THE TECHNICAL CASE


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ntroduced in autumn 2011, the handsome C11 pilot’s watch proved to be Christopher Ward’s fastest-selling model of the entire year. The visual appeal is based on its unusual irregular octagonal shape, which was inspired by cockpit dials, especially the ones on Concorde. The bold dial, with its oversized SuperLuminova numerals, hour indices and hands, has proved to be very appealing. For the manufacture of this important addition to the range – available as an automatic or a chronograph – Christopher Ward needed to find a new case manufacturer. The company felt the peculiar shape and complicated details of the C11 case required a different approach, one that necessarily involved more hand-finishing. Like many leading Swiss brands, Christopher Ward found the manufacturer it needed in China. Precision engineering on a small scale, the making of a case requires a detailed process. Initial hand sketches of the visual idea have to be converted into a technical drawing and specification. From this “blueprint” a model in resin can be produced so that the 3-D characteristics of the case can be viewed, assessed and amended if necessary.


C11


CASE OF THE


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NEVER MIND THE MOVEMENT. THE CASE OF A WATCH ALSO HAS TO BE PERFECT. WITH THE C11 AVIATOR MODEL CHRISTOPHER WARD WATCHES HAS RAISED ITS GAME YET AGAIN.


Christopher Ward Watches uses 316L surgical grade steel for its cases. The case blanks are milled on lathes from a solid block of steel, and then the precision hand- finishing begins. “The C11 case is so unusual that we needed a high degree of handwork,” explains Chris. “The facets at the corners are shaped and polished by hand. After hand-milling, a series of different brushes are used to achieve the desired polished finish.”


The case comprises in total 34 individual components, including the museum-grade crystal, crystal gasket, bezel,


After the resin model stage, a true prototype sample can be made, with the case made using a laser-cutting machine. An entire prototype watch is assembled so that the actual weight, balance, feel and proportions can be reviewed. Once this prototype has been approved, formal production can begin.


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the main case, crown, chronograph pushers (all of which carry tiny rubber O-rings), the movement holder, back plate gasket, back plate, two lug bars and eight tiny screws. To accommodate the bold 35.2mm dial the case is 42mm by a slim 10.7mm, 53.7mm lug to lug. At 100g on its leather strap, it’s quite light despite its apparently large proportions. The upgrade in the quality was noticed by Christopher Ward watchers, including Paul Hubbard on the independent www.ablogtoread.com.In his review of the C11 Automatic he wrote: “Now let’s look closely at the case


Orderline 0844 875 1515


finishing. When evaluating build quality, keep in mind that simple shapes are the least expensive, as are brushed finishes. Here we have a curved surface intersecting a straight section, with adjacent brushed and polished finishes. That’s expensive, difficult to make and nearly as well executed as my (much pricier) IWC Aquatimer. It’s a big step up from the cases on the previous Christopher Wards I’ve reviewed, leading me to wonder if they’ve changed case suppliers. Regardless, bravo!”


As the experiment with the new


“The C11 case is so unusual that we needed a high degree of handwork,” explains Chris Ward. “The facets at the corners are shaped and polished by hand. After hand-milling, a series of different brushes are used to achieve the desired polished finish.”


manufacturer has been an unqualified success, the company will be producing more of its cases there going forward. New developments specifically for the C11 include the addition this spring of a matt black PVD finish for both the automatic and chronograph. For 2013, Christopher Ward is promising that diver’s variations of the C11 will come through. These will have higher atmospheric pressure resistance and a helium release facility. An even higher-spec version in titanium is also on the drawing board. For the C11, it’s all onward and upward.


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