Christopher Ward has added a more formal, decorative note to its Loco collection with the C1 Loco Classic.
The new 41 mm watch keeps the exposed, symmetrical architecture of the hand-wound Calibre CW-003, but surrounds it with a richer dial construction, polished 904L stainless steel and a choice of black, gold or light blue finishes.
It’s a notable move for a collection built around mechanics on display, because the C1 Loco Classic doesn’t soften the technical side so much as frame it with more traditional watchmaking cues.
At a glance
- Christopher Ward has expanded the Loco collection with the 41 mm C1 Loco Classic.
- The watch combines a white ceramic Roman numeral time display, an iridescent textured dial and the exposed Calibre CW-003 regulating organ.
- Prices are €5,855 on the stainless steel bracelet and €5,595 for the gold-dial version on Vesuvio leather.
A Loco dial with more ceremony
The dial is where the C1 Loco Classic separates itself most clearly from a purely technical open-worked watch.
Its base is grain-sandblasted, then coated with a varnish containing powdered mother-of-pearl to create an iridescent surface that shifts with the light.
Above that textured base sits a white ceramic time display with a Roman numeral chapter ring.
Christopher Ward says each numeral is laser-engraved and then filled with black lacquer by hand using a microscope and fine needle.
The hands are diamond-cut, polished and finished with blue PVD, with curved profiles shaped to follow the dial and domed sapphire crystal.
Below the time display, the free-sprung balance and escapement remain exposed, turning the regulating mechanism into part of the dial-side composition rather than something hidden behind the case back.
The supporting bridges receive more than five hours of hand-finishing, adding a level of craft that suits the more classical presentation.
Calibre CW-003 remains the centrepiece
The C1 Loco Classic is powered by Christopher Ward’s hand-wound Calibre CW-003, a movement originally created for the C12 Loco and later refined for this model.
Its layout is built around symmetry, with 138 components, 29 jewels and a 28,800 vph operating frequency.
The stated power reserve is 144 hours, equal to six days, and the stated timing tolerance is -0/+7 seconds per day.
Through the sapphire case back, the movement presents twin barrels positioned above and below an intermediate winding wheel, forming three stacked circles.
Horizontal rounded bridges hold the construction together, while the baseplate is finished with a laser-engraved grained texture, polished bevels and 2N gold plating.
Light-catcher case and bracelet options
The case uses Christopher Ward’s 41 mm Light-catcher design in 904L stainless steel.
It measures 14.1 mm thick and 48 mm lug-to-lug, with brushed surfaces set against polished contours.
An anti-reflective sapphire crystal covers the dial, while a second sapphire crystal reveals the movement from the back.
The case is completed by an embossed crown and 30 metres, or 100 feet, of water resistance.
For the bracelet version, Christopher Ward has developed a 904L stainless steel Consort bracelet specifically for the model.
It combines brushed and polished surfaces and includes the brand’s iLink system for tool-free link removal, quick-release end links and an engraved clasp with micro-adjustment.
The gold-dial version is offered on a Vesuvio leather strap, while textured suede straps are also available.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Christopher Ward |
|---|---|
| Model | C1 Loco Classic |
| Collection | Loco |
| Case size | 41 mm |
| Case material | 904L stainless steel |
| Thickness | 14.1 mm |
| Lug-to-lug | 48 mm |
| Dial colours | Black, gold and light blue |
| Dial construction | Grain-sandblasted base with mother-of-pearl powder varnish and white ceramic time display |
| Movement | Hand-wound Calibre CW-003 |
| Components | 138 |
| Jewels | 29 |
| Frequency | 28,800 vph, or 4 Hz |
| Power reserve | 144 hours, or six days |
| Stated timing tolerance | -0/+7 seconds per day |
| Crystal | Anti-reflective sapphire front crystal and sapphire exhibition case back |
| Water resistance | 30 metres, or 100 feet |
| Bracelet and strap | 904L stainless steel Consort bracelet, Vesuvio leather strap for gold dial, textured suede straps available |
| Price | €5,855 for black or light blue dial on bracelet, €5,595 for gold dial on Vesuvio leather |
| Availability | Christopher Ward |
The C1 Loco Classic should appeal to collectors who like visible mechanics but don’t necessarily want a watch that feels aggressively modern.
Its strongest idea is the balance between exposed movement architecture and a more traditional ceramic Roman numeral display, giving the Loco concept a dressier and more composed character without hiding the reason the collection exists.
