Turning the dial up with the Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000

If you recall, when I wrote about the Christopher Ward C60 Elite GMT 1000, I mentioned I was actually wearing the non-GMT version of that watch as I wrote the article. We first told you about that piece here, and now we’ve been able to spend some time with a loaner of the Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000.

As I wrote in that initial preview article, the Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000 is pre-eminently equipped for summertime duty. This is because it’s a dive watch (rated to a 1000m – aka way more than you need) made of one of the most amazing materials for a tool watch, titanium. It’s light, it’s strong, and it’ll be way more than ready to handle what you’re going to toss at the watch. While there’s a titanium bracelet available (and that’s what I’d recommend for buyers at a minimum), our review loaner came with the hybrid cordura and rubber strap.

If you’re like me, you’ve no doubt experienced more than a few rubber straps, and while they serve their job well (being waterproof) they tend to not be the most flexible straps in the world. Well, with this hybrid strap, CW has done something I’ve never seen in a rubber strap before – it actually started forming to the wrist a bit (most obviously where the buckle sits on the long end of the strap). This means, at least for me, it was one of the most comfortable rubber straps that I’ve ever worn, and with the cordura being on the top surface, it actually looks much nicer than many rubber straps do.

Now, on it’s surface, the Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000 is “just” a simple three-hander with day and date. What CW has done here is elevate all of the components. We’ve talked about the titanium case (which also has an automatic helium escape valve), but what about the bezel? Also titanium, but with a lumed ceramic insert. The movement inside? Sure, it’s the Sellita SW220, but here it’s COSC-grade, which means you’ve got some supreme accuracy on your wrist. All combined into a 77g package that, well, is positively featherweight for it’s size.

While I wasn’t quite ready to pair the Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000 with a suit (because of the aforementioned strap), it worked for just about everything else. Work, weekend, casual time, whatever – this is a go-anywhere sort of a piece. If you’ve got travel on the docket, then perhaps that GMT version is what you want, but for everyone else, well, this watch will have all the pieces you need to get through your day in style.

While I suppose some may not care for the very broad arrowtip hour hand, I felt that the overall handset made for a very legible piece, especially combined with the indices that are the same width as the minute hand. Day or night, it was a cinch to read the time. While there’s no denying that the Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000 is a thick watch (hard to avoid that when you build something to hit a 1000m WR rating) it’s surprisingly light on your wrist (yay, titanium!) This really does represent – for me – CW sort of growing into, and getting comfortable with, their design language. The C60 lineup really is central, and something like the $1,425 Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000 takes things to an elevated plane of affordable high-end watch making. christopherward.com

Review Summary

Brand & Model: Christopher Ward C60 Elite 1000

Price: $1,425 (as reviewed on strap) / $1,680 on bracelet
Who?s it for? You want one watch – a good watch – to go with you all day every day, without weighing you down
Would I wear it? Sure – but only if the GMT version wasn’t kicking around