Christopher Ward C11 Titanium Elite 500 LE COSC Chronometer

Here we have a rare and very desirable Christopher Ward C11 Makaira Titanium Elite 500.

Christopher Ward's C11 watches have long since sold out, but when they were available, the dive range consisted of five different versions: There were three 'standard' C11 Makaira 500 watches - white markers, blue markers and orange markers.

The above three models were made from steel and were not limited editions, however they're highly coveted and very desirable in CW circles, so they rarely come up for sale.

The 'top of the range' was the C11 Titanium Extreme 1000 which cost £995. This had green markers and was limited to 1,000 COSC certified pieces. It was rated as suitable for 1,000 mtr dives. While awesome on paper, the Extreme model had an upgraded (thicker) back plate and crystal, making it 15mm tall - some 2mm thicker than the rest of the range and making it too tall for some.

Siting between Extreme and the steel Makiaras was the Titanium Elite 500 - which is the one listed here.

It has a lightweight and corrosion resistant Titanium case and at its heart lives a Sellita SW220-1 COSC automatic movement. It's limited to 500 pieces. Its 500m rating means it's just 13mm high and for many people (myself included) it sits better on the wrist than its Extreme 1,000 big brother.

Its yellow markers help identify it as by far the most desirable C11 model ever made (perhaps with the exception of the impossibly rare Royal Navy Fleet Diving special mentioned here).

One of the standout features for me are the three ‘crowns’. The one at 3 o’clock is the actual the crown, 2 o’clock rotates the internal bezel and 8 o’clock is the Helium escape valve.

The original selling price was £750, rising to £800 by the time it sold out in 2014.

Occasionally Christopher Ward run special offers on 'end of line' stock. This C11 was never subject to any special deals because it sold out at the full price.

I don’t like to use the term ‘future museum piece’ lightly, but number 500 of 500, of one of the most dersirable/collectable CWs ever made has got to fit the bill pretty well.

Condition
Fantastic condition - one of the best I’ve seen. There’s just the occasional tiny blemish on the case and bezel (visible only when you get in very close). There are also some light marks on the case back which would likely brush out with ease - I’m leaving it 100% as-is though.

The silicone rubber straps from this era are prone to splitting around the holes which are used regularly, so most have failed and gone in the bin years ago. This strap is in great condition, with just the slightest signs of splits starting on the third smallest hole. The tang buckle is the correct Titanium item - many Extremes and Elites were mistakenly fitted with steel rather than Titanium.

Mechanically, it’s in awesome shape - working exactly as it should and keeping near perfect time at approx. +2sec per day.

This is a ‘full set’ box and papers watch, with one very nice touch: the COSC certificate has been signed by Chris Ward himself! Note the outer cardboard box has a few marks

Specifications

• Case size: 42mm

• Lug width: 22mm

• Height: 13mm

• Strap: 22mm

• Waterproof: 500m

• Movement: Sellita SW200-1 COSC automatic

User Manual
A PDF version of the owner’s manual is available on the CW website: https://www.christopherward.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-cw-library/default/dw3074da03/pdfs/Dive/c11make_manual.pdf

Final Notes

• The first photo is a library shot, the rest all show the actual watch and package.

• Having followed CW for many years, I’ve observed a few of instances of crowns being pulled out/off of some C11 models. It’s advised to take extra care when pulling the crown out to the time-adjusting position three.