Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V

Christopher Ward is reintroducing a fan-favorite complication with the launch of the C1 Jump Hour Mk V. This release marks the fifth generation of the brand's jump hour timepieces, a specific and mechanically interesting series that first began back in 2011 with the C9 Harrison. This new model isn't just a re-issue; it's a complete re-evaluation of the design, built around the clever JJ01 modular movement developed by Johannes Jahnke. The complication, which last made an appearance in a 2023 limited-edition collaboration with Fears, now returns to the main Christopher Ward lineup, integrating the brand's modern design language with the technical ingenuity of its proprietary module.



The Anglo-Swiss company has carved out a significant niche for itself since its founding in 2004. Christopher Ward effectively disrupted the market by becoming the first premium watch brand to operate exclusively online, a move that allowed it to offer Swiss-made mechanical watches at prices that were previously unheard of. This direct-to-consumer model, combined with a focus on original design and technical achievement, has grown the company into the UK's largest watch brand, with a global customer base. The brand operates with its headquarters in Maidenhead, England, while its technical and manufacturing operations are centered in Biel, Switzerland, giving it a truly dual identity.



In its relatively young history, Christopher Ward has demonstrated a serious commitment to horological innovation. A major milestone was the creation of Calibre SH21, the first commercially viable mechanical watch movement developed by a British-owned brand in over five-m decades. This achievement cemented its reputation as a serious player. This reputation was further solidified in 2023 when the brand's chiming watch, the Bel Canto, won the prestigious Petite Aiguille award at the Grand Prix D'Horlogerie De Genève (GPHG), followed by being named Brand of the Year in 2024 by lifestyle outlet T3.



The new C1 Jump Hour Mk V is presented as part of the "Atelier" collection. This isn't a typical product range but rather a curated group of Christopher Ward's most ambitious and creative timepieces. It's a showcase for the brand's most advanced work, featuring everything from in-house calibers like the SH21 to proprietary modules and meticulous finishing. The Atelier collection is where the design team—led by figures like Jörg Bader, Frank Stelzer, Adrian Buchmann, and Will Brackfield—is truly tested to produce uncompromising horology at a fair price.



This philosophy of "thinking outside the box" is central to the Atelier line. It formalizes the brand's commitment to innovation and signals to enthusiasts where its most advanced creations live. The collection includes other notable pieces such as the C1 Moonphase, C1 Moonglow, the GPHG-winning C1 Bel Canto, and The Twelve X. The launch of the Atelier grouping at this time is intentional, as the brand feels it has reached a critical mass of advanced creations that can be presented together, making it easier for collectors to navigate this high-end segment of the Christopher Ward story.



The Jump Hour Mk V is described by its creators as an entirely different watch from its four predecessors, yet it clearly belongs to the same family and honors the brand's history with this specific complication. Senior Designer Will Brackfield notes that it's "not a throwback," but a new watch intended to push boundaries both technically and aesthetically. It represents a fusion of the brand's current design direction with the established mechanical prowess of the JJ01 movement, aiming to express both heritage and evolution simultaneously.



At the heart of the watch is this movement, designated Calibre JJ01. It is a proprietary module, developed in-house by Johannes Jahnke, which is built upon the foundation of a reliable Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. This modular approach allows Christopher Ward to create a distinctive and complex time-telling display while maintaining reliability and serviceability. The base movement provides the power and timekeeping, while the JJ01 module handles the unique "jump hour" function.



The technical specifications for the movement include 26 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (or 4Hz), and a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. This is a modern, high-beat movement that provides a smooth sweep for the minute hand. The watch is regulated to a timing tolerance of +/- 20 seconds per day. The "jump hour" itself means that instead of a traditional hour hand sweeping the dial, the hour is displayed digitally through an aperture and instantaneously "jumps" to the next hour precisely when the minute hand strikes 60.



The dial is where the watch truly showcases its complex design and multi-layered construction. The visual focus is split between the central dial, the unique minute hand, and the prominent hour aperture at the 12 o'clock position. The center of the dial features a three-dimensional stamped pattern with a fine sunray finish, which creates a dynamic play of light. This section is separated from the outer track by a distinct circular-brushed ring, adding another layer of texture.



Two color variants are offered: "Noon Blue" and "Dusk Gold." The Noon Blue presents a cool, metallic light blue center, while the Dusk Gold offers a warm, sand-colored metallic hue. Both options are subtle rather than loud, designed to accentuate the various finishes and layers. The outermost ring of the dial base is finished in a high-grain metallic texture that shifts under light, reinforcing the watch's layered and three-dimensional feel.



Perhaps the most striking feature is the translucent sapphire dial ring that functions as the minute track. This ring is printed with black minute markers and five-minute numerical graduations. It appears to float above the main dial, secured by four polished, domed pins that add a clean, mechanical punctuation to the circular geometry. The use of sapphire here is not just for looks; it serves a crucial technical purpose for the watch's illumination.



