Christopher Ward C1 PowerGlow Prototype
I am thrilled and blessed to be able to share a watch with you that won’t be seen in detail anywhere else. The Christopher Ward C1 PowerGlow Prototype is an incredible watch, with only three known to have been made. In the video, I discuss the C1 case design using a few models, including a deeper look at the C1 Morgan Aero 8. The SH21 in-house movement also gets some attention, but if you are interested in further detail on its construction be sure to check out that specific review.
Here, you will find some photos, a dab of context and a couple extra things not in the video.
Specs:
- Model: C1 Powerglow Prototype (2021)
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Height: 13.7mm
- Lug Width: 20mm
- Lug-to-lug: 48.5mm
- Weight: ~74g (on leather)
- Case: Stainless Steel
- Movement: CW SH21 automatic
- Accuracy: COSC
- Power Reserve: ~120 hours
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Water Resistance: 3atm/30m/100ft
- Lume: Super-Luminova
- Prototype Sale Price: $3,250/£2,500
- Warranty: 5 years
Pros:
- Everything!
- Diameter and lug-to-lug
- Sapphire dial with 3d design and material textures
- Date implementation
- Touches of red
- LUME, including on the rotor!
- Blacked out SH21 movement
- Power reserve
- Rare factor
Cons:
- If you can think of one let me know..
- Maybe height? But not really, given what’s going on inside.
- Could see someone thinking the dial looks busy
The Video
https://youtu.be/DF4iTpIS_ZU
Timeline:
- 0:00 Intro
- 3:53 C1 Case & Movements
- 8:53 C1 Morgan Aero 8
- 11:30 C1 PowerGlow
- 19:21 Final Thoughts
C1 Case Design
Christopher Ward’s C1 case has been one of my favorites over the years, both in terms of look and wearability. CW has focused on dive watches as of late, so the dress line has faded into the background. It is so non-existent at this point that they no longer have a dress category on their site (as of this writing) and what few dress models exist are in the “Specialties” or other categories. I really hope they launch a new dress line in the future.
The three watches with the C1 case that have remained in my collection include the Morgan Aero 8, the Powerglow, and the Moonphase. I also had the C1 Small Seconds in the past, which is perhaps the watch I miss most in my collection. The C1 case has a sleek look due to a case back that snuggles into the wrist regardless of overall height, leaving a slim profile on wrist. With a 40.5mm diameter and 48.5mm lug-to-lug, it is a pleasure to wear.
Of the three C1s I currently have, the Powerglow is the thickest, due to it being an automatic SH21 instead of manual like the Morgan, plus the extra date complication and dial structure. Still, the back sits nicely on the wrist leaving about the same profile as any other C1 model. The average watch thickness in my collection is 12.4mm (get cool stats with Watchee), so if there is a con perhaps it’s the height, but that is a stretch.
C1 Morgan Aero 8 & C8 Power Reserve
The bridge work on the Powerglow seems to be a mix between the C1 Morgan and the C8 Power Reserve, another SH21 that I had in my collection at one point, but have since moved on. The barrels seem fairly close to those on the Power Reserve, if not exact, while the bridge cut seems to mimic the Aero 8. Of course the finishing on the Powerglow backplate has a life its own, like all SH21 models. The Powerglow has a circular pattern with peaks and sunburst finishing.
C1 PowerGlow
I don’t know if it should be written PowerGlow or Powerglow, but either way what warrants the name? Lume, which is everywhere. I’ll also say it matches my Dodge RAM dash nicely. 😀
As I write this, I get to the same point I do in the video, I don’t know what else to say. The pictures do the talking. I will mention that lume pictures are hard enough to take, so I’m showing bare bones examples of this watch, no filters or fluff. Also, to my knowledge this is the first and only CW so far that has lume anywhere in addition to the dial face, with the rotor being outlined. Sure you can’t see the rotor when wearing, but c’mon…it’s legit fun.
Final Thoughts
What can I say? It’s one of three to exist. It has my favorite complications: small seconds and power reserve, plus a stellar date implementation. It has the stealth look, which apparently I like based on my love for the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic. The dimensions, colors, textures hit every mark for me. It matches my truck dashboard. Like…ok. Don’t ask me if I’ll sell it, the answer is no.
