There was a period in the mid-2000s when it seemed like any sport watch worth its salt was predictably clad in bright shades of yellow and orange. And while that vibrant couleur du jour back then seems to have largely been more recently replaced by various shades of blue, it’s nice to see Christopher Ward making orange the new black again with the C60 Trident 316 – the latter reference number being a nod to its marine-grade 316L stainless steel construction. This cheerful, limited-edition diver adds a dash of Vitamin C to the British brand’s growing Trident collection, just in time for summer.
The advent of the orange-dialed diver dates back to the late sixties when Swiss watchmaker DOXA was the first to deploy the hue in its Sub 300, purportedly claiming it to have tested as the most legible at depths. Later research would prove otherwise, but the reputation stuck – orange remained equated to capability and aquatic adventure, and is thus still a fun and fitting color addition to the Trident collection. And while perhaps lacking in legacy or cachet of a Seamaster, Submariner, or (perhaps more recently) Aquis, the Christopher Ward Trident divers are still very much on their way – similarly characterized by a series of modestly proportioned, and classically inspired sports watches intended for adventurous and everyday wear alike. Now, despite its most recent, minimalist-inspired revision which moved the brand’s wordmark to 9:00, if Christopher Ward can stick with a singular logo and brand aesthetic, the Trident should prove to be a great entry-level sport watch for many years to come.
Sharing much of its feature set with the Trident Pro 600, the Christopher Ward C60 Trident 316L is water resistant to 600 meters and exhibits the usual hallmarks of a modern dive watch, like a sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, and 316L stainless steel case that looks great on a variety of available straps and bracelets. Inside the new Christopher Ward C60 Trident 316L beats a Sellita 200-1 – a commonly used ETA 2824 clone that demonstrates excellent reliability in a wide variety of contexts.
Unlike what we’ve seen come standard on other options in the Trident collection, though, is how the Christopher Ward C60 Trident 316L is fitted with a unidirectional rotating steel bezel that’s fully brushed, as opposed to being fitted with a ceramic insert. That steel bezel is what the 316L in the name is likely referring to, as there would not be much other reason to emphasize the most common grade of steel used in wristwatches. It lends the watch a nicely consistent two-tone aesthetic contrasting the steel case and bezel, and the dial’s applied luminous indices.
The new Christopher Ward C60 Trident 316L Limited Edition will be produced in a limited run of only 316 (see what they did there?) pieces, with a starting price of £730 (around $835 USD) for NATO and rubber strap options. This price moves up to £750 (around $850 USD) for the rubber touch leather strap, and £795 (roughly $910 USD) for the stainless steel bracelet, each of which will be available to purchase exclusively online. christopherward.co.uk
