Christopher Ward Introduces The New C60 Trident Pro 300
Size matters! When it comes to watches, there is hardly a topic that is as heavily debated as case sizes. Watch enthusiasts love to let brands know that a watch is great, but it would have been better in a slightly different size. As a watch brand, how do you dodge that bullet? You simply create multiple sizes so there is something for everyone. And that is exactly what Christoper Ward has been doing for years. Today, the brand introduces its new C60 Trident Pro 300 Dive Watch Collection, which comes in three different sizes. On top of that, the brand introduces a series of dial variations and bracelet/strap options. But most of all, this new modern diver is a great addition to the brand’s lineup.
If you have ever checked out the Christopher Ward collection, you’ll know it’s an extensive range of watches. If you are on the brand’s website for the first time, it can quickly become a bit overwhelming. But the idea behind it is very simple and clever. Christopher Ward offers its watches in a number of sizes and with a variety of dials, bracelets, and straps. Thus, every model comes with a wide variety of options. These options are often the result of working together with Christopher Ward’s dedicated community of fans and enthusiasts. That is exactly how the brand developed the new C60 Trident Pro 300. Let’s check it out.
The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 Collection
The Trident series is Christopher Ward’s range of professional dive watches. For the fourth Trident model, the brand once again listened to the opinions of its fans on the Christopher Ward forum. By asking detailed questions, the brand directly discovered the preferences of its biggest supporters. While it’s obviously hard to cater to everyone’s preferences, Christopher Ward did incorporate some of the answers into the new C60 Trident Pro 300 Collection. These clever new watches function as the smaller — or rather, thinner — brothers of the current C60 Trident Pro 600 that came out in 2019.
Case specs
The new C60 Trident Pro 300 comes in three different case sizes. The smallest is 38mm, followed by a 40mm option and a 42mm version as the largest in the range. We know the case shape from the Pro 600. The biggest difference here is that the new Pro 300 models are water resistant to 300 meters. The biggest advantage that the new Pro 300 models have over their Pro 600 brothers is the reduced case thickness thanks to the reduced water resistance. The 38mm version is 11mm thick and has a 45mm lug-to-lug. The 40mm version comes in at 11.3mm thick with a 47.46mm lug-to-lug. Lastly, the 42mm version is a very reasonable 11.5mm thick with a 49.32mm lug-to-lug. A quick check tells us that for the 40mm version, the brand managed to shave off 1.65mm in thickness. It’s a significant difference in wearability that many people will love.
The Trident Pro 300’s optimized dial design
Looking at the dial, some things immediately stand out. I love that the brand has chosen to remove the Christopher Ward name from the dial. On the Pro 600 models, it is placed at 9 o’clock. I am not the biggest fan of placing the brand name there, separated from the brand’s twin-flag logo at 12 o’clock. For the new model, the logo remains in place at 12 o’clock while the lower part of the dial mentions “Automatic” and the water resistance of “300m|1,000ft”. This very simple change cleans up the dial quite nicely. The hour markers are slightly bigger as well. It allows for the use of more lume and therefore increased readability in darker conditions.
Another quite significant change to the dial is the relocation of the date window from 3 o’clock on the Pro 600 to 6 o’clock on the new model. While I am generally fine with the date window at 3 o’clock, this new position does integrate rather nicely. While this is very much a personal preference for every wearer, I like it a lot. The result is a clean and modern dial with big markers that give plenty of room for the big handset to hover above it. Looking at the hands, there is another detail that stands out compared to the Pro 600 models.
If you line up all the variants, you will see the colorful contrasting tip of the signature seconds hand with its trident counterbalance. The colors correspond with the color of the “Automatic” text on the dial. It adds just the right amount of zing to the watches. The blue, white, and green-dial versions all feature orange text and an orange seconds-hand tip. The black-dial model comes with a contrasting red color for the text and the tip of the seconds hand. But that’s not where all the optimizations end.
An even-better bezel
Christoper Ward has also updated the bezel design for the Trident Pro 300. The outer portion of the stainless steel bezel features a ceramic insert with the diving scale in white. This part rotates like any normal dive-time bezel. The second part, however, is a fixed steel inner ring that features minute markings all around it. This stylish solution not only adds to the aesthetic and texture of the face of the watch but also facilitates more accurate reading of elapsed time. The ceramic insert of the blue, black, and green-dial models matches the dial color. For the white-dial version, the brand chose to utilize a black ceramic insert. Seeing the combination of white, black, and orange makes this one an instant stand-out and my immediate favorite.
Exhibition case backs displaying the Sellita SW200-1 movement
Christoper Ward equips the C60 Trident Pro 300 models with the Sellita SW200-1 movement. This automatic caliber operates at 28,800vph, has 26 jewels, and provides a power reserve of 38 hours. Christoper Ward uses the SW200-1 in its most highly finished form. As mentioned, the movement displays hours, minutes, seconds, and the date. And whereas the brand name was removed from the dial, it proudly stakes its place on the rotor of the movement. Along with the slimmer profile and the optimized bezel design, the display case back was a third “must-have” according to the active members on the Christopher Ward forum.
All the different models come with a variety of strap and bracelet options. The first is an Oyster-style stainless steel bracelet with a micro-adjustable folding clasp and a push-button release. In line with the brushed finish of the case, the bracelet features a completely brushed finish. The second is a hybrid rubber/fabric strap. The third option is a full-rubber strap, and the last option is the brand’s signature #tide strap made from upcycled ocean material. All of them are easily changed thanks to a quick-release system. I have to say that the variety of options is great, but my first pick would be to buy the watch on the bracelet and go from there.
Initial impressions of the new Christoper Ward C60 Trident Pro 300
The new Christoper Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 collection definitely has massive appeal. This series will be perfect for people looking for an affordable dive watch that has it all, from a set of great specs and modern looks to a variety of different color and strap options. And by affordable, I mean really affordable. The Trident Pro 300 models on a rubber strap or a #tide strap are €895. On the hybrid rubber/fabric strap, the price is €910, and on the bracelet, the watch will be available at €1,110. What you get in return is, without a doubt, among the best in that price range.
I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who will love this new Christoper Ward C60 Trident Pro 300. I am impressed by what the brand has managed to achieve in terms of specs and design at a very affordable price. Personally, I love the white-dial version with its black bezel and hints of orange. It is a combination of colors that works very well, and I can’t wait to take the 38mm or 40mm version for a spin for an in-depth review. For now, this is another great release by the British brand, partly made possible by its fans. With results this good, it shows that it is definitely worth it for brands to listen to their audience.
For more information, visit the official Christopher Ward website. Also, tell us about your favorite version. Which size is it, and which dial color do you prefer? Let us know in the comments section.
