Hands-On With The Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière — A Titanium Dive Watch That Takes Lume To The Next Level
Christopher Ward might have another hit on its hands. The brand’s new C60 Trident Lumière is an impressive titanium dive watch with a dial that cranks legibility in the dark up to 11. And that’s not the entire story. This new addition to the Christopher Ward collection perfectly blends specs with looks, which is why it will undoubtedly win fans over quickly. I had a chance to find out all there is to know by going hands-on.
The new Christoper Ward C60 Trident Lumière was officially announced yesterday. If you pay attention to daily watch news, you might have already seen it because it certainly is hard to miss. When we first got the press kit from the English brand, several Fratello team members were also impressed, including yours truly. But while nice images and a great press release might tell you something, they certainly won’t tell you everything. That’s why we were eager to get one of the three newly introduced versions in for review. The blue variant of the C60 Trident Lumière is a great daily wearer with incredible features that will make you smile every time.
The story of the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière
For the new Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière, the brand challenged itself to create a dive watch with spectacular lume. And one look at the watch will tell you just that. While the watch first seems like a fun variation of the popular C60 Trident Pro diver, there is more to the story. Let’s start at the beginning.
The C60 Trident Lumière is a titanium take on that popular dive watch. This new version’s case and bracelet are made of a Grade 2 alloy, which has a beautiful, slightly darker hue than stainless steel. It adds a nice touch to the overall presence.
Speaking of which, the watch contains a textured gradient dial that features solid Globolight hour markers. Globolight is also used for the hands and the logo on the upper half of the dial. The 3D effect of using ceramic infused with Super-LumiNova is rather stunning. The brand challenged Xenoprint, the manufacturer, to add facets to the indices for extra refinement.
The overall effect is a dial that really jumps out. It is paired with a unidirectional 120-click titanium bezel with a blue ceramic insert. The insert’s color matches the darkest blue on the perimeter of the dial, but all of the elements combine to create a nice and vibrant overall presence.
Getting into the specs of the C60 Trident Lumière
Let’s zoom in on the specs a bit. The titanium case measures 41mm in diameter, 10.85 in thickness, and 47.9mm in length. The watch is water resistant to 300 meters and features a helium escape valve on the left side of the case for saturation dives. The titanium Bader bracelet measures 22mm wide between the lugs and tapers 6.5mm for a width of 15.5mm at the clasp.
The folding clasp features a push-button release and toolless micro-adjustment mechanism for easy sizing. In addition, the bracelet comes with half links to give you another option to find the perfect fit. As we have learned from Christopher Ward, the brand’s bracelets and clasps offer top-notch quality. This titanium version of the Bader bracelet is no different. It feels sturdy, and with all the features, it is easy to size and a joy to wear.
As mentioned, we had the blue version in for review. It is part of a drop of three versions in total. These include one with a gray-to-black gradient dial and a black bezel insert. The third model features an orange gradient dial with a black bezel insert. That last model will probably be popular due to its striking color combination. Each of the three models has a distinct presence, and all of them will have their fans. They have a nicely sculpted case and solid bracelet executed in titanium. But if you’d prefer a strap option, Christopher Ward also offers the watches on Aquaflex rubber straps that match the color of the dial. The blue strap has an orange lining and edges for an extra injection of color.
A chronometer-rated Sellita caliber
The watch is powered by a COSC-certified Sellita SW300-1 movement. This is a step up from the SW200-1 that powers the stainless steel C60 Trident Pro. The SW300-1 operates at 28,800vph and offers 54 hours of power reserve and chronometer-level accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day. As we know from the brand, the movement features a customized rotor and is finished neatly, as you can see through the sapphire window in the case back.
Wearing the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière
On the wrist is where the watch truly shines. The slim overall profile is visually appealing and makes the watch a joy to wear. Combined with the lightweight titanium material, it is an impressive watch to experience up close. The C60 Trident Lumière feels like it was made for my wrist. Its 41mm case is perfect in terms of dimensions, and the curvature of the case and comfortable bracelet make it one of the best-fitting watches I have had on my wrist all year.
From the moment you close the clasp, your eyes go to the spectacular dial. It’s the big story of this release. We have seen dials before that use solid lume blocks, but this is truly on another level. The Globolight elements give the watch a depth and 3D feeling that is quite extraordinary. To give you an idea, the dial has five times the lume of a regular Trident Pro, and it shines twice as brightly. Additionally, the numerals on the bezel light up in the dark, ensuring that a night dive will never be a problem.
A watch full of details that stand out
The gradient dial is also nice and vibrant, which is important for creating a nice balance with the abundant white luminous material. I like how the color goes from a saturated blue on the outskirts of the dial to a lighter, popping blue in the middle. The bright white lume blocks and the characteristic handset make it very easy to read the time.
Operating the bezel is a joy. Although the characteristic sound of a titanium bezel differs from a steel one, this bezel still feels solid. The same goes for the screw-down crown. It is nice to operate because it gives plenty of feedback, and there is zero play between the crown and the hands, which makes setting the time easy.
One detail that stood out during my time with the watch is that the end links are slightly longer than the lugs. This slightly surprised me because that’s usually where the brand excels. While it never stands out if you’re not paying attention to it, it is one of those details that, once seen, can’t be unseen. A thoroughly positive detail, though, is the impressive finishing of the titanium. The predominantly brushed finish is contrasted by the polished chamfers on the case and the bracelet. Overall, the quality and finishing are impressive, especially at Christopher Ward’s price point.
Final thoughts on the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumière
To jump right into that topic, the watch is available today for €2,175 on the rubber strap and €2,625 on the titanium bracelet. That is a massive step up from the regular stainless steel version, which comes in at €1,165 on the bracelet. But what you get is a very different watch.
While its design is part of the same family, the upgrade from stainless steel to titanium, the use of Xenoprint’s Globolight for the hands and markers, the higher-level movement, and the integration of a helium escape valve make it a different watch. It’s an impressive list of updates, making the higher price justifiable.
It becomes even more impressive when comparing the new C60 Trident Lumière to those from other brands. Finding a watch that can compete with this C60 Trident Lumière at this price point is tough, especially if you consider the overall quality, finishing, and use of Globolight markers and hands.
I think it is safe to say that Christopher Ward raised the bar once again to offer incredible value for money. That’s why I have no doubts that the fans will love this new C60 Trident Lumière and jump at the opportunity to buy one.
Admittedly, while I like the watch a lot, the blue version is not for me. But what I will remember about this new C60 Trident Lumière is its incredible wrist comfort. It easily makes the watch one of the best fits for my wrist that I’ve experienced all year. The low weight (105 grams), the shape of the slim case, and the fit of the bracelet make this a truly impressive release that will undoubtedly have people talking.
For more information on the C60 Trident Lumière, visit the official Christopher Ward website. In the comments section, let us know your thoughts on this new titanium diver.
