British luxury watchmaker Christopher Ward is toasting a landmark in aviation history with the launch of a limited edition timepiece.
In celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the RAF, the company has launched the C8 ‘Al Deere’ TM-B Limited Edition.
The new timepiece range, which is restricted to 100 pieces, incorporates metal originating from the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine fitted to Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 X4276 with the squadron letters KL-B, which was ‘Al’ Deere’s personal flying machine.
The new timepiece has been designed to remember one of the most renowned RAF Aces, Alan C Deere, known also as ‘Al’ Deere, and is powered by a hand wound small-seconds version of Calibre SH21, Christopher Ward’s in-house 120-hour power reserve chronometer.
Mike France, CEO and co-founder of Christopher Ward, said: “During the WW2 conflict, Al Deere was recognized as one of the most successful of all fighter pilots, who, by the end of the war has accumulated 22 enemy kills and another 10 ‘probables’. With 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of the RAF, we thought it was only right to pay homage to both ‘Al’ Deere and the centenary by launching the C8 ‘Al Deere’ TM-B Limited Edition.”
The C8 ‘Al Deere’ TM-B Limited Edition is encased within Christopher Ward’s aviation C8 case, with the 44mm diameter and enlarged crown of the C8 case incorporating a black DLC coating with sandblasted texture, with bevels to the lugs and bezel. The serrated crown ensures easy adjustments can be made through thick gloves during flight and is stamped with the standard turbine motif of the C8 collection.
The new watch is powered by a hand wound small-seconds version of Calibre SH21, Christopher Ward’s own 120-hour power reserve chronometer.
The C8 ‘Al Deere’ TM-B Limited Edition is available to pre-order and will be available on a vintage oak leather strap, priced at £2,995.
