Christopher Ward
- Founded
- 2004
- Based in
- Maidenhead, England (watches made in Switzerland)
- In our catalog
- 4 watches from $995 to $5,400
Christopher Ward set out to sell Swiss-made watches directly online, skipping retailers and their markups. Twenty years later it has grown into one of the most respected independent brands in its price range, known for well-finished cases and for surprising projects like an affordable chiming watch.
History
Mike France, Peter Ellis and Chris Ward founded the company in 2004, reportedly after a conversation on a boat on the Thames. At first they worked with Swiss suppliers to make simple watches sold only online. The brand grew steadily, built a Swiss arm in Biel and in 2014 launched its own in-house movement, the SH21, developed with watchmaker Johannes Jahnke.
Since then Christopher Ward has redesigned its cases around the "light-catcher" profile, with sharp bevels that catch the light, and added more ambitious pieces: jumping hours, moon phases and in 2022 the C1 Bel Canto, a chiming watch that strikes the hour, at a price far below anything comparable.
Signature models
- C60 Trident Pro 300: The flagship diver with a ceramic bezel, 300 m water resistance and a Swiss automatic movement.
- C63 Sealander GMT: A versatile travel watch with a second time zone and a light-catcher case.
- The Twelve: An integrated-bracelet sports watch with a twelve-sided bezel, launched in 2023.
- C1 Bel Canto: A watch that chimes once on the hour, a complication usually reserved for watches costing tens of thousands.
What it's known for
Christopher Ward gives you Swiss-made watches with good finishing, solid bracelets and clear designs for much less than the big brands. The Bel Canto and other in-house complications show it can do more than copy classic designs. The brand sells mostly online with a long return window.
Price and positioning
Most Christopher Ward watches cost between $900 and $2,000, with the Bel Canto and other complications going higher. That puts it against Oris, Tissot's upper range and Hamilton. You don't get much resale value, but you get a lot of watch for the money.
Christopher Ward watches in our library
- Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 ($995 to $1,150)
- Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT ($1,300 to $1,450)
- Christopher Ward The Twelve ($1,350 to $1,500)
- Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto ($5,000 to $5,400)