The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 represents a significant pivot in the brand's approach to designing professional-grade dive watches. Born from direct consultation with the enthusiast community, this model specifically targets the desire for a slimmer, more wearable daily diver that sacrifices nothing in terms of capability. While the previous 600-meter variants established the Trident as a robust tool watch, the Pro 300, particularly in this larger 44mm execution, focuses on refining the on-wrist experience. It acknowledges that while extreme depth ratings are impressive on paper, the physical dimensions required to achieve them often compromise comfort in everyday scenarios. By scaling back the water resistance to a still-substantial 300 meters, the engineers were able to shave crucial millimeters off the case height, resulting in a profile that slides under cuffs with ease while maintaining the wrist presence expected of a modern sports watch.
The 44mm case utilizes the brand’s signature Light-catcher architecture, a design language intended to minimize visual bulk through complex finishing. Even at this larger diameter, the watch does not feel like a slab of steel. The case sides are not flat vertical walls; instead, they feature a mix of brushed and polished surfaces that curve and recess, catching light in a way that breaks up the profile. The lug-to-lug distance of 51.4mm is substantial, providing a confident stance on larger wrists, yet the downward curvature of the lugs helps the watch hug the forearm rather than perch precariously on top of it. With a height of just 11.7mm, this model is noticeably thinner than its predecessors, a reduction that transforms the wearing experience from top-heavy to balanced.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The bezel construction on the C60 Trident Pro 300 demonstrates a keen attention to tactile and visual detail. It features a unidirectional rotation mechanism, essential for tracking elapsed time during a dive or simply timing a lunch break. The insert is crafted from zirconia ceramic, a material chosen for its extreme hardness and resistance to scratching. This ensures the face of the watch remains pristine even after years of hard use. The bezel action has been engineered for a specific "click" feel, satisfying the tactile demands of watch enthusiasts who judge quality by the responsiveness of moving parts. A distinct two-part design sets this bezel apart: a rotating outer section housing the ceramic insert and a fixed steel inner ring marked with minute increments. This layered approach adds depth to the face of the watch and enhances legibility by providing a clear transition from the bezel to the dial.
The dial itself is a study in legibility and modern aesthetics, presented here in a deep, polished black lacquer. This glossy finish provides a stark backdrop for the applied indices, which have been enlarged compared to previous generations to hold more luminous material. The indices feature top-brushed surfaces with diamond-polished facets, a finishing technique that allows them to catch available light from multiple angles, ensuring readability in dim conditions even before the lume activates. At the 12 o'clock position, the applied twin-flags logo—representing the brand's dual heritage in England and Switzerland—sits proudly. This logo placement balances the date window located at 6 o'clock, creating a symmetrical vertical axis that pleases the eye. The date wheel itself is colour-matched to the black dial, integrating seamlessly rather than appearing as an afterthought.
Handsets are critical to the character of a dive watch, and the C60 Trident Pro 300 features a notable update in this area. The hour and minute hands are bold and filled with Super-LumiNova Grade X1 BL C1, a high-performance compound known for its long-lasting glow. The seconds hand departs from the traditional trident counter-balance design seen on older models, opting instead for a precision-engineered arrow-head tip. This change was influenced by the brand's concept watches and adds a sharper, more technical look to the dial. The signature trident motif remains present as the counter-balance, serving as a subtle nod to the model’s lineage without dominating the visual field. The result is a handset that prioritizes quick reading of the time, a non-negotiable feature for a tool watch.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
One of the most user-centric updates to this generation is the exhibition caseback. Traditional dive watches often feature solid steel casebacks to maximize structural integrity for extreme pressure resistance. However, with the 300-meter rating, Christopher Ward opted to install a sapphire crystal window on the rear, allowing owners to view the mechanical heart of the watch. The movement on display is the Sellita SW200-1, a Swiss automatic calibre ubiquitous in the industry for its reliability and serviceability. It is not merely a base-level industrial engine; the movement features an Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish, adding a spiral snail pattern to the bridges. The rotor is customized with the twin-flags engraving, offering a level of decoration that elevates the ownership experience beyond a purely utilitarian tool.
