Search Results

At a lunar-themed launch event last night at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, Christopher Ward unveiled their sublime new timepiece, the C1 Moonphase. It joins the highly-regarded C1 Moonglow as a piece with a photo-realistic moonphase complication, although the moons here are 25 percent larger than on the Moonglow, and glow bright white when the watch is in the dark. Combined with that, its unique aventurine dial offers a sparkle reminiscent of the night sky. We had the chance to get briefly hands-on with the C1 Moonphase, and are definitely impressed by what we've seen. In the preceding presentation, Jorg Bader Sr. referred to the watch as being a piece of art, and that's certainly true. With no defined markers or indices, the C1 Moonphase focuses all of your attention on its gorgeous dial. The aventurine glass used is unique on every iteration of the watch, given that every piece of the glass is different, and it catches the light beautifully. The fact the dial isn't lumed either apart from on the revolving moons is also a nice touch, given it helps to keep your attention on the whole reason the watch exists - the moonphase complication made possible by the JJ04 module that the C1 Moonphase packs inside. The lack of any branding on the dial also presents how confident Christopher Ward is in letting the watch do the talking. To even get a sniff of the manufacturer, you have to look at the C1 Moonphase from the side, where the twin flags logo is present on the crown. On the underside is an exhibition caseback, complete with a branded rotor that proudly displays 'Christopher Ward'. Apart from that, however, things are kept nicely minimalistic. The samples present came on the Italian leather strap, whose dark blue colour matches well with the dial colour underneath all its sparkle. It's a supremely comfortable strap with seemingly similar leather to that of the C1 Moonglow, while also featuring a deployment clasp for easy take-off. The C1 Moonphase is also available on the brand's new Consort bracelet if you want something a little more regal, but for me, the leather strap helps the watch look even dressier. Both straps come with quick-release tabs if, for whatever reason, you want to change things. Its 40.5mm thickness is identical to the C1 Moonglow, but the new option appears to wear a little smaller than that size would suggest, at least on my wrist. The 47.9mm lug-to-lug gives it plenty of presence on a smaller wrist like mine, although, at 13.3mm in thickness, it is quite chunky. It'll still be slender enough to get under jacket cuffs and the like, although, with such a gorgeous watch, I could see myself rolling my sleeves up simply so it was on show as often as possible. A total weight of 92g, strap included, also provides it with some nice heft. The Light Catcher case on offer rounds off the dressier and classy looks nicely, with sublime finishing. As much as I've waxed lyrical about the case before, it perhaps works best in conjunction with everything else on the C1 Moonphase, sparkly dial and three-dimensional moons included. Others at the event bemoaned the lack of indices or any further dial details, but it was pretty much love at first sight for me here. Inside, the C1 Moonphase packs in the tried-and-tested Sellita SW200-1 movement, which is a reliable Swiss-made choice which Christopher Ward has used a lot in the past. It's a 26-jewel movement that offers solid accuracy with a tolerance of +/- 20 seconds per day, as well as a 38-hour power reserve. As much as that's all well and good, adding the JJ04 module to allow for the moonphase is where things get more exciting. The JJ04 module adds a moonphase that tracks with the hour hand, so the moon can slowly move across the dial (and night sky if you will). Set it right, and Christopher Ward says it'll be accurate to one day in 128 years. On this point before unveiling the watch, Christopher Ward CEO Mike France stated that if after that time you have an issue with your moonphase watch, then you can go to the brand for a full refund. He may have been joking, but it's clear to see there's a lot of faith in the JJ04 module, and the C1 Moonphase itself. So, how much does all this cost? Well, with any other brand's logo present, it could easily fetch into the high five figures and possibly even more. However, the C1 Moonphase doesn't go for anywhere near that. On the leather strap, it's £1,995/$2,325/€2,495, and on the Consort bracelet, it's £2,120/$2,475/€2,655, which to me is quite reasonable for the overall quality on offer. It's a toss-up between this and the C1 Moonglow for me, but Christopher Ward's latest offering might just take it. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

