Christopher Ward’s new C9 Moonphase (40mm) marks a further radical advance in the brand’s unique strategy of creating outstanding quality timepieces at affordable prices with this ingenious new JJ04 complication from the brand’s master watchmaker, Johannes Jahnke. The stunning new model will be given its first public presentation in an exclusive launch at this year’s prestigious Salon QP event in London (12th-14th November).
In developing Calibre JJ04, Johannes modified the base ETA 2836-2 by creating two gear systems incorporating four wheels to drive the moon disc, and a further two wheels for the setting mechanism. The result is a smooth and continuous movement of the moon disc, in sync with the minutes and hours, creating an advance on the common use of a disc that jumps once a day (which often renders the moon window inaccurate for several hours each day). Once set, the representation of the moon’s phase at any particular moment is unerringly precise and the new gearing ensures that the moon disc is also accurate to within one day every 128 years of the base movement’s accuracy.
With precision comes the beauty of the design of the C9 Moonphase, presented in two colour options: white & gold or midnight & silver. Housed in the hand-finished 40mm case and beneath a domed sapphire crystal is perhaps the brand’s finest and most expressive dial to date, displaying through a wide, curved aperture a generously-cut moon disc, conveying clearly the increments of the moon’s stately and accurate passage through the skies.
The surface of the large moon disc is 3D-stamped and carries a semi-matt galvanic finish, enriching it with a texture that conveys a truly intriguing amount of character and creating a mesmerising effect for the viewer. Still more subtle but equally intriguing is the bespoke guilloche pattern on the lower half of the centre dial. This was inspired by the tidal patterns of the moon’s gravitational pull and, combined with the polished hands and indexes, the overall design brings the oceans and the moon together harmoniously.
The C9 Moonphase is offered in two dial versions, white & gold or midnight & silver, and strap options include a luxury leather strap or alligator upgrade each with a Bader deployment (strap colour options vary to complement the relevant dial colour), and a stainless steel bracelet option.
The new model is available on pre-order for delivery in mid November, with the leather strap version from £1295 (Alligator upgrade £1357.50) and the stainless steel bracelet model at £1395.
Technical details
Movement
25 jewel, 128-year moonphase complication by Johannes Jahnke – JJ04
Modified in Switzerland from ETA 2836 by Johannes and his team
Self-winding movement with 38-hour power reserve
Functions
Date display at 6 o’clock
Central hour, minute and second hands
Stop-second hacking mechanism
Dial
One-piece metal dial with tidal pattern guilloche, raised indexes and PVD gold finish hands (or nickel option)
Dial Colour: White-Midnight-Gold or Midnight-Midnight-Silver
Large moonphase disc with 3-dimensional deep-stamped moon in PVD gold finish (or nickel option)
Case
Hand-finished, surgical grade, stainless steel case and crown
Diameter: 40mm
Height: 13.3mm
Water resistance: 5 bar
Museum-grade sapphire crystal with AR08 anti-reflective coating
Screw-down transparent case back
Strap
Embossed alligator pattern Italian leather strap with Bader Deployment
Strap width: 20mm
Strap length: 110mm x 90mm
Accessories
Luxury presentation case and owner’s handbook
