Introducing the Christopher Ward C9 P2725 TM-B with Metal From a Hurricane Fighter Plane

A few years back, when Christopher Ward unveiled its rebranding and began efforts to redesign its catalog of watches, the aviation-inspired C8 line saw some dramatic changes. We wrote about the technically-robust C8 Power Reserve Chronometer, one of Christopher Ward’s earliest entries into the line to feature the new direction from the brand. That watch was powered by the company’s in-house, SH21 movement—a COSC-certified, five-day hand-cranker. Aesthetically, the watch drew inspiration from the Spitfire cockpit clock, using “old radium” lume, red accents, and two-tone hands to capture the spirit of the design. Despite the historical influence, however, the watch was decidedly contemporary in its approach.

For its latest release, Christopher Ward is utilizing that design template in a watch that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the RAF (Royal Air Force)—introducing the C9 P2725 TM-B Limited Edition (for the sake of brevity, I’ll refer to this one as the P2725 going forward). Strangely, Christopher Ward has positioned this watch within the C9 range rather than the C8, despite the latter clearly sharing more visual cues with this release. That oddity aside, the P2725 is actually a pretty cool watch.

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Let’s start with the inspiration. Each watch will feature a piece of aluminum from the Hurricane fighter plane that defended a raid on Buckingham Palace during the Battle of Britian Day, which took place September 15, 1940.

Christopher Ward explains the history:

The story of the new C9 P2725 TM-B Limited Edition starts with RAF Pilot Flight Lieutenant Ray Holmes who created history when flying the Hurricane fighter plane, serial number P2725, over the skies of London. . . . On that day, having intercepted a massed raid on central London by German Dornier bombers, Flight Lieutenant Ray Holmes noticed one enemy raider heading in the direction of Buckingham Palace. With P2725 out of ammunition, quick-witted Holmes, rammed the Hurricane into the German bomber. This action sliced through the fuselage with his wing and forced it to crash-land on the forecourt of Victoria railway station. Holmes’ Hurricane was also mortally damaged and, after he safely bailed out, P2725 nosed vertically downward, burying itself deep into the ground beneath Buckingham Palace Road.

Christopher Ward teamed up TMB Art Metal, a small company out of London that specializes in repurposing metal from iconic objects. The company excavated the crash site and recovered pieces of debris from the Hurricane P2725 TM-B to be used within the case of the watch.

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Beneath the disc is the ETA A07.161, which is a movement from the Valgranges range introduced by the movement house in the late aughts with the specific purpose of powering larger watches. The A07.161 features the hour, second, date, and power reserve. Part of me wishes Christopher Ward had instead utilized its in-house movement here, but I digress.The foundation of the dial of the P2725 is inspired by the Hurricane’s dashboard instrumentation panel, but eagle-eyed watch watch lovers will immediately pick out the “B-dial” configuration of the hours and minutes. Above six is an arc for the power reserve. The dial balances a familiar color palette of black, gunmetal grey, red, and “old radium.” The handset features two fully lumed syringe hands; a red syringe for the power reserve indicator; and a black, red-tipped needle for the active seconds.

The watch will come with a presentation box, two straps (canvas webbing and camel-colored leather), and will be uniquely engraved with an individual serial number. The P2725 will be priced at $2,850 and will be available for order starting today. Christopher Ward

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