Dial text is bare bones, with “Chronometer 600m/2000ft” down at 6 o’clock and the newer Christopher Ward logo at 9 o’clock. Now, this logo has been the subject of some of the most heated discussions I’ve ever seen since getting into watches. I can say that I also fall in the same camp that finds it, a little disappointing. This isn’t necessarily because I find it lazy or poorly executed. I just really liked some of the older iterations of the logo and would’ve liked to see Christopher Ward stick with something. This gets even more confusing when you consider some of their newer watches that, don’t even really have ‘Christopher Ward’ on the dial. I just don’t get it. But honestly, it doesn’t ruin the watch for me to the point where I feel like I have to rage puke on some internet forum, deep-fry my keyboard, and eat it. We all know that Christopher Ward has the capability to produce high-quality timepieces (you’d know, if you handled one) and I simply think these are just growing pains. It’s a young brand that I’ve been excited to follow and they’ll get it right, eventually.
Bracelet
The bracelet is an area I thought I’d be disappointed with but I was quickly proven wrong after wearing the watch long term. I’m not usually one for polished center links but on the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Day Date COSC, they just fit. It isn’t a super high polish, but a degree of polishing that fits just right with the case and other brushed elements found throughout the watch. Sizing wasn’t terribly difficult but I would have preferred to see screw-set links on a watch in this price range.
It’s also 22mm, tapers down to about 20mm, and has a nice three-fold clasp. Here, Christopher Ward also includes a dive extension mechanism, which is something you never really tend to care for until you finally utilize it during daily wear. Everything fits and there’s a nice integration with the case. My only complaint – and this could be unique to the press sample I was provided with – was the occasional squeaking sound coming from somewhere on the bracelet as I’d move my wrist around. This isn’t really a big deal, but something I noticed after wearing the watch for a while.
Movement
Powering the watch is an ETA 2836-2 tested and certified by COSC to perform within the range of -4/+6 seconds per day in different positions and temperatures. They even include the COSC paperwork in the packaging, which is a nice touch. I can also appreciate the additional cost that Christopher Ward incurs when sending these movements for testing and certification. It isn’t exactly a drive-thru process and considering the watch’s price, I think Christopher Ward is doing their best to deliver something valuable here. Only 200 of these watches are being sold, so it’s evident that the brand is sending movements over in small batches for COSC certification.
There isn’t much to say about the ETA 2836-2 that hasn’t been said already. It’s dependable and the added COSC certification makes it a solid choice for the Trident, or any watch (I did it! I didn’t say “workhorse!”). Specs are plain as potatoes but I’ll just say that it’s a pretty typical ETA movement with 25 jewels and a 4Hz operational frequency. Power reserve is 38 hours. There’s no stickiness to the crown operation, hacking and hand-winding work fine, and the sample I was entrusted with ran at about +2 seconds per day. Not bad. This is exactly what I’d want in a dive watch.
Conclusion
Like a lot of younger brands, Christopher Ward has a long, uphill battle in store for them. Without any old-world watchmaking history or brand provenance, every single move they make will be met with considerable scrutiny at the hands of very, very critical enthusiasts. But, isn’t that the best way to grow your brand?
Aside from the issues I pointed out, the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Day Date COSC was a very pleasing watch to wear. Sure, I’d change some things, but after browsing through their catalog again, I think this is the dive watch worth jumping on if you’re curious about getting into the brand. Maybe it’s the beefy case, hyper-responsive bezel action, or the bracelet’s bank vault build quality. Whatever it is, I met the watch with a smile each time I looked down at my wrist, even if I was examining it through a very critical lens. And, as dressy as it is, this thing would kill it on a NATO or one of the fancier rubber straps Christopher Ward offers through their web store. The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Day Date COSC is limited to 200 pieces and currently available for the price of $1,100. christopherward.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Christopher Ward
>Model: C60 Trident Day Date COSC
>Price: $1,100
>Size: 43mm wide
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yeah. This thing’s a gravy train with biscuit wheels.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Dive watch lover that’s disenchanted with today’s microbrand offerings and seeking a great value piece with a fun design.
>Best characteristic of watch: COSC-certified movement, hefty case construction, plus the look and feel of the watch’s zirconia ceramic bezel.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Logo text, squeakiness coming from the bracelet, and the polarizing handset.
