Christopher Ward C1 Loco Classic: High Horology Is Attainable

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Christopher Ward The Watch Brief C1 Loco Classic Jilliano wristwatch Swiss made

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Christopher Ward - both as a brand, and of the watches they have made. In particular, the C12 Loco is one of my grail watches, and one of the main reasons for that is that it has the look, the feel, and the movement of a high horology watch like a Breguet 3657 with its open-balance window at the 6 o'clock, yet well below in price. But, a criticism that some people have had for the Loco is that it looks too sporty. Nevermind the fact that its sporty look is exactly what they were going for, and that they wanted to merge these two different design languages into their own CW identity.

So, what else could one of the most popular independent brands in the entire world can do? Well, they can create the C1 Loco Classic, which seems like a direct response to the naysayers and the doubters of the C1 Loco Classic. Yes, Christopher Ward is unapologetically a brand which is known for their sports watches, but with this newest release, they are showing themselves to be just as capable of creating a dress watch that even the hardcore purists would wear on their wrist.

Christopher Ward: What Makes the C1 Loco Classic So Special?

You may have already seen the gold edition, which was released in September in time to be nominated in the Petite Aiguille category at the GPHG, which is reserved for the six watches that exemplify the best possible watchmaking at an accessible price (more on the price later). But, Christopher Ward is now unveiling two additional colors in Light Blue and Black, both of which are available on either a suede strap, or for a little bit extra, a 904L stainless steel Consort bracelet.

One of the main differentiating parts of the C1 Loco Classic from the original C12 Loco is obvious from the name alone: the original utilized the integrated watch case from Christopher Ward's most successful collection, the Twelve. The new collection utilizes the 41mm Light-catcher case crafted from 904L Stainless steel, which I actually prefer over G2 Titanium, and uses a mixture of brushed surfaces and high polished sections. It makes for a blingy look without being too overwhelmingly loud.

But my favorite part of this case design is how 5.5mm of its total height is a super domed crystal. With the way the lugs drape, I expect this to wear quite interestingly on the wrist, and have a significant wrist presence. The dial of the C1 Loco Classic features what Christopher Ward describes as a "two-level dial architecture", which was done to highlight the free-sprung balance wheel at the 6 o'clock, and while that is accurate, I think that balance wheel is such a huge part of the design and function of the watch that the dial can be separated into three distinct sections instead of two levels.

The time-telling dial, which engulfs much of the upper half, is made of white ceramic, standing out against the rest of the dial regardless if it's the Light Blue, Black, or Gold version. For all three variants, the handset is a nice, brilliant blue color, and the Roman numerals and the minute track are both laser-engraved and handcoated with lacquer. How's that for going the extra mile?

The next level is the surface upon which both the ceramic dial, and the balance wheel rests, and that is just as interesting as everything else. It is grain-sandblasted before it is varnished with powdered mother-of-pearl, which means it will no doubt look amazing under different natural lighting and angles.

The final level is my favorite, and that is, of course, the balance wheel made by Christopher Ward as part of their in-house CW-003 movement. No notes - it's all perfect.

Since part of being a reviewer means nitpicking even designs that you love, I do have to add that I wish the balance wheel didn't cut into the bottom of the white ceramic dial. It breaks the design for me, and not in a good way.

A Maturation of Design

If the C12 Loco was Christopher Ward's way of following-up their Bel Canto with a brash and attention-grabbing "Yeah, we're here now!" design, then the C1 Loco Classic is the reserved and polished evolution of that approach.

In many ways, it feels like Christopher Ward's design language has matured, and grown into what many naysayers wanted it to be. For me, I think I would still choose the C12 Loco. Maybe it's because I'm brash, and maybe I'm immature, but I do think there's something to be said about having a high horology watch that looks like nothing else at a price range below even a Tudor Pelagos.

The C1 Loco Classic is a brilliant watch, and it will most assuredly be a hit worldwide. Thank you to the CW team for allowing me to write this article.