British watch company Christopher Ward is tracking a trend for smaller dress watches with the release of a new 40mm model of its Jumping Hour signature timepiece.
The C9 Jumping Hour Mark III, housing a modified Johannes Jahnke JJ01 movement, is hand-assembled at the company’s atelier in Biel, Switzerland, by Christopher Ward watchmaker Jahnke and his team.
The modified jumping hour complication is among the most precise jumping hour mechanism ever seen, Christopher Ward claims. It beats beneath an understated all-white dial featuring Arabic numerals in the hour change aperture at the 12 o’clock position.
The energy for the hour jump is generated over the course of an hour, ensuring that the power usage for the watch remains consistent throughout and also makes for a more robust movement. The model incorporates a 38-hour power reserve.
Mike France, co-founder of Christopher Ward, says the smaller case size could make the watch appeal to a wider audience. : “The new 40mm size provides a stunning new option for customers seeking a smaller case size and we see this model appealing to both men and women wanting not only a more compact dress watch but also a more intriguing one.”
The C9 Jumping Hour Mark III is priced at £995 and is available only on the Christopher Ward web site.
Also new this year is a reworking of the company’s C60 Trident collection of dive watches, which sees the addition of a chronograph at the top end of the range using Christopher Ward’s in-house movement, calibre SH21, and an entry-level quartz model using the Ronda 515 calibre.
Much of the Trident family has been re-designed and re-engineered using upgraded materials, although they retain strong links to the 2014 styles.
The new Trident case, in marine-grade steel, echoes the design of the original but has been given sharper architecture and finishing, the company says.
“The new Trident, remains true to its heritage, yet re-defines the model itself and brings more flexibility and affordability; in fact we believe it sets a new standard in the value/quality equation for the industry, enabling the opportunity to own the optimal Dive timepiece at each price level. With the technical credibility to satisfy dive pros and the style to match any occasion, the new collection will open Trident to an even wider audience and further strengthen its iconic standing,” says France.
The three mechanical versions are capable of withstanding water pressure at up to 600m and have been upgraded to include zirconia ceramic bezels; while the quartz version has retained the aluminium bezel of the original and is capable of depths to 300m.
Prices range from £299 for the C60 Trident 300 quartz models to £1500 for the limited edition C60 Trident COSC chronograph.
