Christopher Ward C60 Trident Reef

Christopher Ward has introduced a vibrant and conceptually rich addition to its popular dive watch lineup, the C60 Trident Reef. This new collection moves beyond traditional tool watch aesthetics, embracing a bold palette of colors inspired by the planet's endangered coral ecosystems. It represents a significant step for the brand, merging professional dive watch specifications with a pronounced and expressive design language, all while championing a crucial environmental cause. The C60 Trident Reef is not merely a seasonal refresh; it's a statement piece built upon a newly engineered case, thoughtful design details, and a commitment to ocean preservation, signaling a fresh and energetic direction for the celebrated Trident series.



The story of Christopher Ward is one of modern horological disruption. Founded in 2004 on a boat on the River Thames, the brand was built on a clear and compelling mission: to create high-quality, Swiss-made timepieces and offer them to enthusiasts without the traditional retail markups. By adopting a direct-to-consumer model, they bypassed the layers of distributors and agents that often inflate the cost of luxury watches, delivering what they termed "the cheapest most expensive watches in the world." This approach democratized access to fine watchmaking, earning them a loyal following.



Over the years, the C60 Trident has become the cornerstone of the Christopher Ward catalog. It established itself as a formidable contender in the competitive dive watch market, lauded for its robust build quality, reliable performance, and exceptional value. The Trident has seen numerous evolutions, from changes in logo design to advancements in materials and movement technology. The collection's history is one of constant refinement, always aiming to punch above its weight class. The new C60 Trident Reef collection builds on this solid foundation, retaining the core DNA of a serious dive instrument while venturing into an entirely new visual territory defined by audacious color and a powerful narrative.



The immediate impression of the C60 Trident Reef collection is one of pure, unapologetic color. Lined up, the five distinct models create a visual spectrum that is both playful and purposeful. These are not subtle accents; the colors command attention, dominating the dials, bezels, and straps to create cohesive and striking aesthetic statements. Each watch is a self-contained world of color, designed to evoke the vivid life of tropical waters. This bold approach marks a departure from the more conservative blues, blacks, and greens that typically define the dive watch genre, offering a refreshing and summery alternative for enthusiasts looking to make a statement.



The Helio Blue model is a study in dynamic contrast. It features a deep, rich blue on its dial and unidirectional bezel, reminiscent of the sunlit depths of the open ocean. This cool, dominant color is energized by a brilliant orange rubber strap, a pairing that creates an electric visual tension. White highlights on the meticulously applied indices and the signature Trident handset ensure that legibility is not sacrificed for style, popping against the blue backdrop for instant readability. The combination is classic yet invigorating, perfect for a watch designed to be worn under the summer sun.



Conversely, the Tuba Orange version flips this dynamic, featuring a dial and bezel in a blazing, saturated orange. This hue is intensely vibrant, capturing the warmth and energy of specific coral species. To balance this fiery tone, the watch is paired with a cool, sky-blue strap. This use of complementary colors is a bold design choice that pays off, resulting in a watch that is impossible to ignore. Like its blue counterpart, crisp white markers and hands provide the necessary contrast for clear time-telling in any condition.



For those who prefer a more classic, albeit equally modern, aesthetic, the Galaxea Black offers a sleek and powerful option. Its dial, bezel, and matching strap are rendered in a deep, uniform black. This monochromatic approach gives the watch a tactical and versatile feel, yet the unique case construction and dial details prevent it from feeling ordinary. The white highlights of the hands and indices stand out with stark clarity against the dark canvas, making it arguably the most legible of the quintet in high-contrast situations.



The Chalice Green presents one of the collection's more unique color combinations. The dial and bezel are finished in a vibrant turquoise green, a shade that perfectly captures the shallow, sun-dappled waters where coral reefs thrive. The design takes a daring turn with its pairing to a bright yellow strap. This unexpected combination is lively and cheerful, evoking a sense of tropical adventure. It’s a pairing that challenges convention and highlights the collection's fun-loving spirit.



Finally, the Acro White model delivers a clean, crisp, and sophisticated look. The dial and bezel are a pristine white, creating a bright and airy feel. This is elegantly accented with turquoise highlights, a subtle nod to tropical waters that provides just the right amount of color. A matching turquoise strap completes the look, tying the entire design together. This version feels particularly refined, offering a fresh take on the dive watch that is both striking and versatile.



At the heart of the C60 Trident Reef's new identity is its innovative case construction. Moving beyond a traditional three-piece design, Christopher Ward has engineered a new four-piece, "sandwich-style" architecture for this collection. This multi-layered approach is not just a technical exercise; it is fundamental to the watch's visual identity. The case is composed of a screw-down caseback, a primary mid-case, an anodised mid-case "sleeve," and the bezel assembly. This construction allows for the interplay of different colors and finishes within the case itself, adding a layer of visual depth and complexity that sets it apart from previous Tridents.



The main components of the case are milled from 316L stainless steel, a marine-grade alloy known for its high resistance to corrosion and pitting, making it an ideal choice for a watch designed for aquatic environments. The clever addition is the anodised sleeve, which introduces a pop of color right into the case profile, a detail that subtly ties into the overall color scheme of each model. This thoughtful integration of color within the metalwork itself demonstrates a meticulous attention to detail.



Christopher Ward offers the C60 Trident Reef in two versatile sizes, 41mm and 44mm, catering to a wide range of wrist sizes and preferences. The 41mm version boasts a height of just 11.45mm and a compact lug-to-lug measurement of 47.90mm, ensuring a comfortable and wearable profile for many. These dimensions allow the watch to deliver significant wrist presence through its color without feeling overwhelming. As a true dive watch, it features a screw-down crown and a solid, screw-down display caseback, which together guarantee a robust water resistance of 200 meters (20 ATM), more than sufficient for recreational diving and any water-based activities.



