CHRISTOPHER WARD C9 GT40 POWER RESERVE LIMITED EDITION

The C9 Harrison was introduced as CW’s flagship Dress range in 2010 and was an active model until 2020. Over the years it evolved to spawn motorsport and aviation inspired models and it’s one of those motorsport editions that’s for sale here - and it’s a truly rare beast.

It was launched in late 2015 as a collaboration between CW and TMB Art Metal - the third of seven different TMB collaborations which CW produced between 2013 and 2019. TMB managed to procure an aluminium wheel-spinner (centre nut) from the double LeMans 24h winning (1968, 1969) Ford GT40 #P-1075. The spinner was melted down and CW created 40 miniature GT40 wheel faces, which were then set behind the exhibition case back. The face design of the watch is inspired by the GT40’s rev counter, the power reserve gauge replicates the GT40 fuel gauge and the crown is an undeniable nod to the Gulf Racing livery. All 40 pieces were sold by the start of 2016, so this watch is approx seven years old at the time of writing. In the seven years since these watches came out, I’ve never seen one for sale, so this is a pretty rare opportunity to acquire a very rare watch.

This particular watch was part of a large collection of rarely worn watches owned by an elderly gent who moved into a care home. The boxes and papers were unfortunately lost when his family cleared his home - not realising his watch collection was sat in a carrier bag in his care home wardrobe, only discovered when he sadly passed away. While I’ve said it’s a 2015 in the title (because it might be a 2015 sale), it may also be a 2016 one.

Condition

I’ve done my best to assemble the accessories this watch would have come with: the inner and outer boxes are correct and original CW items (albeit not the exact one this watch was originally shipped with). I’ve had the 18 page owner’s book re-printed using CW’s original PDF - I actually had to get five printed, so I’ll include a couple of spares! I’ve included a copy of the standard 2015 covering letter that all CW watches came with. And I’ve also stolen a correct and unused polishing cloth from one of my other 2015 watches (not shown in the photos). So the only thing that’s really missing is the original Certificate of Authenticity.

The correct, original black leather strap on Bader deployant clasp is in very good condition and has been lightly worn.

The watch head itself is in 99.5% new condition, with just a few slight blemishes in keeping with a watch that’s had a brief ride in a carrier bag with 20 other watches!

Specifications

• Case size: 43mm

• Lug width: 22mm

• Height: 15mm

• Waterproof: 30m

• Movement: ETA Valgranges A07.161

• Power reserve: 46h

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/dw5ec6dd8c/pdfs/Motorsport/c9gt40_manual.pdf

Final Notes

• The first 13 images are library photos and screen shots which I grabbed from the CW website in Jan 2016! The other 16 photos all show the actual watch and package.

• If you’ve not seen the 2019 film, Le Mans ‘66 (aka Ford Vs Ferrari in non European markets) it’s well worth a watch.