When it comes to affordable watches with some interesting styling, Christopher Ward has been on the radar for most of us, and new for the brand is the Christopher Ward 65 Classic. One of the first watches I came into contact with from them was their excellent C60 Trident GMT. Given that history, I was rather intrigued to see their new iteration in that lineup, the C65 Trident Classic.
This takes the Trident line from it’s sport roots, and moves it most definitely into the realm of a dress watch. We still keep the same handset, and the wave pattern embossed into the dial. The 42mm case carries a similar profile as well, though here it’s done up in a satin finish. And that’s where we depart from similarities, and start talking about the differences. Attached to the case is a new bracelet (a leather strap is available as well).
On the dial side of Christopher Ward C65 Classic, we see a new color the Trident lineup hasn’t had before (optic white), along with a familiar hue (matte black). Since they’ve moved things into a dressier direction, the circle-and-bar indices of the C60 have been traded out for narrower, raised, bar indices. Tucked under that dial is a shift in movement as well. It’s still Swiss, but they’ve moved away from ETA and have instead opted for a SW200-1. Still a capable movement, and likely reflective of the tightening ETA supplies more than anything else.
And while this is certainly a dress watch, it’s not one that you need to baby. Along with that stainless steel case, you’ve got a 4mm thick sapphire crystal up top, an solid (and engraved) caseback, and screw down crown. This means, of course, that the C65 will stand up to the daily bumping around, as well as shedding off any water to come in contact with (it has a 150m WR rating).
I’ve long held out hope for a white-dialed C60. While we don’t have that quite yet, the C65 is an interesting twist on the recipe, with pricing coming in at $685 (leather) and $755 (steel bracelet). I’m definitely a fan of what CW has been producing, and the new C65 Classic just continues to reinforce the feeling. If you’d like to get your pre-order in, head on over here, and patiently wait for late June to arrive. christopherward-usa.com
Tech Specs from Christopher Ward
- Calibre: Sellita SW200-1
- 42mm marine-grade 316L brushed stainless steel case; 10.4mm thick
- SuperLuminova indexes and hands
- 4mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- High Definition “Trident” motif back-plate
- Water Resistance: 15 ATM (150 metres)
- Strap Options: Embossed Alligator Pattern Italian leather strap with Bader Buckle; 316L brushed stainless steel bracelet