Christopher Ward C1000 Typhoon FGR4

Introduction

You’ll be unsurprised to hear the C1000 Typhoon FGR4, which Christopher Ward launched in 2013, was inspired by… the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 fighter jet! It wasn’t just a visual styling exercise though, the materials used in the watch’s construction echo those used in the aerospace industry: the lightweight and highly scratch-resistant ceramic case houses the titanium frame to which a modified ETA 7750 Valjoux is attached. Like the FGR4 it took its inspiration from, the C1000 was far from cheap: the initial selling price was £1,500 - reflecting the relatively high manufacturing costs and making it one of CW’s most expensive watches at the time. Buyer reception was on the lukewarm side, so the price was dropped to nearer £1,000 over the following years to get sales moving. Because that price reduction killed the profit margin, this is the first and only CW watch to use an expensive ceramic case.

The ETA 7750 found inside the C1000 is one of the world’s most popular mechanical chronographs. It’s used in the £1,400 C60 Chronograph and has been used by many premium watch brands over the years including Breitling, TAG Heuer, Panerai, Omega, IWC etc. It’s known for being a relatively heavy movement, but thanks to the ultra-lightweight case/frame materials used in the C1000 and thanks to the removal of the seconds sub dial and date wheel, it actually makes for a surprisingly light 7750 watch. As well as the usually light weight, another feature of the ceramic case I like is the noise - the sound of the rotor spinning is far more pronounced than with steel cases.

The C1000 was initially launched with two different face options: the original black face and the black face with an RAF roundel on the lower dial that you see here. In 2016 a third and final grey-faced Cockpit Edition was added to the range. The case back on all three of them features the RAF motto : Per Ardua Ad Astra, translating to "Through struggles to the stars".

This one has the serial number 0002 - a very special number and probably one of the first ones made.

Warranty

It comes with a three month Ward Hoard warranty.

Strap

Fitted with its original CW black fabric strap which is in great condition with minimal signs of wear. It’s quite stiff which shows that it hasn’t been used much. They are great straps, but do need some wrist time to mould to your wrist.

If you’d rather a brand new CW leather or hybrid, I can exchange at no additional cost.

Condition

This is another watch that I’ve received from the original owner. He doesn’t have the paperwork, but he has owned from new and barely worn it.

The watch head itself is in great condition - there is a light scratch on the case side and one on the back. For its age, it is in remarkable condition.

Supplied with its original CW box, but it has no papers. The manual, however, is available at https://www.christopherward.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-cw-library/default/dw8af829b8/pdfs/Aviation/c1000typhoon_manual.pdf

On the timegrapher it’s keeping fantastic time +3sec per day - comfortably inside the +/-20sec specified by CW.

Specs:

• Diameter: 42mm

• Height: 14mm

• Calibre: ETA 7750

• Water resistance: 5ATM (50m)

• Strap lugs: 20mm

A PDF version of the owner’s manual is available from the CW website:
https://www.christopherward.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-cw-library/default/dw4b567404/pdfs/Aviation/c1000typhoon_manual2.pdf

Final Notes:
Note the first two photos are library shots. The rest all show the actual watch and package.