Introducing the Christopher Ward Trident 3 Collection, a Revamp of the Brand’s Iconic, Value-Packed Dive Watch Range

British brand Christopher Ward has relaunched their popular Trident line of dive watches. Dubbed the Trident 3, these watches represent a complete overhaul of CW’s best selling and classically styled diver lineup. There are a whole bunch of new options available now on the Christopher Ward website, so exciting times are ahead if you’re a fan of the brand and are in need of an upgrade, or if you were just in the market for an attractive and budget friendly daily driver that is more than beach ready for the summer. Let’s not waste any time, and jump right into the Trident 3.

It’s kind of hard to believe that the Trident has been around for 10 years, which is the anniversary this release proudly celebrates. Christopher Ward entered the market before the large boom we’ve seen in recent years in the micro/enthusiast-brand arena, and represent a kind of elder statesman in the market. Accordingly, the new Trident 3 is a significant advancement in design and features for the brand, and there are more than a few firsts in these new references. It truly feels like the start of a new chapter for Christopher Ward as a company.

What’s new in the Trident 3? A whole lot, it turns out. There are several headlines, and we’ll get to all of them, but the features that stand out to me, as a dyed in the wool sports watch guy, are the sizing options in the realm of watch cases and strap choices. Getting the perfect fit is really important, and CW is helping you out here by offering these new watches with an easily removable quick release bracelet and a series of Hybrid straps that are made from a blend of Cordura and rubber. Additionally, and even more critically, we have a new spectrum in case sizes, with 38, 40, and 42mm diameters. That 40mm case is, for me, a Goldilocks size, and a first in the Trident line. Huge credit to Christopher Ward for listening to their customers and introducing these watches in a range of sizes, with a bunch of fun and practical ways to strap them to your wrist. Truly something for everyone and every activity. The proliferation of options has been one of the great side effects of the micro-brand revolution, and it’s great to see Christopher Ward continue to embrace that.

C60 Trident Pro 600

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Blue, black
• Dimensions: 38, 40, 42mm
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Water Resistance: 600 meters
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: Sellita SW200
• Strap/bracelet: Quick release steel bracelet or hybrid sport strap
• Price: $795-$910
• Expected Release: Available now

The most straightforward watch in the new line, and what could be thought of as a base model for the series, is the C60 Trident Pro 600. This is a full featured professional dive watch that gently evolves on the design language CW has used for years. Available in black or blue variants with matching (and lumed!) polished ceramic bezels, the Trident Pro 600 is robust, attractive, and affordable. Gone is the wave pattern of the previous generation’s dial, which has been replaced with a polished dial that is meant to offer greatly enhanced legibility.

Dial furniture is faceted and well finished for a watch at this price point, and, naturally, filled with lume to keep you informed of the time whether at depth or simply at the movies.

The case of the Trident Pro 600, as with all of the watches in this updated series, makes use of CW’s “light catcher” case finishing, which makes the best of transitions between brushed and polished surfaces for a watch that is attractive on and off the wrist. 

As the “big tent” watch of the new group, the Trident Pro 600 is available with widest possible selection of options. All case sizes referenced above are available, however the 40mm case is a black dial and bezel variant only for the time being. The 38 and 42mm options add a black dial and red bezel colorway, and all can be ordered on either a bracelet or one of CW’s new straps. 

The Christopher Ward website has a handy feature that allows you to see at a glance the watches available in each size, which for a collection of this size is extremely helpful (and further reinforces the customer first ethos of the brand, trying to make the online shopping experience itself easy and pleasurable). All of the Trident Pro 600 variants use a Sellita SW200 movement with a 38 hour power reserve, and a date window at 3:00.

C60 Trident GMT 600

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Blue, black
• Dimensions: 38, 42mm
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Water Resistance: 600 meters
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: ETA 2893
• Strap/bracelet: Quick release steel bracelet or hybrid sport strap
• Price: $1020-$1135
• Expected release: Available now

Next up is the Trident GMT 600. As the name of the watch suggests, this is indeed a GMT version of the Trident diver, and is nearly identical in appearance to the Pro, save the large orange GMT hand and the rotating bezel indicating 24 hour time. That bezel means the user is able to track up to three time zones, an incredibly useful complication to have on a sports watch. Longtime fans of Christopher Ward will recognize that the prior version of the GMT used a bezel that combined countdown functionality with the standard GMT bezel. That’s gone, and I think the cleaner and more traditional look of a standard 24 hour bezel is an improvement. It’s a more refined look, and doesn’t try to take on too much. Not all watches need to be all things to all people, after all.

The GMT is available in the same colorways as the Pro, but is not available in a 40mm size. Still, with 38 and 42mm options, customers have the ability to go classic or modern when selecting their preferred case size. The GMT movement used here is the ETA 2893, with a power reserve of 42 hours and the same 600 meter water resistance as the Pro.

C60 Trident Elite 1000

• Case Material: Titanium
• Dial: Blue
• Dimensions: 42mm
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Water Resistance: 1,000 meters
• Crown: Screw down
• Movement: Sellita SW200 (COSC certified)
• Strap/bracelet: hybrid sport strap
• Price: $1,425
• Expected release: Available for pre-order now, ships in June

Lastly, we have the C60 Trident Elite 1000 Limited Edition. This is an edition of just 300 pieces in a 42mm titanium case, available on a strap only and in a fun blue and orange colorway. This one goes deep — it’s rated to 1,000 meters of water resistance. And yes, that’s a helium release valve flanking the left side of the case. Now, is there a more useless feature on a dive watch, for 99% of the population, than a helium release valve? No, definitely not. But I would argue that there isn’t a better one to start a conversation with if you want to talk watches with a newbie. And it’s a surefire way for a brand to prove some serious engineering know how. It’s not easy to create a case that can be guaranteed to a depth of 1,000 meters that effectively starts with a hole in its side. Kudos to Christopher Ward to bringing this to market. In my mind, the addition of the helium release valve serves to bolster the manufacturing prowess at work in the rest of the piece.

The Elite uses a Sellita SW200 movement that has been COSC-certified, and comes in a luxury presentation box. It will be available in June, with pre-orders live right now.

There’s a definite celebratory feel to this batch of Christopher Ward releases, and we get the sense that they’ve really paid attention to the most minute detail. Look at the deeply stamped caseback on the Elite, for example. Or the fine knurling on the edges of the rotating bezels, which have been promised by Christopher Ward to have uniquely satisfying clicks. Even the internal threading of the crown has been re-engineered to provide additional tactile feedback and better resistance to moisture and foreign particles. Lots of small brands create good looking watches, but fewer are capable of producing something of lasting quality, and this feels a bit like Christopher Ward throwing down the gauntlet to many of the new guys, letting them know that they’ve continued to up their game ten years in, and that competitors should do the same. Christopher Ward

What are your thoughts on the new Trident 3 collection? Let us know by leaving a comment below.