As anticipated, 2019 is seeing a run on watches launched to commemorate the moon touchdown in 1969. British model Christopher Ward has joined the occasion. With the discharge of the Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow, the trade is handled to yet one more ‘huge moon section’ watch. This mannequin, nevertheless, stands out from the gang. With the type of astuteness essential to separate oneself and one’s merchandise in an extremely aggressive worth bracket, the C1 Moonglow provides a shocking mixture of luxurious options and real affordability.
Taking pictures for the Moon
The final Christopher Ward we reviewed on aBlogtoWatch was the Christopher Ward C1 Grand Malvern Moon Section watch. It’s a exceptional testomony to the design of this new piece to acknowledge that each fashions are powered by the JJ04 caliber. Whereas internally related, the general aesthetic couldn’t be extra completely different.
The JJ04 makes use of an ETA 2836 as its base, earlier than being fitted with an in-house lunar module that additionally encompasses a peripheral date indicator. The result’s a neat, fashionable, participating dial, which blends 3D components, flashes of contrasting colour, and excellent Tremendous-LumiNova Grade® X1 GL C1 on the moons, arms, indexes, numerals, and outer date ring. Throw in polished indices set round a smoked dial, and also you’ve received a potent checklist of attributes.
Specs
The Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow watch measures a refreshingly petite 40.5mm throughout. With a 12.35mm peak and 48.55mm lug width, it is a comparatively slim and chic stainless-steel watch that’s good costume apparel. It’s extra up to date dial, nevertheless, may see it carried off with informal put on too. At simply 61 grams, it’s gentle and wearable. And though it’s water-proof to only 30 meters, it’s not the type of watch one could be tempted to take for a dip.
The watch comes on both a 20mm leather-based strap or a stainless-steel mesh bracelet. Each look completely at house on the watch, however for me, a moon section at all times sits extra comfortably towards a basic leather-based strap (even a design of such modernity).
The JJ04 caliber has a timing tolerance: -10/+20 seconds per day, an working frequency of 28,800vph, and a 38-hour energy reserve. The rotor is engraved with the Christopher Ward twin-flag emblem and completed with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating.
Studying from the Greatest
It’s by no means simple to say for certain the place the inspiration for a mannequin comes from, however for me, this piece is paying homage to the A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Section Lumen. And I couldn’t imply that as something however an immense praise. Not solely has the Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow managed to evoke the identical sense of fashion as a watch nearly 100 occasions the value, however it has additionally carried out so in a crowded discipline that doesn’t actually supply a direct competitor. There are many watches in the identical worth bracket that use the identical fashion of motion and the identical structure, however it appears so a lot of them are targeted on a classical fashion that comes throughout as massively passé subsequent to this watch.
The moon section complication has lengthy been a favourite of mine. That stated, I don’t imagine that it’s a notably simple operate to combine into a contemporary timepiece. When A. Lange & Söhne did it I rejoiced (till I noticed the value). The discharge of the Hermès Arceau L’Heure de la Lune earlier this 12 months set my coronary heart racing as soon as extra (till it stopped useless upon studying the fee). And now Christopher Ward has caught me fully unawares with a launch that satisfies the identical aesthetic wishes with so many pleasing design components it might don’t have any selection however to finish up in my assortment.
Conclusion
I hardly ever get this excited a few launch I may really afford, however this one has me going again to the press launch time and time once more, in utter disbelief. Though it definitely received’t be to everybody’s style (particularly those that don’t wish to see a complication as commemorated because the moon section introduced updated with luminous materials, three dimensional moons, and smoked crystals all over), there are so many good design selections made right here that for £1,695 retail, I actually wrestle to fault it as a price proposition. When budding watch followers ask me for a great first luxurious watch, I’m fairly certain this one will probably be close to the highest of my checklist of solutions any further. Study extra about this watch and others at christopherward.co.uk.
