When it comes to stylish and affordable watches, Christopher Ward is generally one of the names at the top of most people’s lists. Given how “new” the brand feels, it is almost a surprise to realize that they have been creating these watches for ten years now. On the occasion of that anniversary, they went back to their very first watch, and released some new colors of their current-version Christopher Ward Malvern.
I know what you’re thinking – why does a different colored dial matter? In most cases, if all that is being introduced is a new dial color, I do not give the watch much attention other than a cursory once-over, and it generally never makes it to the point of meriting a writeup. That was almost the case here, until I went through the pictures and saw the new purple dial (green is the other option). Not by any stretch of the imagination would I consider purple to be my favorite color, nor is it one I would think that would look sharp on a watch. Here, on the Christopher Ward Malvern, that opinion has changed.
There is just something about it – it’s different enough to make it stand out, yet not so wild that it undoes the classic styling that we expect from the Malvern lineup. In other words, I think it’s a great way for the brand to mix things up. Sure, the dark green dials on the line are nice, especially against a dark brown leather strap. For me, it really is the purple dial that makes things sing, mostly due to how unusual it is (at least for a men’s watch), and how the light plays against the sunburst pattern.
This is especially prevalent on the chronograph version, where you get the different textures playing with the light on the subdials (pity about the white date wheel though). While I lament the color of the date wheel, this also highlights something that I was happy to see the brand do – just omit the numeral 4 (rather than cutting it off). I am a little less certain about the triangle used there to point at the date wheel (it’s plenty easy to see), but that’s a minor thing.
While I have focused on the chronograph version of the Christopher Ward Malvern, there are two other styles available as well, in both automatic and quartz (for the price-conscious shopper) variants. All told, there are four variations on offer, with only 100 pieces being offered of each; prices range from $315 to $631. I am sure that the green-dialed variants will sell just fine, but those purple ones, I would be surprised if those do not sell out rather quickly. Hopefully the brand will use the hue again in other offerings. christopherward.com
Tech Specs from Christopher Ward
C3 Malvern Chronograph Mk II – Limited Edition
- Diameter: 39mm
- Height: 10.2mm
- Calibre: Ronda 5040.
- Case:316L stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 metres
- Strap: 18mm leather or stainless steel bracelet
- Dial Colour: Green or Purple
- Screw-in crown and back plate
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- SuperLuminova hands and indexes
- Embossed alligator pattern Italian leather strap with CW motif clasp (including a green option for the green dial) or stainless steel bracelet option
C5 MALVERN AUTOMATIC MK II – Limited Edition
- Diameter: 39mm
- Height: 10.4mm
- Calibre: Sellita SW200-1
- Vibrations: 28,800 vph
- Case:316L Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 5atm/50 metres
- Strap: 18mm leather or stainless steel bracelet option
- Dial Colour: Purple or Green
- 38 hour power reserve
- Transparent case back
- Screw-in crown and back plate
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Embossed alligator pattern Italian leather strap with CW motif clasp (including a green option for the green dial) or steel bracelet option
C5 Malvern Quartz MK II – Limited Edition
- Diameter: 39mm
- Height: 9.7mm
- Calibre: Ronda 515
- Case:316L Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Strap: 18mm leather
- Dial Colour: Purple or Green
- Screw-in crown and back plate
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Embossed alligator pattern Italian leather strap with CW motif clasp (including a green option for the green dial) or stainless steel bracelet option
C5 MALVERN SLIMLINE – Limited Edition
- Diameter: 40mm
- Height: 8.70mm
- Calibre: ETA 2801-2
- Vibrations: 28,800 vph
- Case: 316L Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 3 ATM / 30 metres
- Strap: 20mm leather
- Dial Colour: Green or Purple
- Hand-wound mechanical movement
- 42-hour power reserve
- Transparent case back
- Screw-in back plate
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Embossed alligator pattern Italian leather with CW motif clasp (black or brown, plus green option for the green dial)