The Sellita SW200-1 movement operating within provides a reliable beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4Hz. This frequency results in the smooth sweep of the seconds hand that characterizes mechanical horology, ticking eight times per second. The movement offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, sufficient for daily wear, and includes a hacking seconds feature. This allows the wearer to stop the seconds hand completely when setting the time, enabling precise synchronization with a reference clock. An integrated anti-shock system protects the balance wheel from impacts, a necessary feature for a watch designed to handle active lifestyles. The timing tolerance is rated at +/- 20 seconds per day, a standard range for this grade of movement, ensuring consistent timekeeping performance.
Attachment options for the C60 Trident Pro 300 have been refined to prioritize comfort and versatility. The Bader bracelet, named after one of the company's founders, is crafted from marine-grade stainless steel. It features a three-link design that balances flexibility with lateral stability. A significant improvement in this iteration is the increased taper, narrowing by 16.5mm at the clasp. This taper reduces bulk at the bottom of the wrist, making the watch more comfortable to wear while typing or resting the arm on a desk. The links are now secured with single screws rather than pin-and-collar systems, making resizing simpler for the end user. The clasp incorporates a micro-adjustment ratchet mechanism, allowing the wearer to expand or contract the bracelet length in small increments without tools—a lifesaver on hot days when the wrist naturally swells.
For those who prefer a lighter setup or a different aesthetic, the watch is also compatible with the Aquaflex strap. This rubber option is designed to be water-resistant and durable, perfect for actual aquatic use or high-intensity activities where sweat is a factor. The lug width for the 44mm case is 22mm, a standard size that opens up a vast world of aftermarket strap possibilities. However, the proprietary quick-release system on the brand's own straps and bracelets encourages swapping between official options. This mechanism allows the spring bars to be retracted with a fingernail, enabling a change from steel to rubber in seconds without the risk of scratching the lugs with a tool.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The lume application on the C60 Trident Pro 300 is generous, utilizing Super-LumiNova Grade X1 BL C1. This specific grade is among the brightest and longest-lasting available, appearing white in daylight and glowing with a potent blue-green hue in the dark. The application extends to the bezel markings as well as the hands and indices. This full-lume bezel is particularly useful for diving, as it allows the diver to read elapsed time in the murky darkness of deep water. The visibility it provides is equally practical for checking the time on a bedside table in the middle of the night. The contrast between the glowing elements and the black dial ensures that ambiguity is eliminated when reading the time in low-light environments.
Water resistance is, of course, the headline feature of any dive watch, and this model delivers a legitimate 300 meters (or 1000 feet) of protection. While less than the 600-meter rating of its sibling, 300 meters is far beyond the limits of recreational scuba diving, which typically bottoms out at 40 meters. The decision to reduce the rating was a calculated trade-off to achieve the slimmer profile. The engineering required to withstand 30 atmospheres of pressure still demands robust seals and thick crystals. The sapphire crystal protecting the dial is treated with an anti-reflective coating, minimizing glare and ensuring the dial remains black and deep rather than washing out in bright sunlight.
The overall aesthetic of the 44mm version is one of modern capability. It avoids the trap of vintage pastiche, eschewing faux-aged lume or distressed leather in favor of clean lines and contemporary materials. The "Light-catcher" case is key to this modern feel, utilizing geometry to mask the mass of the watch. It makes a 44mm watch wearable for those who might typically top out at 42mm. The weight of the watch head alone is 82g, and when combined with the full steel bracelet, it reaches 175g. This provides a reassuring heft without becoming an anchor on the arm. The balance of the head against the bracelet is well-calibrated, preventing the watch from flopping around during movement.
The crown, located at the traditional 3 o'clock position, is a screw-down type, a mandatory feature for maintaining water resistance. It is substantial enough to be gripped easily, even with wet fingers or gloves, yet sits protected between the crown guards that are integrated into the case side. The operation of the crown is solid, with distinct positions for winding, date setting, and time setting. The engagement of the threads when screwing it back down is smooth, reducing the risk of cross-threading. The crown face often features an embossed logo, adding a final touch of branding to the side profile.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 44mm sits in a competitive segment of the market, challenging established Swiss giants by offering comparable specifications at a more accessible price point. It appeals to the buyer who values technical transparency and tangible build quality over heritage marketing. The inclusion of features like the ceramic bezel, elaborate case finishing, and ratcheting clasp are often reserved for watches costing significantly more. The brand's direct-to-consumer model allows them to invest more in these physical components, a value proposition that is clearly reflected in the finished product.