The Nodus Watches Retrospect III may be the oldest watch in the American brand's back catalogue, but it remains a reliable and stylish option for some exceptional value for money. In the grand scheme of things, the £475 price tag for the Retrospect III isn’t too much for what you’re getting, and for those wanting a solid tool watch with a great bracelet, it’s definitely one to consider - allow me to explain why. Nodus Watches Retrospect III Design - A deep blue dial, with lots of little details You can grab the Retrospect III in a choice of four colours - there’s Salmon Sky, Flare Orange, Cosmic Sky, and the one I’ve got here, Nebula Blue. All of them have their own texture and look to them, but I think the deep Nebula Blue is my favourite. Much like the Sector Sport I looked at a few weeks ago, the Retrospect III is comprised of industry-standard 316L stainless steel, and its brushed and polished edges look fantastic. It catches the light well, and combined with its deep blue dial, looks truly excellent. This is a bit of a larger watch, though, with a 42mm case size. Its proportions are marvellous with a 48mm lug to lug, and the Retrospect III is a watch that carries a fair bit of presence with it when on wrist. There’s something remarkably clean about the entire fit and finish, with the solid case finishing, blue sandwich dial and inward-sloping dive bezel that the Retrospect III has. This is also inspired by dive watches from days gone by, with the concave bezel also featured on similar retro-inspired models such as certain Rado Captain Cooks and the Breitling Superocean Heritage ‘57. That certainly puts the Retrospect III in good company. There’s also the same H-link bracelet that features some quality finishing, while it also comes with solid end links and drilled lugs, as well as Nodus’ own NodeX extension clasp. The bracelet tapers well on the wrist, although if you want to swap the strap out for anything else, you’ve got quick-release pins to do so. As a watch with 22mm lugs, you should also be spoilt for choice when it comes to any straps to use. Even for a slightly larger piece, the crown on the Retrospect III is large, and screw-down to help with the watch’s 200 metres of water resistance. It is also grippy to use, and it was easy to set both the time and date with ease. The flat sapphire crystal also works well with that inward-sloping bezel and gives the Retrospect III a wonderfully clean and sharp aesthetic. As mentioned previously, it’s the Nebula Blue dial that had me sold immediately on the Retrospect III. Much like with the William Wood Watches Bronze Sapphire, it’s also a sandwich dial, with cut-outs for the hour markers sitting beneath the fume dark blue and black dial. There’s a lot of depth here, and I can’t take my eye off what’s on offer. Catch the light right, and the Retrospect III has sometimes thrown me for a similarly-coloured Rado Captain Cook I’ve been pining for quite some time. There’s minimal writing or details on the dial beside the Nodus logo and the word ‘Retrospect’ printed at 6 o’clock. You also get a colour-matched date wheel for added convenience, with a similar font to the numbers on the bezel. Much like with the Sector Sport though, the minimalistic nature of the dial lends itself to the point that it's clear Nodus cares more that the watch speaks for itself, as opposed to feeling the need to plaster its branding all over it. The sword and dagger handset fits in well with the cut-out triangular hour markers, while the arrow seconds hand with its small red outline on the arrowhead provides a small, but welcome contrast, and pops nicely. The concave bezel also features the same red outline, bringing things together nicely. The reverse of the caseback is plain but has some useful information concerning the watch’s 200 metres of water resistance, and the fact the watch is made of stainless steel. Nodus also proudly declares the Retrospect III is ‘Designed and Assembled in Los Angeles’. They actually moved their assembly process back to the United States after experiencing issues with overseas assembly, which definitely seems to have worked out in Nodus’ favour, as they can oversee every element of the process. Nodus Watches Retrospect III Performance and Wearability - A great bracelet, and excellent movement for the price The Retrospect III is certainly a comfortable piece, with good proportions and and excellent H-link bracelet. The cut-out hour markers fit are especially legible, and also allow the dial to offer some brilliant legibility even in the dark - for the price, it’s some of the best lume performance I’ve seen. This is a great watch to pair with a wide range of outfits, and I wore it mostly with casual wear. It’s marvellous with shorts and t-shirts, especially as a dive watch and as an everyday piece if you’re going out, although with a darker and more interesting dial (or a new strap), you can also pair it with some more formal wear, too. Its 13mm thickness makes it a little on the chunkier side, but it still should fit under a coat cuff no problem at all. The fact it’s a bit thicker is in the name of providing a workhorse Japanese movement - in thia case, it’s the Seiko NH35, the same as is in the William Wood Watches Bronze Sapphire. Except, it fits well with the Retrospect III, as a watch that’s under half the cost. The NH35 offers some decent performance, with an accuracy of + 20/- 40 seconds per day, as well as a decent 