Christopher Ward Expands the C1 Grand Malvern and C8 Flyer Collections

Last week, Christopher Ward unveiled three new watches in the C1 Grand Malvern collection along with a couple of entry level additions to the C8 Flyer line. All three of the new watches in the C1 family represent new visions for watches that were once part of the C9 line. These updated versions consolidate Christopher Ward’s premium dress watches under the Grand Malvern name that was introduced late last year. And the C8 Flyer family has long been Christopher Ward’s modern take on the pilot watch, and two new three-handers now offer a more affordable entry point into the collection.

C1 Grand Malvern 5 Day Automatic – $1,705

First up in the C1 Grand Malvern line is the new 5 Day Automatic, utilizing the flagship SH21 movement but now in the slightly slimmer Grand Malvern case. The combination of polished and brushed surfaces on the new 40.5mm case along with the modern styling of the dial make the C1 Grand Malvern appear to be a more complete package. The date aperture at three takes the same form as the one in the redesigned C5 Malvern line launched earlier this year, and the Christopher Ward branding at nine o’clock is balanced nicely across the dial. The polished blued hour and minute hands give a nice contrast against the domed opaline white dial.

C1 Grand Malvern Moonphase – $1,595

Christopher Ward’s C9 moonphase dial and moon detailing was certainly one of the nicest interpretations of this complication in its price range. The same overall look of the original is continued as far as possible into the C1 Grand Malvern line with the textured silver moon traversing across the deep blue dial and starry sky. But the whole dial is now flatter and more modern, replacing the guilloché texture of the original with a sunburst dial and less interruption. The watch is powered by the JJ04 caliber, Christopher Ward’s in-house module on top of an ETA 2836, which reportedly gives the moonphase an accuracy to one day in 128 years.

C1 Grand Malvern Small Second – $1,540

The third and possibly most appealing addition to the family is the C1 Grand Malvern Small Second. This watch uses the hand wind revision to the SH21 movement with sub-seconds at six o’clock as previously seen in the C9 5 Day SS Chronometer that it replaces.Standing out against the minimal and modern dial, the seconds sub-dial is well proportioned—large, without being overbearing. There is a distinct absence of any height in the dial—no step or texture to the sub-dial, no raised indices and thin baton markers with only a single elongated numeral at 12. It is a very clean and sparse looking dial, yet it manages to still look modern and even distinctive. The manual movement helps this one to come in at 11.65mm thick, including the domed sapphire crystal.

All three are available to purchase with a shell cordovan strap and patented Bader buckle, or with Milanese mesh bracelet. The option of a Milanese mesh bracelet instead of the typical polished stainless steel bracelet is another step that signifies the modern yet classic direction Christopher Ward are heading toward.

C8 Flyer Automatic/Quartz – $680/$455

Christopher Ward have also added two entry level three-handers to their C8 Flyer collection to sit alongside the existing Regulator, Power Reserve Chronometer and Worldtimer models. The C8 Flyer Automatic and C8 Flyer Quartz both use the same updated 44mm case—with the automatic version housing the Sellita SW200-1, and the quartz powered by the Ronda 715.2. Both watches feature a highly legible sandwich dial with raised numerals at 12 and six, vintage radium style lume and a color matched date window at three o’clock.  The only external difference between the two is the AUTOMATIC wording on the dial. There are two options for case finish, either a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating as seen here, or in traditional stainless steel.Rebranding is always a tough thing to get right and there were more than a few raised eyebrows when Christopher Ward’s latest direction was introduced last year. These new releases, particularly the further inclusions to the C1 Grand Malvern range following the Power Reserve and Jumping Hour models, show that the collection is really starting to take shape as a modern looking line of quality dress watches. Christopher Ward