A striking new entry in the dive watch category has emerged with the
Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière Submarine Yellow Limited Edition. This timepiece is not merely a functional instrument for underwater exploration but a bold statement in horological design, emphasizing extreme luminosity and a vibrant aesthetic. Limited to a mere 300 pieces, its exclusivity is notable, a decision reportedly championed by the company's CEO, Mike France, much to the surprise of some within the organization. This scarcity, paired with its unique features, positions the Submarine Yellow Lumière as a distinctive offering for enthusiasts and collectors.
Christopher Ward, as a brand, has carved a unique niche for itself in the competitive watch market. Founded in 2004 by Mike France, Peter Ellis, and Christopher Ward himself, the company embarked on a mission to deliver high-quality, Swiss-made timepieces directly to consumers, thereby offering better value by circumventing traditional retail markups. Their early operations, famously starting from a converted chicken shed in Berkshire, quickly gained traction among watch aficionados who appreciated the blend of British design and Swiss watchmaking prowess. A pivotal moment for the brand was the merger with their Swiss manufacturing partner, Synergies Horlogères SA, in 2014, which led to the creation of their own in-house movement, Calibre SH21. This development was a significant milestone, underscoring Christopher Ward's commitment to horological innovation and solidifying its reputation as a serious player in the industry. Over the years, the brand has consistently focused on transparency, quality, and robust customer service, including their "60|60 guarantee," which offers a 60-day free return and a 60-month movement guarantee. This customer-centric approach, combined with increasingly sophisticated and well-regarded watch releases, has propelled Christopher Ward from a plucky online startup to an established name.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The "Lumière" designation within the C60 Trident collection signifies a paramount focus on visibility, particularly in low-light conditions. This Submarine Yellow edition takes that concept to an entirely new level, aiming to be the "final boss" of luminosity, as the brand playfully suggests. The core of this luminous power lies in the innovative use of materials for the watch's key visual elements. It’s a watch built around the idea that a dive watch, above all else, must be instantly readable, no matter the environment.
The dial of the C60 Trident Lumière Submarine Yellow is an immediate attention-grabber. The "Submarine Yellow" color, described as being inspired by the sunny, summery pop music of the late 1960s, is a vibrant, matte expanse that provides a high-contrast backdrop for the time-telling elements. This particular shade of yellow is not just a stylistic choice; it's selected for its high visibility, a characteristic prized in dive watch design. The surface texture appears uniform and bold, allowing the applied markers to stand out with exceptional clarity. It’s a yellow that is cheerful yet purposeful, avoiding any hint of being garish while still making an undeniable visual impact on the wrist. This dial serves as the bright canvas upon which the primary story of luminosity is painted.
At the heart of this watch's exceptional brightness are the chamfered indexes, handset, and even the "twin flags" Christopher Ward logo, all crafted from Globolight XP. This material, a luminous ceramic developed by Xenoprint (the creators of Super-LumiNova®), is a significant departure from traditional luminous paint applications. Instead of a coating, these are solid blocks of luminous material, shaped and finished with precision. The result, according to Christopher Ward, is a watch that delivers twice the amount of lume compared to any previous Trident model. This is further enhanced by the application of Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1, ensuring that the glow is not only intense but also long-lasting. In dark environments, the watch is expected to exhibit a spectacular light show, with the blocky indexes and bold hands radiating a clear, bright blue light, making time-telling effortless.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The case of the C60 Trident Lumière is a testament to modern watch engineering and material science. Crafted from Grade 2 titanium, it offers an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. This means that despite its robust construction and 41mm diameter, the watch head weighs a mere 53 grams, contributing significantly to wearing comfort. Titanium's inherent corrosion resistance also makes it an ideal material for a dive watch destined for saltwater environments. The case design itself is Christopher Ward's signature "Light-catcher" architecture, which features a complex interplay of brushed and polished surfaces. These contrasting finishes, along with the sharp, chamfered edges, allow the case to interact dynamically with light, giving it a sophisticated and dimensional appearance. The lugs are elegantly shaped, ensuring a comfortable fit on the wrist and a seamless integration with the strap or bracelet.