The underside of this sapphire ring is printed with Super-LumiNova® C1 X1 BL, which provides a cool blue glow in low-light conditions. Because the ring is translucent, it allows light to pass through it to charge the lumed hour disc hidden beneath. This clever design ensures that the hour wheel is fully charged, even though only the current hour's numeral is visible through the aperture at any given time.



The hour aperture itself is a prominent feature at the 12 o'clock position. It's a two-part construction, featuring an inner ring that is circular-brushed with polished facets, and an outer ring that matches the high-grain finish of the dial base. This framing gives the aperture significant visual depth. Beneath it, the hour disc features Art-Deco-inspired numerals, which are bold, rounded, and filled with a Globolight block of Super-LumiNova® for excellent legibility in the dark.



To read the minutes, the watch employs a single, central hand that is, in a first for Christopher Ward, crafted from sapphire. This hand is elegantly arched to clear the raised minute track. Like the track itself, the sapphire hand has a Super-LumiNova® undercoating. This gives it an ethereal, floating quality, making it seem almost invisible in bright light while shining from within in the dark, perfectly complementing the floating minute ring.



All of this is housed in a 316L stainless steel case measuring 39mm in diameter. This modern, versatile size is paired with a height of 14mm, which accounts for the box-domed sapphire crystal and the depth of the JJ01 module. The lug-to-lug measurement is a very wearable 47.3mm, and the case weighs 66 grams without a strap. The case finishing is a mix of brushed flanks on the case sides and polished facets, likely on the bevels, to add definition.



The crystal is an anti-reflective, box-domed sapphire, which adds a slightly vintage character to the otherwise modern dial. The crown is a push-down type, signed with the brand's twin-flag motif. The water resistance is rated at 3ATM, or 30 meters. This is minimal protection, suitable for splashes but not submersion, reinforcing that the C1 Jump Hour Mk V is designed as a sophisticated, everyday casual or dress-oriented piece rather than a sports watch.



Turning the watch over reveals a solid, deep-stamped caseback rather than an exhibition window. This caseback is intricately detailed with a design that denotes the 12-hour stops of the jump hour wheel, echoing the complication within. The finishing on the caseback is a study in contrasts, alternating between a heavy sandblasting on the lower surfaces and fine polishing on the upper, raised elements, which mirrors the textural contrasts of the dial.



The C1 Jump Hour Mk V is offered on two different mounting options, both utilizing a 20mm lug width. The first is a Fine Italian Leather strap, which is available in different colors to complement the dial variants, such as a dark brown or a light grey. These straps feature contrast stitching and provide a more traditional, classic look for the watch.



The second option is the brand's five-link "Consort" bracelet. This is a more intricate, jewelry-like bracelet that features broad, brushed outer links and three rows of smaller, rectangular, polished inner links. This design offers a high degree of articulation for comfort and will catch the light from multiple angles, pairing well with the polished elements on the watch case and the dynamic dial.



This fifth-generation jump hour is a clear statement from Christopher Ward about its direction. It's a confident blend of a well-loved, in-house complication with the brand's increasingly sophisticated design language. It moves the jump hour out of the realm of pure vintage-inspired design and plants it firmly in the contemporary, ambitious space of the Atelier collection.



The new Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V launches on November 6th. The pricing is set at £2,150, $2,975, or €2,800 when purchased on one of the Fine Italian Leather straps. For the version on the stainless steel Consort bracelet, the price is £2,285, $3,165, or €2,975. The brand notes that for US customers, the quoted dollar prices are part of its "Tariff Rollback" and include all duties and tariffs, with only local state tax being excluded.



Case: 316L stainless steel; 39mm diameter; 14mm height; 47.3mm lug-to-lug; 66g case weight; 3ATM (30m) water resistance; anti-reflective box sapphire crystal; deep stamped caseback; push-down crown.

Movement: Calibre JJ01 (Sellita SW200-1 base); self-winding; 26 jewels; 38-41 hour power reserve; 28,800 vph (4Hz); +/- 20 sec p/day tolerance; in-house jump hour module.

Dial: Noon Blue or Dusk Gold; applied translucent sapphire minute track; three-dimensional stamped sunray base dial; sapphire minute hand; jump hour aperture at 12; Super-LumiNova® C1 X1 BL on minute track, hand, and hour disc.

Strap: 20mm lug width; available on a Fine Italian Leather strap or a five-link stainless steel Consort bracelet.

Price: $2,975 / £2,150 / €2,800 (strap); $3,165 / £2,285 / €2,975 (bracelet).

Notes: The fifth generation of Christopher Ward's jump hour watch. Features the in-house JJ01 jump hour module. Uses a translucent sapphire minute track and a sapphire minute hand, both lumed from beneath.