in seconds — a practical nod to versatility.
Offered in stainless steel and titanium across several sizes, this 36-mm titanium version is the most compact in the collection. The lightweight case, crown-guard-protected screw-down crown, and 100-meter water resistance make it a capable everyday sports watch. Inside ticks the chronometer-certified Sellita SW300-1, paired with a textured “Lagoon Blue” dial that adds depth without excess.
Price: $1,895
C65 Super Compressor Elite
Heritage without constraint
A white internal diving ring frames a vivid blue dial marked with a three-color decompression scale. The inner bezel is adjusted via the crown, offering crisp tactile feedback. Power comes from a chronometer-certified Sellita SW300-1, hidden beneath a sapphire caseback decorated with a diver medallion — functional, robust, and visually engaging.
Price: $1,675
C60 Trident Pro 300
From desk diving to the deep
Dive watches form a core part of Christopher Ward’s identity, and the C60 Trident Pro 300 shows why. Its clean, legible design is paired with bold hands and a slim ceramic bezel, resulting in a watch that wears comfortably despite its professional specifications.
With 300 meters of water resistance, it’s equally suited to everyday wear and genuine underwater use. Subtle orange accents and the trident-shaped counterbalance on the seconds hand add character without excess. The dependable Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement is visible through the caseback, reinforcing the watch’s blend of transparency, practicality, and value.
Price: $895
To learn more, visit Christopher Ward, here.
This article was originally published in the January / February 2025 issue. To subscribe to the print edition of WatchTime Magazine, click here.
