Anyone with even a passing interest in watches will know that Christopher Ward is on something of a roll. The British brand has spent the past few years producing increasingly ambitious watches at prices that have left some its Swiss rivals looking somewhat, um, punchy. Its latest is the C1 Loco Classic, a more traditional interpretation of the C12 Loco, introduced last year.
It goes on sale today, with prices starting at $5,995, and has already been nominated for one of watchmaking's most prestigious awards. The new watch comes in three colors: the previously revealed gold-toned "Oro," alongside light blue and black versions unveiled today. All three are available on either a suede strap for $5,995 or on a brand new stainless-steel bracelet for $6,275.
The Loco Classic is one of six finalists in the Petite Aiguille category of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), often described as the Oscars of watchmaking, which recognizes watches priced between CHF 4,500 and CHF 10,000. It is the only British-brand nominee in the category. That matters because Christopher Ward has been here before.
In 2023, its Bel Canto, a chiming watch that cost considerably less than most comparable mechanical complications, won the same award. It was the first British watch to win a GPHG prize, bringing Christopher Ward to the attention of collectors who might previously have overlooked it. The company has since received nominations for its C1 Moonphase in 2024 and the C1 Celestial Moonphase and C12 Loco in 2025.
The latter introduced the manually wound CW-003 movement, with its large, exposed balance wheel positioned on the dial side, making the mechanism's operation a central part of the design. The Loco Classic uses the same movement, but puts it into a completely new setting. Where the C12 Loco had an angular case and integrated sports bracelet, the new model has a rounded 41mm case in 904L stainless steel, individually soldered lugs, and a white ceramic dial with Roman numerals.
The lower portion of the dial is finished with a varnish containing powdered mother-of-pearl, which gives the surface a glimmering, changing appearance under different lights. Despite arriving later, the Classic was not conceived as a straightforward adaptation of the C12. CW says development began back in in June 2024, before the original Loco went on sale.
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