New Home Page Photo
The Ward Hoard has been live for just over a year now. With the new year having just started, I thought I’d mark the occasion with a new landing page photograph. It’s also bugged me from day one that I never bothered to set the times! Although in my defence, I did have my hands pretty full trying to get the site live!! Before the old photograph goes, I thought I’d take a quick look at the watches that were in it…
ONE - In the top left position we have the CW’s first ever Jumping Hour watch. At the time is was known as the C9 Jumping Hour, but following the introduction of the Mk2 and Mk3 models, it’s now known as the ‘Mk1’. There’s some interesting info covering the history of JH watches and how the JJ01 movement was created in the watches’s User Manual, which is available on the CW website. This particular watch was number 200 of 200 and now lives with its new owner in the USA.
TWO - At the top middle we have the C8 UTC Worldtimer. I’ve always had a soft spot for these. I like the twin offset crowns (the top one rotates the internal bezel), I like the design, I like the GMT function, I like the 44mm size, it’s just a great and interesting looking aviation-inspired watch.
THREE - Top right. Released in 2017, CW’s first ever bronze watch was a version of the Mk2 C60 600 Pro. I remember CW doing some market research the year before its launch investigating whether people would be interested in buying a watch made of bronze. Judging by the five (I think it’s five anyway) different bronze watches they’ve created so far, it was a good decision. It’s not the first time they’ve moved away from steel for their watch cases - back in 2013 they released the C1000 Typhoon FGR4 which had a super-lightweight ceramic case.
FOUR - Bottom left. Below CW’s first JH watch sits their last: 2017’s C1 Grand Malvern Jumping Hour. It was dropped from the Dress range in 2018, but a few slipped out in the following years, including the 2021 one I’ve been meaning to photograph and list for months!
FIVE - The C700 was Christopher Ward's flagship Motorsport watch at its launch in 2011. It was the second Ward to use the famous ETA 7750 Valjoux movement - the first being the C40 Speedhawk. A variation can also be found in the current £1,270 C60 Chronograph.
SIX - The C70GB Brooklands is a 500-piece Limited Edition watch which was part of the original six C70 Grand Prix models launched in 2009. The C70 was a brave move by CW, creating a series of very eye-catching motorsport-style models. It turned out to be a hit, paving the way for some 22 different C70 models over the years!
SEVEN - Bottom right. The C40 Speedhawk was the first CW watch to use the ETA 7750 Jaljoux movement and was the most expensive watch in their range at the time at £700 (about £1,000 today with inflation). I remember lusting after one in 2009 when they first came out, but my wife and I had just had our second child, so I couldn’t afford one at the time! I did treat myself to the quartz-powered ‘little brother’ version though: the C4 Peregrine. I got my hands on the ‘real deal’ a few years later!