Over recent years there has been a growing consumer demand for slim watches. Recognising this trend, Christopher Ward’s Co-Founder Mike France wanted to try something new, and so came a challenge for the Christopher Ward design and technical teams.
Mike France, explains: “I knew immediately that it would be a significant test for us to create a truly ultra-slim watch. But I felt that it could be possible. And so, my challenge to the team was, can we create a mechanical timepiece, under 6mm high, at a Christopher Ward price point?”
The first step towards meeting this challenge was to source a suitable movement. The chosen one being ETA’s 7001, an offering from the Swatch-owned movement giant that has proven to be reliable and robust as well as slim, it is only 2.5mm tall.
The 7001 is a 17-jewel mechanism with an incabloc shock protection system and 42 hours of power reserve, ticking at 21,600bph. This small but powerful movement was the perfect choice for Christopher Ward as not only is it slim in profile, but it’s diameter is small too, sitting at just 23.3mm.
On the ETA 7001, Mike France comments: “It’s not often that we start using a new movement we’ve never tried before, but the closer we looked at this one, the more impressed we were. In particular, we loved how robust and stable it seemed.”
The next test in the creation of this stunning new timepiece, was the design. Christopher Ward’s designers approach was to match the slender case profile with a simple and clean aesthetic. The case tolerance is just +0/-0.10, leaving no room for even the tiniest variation, which was a challenge to the Christopher Ward design team and component suppliers who worked together collaboratively to produce the C5 Malvern 595. The crown is neat, diminutive and delicate in its design with the brands twin flag motif and a sophisticated, subtle profile.
Adrian Buchmann, Senior Designer at Christopher Ward explains: “Because the 595’s most important quality is that it’s very slim, it was important we didn’t distract from that – which, mostly, meant removing clutter. So, the dial is very simple, with no raised elements or extraneous detail, and we needed exceptionally pure, clean hands. The main detail, in fact, is on the rear of the watch, where we have used a crystal exhibition caseback, so the movement can be viewed.”
The domed pearly white (or cool grey, as the piece comes in two variants) Opalin dial of the new piece has a sandblasted finish with printed indexes and the Christopher Ward logo. The hour and minute hands are presented in black, polished with soft curves to create a monochromatic contrast into the dial, as well as excellent legibility. At just 39mm in diameter, the case proportions of the C5 Malvern 595 mean that the piece is extremely wearable, for both men and women.
New Trident Pro
C60 Trident Pro 600 with an all-blue ceramic bezel and guilloche wave-pattern dial. The new timepiece is the latest addition to the brands bestselling dive collection and follows the success of a number of vibrant Trident timepieces that were launched in 2017.
The new C60 Trident Pro 600 Blue is water-resistant up to 600m/2000ft, its case is made from marine-grade stainless steel, and it is powered by the Sellita SW200-1, a self-winding mechanical movement with a 38-hour power reserve. This new piece will be priced between £640 - £725 and will be available on a marine-grade stainless steel bracelet or a rubber, soft touch leather or Nylon NATO strap.
Visit the company here: www.christopherward.co.uk
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