The dial of the C60 Trident Reef is a masterful blend of function and form. While it builds upon the highly legible layout of the core Trident series, it introduces a key new element: a contrasting inner ring placed around the circumference of the dial. This feature acts as a frame, separating the central dial from the chapter ring and adding another layer of visual contrast. It enhances the perception of depth and provides a clean boundary for the five vibrant coral-inspired colors, making them pop even more.



The handset retains the signature Trident style, with a distinct arrow-shaped hour hand, a simple sword-style minute hand, and the iconic trident-tipped seconds hand that sweeps smoothly across the dial. Both the hands and the applied, polished indices are generously filled with Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 GL C1. This is a premium-grade phosphorescent material that provides a powerful and long-lasting blue glow in low-light conditions, ensuring that the time is easily readable whether you are deep underwater or simply in a dimly lit room. The unidirectional rotating bezel also features a lumed pip at the 12 o'clock position, a critical safety feature for timing dives.



Driving the C60 Trident Reef is the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, a workhorse caliber that has become a staple for Christopher Ward and many other respected Swiss and German brands. This Swiss-made movement is highly regarded for its reliability, durability, and serviceability, making it an excellent choice for a go-anywhere, do-anything tool watch. It is an evolution of the classic Sellita SW200, itself based on the architecture of the ETA 2824-2, and has proven its mettle over many years of service.



The SW200-1 operates at a frequency of 4Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour. This higher beat rate results in a smooth, sweeping motion of the seconds hand, with eight distinct ticks for every second. The movement contains 26 jewels to reduce friction on critical components, enhancing its longevity and accuracy. It offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, which is standard for this caliber and sufficient to keep the watch running over a weekend off the wrist. For added durability, it features an in-built anti-shock system, protecting the delicate balance wheel from the jolts and bumps of an active lifestyle. Through the exhibition caseback, one can observe the movement, which features an "Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’" finish and a rotor engraved with the brand's twin-flags logo.



Versatility is a key theme for the C60 Trident Reef, and this extends to its strap system. Each watch comes fitted with a high-quality, solid rubber strap made from a material Christopher Ward calls 'Aquaflex'. These straps are designed to be both durable and comfortable, resistant to saltwater and UV degradation while remaining soft and pliable on the wrist. The straps are available in five distinct colors—orange, blue, black, yellow, and turquoise—allowing owners to either perfectly match their watch's dial or create a bold, contrasting look.



Recognizing that modern watch owners enjoy customization, Christopher Ward has equipped every strap with their quick-release system. This simple and effective mechanism uses small, integrated levers on the spring bars, allowing the strap to be removed and swapped in seconds without the need for any special tools. This user-friendly feature encourages owners to experiment with different looks, transforming the watch's entire character with a simple change of strap. For those who prefer the weight and feel of metal, a stainless steel bracelet option is also available.



The inspiration for the C60 Trident Reef goes deeper than just aesthetics. The collection is a tribute to the world's endangered coral reefs and is directly influenced by the work of Franco-Croatian paper artist and designer, Ana Brecevic. The design team at Christopher Ward drew upon her "Coralium" artwork, a series of intricate paper sculptures of coral reefs, to develop the watch's unique color palette. Brecevic's work is deeply informed by her sensitivity to the natural world and the environmental degradation she has witnessed, a theme that resonated with the brand.



This connection to marine conservation is formalized through a meaningful partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation, an ocean preservation charity sponsored by Christopher Ward. The collaboration is more than just a thematic link; it involves a direct financial commitment. For every C60 Trident Reef sold, Christopher Ward will donate 2 percent of the proceeds to the foundation. This contribution supports Blue Marine's critical work in fighting overfishing and its ambitious goal to place 30 percent of the world's oceans under effective protection by 2030. This initiative lends a sense of purpose to the watch, allowing owners to feel they are contributing to a vital cause.



The collection is available for purchase directly from the Christopher Ward website, with the models on the rubber strap priced at $850. This positions the C60 Trident Reef as an exceptional value proposition, offering a unique design and a powerful story at a highly accessible price point.



Case: 316L stainless steel four-piece 'sandwich' construction. 41mm or 44mm diameter. 41mm dimensions: 11.45mm height, 47.90mm lug-to-lug. Unidirectional bezel with aluminium or ceramic insert. Anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Screw-down crown and display caseback. Water Resistance: 20 ATM (200m).

Movement: Sellita SW200-1 self-winding automatic. Swiss made. 26 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph (4Hz). Central hacking seconds. Anti-shock system. Elaboré “Colimaçoné” finish on movement.

Dial: Light sandblasted finish in five colors (White, Green, Black, Blue, Orange). Inner contrast ring. Applied indices and handset filled with Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1.

Strap: 22mm Aquaflex rubber strap with quick-release system, available in five colors. Stainless steel bracelet also available.

Price: $850 on rubber strap.

Reference Number: C60-41A3H31S0WW0-RV (Acro White), C60-41A3H31S0VV0-RY (Chalice Green), C60-41A3H31S0KK0-RK (Galaxea Black), C60-41A3H31S0BB0-RO (Helio Blue), C60-41A3H31S0OO0-RLB (Tuba Orange).

Notes: The five vibrant colorways are inspired by the work of paper artist Ana Brecevic and endangered coral reefs. Christopher Ward donates 2 percent of proceeds from each sale to the Blue Marine Foundation to support ocean conservation.