British watchmaker Christopher Ward expands its best-selling Military Collection by adding the new C60 Lympstone watch model. Named after the Royal Marines’ Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in Devon, this new model from the brand’s Ministry of Defence licensed Military Collection in honour of the Royal Marines also marks the collection’s one-year anniversary.
This modern dive and survival watch is designed for action and adventure lovers (of both military and civilian status alike). The watch is forged from steel and carbon – built to withstand the toughest of conditions, on land or at sea. Water resistant to 600m, it is the first Christopher Ward watch to feature a rotating inner-compass bezel.
In contrast to its best-selling Military Collection predecessors, the NEW C60 Lympstone’s defiantly modern design is based on the new ‘Trident 3’ C60 case – rather than the retro-styled C65 models.
Approved by the Ministry of Defence to carry the Royal Marines official insignia – which is laser-engraved into the caseback – the NEW C60 Lympstone was created in collaboration with the Royal Marine Commandos, to ensure a watch that their recruits would actually wear and use.
Taking inspiration from tools and equipment used by the Royal Marines, the dial is made from forged carbon – an ultra-tough and ultra-light material (made from chopped carbon fibres and resin) that’s used in military weapons – while tough, breathable and lightweight Cordura®, often employed in military kit or equipment, is used here for the watch strap.
As well as technical authenticity, the forged carbon also gives the dial a marbled and near-camouflaged look – with contrasting dark and light greys – contributing to the overall ‘stealth’ and tool-like feel of the watch.
Powered by a COSC-certified version of the Sellita SW200 calibre, the NEW C60 Lympstone ensures timekeeping to within a tolerance of -4/+6 seconds per day. The outer countdown bezel delivers a satisfying 120 clicks per circuit, while the internal-compass bezel makes it just as practical on land, allowing its wearer to orientate themselves using the sun*.
The marine-grade steel case features two crowns; one for rotating the compass and the other for winding the watch and hands. Its DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating ensures reflections – dangerous in combat – are kept to a minimum, while the Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 GL C1 filled indexes and hands ensure clarity in low light.
Despite its high-end construction the NEW C60 Lympstone in Carbon Black is available for £875 on a rubber hybrid strap in black or black and orange, a remarkable price for such an advanced watch.
In addition to the NEW C60 Lympstone, Christopher Ward’s Military Collection includes three other models – each honouring a service within the UK Armed Forces. The C65 Dartmouth, C65 Sandhurst and C65 Cranwell fly the flag for the military academies of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force respectively and each model carries their official insignia. Christopher Ward are one of just five brands approved to make watches bearing the official MOD insignia – available to both the UK Armed Forces and the general public.
*To use the compass, point the hour hand towards the sun’s position in the sky. Then, if you’re in the northern hemisphere, rotate the compass bezel using the crown until the S (South) is halfway between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock position. This can now be used to navigate around, ensuring the hour hand is pointing towards the sun. Simply adjust the S position as time goes on. (For the southern hemisphere, do the exact same but with N (North).
Technical details
Case
Brushed steel case coated in gun metal PVD
Black DLC bezel and caseback
High Definition Royal Marines crest laser-engraved on screw down backplate
Screw-down dual crowns stamped with twin-flag motif
Brushed unidirectional ceramic bezel with Grade X1 GL C1 Super-LumiNova®-applied numerals and markers
Unique engraved serial number
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Size: 42mm
Height: 13.8mm
Lug-to-Lug: 49.3mm
Case Weight: 103g
Water Resistance: 60 ATM (600m)
Dial
Forged carbon dial
Rotating inner-compass bezel
Super-LumiNova®-filled hands, inner-bezel markings and indexes
Lume: SLN X1 GL C1
Christopher Ward logo at 12 o’clock
Movement
Sellita SW200 COSC
Swiss made self-winding mechanical chronometer
Power Reserve: 38 hours
No of Jewels: 26
Complication Type: 3 hands
Vibrations: 28,800 p/hr (4Hz)
Timing Tolerance: -4/+6 sec p/day
Twin-flag engraving over ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the rotor
Strap
Size: 22mm
Packaging
Eco-friendly luxury presentation case and owner’s handbook
Price
£875
Origin
Swiss Made