38 hours of power reserve. It’s also regulated at Nodus in four different positions before it leaves their factory. Combined with this, the Retrospect III also comes with 200 metres of water resistance. It’s suitable for you to take scuba diving, and this option from Nodus is a proper diver’s piece. Verdict The Nodus Watches Retrospect III is a gorgeous diver’s watch for rather reasonable money. It’s finished well, and offers a vibrant and interesting dial, and associated dial furniture. The H-link bracelet is great for the price, too, and helps the Retrospect III to be an especially comfortable choice. The Seiko NH35 movement inside also makes the Sector Sport an accurate and reliable timepiece, with a solid power reserve to boot. If you’re looking for a retro-inspired dial with a lot to like about it, then the Retrospect III is a fantastic option. Rating: 4.5/5 You can purchase the Retrospect III from Watch Gecko here. Nodus Watches provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

I love it when a brand has an interesting story to tell, and the William Wood Watches Bronze Sapphire offers an excellent chance for the brand to do so. It's a sleek looking diver's watch that combines heritage and a wonderful story with a well-crafted timepiece to offer a brilliant overall package. From the outset, I should say I love the Bronze Sapphire to pieces, and I'm certainly considering picking one up at some point in the future. At £920, it's also pretty well priced and makes for an intriguing proposition for those wanting a left-field dive watch with a lot to like about it. William Wood Watches Bronze Sapphire Design - A touch of class The Bronze Sapphire is quite the smart-looking watch and the dark, navy blue strap and bezel match wonderfully with the bronze case and brass crown. It's more subtle than the likes of Christopher Ward's C65 Dune Automatic, but still remains quite eye-catching. The 41mm case size fits my wrist well, and the Bronze Sapphire provides some wearable proportions for a variety of wrist sizes. This gives it a little more presence than some of the smaller watches I've worn in the past, as does the 49mm lug-to-lug. Its 16mm thickness including the double domed sapphire crystal glass gives it a nice retro aesthetic, as well as a chunky frame that fits well with its story. Before taking a closer look at the dial, allow me to explore the story and heritage associated with the Bronze Sapphire, and William Wood Watches as a brand. Jonny Garrett is the man who founded William Wood Watches back in 2016, and the brand is named after his grandfather who served in the British Fire Service in Newcastle for 25 years. Each of the brand's watches seeks to build on that firefighting heritage, incorporating it into the build process. With this Bronze Sapphire, the crown is comprised of brass from a fireman's helmet from the same area as where Garrett's grandfather served, while the top side of the strap is made from reclaimed fire hose. It's the personality that's injected into the manufacturing that I just love about the Bronze Sapphire, as well as the fact it's a good looking piece, too. The dial itself is a sandwich dial, with the navy blue top featuring circular cutouts as hour markers for the off-white sheet below. Combined with the domed crystal and checkered seconds track, it gives the Bronze Sapphire's dial some depth and texture, despite its singular colour. Its hands match the bronze casing well, and feature large luminous inserts to help the Bronze Sapphire's ability to glow in the dark. Its lettering is a singular colour, details the fact the company are based in London, that the watch is automatic, and it features 100 metres of water resistance. There's also a black and white date wheel at 3 o' clock for added convenience. The Bronze Sapphire's dial may be simple, but it's certainly effective. Returning back to the case for a moment, the brushed finishing here is excellent, and the fact it's comprised of bronze is a nice touch. This is more of a left-field material compared to the sea of 316L stainless steel that you usually see in and around the £1000 price mark. It also makes the Bronze Sapphire a more affordable choice compared to the Christopher Ward C65 Aquitaine Bronze, for instance. The rubberised strap feels excellent on wrist, too, while the reclaimed fire hose offers some more texture and harks back to the heritage of the Bronze Sapphire. If, for whatever reason, you do want to change it out, though, it is a quick-release option, although I can't see why you would. What's more, with 20mm lugs, you'll be sure to find plenty of other options. The strap is also available in a host of other colours, including Red, Yellow, Purple and Green. The crown is made of brass, as opposed to bronze, but is made from reclaimed brass firefighter helmets that are a century older. Its colour matches well with the bronze casing, and it's also grippy, and a screw-down crown, too. There is also a boxed sapphire crystal which brings both the benefit of excellent, retro-inspired looks, as well as providing glass that is