The visual impact of the watch is versatile. On the steel bracelet, it possesses a dressy tool-watch vibe that works with business casual attire. The polished center links of the bracelet (if applicable to the specific Bader iteration) or the polished chamfers on the case lugs pick up ambient light, adding a touch of refinement. Swapping to a rubber strap instantly transforms it into a pure sport watch, ready for the gym or the beach. The black dial serves as a neutral base, allowing the watch to pair with almost any outfit color. It is a "go anywhere, do anything" design that doesn't feel out of place in a boardroom or on a boat deck.
The updates to the logo and dial text also reflect a maturation of the design language. The text is kept to a functional minimum, with "AUTOMATIC" and the depth rating "300m|1000ft" printed in a clean, sans-serif font above the 6 o'clock position. The red text used for "AUTOMATIC" provides a subtle pop of color against the monochromatic dial, a classic sport watch trope that remains effective. The absence of the text "London" or other superfluous geographical markers keeps the dial uncluttered. The focus remains strictly on the time and the brand's identity as a maker of Swiss-made instruments.
Durability is a core promise of the Trident line. The 316L stainless steel used for the case and bracelet is the industry standard for corrosion resistance. In marine environments, this steel resists the pitting and rusting that salt water can cause. The ceramic bezel insert is virtually impervious to the scratches that plague aluminum bezel inserts, ensuring the watch retains its fresh look. The anti-shock system protecting the movement adds a layer of security against the knocks and bumps of daily life. This is a watch built to be worn, not babied in a safe.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The exhibition caseback is a feature that often divides opinion in the dive watch community, but here it serves a specific purpose. It invites the owner into the world of mechanical horology. Seeing the balance wheel oscillate and the rotor spin creates a connection between the wearer and the machine. It demystifies the mechanism and highlights the complexity of what is essentially a miniature engine on the wrist. For many, this visual access is worth the theoretical reduction in ultimate depth rating, especially given that 300 meters is already overkill for 99% of users.
The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 44mm is priced at $1,255.00 when equipped with the Bader stainless steel bracelet, and $1,045.00 on the black Aquaflex rubber strap. It is available for purchase directly through the Christopher Ward website, ensuring a direct line of support and service from the manufacturer. The watch is presented in an eco-friendly luxury case, accompanied by an owner's handbook that details the operation and care of the timepiece. With its combination of high-grade materials, Swiss engineering, and a thoughtful, improved design, it presents a compelling option for anyone seeking a serious dive watch that doesn't compromise on wearability.
Case: Stainless steel Light-catcher™ construction, 44mm diameter, 11.7mm height, 51.4mm lug-to-lug, 22mm lug width. Unidirectional zirconia (ZrO2) ceramic bezel in black with Super-LumiNova Grade X1 BL C1, screw down display caseback with anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Water resistance 30 ATM (300m), weight 82g (case only), 175g (with bracelet).
Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatic mechanical, 26 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Power reserve minimum 38 hours / typical 41 hours, timing tolerance +/- 20 sec per day. Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish, twin-flags engraving on rotor, anti-shock system, central hacking seconds.
Dial: Polished black lacquer finish, applied twin-flags logo at 12 o'clock, date window at 6 o'clock with color-matched disc. Top-brushed indexes with diamond polished facets, Super-LumiNova Grade X1 BL C1 filled hands and indexes. Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand.
Strap: Marine-grade stainless steel Bader bracelet, 22mm width tapering to 16.5mm at clasp. Micro-adjustable ratchet clasp, single screw links, quick-release system. Alternative option of Black Aquaflex strap.
Price: $1,255.00 (Bracelet), $1,045.00 (Black Aquaflex Strap)
Reference Number: C60-44ADA31S0KK1-B0
Notes: Developed in consultation with the Christopher Ward Forum, 1.9mm thinner than the Pro 600 series. Features exhibition caseback and improved bezel action. Swiss made.