Christopher Ward Editorial GTTP New Releases New Watches New Watches 2021 Reviews

The New Christopher Ward C60 #tide watch Is Light on the Pocket, Good for the Soul, and Big On Specifications

“In what ethereal dances, By what eternal streams!” wrote Edgar Allan Poe. The dial’s wave-like pattern of oceanic stream waters brings about an ethereal dance that glows in the dark. Meet the new Christopher Ward C60 #tide watch and strap collection that not only acknowledges the rising levels of ocean plastics but also decides to do something about it. And not just that, they simultaneously present watch enthusiasts with another bargain beauty.

Editor’s Note: This short preview of the new Christopher Ward C60 #tide is a GET TO THE POINT (GTTP) review with all the info you want / need to know QUICK.  Our detailed review should come soon once we go hands-on with the watch, and to read our other detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide

What (is it): A new 42mm dive watch with a ceramic bezel and 600m water-resistance. Remarkably, the star is the crazy lumed dial. Thanks to a partnership between #tide ocean SA and Christopher Ward, the new Christopher Ward C60 #tide is also aimed at reducing the pollutants’ burden on our oceans.

When (released): 26 August 2021 

Where: Online from £895/ $1’095/ €1’150/~1’380 AUD, available via the brand’s website here

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide

Why

The new Christopher Ward C60 #tide is impressively marked by what the brand reveals to be a 3D-look dial that is reminiscent of bio-luminescent algae.

The only other place I’ve ever heard of bio-luminescent algae

And just like this group of tiny marine organisms underwater produces an ethereal glow in the dark, this collaboration between CW and its newest Swiss-based supply partner #tide ocean material® is destined to shine like an ethereal beauty within the Swiss watch industry.

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide

Who (is it for)

With a low price tag and packing a punch featuring 600m water resistance, a trustworthy beater of a Swiss movement that is also COSC-certified, amazing lume, wearable sizing and a super comfortable and nice strap, the new Christopher Ward C60 #tide is for anyone who likes to own value-for-money timepieces and also cares about the environment. 

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide
Version 1.0 left vs Version 2.0 Right

Last year’s Christopher Ward C60 BLUE — detailed hands-on here — was designed in collaboration with Blue Marine Foundation – in celebration of the charity’s 10th anniversary and all profits from that limited-edition of 500-pieces only watch went to that charity. 

The new Christopher Ward C60 #tide is now thankfully being released in a non-limited version, and those who enjoy the brand’s offerings and couldn’t get their hands on last year’s version, have an opportunity to explore what the brand is offering.

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide

How (does the watch do)

When last year’s version was released, I remember being a little bit critical about the low power reserve and the use of a generic movement. And while the power reserve remains the same, I am pleased to note that they have gone for a much more precise COSC-certified version of the same movement (and have even embellished it with the stereotypical Christopher Ward ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the rotor). 

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide
Potential decoration style – this is from another CW offering

The new Christopher Ward C60 #tide uses the outsourced calibre Sellita SW200 that is a self-winding movement beating at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h) that in basic form offers a timing tolerance of -20/+20 seconds per day but here it offers a much more accurate tolerance of -4/+6 seconds per day. It comprises 26 jewels and central hacking seconds mechanism along with an anti-shock system.

Moving beyond the movement specifications the case specifications have also changed. 

The new Christopher Ward C60 #tide watch now comes cased inside a larger 42mm diameter and 14.10mm thick brushed and polished Light-catcherTM 316L stainless steel case with a unidirectional zirconia (ZrO2) ceramic bezel (that is fully lumed).

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide
Lume on Version 1.0 from 2020 | ©Watchyagonnadoaboutit

The lug to lug spacing is rather on the larger side for those with slimmer wrists, measuring in at 49.32mm. The lug inter horn spacing is 22mm.

For reference, last year’s C60 Blue LE measured at 40mm diameter with 12.95mm thickness and came with only 47.46mm lug to lug spacing and a more universal 20mm lug inter horn spacing. 

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide
Version 1.0 from 2020 on my ~16cm wrist | ©Watchyagonnadoaboutit

For someone like me with slimmer ~16cm wrists, I would take the last year’s version over this one, but for those with larger wrists, the new Christopher Ward C60 #tide is an excellent option. And having that COSC-certification is another plus. 

Flip the watch and one is greeted by a screw-down deep-stamped 3D backplate with a #tide ocean material ring insert and a unique engraved serial number. I like that this design is further replicated in the design of the crown. 

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide

The entire package is dive ready boasting an impressive 600m (60 ATM) water-resistance and comes insides an eco-friendly luxury presentation case with an owner’s handbook.

On the whole, there are three aspects of this release that I particularly appreciate; the package as a whole including the nicely glowing (and legible) dial; the connection with an environmentally conscious ideology; and the retention of the same pricing as last year’s C60 Blue. 

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide
I also like the framing of the date window and the inclusion of the ‘#’ logo at 6’o clock

Visually of course the dial rules front and centre; the brand is slowly turning into the master of best lume in-filled watches and this is another example of the brand’s prowess. The sapphire crystal dial with its twin-flag matte motif at 12’o clock reigns supreme with the Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1 wave pattern printed design. Further enhancing the appeal are the Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1-filled hands and indexes and the presence of the (blued) signature Trident counter-balance on the seconds hand.

I like that the dial is more lumed on this new version, but I kind of miss the two colour lume of last year’s version.

Christopher Ward C60 Blue Limited Edition 54
Version 1.0 from 2020 | ©Watchyagonnadoaboutit

Another aspect I wanted to reiterate on the strap; personally, I am a fan of this fabric/NATO/Tudor style strap that CW is offering, and after going hands-on with the version 1.0 C60 Blue last year, I ended up purchasing one for myself. Currently, it’s the chariot for my Tudor BB58 Navy Blue.

That’s All Folks!

Anyone who has read my reviews would agree that I am not wrong when I say I particularly like what Christopher Ward are doing. They may not release outlandish or unconventional designs like RM or Hublot, or offer niche designs and limited quantities like Ming or Kurono, but when it comes to offering solid, handsome, value for money timepieces, the mould was pretty much broken with them.

From the depths of the oceans to soaring heights: the new Christopher Ward C60 #tide brings handsome style, deep diving capabilities, and precise Swiss horology with a touch of ethereal glow to your wrists. 

New Christopher Ward C60 #tide

For more information on these and other Christopher Ward watches, please head to their website here. Christopher Ward and #tide will together donate £5 from every #tide strap that’s sold – either on a watch, or individually – to the Blue Marine Foundation, to support their vital work in marine conservation. #tide ocean SA collects plastic waste from the ocean and has developed a method for repairing and up-cycling the damaged plastic into high-quality granules and yarns for new sustainable products. All images unless stated otherwise are © 2016 Christopher Ward (London) Ltd.

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