Christopher Ward’s King of Affordable Grail Watches Is Now Even More Grail-Worthy

Christopher Ward shocked the watch industry and radically remade its brand image when it launched the Bel Canto in 2023. Here was a chiming watch — typically the domain of six-figure mega grails from brands like Patek Philippe and A. Lange & Söhne — impossibly priced under $4,000.

Despite the release of the even higher-end C12 Loco earlier this year, the Bel Canto remains CW’s flagship and its most recognizable watch, and last year the brand launched a sequel in the form of the flashier and more traditional Bel Canto Classic.

Now, it’s time for part three of the Bel Canto trilogy, as Christopher Ward has just launched an entirely new take on its affordable grail. And it’s the most impressive version yet.

Christopher Ward

Light ’em up

The new version of the CW flagship is the C1 Bel Canto Lumière, a watch with a look that’s even louder than its signature chiming complication.

This Bel Canto follows up the brand’s Trident Lumière dive watch as the second lume-saturated model to get the Lumière name, and it’s even more ludicrously illuminated than that watch.

The clockface of the Bel Canto has been replaced by a smoked sapphire dial topped with a ring of Globolight solid ceramic Super-LumiNova X1 GL lume, with the same formula also appearing as Globolight block tips on the new semi-skeletonized hour and minute hands. CW has become a major champion of Globolight, using it on both of its previous two releases over the past month: the Sealander Extreme GMT and the Jump Hour Mk V.

Christopher Ward

The dial platine is all-new and is neon turquoise with a bold sunray pattern emanating from the clockface. These “rays” are all filled with multiple layers of light-blue Super-LumiNova X1 lume, with those surrounding the blue-glowing dial ring emitting a green light and the rest glowing blue.

As if that weren’t enough lume, the watch is also paired with a new white rubber strap infused with stripes of blue-emission Super-LumiNova on its sides. It’s reminiscent of the blue glowing strap that’s available on the brand’s Trident Sapphire Edge, which launched in the spring.

Christopher Ward

The watch features the same 41mm case in Grade 5 titanium used in other Bel Canto models, and it borrows the box sapphire crystal from the Bel Canto Classic. However, I’m assuming the crystal here is a bit taller to accommodate the Globolight ring, as the Lumière measures 0.45mm thicker than the Classic at 13.65mm.

The movement is, of course, the same as always, with a Sellita SW200-1 automatic acting as the base for the in-house FS01 chiming module that chimes every hour, on the hour. The chiming mechanism’s bridges, spring and hammer are all hand-finished and are visible dial-side in the now-familiar “songbird” arrangement, and the chime can be turned off by pressing the pusher at 4:00.

Christopher Ward

Pricing and availability

I admit the Bel Canto Lumière is not for everyone, and will likely have the smallest appeal of the lineup so far. It’s much more in-your-face than the other references and has a heavy sci-fi vibe that you’re either into or you aren’t.

I, personally, am very much into it. I think this is the most impressive and original-looking Bel Canto so far — I dare you to find me another watch that resembles it even a little — and I love the idea of turning a watch known mainly for its auditory feature into a visual blockbuster. It’s a real feast for the senses, and it takes an already daring design into uncharted territory.

Christopher Ward

Pricing is to be expected, with the Lumière coming in at the top of the Bel Canto range alongside the laser-guillochéd Classic with an identical pricing structure. It’s cheapest on the lumed strap at $4,840, but you can also get it on the three-row Bader Bracelet for $5,205 or the Jubilee-adjacent Consort Bracelet for $5,290. Personally, I’d go the full-lume route and get it on the strap. Go big or go home.

The C1 Bel Canto Lumière is available to preorder now on Christopher Ward’s website for delivery at the end of December.

Christopher Ward

Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Lumière

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Christopher Ward Cal. FS01 automatic petite sonnerie (Sellita base)
Water Resistance	30m

• $4,840 at Christopher Ward

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