Britain based premium watch brand Christopher Ward expands its aviation collection by presenting the C9 Me 109 Single Pusher Chronograph, which draws inspiration from a historically important Junghans clock.
It was during a business meeting at White Waltham airfield that Mike France, Co-Founder of Christopher Ward, encountered a vintage Junghans clock, taken from the cockpit of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane (commonly referred to as Me 109) of WW II vintage. The famous Luftwaffe fighter plane was in use from 1937 in the Spanish Civil War through to the end of World War II in 1945, during which time it was used as a bomber escort plane in the Battle of Britain.
The striking look of the clock caught Mike’s attention, in particular the Unitas 6497 movement inside, which had been designed in the 1940’s by Jean Fillon. Jean had previously worked with Christopher Ward’s then master watchmaker, Johannes Jahnke, to develop Calibre JJ02 – Christopher Ward’s award-winning single pusher chronograph based on the same Unitas movement.
Available from 1st November, the C9 Me 109 Single Pusher Chronograph is a 100-piece limited edition range. The black, diamond-like-carbon case, dial and hands pay homage to the original Junghans clock – albeit it with the bi-compax sub-dials of Calibre JJ02’s deign replacing the single sub-dial at 6 O’clock and the 3D lume of the minuterie being obvious differences to the original.
The balance bridge, chronograph bridge and chronograph module of the new C9 Me 109 Single Pusher Chronograph have all been finished in a black PVD coating with polished chamfered edges that can be viewed through the pin-sharp sapphire crystal glass of the back-plate.
With the various wheels of the movement retaining a steel finish, the beautiful complexity of Calibre JJ02 has never been seen as clearly as on this watch. This special timepiece is then completed with a vintage oak leather strap with black DLC clasp.
Retail price of C9 Me 109 Single Pusher Chronograph is £2,950 / $3,370.
Technical details
Model: C9 Me 109 Single Pusher Chronograph
Swiss made, Special limited edition of only 100 pieces
Case
Sandblasted, diamond-like-carbon (DLC), marine grade stainless steel case and crown
Museum-grade sapphire crystal with AR08 anti-reflective coating
Sapphire crystal, full-width, back-plate
Diameter: 43mm
Height: 15.7mm
Lug-to-Lug: 51.5mm
Water resistance: 5 ATM (50 metres)
Unique, engraved serial number, 001 – 100, may be reserved by contacting
Dial
Dial and hands design from Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter plane clock design by Junghans
Movement
JJ02, Highly modified Unitas 6497 hand-wound mechanical chronograph by Johannes Jahnke with Jean Fillon
Continuous seconds and 30-minute totaliser sub-dials operated through a single central crown
Balance bridge, chronograph bridge and chronograph module finished with black PVD coating and polished chamfered edges
40-hour power reserve
Assembled by hand at Christopher Ward’s Swiss atelier
Vibrations: 18,000 vph
Timing tolerance: -15/+15 seconds per day
Strap
Hand-finished premium vintage oak leather strap with CW twin-flags logo embossed on reverse of a sandblasted DLC clasp
Strap width: 22mm
Strap colour: Camel
Packaging
Deluxe presentation case in ash wood together with owner’s handbook
Price
£2,950 / $3,370
