The other week, we brought you word about some very racing-inspired chronographs, replete with some rather colorful dials. If your tastes skew more to the subdued, then this latest limited-edition release may be more to your liking. Let’s take a closer look at the Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronometer.
When it comes to racing-inspired watches, chronographs are an easy fit, as they can – obviously – be used to time cars around a track. add in a tachymeter scale, and you have instant speed calculation as well. For this to be spot on, however, you want something rather accurate. While all manner of mechanical chronographs may set our hearts aflutter, absolute accuracy is where quartz shines.
As such, they went with a quartz movement – a thermally-compensated one – for the Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronometer. Now, this is not a surprise, as the C70 collection uses quartz throughout. What makes this one different is the fact that it’s actually chronometer rated, and you have one of the most accurate quartz chronographs you are likely to lay hands on (well, outside of the stuff coming from the crew over at Bulova). For those keeping score, this is all made possible by the ETA 251.264 COSC movement.
While the previous motorsports chronographs from CW were awash in bright colors, the Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronometer instead takes the sleeper car tactic, wrapping things in a clean black and white color palette, surrounded by a 42mm stainless steel case. Topped with a sapphire crystal, this is a clean look that would work in a variety of situations. Shame about the date wheel not being color-coordinated, though.
In the end, if you’re looking for a cleanly styled chronograph, you could certainly do worse than the Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronometer. The limited-edition run of 500 pieces come in at a price of $825 on the leather or rubber strap, and $895 on the 22mm bracelet, with delivery anticipated for Mid-April. While it may not feature the ceramic bezels that many brands are using these days, the combination of COSC-rating and thermo-compensation will make for an amazingly accurate watch. christopherward.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronometer
- Price: $825 (strap) / $895 (bracelet)
- Who we think it might be for: You want a chronograph that won’t attract undue attention
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: Nope – chronographs really are not my thing, unless it was something rather spectacular (and likely mechanical)
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Get a color-matched date wheel in the mix.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: While most brands will look to hide a quartz movement these days, CW proudly lists out the benefits of theirs – and I think that’s the right path to take with this one
