You can finally shop Christopher Ward in Australia at our Melbourne Watch Discovery Studio!
Buffy AcaciaNot that long ago, it would have been fair to consider Christopher Ward in the running for the title of King of Microbrands. Now? It status has surpassed the “micro” prefix and feels much more at home besides bigger names. But part of the shift from microbrand to affordable independent involves having a worldwide physical presence, and that box has now officially been ticked. We heralded Christopher Ward’s retail debut over in London first, but now it’s time for the Southern Hemisphere to have a turn, with Time+Tide becoming the first place in Australia where you can shop Christopher Ward watches in the metal!
If you’ve always wondered about Christopher Ward but never felt brave enough to buy sight unseen, here are five of our favourites that you can try on at our Melbourne Watch Discovery Studio on Collins St, exclusively available to buy in-store.
C1 Bel Canto
Once it won a coveted GPHG award back in 2023, the C1 Bel Canto propelled Christopher Ward into the high watchmaking conversation. At A$6,465, this is a watch that can give you a taste of owning a minute repeater for a tiny fraction of the cost. The FS01 movement only chimes the hours on the hour, which is known as a ‘Sonnerie au Passage’ complication, but it also happens to be visually stunning as it spills out over the vibrant, sunburst dial. The skeletonised clock face is neatly stacked above a vertical gear train, and is suspended by struts which reach out to the large gong which travels nearly the entire circumference of the dial before doubling back on itself. Watching the hammer do its thing is captivating, and it feels like an 18th-century masterpiece that’s been recreated with spaceship technology. Price: A$6,465
C12 The Twelve Auto Ti
Almost every brand needs an integrated bracelet sports watch these days, and Christopher Ward’s C12 does a great job of avoiding derivative design. Of course, the case and bracelet still have that blocky 1970s charm with its sharp, polished chamfers, but the 12-sided bezel and subtle crown guards give it a fairly distinct silhouette. Then there’s the focus on dial texture as the Christopher Ward logo, made up of crosses in tribute to the Swiss and English flags, is rendered in incredible depth. It almost creates a kind of weave effect from which the acute applied hour markers and alpha hands can contrast against. The Glacier Blue dial is breathtaking, but our favourite is the Astral Blue with its fumé dial finish and lightweight titanium case. It’s also COSC-certified for chronometer accuracy, and powered by the Sellita SW300-1 that allows for a total thickness of just 8.95mm, even with automatic winding and 100m of water resistance. Price: A$2,930
C1 Moonphase
Before the Bel Canto, the C1 Moonphase was one of Christopher Ward’s best-sellers. The case is simple and elegant, serving its only purpose of framing the mesmerising dial. A moonphase is probably the most romantic of all watch complications, and it may have once had important astronomical duties, but now it mostly just looks pretty. The Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase transforms the entire dial into a tribute to the complication with a huge photorealistic moon made from luminous Globolight and two layers of aventurine glass, which uses small fragments of metal dust to emulate flickering stars of a clear night sky. The Calibre JJ04 uses an in-house module on a Sellita SW200-1 base, replacing the date complication with a moonphase that will remain accurate for 128 years. Price: A$3,650
C65 Dune Aeolian Bronze
It’s been a few years since bronze tool watches were truly all the rage, but the C65 Dune Aeolian Bronze makes us feel like the trend never passed. Whether or not you think of it as a homage to the sci-fi franchise, the Dune’s windswept dial is utterly captivating. It evokes a gloomy and barren landscape at dusk, while the cream-toned Super-LumiNova emanates warmth and legibility. The bronze case offers the elegance of gold when clean as well as the promise of patina, allowing you to form a personal connection with its appearance as altered by your body chemistry. At 38mm in diameter and 11.7mm in height, it’s also quite compact for a watch capable of swimming, thanks to its 150 metres of water resistance. It’s powered by a Sellita SW200-1, and it’s COSC-certified for even more value. Price: A$1,950
C60 Trident GMT 300
Dive watches are slowly being edged out of the spotlight, but the Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 300 is a blast of cool air with its fresh white and blue colour scheme. The polished lacquer dial is remarkably sophisticated for a 300m dive watch, and its glossiness nicely mirrors the finish of the bi-colour ceramic bezel insert. The lighter blue of the GMT hand punches across the dial, allowing you to easily keep track of three time zones, including the local time. The baton hour markers maintain the clean aesthetic while the broad arrow hour hand and trident counterbalance on the seconds hand impart some of that classic cheeky character. The SW330-2 GMT movement offers a 56-hour power reserve with a 4Hz beat rate and helps keep the 40mm watch nice and slim at 11.7mm tall. Price: A$1,825