Christopher Ward C60 Trident: The British Dive Watch

The C60 Trident is the watch most associated with Christopher Ward's value proposition: it offers ISO 6425-compliant 300-metre dive watch specifications, a Swiss-made automatic movement, and a case design developed by the brand itself — at a price point that undercuts Swiss dive watches of comparable specification by a substantial margin. The Trident has been the brand's flagship since its early iterations and the reference against which its positioning is most frequently tested.

The Trident Name

"Trident" references the three-pronged spear of Poseidon/Neptune, the god of the sea — an appropriate mythological reference for a dive watch. The name also connects to the British naval tradition (the Royal Navy's trident insignia) and Christopher Ward's British identity.

The C60 designation places the Trident in the brand's 60-series — historically the designation for sport and diving references. The numbering system has evolved over the brand's history, but the C60 prefix has remained consistent for the primary dive watch.

C60 Trident Pro — The 600m Reference

At the apex of the Trident range is the C60 Trident Pro 600 — a professional-grade dive watch with 600-metre water resistance:

600-metre water resistance exceeds the requirements of ISO 6425 (the international dive watch standard, which requires only 200m) and most recreational and professional diving applications. At 600 metres, the watch would function at depths accessible only by saturation diving systems. The specification is primarily a safety margin statement: a watch rated to 600m worn in 40m recreational diving conditions has a 15× safety factor.

C60 Trident Concept

The C60 Trident Concept represents Christopher Ward's most technically ambitious dive watch — developed in conjunction with the Calibre SH21:

The Trident Concept pairs the SH21's jumping hours display with a dive watch case — an unusual combination that demonstrates Christopher Ward's willingness to experiment with watch functions outside the traditional centre-hands layout. Jumping hours in a dive context is unusual; most divers prefer the continuous sweep of a conventional minutes hand for underwater timing. The Concept is more a design and movement showcase than a functional diving tool.

C60 Trident GMT

The C60 Trident GMT adds a second time zone to the dive watch proposition:

• GMT hand in a contrasting colour indicating a second time zone
• 24-hour bezel graduated scale
• 300-metre water resistance
• Helium escape valve for saturation diving use

The GMT dive watch serves the international maritime professional — crew on trans-ocean vessels who need both diving capability and home-time reference. For most buyers, it serves as a travel watch in a robust case.

C60 Bronze Trident

The C60 Bronze Trident uses a silicon bronze alloy case — a material choice that differentiates it from the standard stainless steel Trident:

Silicon bronze develops a patina with wear and exposure to salt water — an irregular oxidation pattern that gives each watch a unique appearance over time. The patina is considered desirable by many watch enthusiasts, as it makes the watch visually unique to its owner's wearing history.

Bronze watch cases appeared prominently in the enthusiast market from the mid-2010s — Panerai's bronze Luminor being an early and influential example. Christopher Ward's bronze Trident brings the material to a more accessible price point.

Trident Competition and Positioning

The Trident competes directly with:

• Seiko Prospex range (Japanese dive watches, similar prices)
• Oris Aquis (Swiss, 300m, significantly higher price)
• Tissot Seastar 1000 (Swatch Group, Swiss made, similar specification)
• Longines HydroConquest (Swiss, higher price)

Against these competitors, the Trident's argument is consistent: more specification for less money than Swiss alternatives, better build quality than Japanese alternatives at the same price. The argument has resonance in the enthusiast community, where the Trident regularly appears in "value dive watch" discussions alongside much more expensive competitors.

Retail prices: approximately £600–1,400 depending on reference and complication.