Plenty of watch manufacturers have made a name for themselves without ever having made a watch movement. But to be taken seriously – to really be a player in the horological universe – you have to make an in-house movement.
Five years ago, Christopher Ward did just that. There were several reasons this was big news at the time. The Calibre SH21 was the first commercially viable movement made by a British brand for more than half a century. It’s also a serious movement – we’re talking a five-day power reserve and chronometer-certified status – designed in Britain and made in Switzerland.
To celebrate the five-year anniversary since its first working prototype, Christopher Ward has launched a new limited-edition Apex range. The C7 Apex Limited Edition is the first in the line-up. A futuristic reworking of CW’s automotive Rapide collection, it’s motorsport inspired, placing that impressive power reserve centre stage.
Ruthenium, a rare element found in the platinum group of the periodic table, is present on the dial and other sections of SH21’s bridge. Parts of its plate have been cut away to reveal glimpses of the movement underneath.
Only 50 watches are being made at a price tag of £2,995
The case is constructed from sandblasted and matte finished steel, with a grey DLC-coated steel band around its centre.
Mike France, co-founder of the brand explains: “In this fifty-piece limited edition, Christopher Ward has achieved its apex; not just the pinnacle of its design and engineering capabilities, but a motorsport watch that leads the competition through genuine innovation and spectacle. There has never been a Christopher Ward watch like this before.”
With only 50 being made - and an achievable price tag of just £2,995 – don’t expect them to be available for long.
