Christopher Ward, the UK watch brand that launched its first
in-house movement last July, has put this innovation to work in the new C9 5
Day Automatic model in a smaller offering. The new C9 5 Day Automatic (40mm) follows in the
pioneering steps of the 2014 launch of the fellow 43mm model, which was introduced
simultaneously with Calibre SH21 – a debut that resulted in many requests for a
smaller sized option housing the movement.
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| Christopher Ward C9 5 Day Automatic 40mm watch with new charcoal dial |
Created by Christopher Ward’s watchmaker, Johannes
Jahnke, SH21 is COSC-certified and, once fully wound, can run for 120 hours/5
days. Unlike most movements with such extended reserves of power,
there is no compromise in the stability or robustness of the movement, the company says. This
means the wearer can be confident that the watch will withstand rugged conditions
and requires the minimum of servicing.
Alongside those technical strengths, Mike France,
co-founder of Christopher Ward, highlights the brand’s response to rising
demand for smaller dial sizes: “The enthusiastic reaction to the C9 5 Day
Automatic, the first model to house Calibre SH21, sparked a wave of calls for a
smaller version. The new 40mm model expresses all the powerful design and
technical qualities seen in the original C9 5 Day Automatic and gives those
customers wanting a smaller size watch access not only to the C9 aesthetic but
also the opportunity to own the stunning SH21 movement.
“We’re gradually creating a greater choice of sizes in a
number of our most popular models, further expanding the accessibility of our
collections to the many consumers who want a smaller diameter dial. We’re seeing a clear rise in demand for
smaller dial options, especially among women but also many men who prefer the
smaller scale, and the new C9 5 Day Automatic meets this demand beautifully.”
New charcoal dial colour
The design of the C9 5 Day Automatic exudes elegance and
high quality – from the sharpness of the dial’s indexes to the fine embossed
alligator pattern Italian leather strap. The new model, which retails at £1,375, has a stylish
Galvanic sunray dial and is offered in three dial colours – white, blue or a
new charcoal option. The movement can be viewed through the sapphire crystal
exhibition window in the case-back.
The brand has emphasised its English roots with a
deceptively simple finish using a traditional, highly skilled, hand-grinding
technique favoured by English watchmakers of an earlier era. Each wheel has
been properly turned and each screw flat-polished, and each watch has the traditional
English steel finish.
