Christopher Ward C8 Regulator PVD Mk1

CW has a long history of producing unconventional watches and this C8 Regulator is a perfect example. Sometimes they prove to be very popular (I’m thinking C9 Jumping Hour and C1 Bel Canto), other times things don’t really take off - as was the case with this aviation-inspired piece.

Thanks to a modified Unitas 6498, the face features three dials: the main one is minutes, the top one is hours and the bottom one is seconds.

It was launched in August 2013 and cost £1,000 (£1,300 in today’s money). When you consider that the C60 Trident Pro cost just £400 at the time and CW wasn’t having the easiest of times establishing itself as a seller of four-figure watches, it’s not hard to to understand why sales of this model were slow. It limped on until its retirement in Jan 2016 - making this October 2015 example one of the youngest ones.

But as often happens, what was an unloved, ugly duckling a decade ago is now a very collectable piece which change hands very rarely these days.

Condition
Most C8 Regulators were supplied on a distressed brown leather strap with Bader deployant clasp. This example came on a more conventional brown leather CW strap with black CW sport buckle - probably because it was one of the last ones sold and they’d run out of originals.

The strap is in almost new condition - just light indentations from being stored in the box. Like the strap, the head is also in as new condition - I can’t see a mark on it, but you may find signs of use under magnified inspection.

Offered as a full set including inner and outer CW boxes, user manual with Certificate of Authenticity, unused polishing cloth and a copy of the standards covering letter of the time.

In summary: a great example of an almost impossible to find watch.

Specifications

• Case size: 44mm

• Lug width: 22mm

• Height: 11mm

• Waterproof: 50m

• Movement: Unitas 6498 (modified)

User Manual
A PDF version of the owner’s manual is available on the CW website: https://www.christopherward.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-cw-library/default/dwc06a3ef1/pdfs/Aviation/c8regulator_manual.pdf

Final Notes

• Note the first photograph is a library shot, the rest all show the actual watch and package.