CHRISTOPHER WARD C63 COLCHESTER WRISTWATCH

All carbon, all innovation. The new C63 Colchester is the latest addition to Christopher Ward’s licensed Military Collection, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Recognised for exceptional British design and exacting Swiss manufacturing, Christopher Ward is one of only five of the MOD’S official license partners. Inspired by the demands of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment and named after its iconic headquarters, this lightweight sports watch lives up to the regiment’s motto, Utrinque Paratus, meaning ‘ready for anything’.

A precision timing device bringing together advanced material technology with the finest Swiss watchmaking, the C63 Colchester is the lightest sports watch Christopher Ward has ever produced. The dial and the case are both made from carbon, a substance both super-light and ultra-tough, while a retractable pop-out crown (a feature debuting on the popular C63 Sealander Elite) is a first for Christopher Ward’s Military Collection, adding extra comfort without interrupting the graceful lines of the 41mm case.

A watch this technically advanced in its construction deserves a movement both ultra-accurate and able to ride out any knocks it may encounter. The Christopher Ward team chose a Cosc-certified version of the Sellita SW200. It’s a 28,800bhz calibre, which gives the seconds hand a smooth sweep and lets you monitor fractions of a second using the innerseconds track around the dial. The SW200 boasts certified timing tolerance of just -4/+6 seconds per day in a variety of temperatures and positions, putting it in the top six percent of Swiss-made watches for accuracy.

The Christopher Ward C63 Colchester joins the C60 Lympstone, C65 Dartmouth, C65 Sandhurst and C65 Cranwell in Christopher Ward’s licensed Military Collection. Each watch represents a different strand of the UK Armed Forces, with the C65 Dartmouth, C65 Sandhurst and C65 Cranwell flying the flag for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force respectively. The C60 Lympstone honours the Royal Marines and their training centre in Devon.

While the C63 Colchester’s construction and materials are impressive, it’s the subtle design touches which strengthen the bond between this watch and the military personnel it pays tribute to. For example, ‘landing’ crosshairs feature on the dial, chiming with the history of the Paras. Then there’s the maroon second hand, which reflects the colour of the regiment’s famous beret. Chamfered indexes and ‘Trident’ hands (filled with SuperLuminova C1 Grade X1 GL) further enhance a timepiece which really is a wonder to wear on your wrist.

Mirroring the design of other watches in the Christopher Ward Military Collection, you can find the Parachute Regiment’s badge on the watch’s underside, though with one crucial — and innovative — difference. “We wanted to integrate the crest while keeping the display back of the watch,” says Christopher Ward designer, Will Brackfield. “This has been achieved with the addition of a ‘coin’ resting on top of the exhibition back. You can also see through the watch via the open ‘lozenges’ on the dial,” he adds.

A further tribute to the Paras comes in the shape of a 22mm quickrelease #tide strap. Not only is it the same shade of maroon mentioned earlier, the overall design is inspired by the Parachute Regiment’s standard-issue belt. Incidentally, the #tide name signals a strap manufactured from recycled ocean plastic. It’s tougher and more lustrous than a regular NATO strap. Think soft canvas, which seems wholly appropriate, given the C63 Colchester’s inspiration.

With a twenty-six-jewel self-winding chronometer mechanical movement, a thirty-eight-hour power reserve, twin-flag engraving over a Colimaçoné finish on the rotor, an anti-shock system, a unique engraved serial number, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a calendar and a luxury presentation box, plus much more besides, the Swiss-made (and certified) C63 Colchester is exceptional value for money. Weighing just 38g (without strap) and water resistant to 150 metres, it’s a stylish way to pay tribute to the armed forces.

Price: £995 christopherward.com or call 01628 763040

THE MAROON SECOND HAND REFLECTS THE COLOUR OF THE REGIMENT’S FAMOUS BERET