A crucial feature for any serious dive watch is its bezel, and the C60 Trident Lumière is suitably equipped. It features a uni-directional rotating bezel, a safety measure that prevents accidental adjustment in a direction that could overestimate remaining dive time. The bezel insert is made from a hard-wearing ceramic, renowned for its scratch resistance and color fastness. This insert provides a classic and functional contrast to the vibrant yellow dial. The markings on the bezel, including the crucial 60-minute dive scale, are precisely engraved and filled with luminous material, ensuring that this vital tool remains legible even when the dial's primary lume is the main light source. The edge of the bezel is likely to be knurled or coin-edged, providing ample grip for operation, even with gloved hands.
Functionality and security are further enhanced by the watch's crown system and helium release valve. The crown, responsible for time and date setting, is an embossed, screw-down type, a feature essential for maintaining water resistance. It is flanked by protective crown guards that are integrated into the case design, shielding the crown from accidental impacts. Adding to its professional dive credentials is an automatic helium release valve. This specialized feature is important for saturation divers who spend extended periods in highly pressurized, helium-rich environments. During decompression, helium molecules trapped inside the watch case can expand, potentially dislodging the crystal. The helium release valve allows this trapped gas to escape safely, protecting the watch's integrity.
Protecting the vibrant dial is a flat, anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Sapphire is chosen for its exceptional scratch resistance, second only to diamond, ensuring that the watch face remains clear and unmarred through rigorous use. The anti-reflective coating minimizes glare, further enhancing legibility in various lighting conditions. Flipping the watch over reveals a screw-down display caseback, also likely fitted with sapphire crystal. This feature allows an appreciative view of the decorated rotor and the intricate workings of the automatic movement within, a detail that watch enthusiasts often appreciate, connecting them more closely to the mechanical heart of their timepiece.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The C60 Trident Lumière is rated for water resistance up to 30 ATM, which translates to 300 meters (or approximately 1000 feet). This level of water resistance makes it suitable for serious recreational diving and even some professional underwater activities. This robust sealing, combined with its other dive-specific features, firmly places it in the category of a true tool watch designed for underwater performance.
Powering this luminous diver is the Sellita SW300-1 COSC automatic movement. Launched in 2008, the SW300-1 is a well-respected Swiss calibre, often seen as a direct alternative to ETA's 2892-A2. This 25-jewel movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), which contributes to a smooth sweep of the seconds hand and good timekeeping stability. It boasts a commendable power reserve of 56 hours, meaning the watch can be taken off for a couple of days and still be running when picked up again. Crucially, the version used in the Trident Lumière is chronometer-certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). This independent testing body subjects each movement to rigorous trials in various positions and at different temperatures to ensure its precision falls within the strict tolerance of -4 to +6 seconds per day. The slimness of the SW300-1, with a height of just 3.6mm, is a key factor in achieving the watch's impressively slender case profile of only 10.85mm, making it Christopher Ward’s slimmest ever dive watch.
Christopher Ward offers the C60 Trident Lumière Submarine Yellow with two distinct strap options, catering to different preferences and uses. The first is a black Aquaflex lume rubber strap. This innovative strap is made from FKM fluorocarbon rubber, a material known for its durability, comfort, and resistance to temperature extremes and chemicals. What sets this particular strap apart is its luminous quality; the strap itself glows, delivering what the brand describes as an "otherworldly glow" in low-light conditions. This feature significantly enhances the watch's overall luminous signature. The strap is fitted with a Christopher Ward signed buckle and features quick-release spring bars, allowing for easy strap changes without the need for tools. Visually, the deep black of the rubber creates a striking contrast with the yellow dial and titanium case, emphasizing its sporty, functional character.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
Alternatively, for those who prefer a full metal experience, a Grade 2 titanium bracelet is available. This bracelet is meticulously designed to complement the watch head, featuring both polished and unpolished facets and beautifully chamfered edges that mirror the "Light-catcher" case design. It has an increased taper, narrowing from 22mm at the lugs down to 16mm at the clasp, which enhances wearing comfort and gives it a more refined profile. A standout feature of the bracelet is its micro-adjustment mechanism, accessible via a button marked 'push,' which allows the wearer to easily fine-tune the fit by up to 6mm on the go – a highly practical feature for accommodating changes in wrist size due to temperature or activity. The visual effect is a cohesive and robust look, with the cool grey of the titanium providing a more integrated, monochromatic aesthetic when paired with the case.
