WindUp Watch Fair is taking over NYC again this weekend and with lead sponsor Christopher Ward at the helm, now seems as good a time as any to look back on the year the Maidenhead-based brand has had so far. It almost feels as if every week or so across the past few months I’ve had the pleasure of tearing into a Christopher Ward like a kid on Christmas, eager to find out what awaits me inside. Safe to say, the team behind the brand have been busy with releases consistency rolling in since the beginning of the year, but which have been our favourites? Read on to find out all about the 5 best Christopher Ward watches released in 2024.
Top 5 Christopher Ward Watches of 2024
1. Twelve X (Ti)
There are watches that feel non-negotiable to have on this list and the Twelve X is very much one of them. Released as a special edition of the Twelve series, the X combines recognisable elements of the core collection but adds a refreshing twist by way of a more refined movement and limited production. This modern chronometer is water resistant to 100 meters, housed in a timeless brushed and polished titanium case and features a toned-down, legible skeletonised watch display. Retailing for just under £4,000, the Twelve X boasts not only an aesthetic you might expect to pay more for but also the calibre SH21, which is the brand’s very own in-house engine.
2. C65 Desk Diver Limited Edition
At the time of writing, the C65 Desk Diver Limited Edition is Christopher Ward’s most recent, and probably most talked about, release of 2024. Confusing for some, who couldn’t possibly understand why you’d want a yellow Post-it note cartoon on your watch face, the Desk Diver saw CW customise the C65 Aquitaine with the help of horological artist seconde/seconde/. Keen to take themselves less seriously, the Desk Diver is a tongue-in-cheek play on a nickname given to collector’s who proudly wear their capable dive watches no further than to the office and back. Decked out with cheeky corporate jargon and a bezel that tells you exactly when it’s time to take a power nap or gossip with colleagues, although the Desk Diver seemed an odd choice to some, the Limited Edition iteration of the understated Aquitaine sold out in just a few days.
3. C60 Trident Lumière
Whether you’re genuinely intending to take your watch into the water or not, the C60 Trident Lumière represents another strong addition to Christopher Ward's ever-growing range of dive watches. The watch delivers exceptional value, featuring a Grade 2 titanium case, a COSC-certified Sellita SW300 movement, a ceramic dive bezel, a sub-11mm case thickness, 300m water resistance, and a helium escape valve. Boasting enough features to challenge competitors at much higher price points, the C60 Trident Lumière offers incredible comfort with a commanding presence, all while maintaining a subtle, understated style.
4. C65 Dune GMT
The release of the Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT was not just a smart move commercially, it is also an excellent example of how to get the most out of an existing model line without having to reinvent the wheel. The C65 Dune GMT is marginally thicker to accommodate for the GMT functionality of the Sellita SW330 utilised, but remains 38 mm in diameter. The oversized (and extremely handsome) crown remains. The sandy tones of the original tone also stay put in the centre of the dial but they are joined by a smoky olive green that changes the character of the watch entirely. The subtleness of the original, sans-GMT version was its strength; here, however, with the additional GMT functionality and new colour scheme, the rugged GADA nature of the C65 Dune GMT becomes its strongest trait.
5. C1 Bel Canto (‘The Red One’)
Although the C1 Bel Canto isn’t technically a 2024 release, it is commonly thought of as the greatest Christopher Ward offering of all time and considering a recent collaboration with Andrew Morgan Watches, it feels more than justifiable to sneak it in here. Revered far and wide, the C1 Bel Canto is the most affordable Swiss Made mechanical chiming watch in the world and the original limited-edition design, presented with a futuristic, three-dimensional blue sunray-brushed dial, naturally, flew off the shelves with the extremely exclusive 300-piece run decimated in only a few hours.
Capturing some of the ‘whimsical spirit’ popular watch reviewer Andrew is known for, the special-edition Bel Canto featured an ‘Intense Red’ dial, 41mm Grade 5 Titanium case, Morgan’s signature logo on the sandblasted caseback and that same old delightful chiming sound we fell in love with when the C1 was unveiled, thanks to its FS01 chiming module.
