he original C1 Bel Canto launched in November 2022, with the first series of 300 pieces in Azzuro blue selling out in eight hours, and the second series of 300 pieces in Verde green selling out in two hours. In November 2023, Christopher Ward’s CEO and co-founder, Mike France, collected the Petite Aiguille prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the first British brand to win at the prestigious awards.

“The Bel Canto has played a significant role in nearly doubling our revenue from 2023 to 2024,” acknowledged Mike France. “However, the journey from its launch to the introduction of the Classic wasn’t without its challenges. With thousands of people eager to own a Bel Canto after missing the first two releases, we responded by launching an open series collection in four new colours. To meet this rising demand, we made key adaptations to our supply chain, increasing production from 50 pieces a month in November 2022 to 500 by September 2024.”

The new C1 Bel Canto Classic is available in four new colours on a range of Seta leather straps, with an increased taper from 22mm down to 16mm, or a Grade 2 titanium Bader bracelet with quick-release end links and on-the-fly micro-adjust. The chiming works and 41mm Grade 5 titanium case remain the same, producing the charming note of D.

The Bel Canto Classic offers numerous advancements over the first iteration, but the most ‘striking’ of these changes is the introduction of a platine detailed with fine guilloché work. In line with the traditional platine finish, Senior Designer Will Brackfield opted for high-contrast roman numerals on a circular brushed time-telling dial that features a minute track set on a stepped outer bezel.

Another update is the new glass box sapphire crystal, necessary to accommodate the additional height required for such a three-dimensional platine. The new crystal is coated with multiple layers of anti-reflective coating and provides a pleasing level of distortion, evoking the charm of vintage watches with acrylic crystals, whilst also benefiting from the unparalleled scratch resistance of sapphire crystal.

Price: £3,495 (leather strap)-£3,745 (titanium bracelet)

www.christopherward.com