Revisiting the dial from a visual perspective, the "Submarine Yellow" provides a rich, opaque field. The applied indexes, fashioned from the solid Globolight XP ceramic, are prominently three-dimensional. Their blocky, chamfered forms catch the light during the day and emit a powerful glow at night. The hands, likely a bold diver style with a clear distinction between the hour and minute hands, are also filled with the same Globolight XP® ceramic, ensuring that telling time is instantaneous under any condition. The seconds hand often features a luminous tip for tracking. Even the Christopher Ward "twin flags" logo, located at the 12 o'clock position, is rendered in Globolight, further amplifying the watch's luminous identity.
The limited-edition nature of this C60 Trident Lumière, restricted to just 300 units worldwide, adds a layer of exclusivity. The story shared by Christopher Ward about CEO Mike France’s insistence on this limited run, even humorously noting the board's mock search for new CEOs, adds a touch of personality to the release. This decision transforms an already distinctive watch into a more coveted item for those who appreciate rarity in their timepieces.
Considering its construction and features, the wearing experience of the Submarine Yellow Lumière is anticipated to be exceptionally comfortable. The lightweight nature of the full titanium construction (case and optional bracelet) will make it feel less burdensome on the wrist compared to steel counterparts of similar dimensions. The slim 10.85mm profile, coupled with the "Light-catcher" case’s design, which is intended to sit flat and snug, should allow it to slide easily under cuffs if needed, despite its tool-watch credentials. Legibility, of course, will be outstanding, both in bright daylight thanks to the high-contrast dial and in complete darkness due to the extensive use of Globolight.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
This watch represents a confluence of thoughtful design, material innovation, and a commitment to high-performance specifications. The "Swiss made" designation assures a certain standard of quality and craftsmanship. From the precision-engineered case to the COSC-certified movement and the groundbreaking application of luminous materials, the C60 Trident Lumière Submarine Yellow is a clear demonstration of Christopher Ward's ambition and experimental spirit within the dive watch genre. Even the presentation is considered, with the watch arriving in an eco-friendly luxury presentation case accompanied by an owner's handbook. This attention to the unboxing experience complements the quality of the timepiece itself.
The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière Submarine Yellow Limited Edition is priced at $2,015.00 when configured with the Black Aquaflex Lume Rubber strap. For those opting for the full Grade 2 titanium Bader bracelet, the price is $2,390.00. Given its limited production run of only 300 pieces, availability is inherently restricted.
Case: Grade 2 Titanium, Light-catcher™ design, 41mm diameter, 10.85mm height, 47.90mm lug-to-lug. Water resistant to 30 ATM (300m). Features uni-directional black ceramic diving bezel, screw-down crown, display caseback, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and helium release valve.
Movement: Sellita SW300-1 COSC Automatic. 25 jewels, 28,800 vph (4Hz), 56-hour power reserve. Chronometer certified with timing tolerance of -4/+6 seconds per day.
Dial: Submarine Yellow. Indexes, hands, and 'twin flags' logo made from Globolight XP© ceramic. Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1.
Strap: Option 1: Black Aquaflex lume rubber (22mm) with quick-release pins. Option 2: Grade 2 Titanium Bader bracelet (22mm tapering to 16mm) with micro-adjustment.
Price: $2,015.00 (Rubber Strap), $2,390.00 (Titanium Bracelet).
Reference Number: C60-41C3H31T0KY0-RKW (Rubber), C60-41C3H31T0KY0-B0 (Titanium).
Notes: Limited Edition of 300 pieces. Delivers twice the lume of previous Tridents. Christopher Ward's slimmest ever dive watch at 10.85mm height.