Christopher Ward C8 Power Reserve Chronometer

The C8 Power Reserve was the first aviation style watch to be fitted with CW’s famous SH21 movement with its 120 hour power reserve. In the case of this watch, it’s the hand-wound SH21 with power reserve and small seconds sub dials - about as good as they come!

As with all SH21-powered watches, it’s a COSC certified Chronometer.

It’s a pretty large watch at 44mm, but thanks to being a hand crank, it stands at just 11mm tall and sits surprisingly well, even on small-medium wrists. The lack of rotor also means you get the best possible view of that stunning SH21 engineering through the huge exhibition case back.

It was launched in 2016 and was officially retired in early 2020, however the watch for sale here appeared very briefly in January 2021 archive release, so the movement warranty is valid until Jan 2025, or Jan 2026 if serviced by CW between during 2024.

Needless to say, this model is no longer available from CW and I expect the watch for sale here is the very last PVD one in brand new condition.

Condition

It’s in brand new, unworn condition - just handled briefly for the photographs.

On the timegrapher it’s keeping fantastic time at approx. +2sec per day - well within the -4 to +6 COSC specifications.

Supplied as a ‘full set’ including original box, warranty card, polishing cloth, COSC certificate and a covering letter explaining it’s an historic model, so printed user books were no longer available. The letter directs you to the online PDF version mentioned below.

Specifications

• Case size: 44mm

• Lug width: 22mm

• Height: 11mm

• Waterproof: 50m

• Movement: Calibre SH21 hand-wound automatic

• Power reserve: 120h

User Manual

A PDF version of the owner’s handbook is available on the CW website: https://www.christopherward.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-cw-library/default/dwa910e1cb/pdfs/Aviation/c8_power_reserve_manual.pdf

Final Notes

• The first five images are library photos. The others all show the actual watch and package.