virtually unscratchable. The reverse of the case is home to an exhibition caseback where you can see the watch's rotor, complete with William Wood Watches text and helmet logo, as well as seeing the movement whirring away. It's a nice touch, even if it's perhaps a little unnecessary. William Wood Watches Bronze Sapphire Performance and Wearability - Rather comfortable, and with a reliable movement The Bronze Sapphire's 41mm case diameter, and longer 49mm lug to lug means it filled my wrist well, and was rather comfortable to wear for a few weeks. The navy blue and bronze colour combination matched well with a variety of outfits too, especially considering my fashion tastes are quite dark colours as it is. Despite its proportions, the Bronze Sapphire doesn't feel too heavy on wrist, and its 16mm thickness gives it a lot of presence, and certainly makes it stand out. Fitting it under a cuff might be more of a challenge, but more rugged coats and jackets will also pair well as we enter the autumn months. As opposed to opting for a Swiss-made calibre, the Bronze Sapphire has gone with a Japanese automatic movement that's popular amongst microbrands. Everyone from William Wood Watches to Nodus Watches (such as on their Sector Sport) makes use of Seiko movements, and this Bronze Sapphire utilises a Seiko NH35. It's a reasonably reliable movement with a tolerance of -20/+40 seconds per day, and its 41-hour power reserve provides enough endurance when fully wound for it to last for nearly a couple of days, and is perfectly adequate. However, for a watch that's nearing four figures in terms of price, a Swiss-made calibre would have justified that price tag a little more. The Bronze Sapphire also provides 100m of water resistance, which means you can take it into the water, especially with that screw-down crown, but don't go down too far. It's a watch with a diver's aesthetic, although lacks the full extent of the water resistance needed to go as deep as some may wish to go. Verdict The William Wood Watches Bronze Sapphire is a gorgeous-looking and feeling watch with a wonderful story to go with it. Its case finishing is excellent, while the use of bronze alongside its navy blue colour looks fantastic. The proportions it offers are great, and it's rather comfortable to wear, suiting well with a variety of outfits. While the Seiko movement it uses inside is reliable, it may not necessarily be the best option in this price bracket. Nonetheless, the Bronze Sapphire is a wonderful choice for those wanting a clean-looking piece that's comfortable, well-finished and with a fabulous story to tell. Rating: 4.5/5 You can purchase the Bronze Sapphire for £920 from William Wood Watches here. William Wood Watches provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

The Rec Watches 901 GW Chelsea represents an intriguing timepiece for those wanting a bold-looking, automotive-infused option. Unlike the Tourer Onyx I looked at a few weeks ago, this is a limited-run piece that sees the Danish manufacturer collaborate with Gunther Werks, an American manufacturer dedicated to offering resto-mod Porsche 911s with some intriguing modifications. The 901 GW Chelsea doesn't come cheap, though, sitting at £1995, but if you're in the market for a big, bold chronograph with lots to like about it, this may well be one to consider. Rec Watches 901 GW Chelsea Design - Big, boxy and utilitarian The 901 GW is available in two colourways, the Chelsea I've got here, with arguably a more subtle grey and black colour scheme, complete with red accents, as well as also being offered in a lighter blue and orange colour called 'Exoskeleton'. Personally, I prefer this more subtle form, although you may prefer the other option. This is a big, and bold-looking piece with a larger 44mm case, complete with a thick 14.6mm case. It certainly has a lot of authority when on the wrist with some welcome flair on the angled chronograph pushers, the red accented crown, and protruding angles on the left-hand side, complete with 'Gunther Werks' engraving. With this in mind, its 46mm lug-to-lug feels a little more restrained, meaning the 901 GW Chelsea didn't look disproportionately large on my wrist, even if the initial dimensions may seem that way. The case here is comprised of the industry-standard 316L stainless steel, and with its segmented edges, gives the 901 GW Chelsea quite a rugged and industrial look. It's a watch with a lot of heft to it, too, compared to others I've looked at, reinforcing that price tag. Intriguingly, the salvaged carbon fibre Rec has used with the 901 GW is inside the case, as opposed to being on the dial, like they usually do. It's a case comprised of six layers, with the carbon fibre in the middle. A closer inspection of the dial reveals it to be slightly open-worked, as well as carrying a lot of depth to it. It's an intricate system of layers that provide you with a peek at the movement beneath, which I'm always partial to. Across the middle are converging lines that resemble strut braces, designed to stiffen a car's chassis. It also contains three sub-dials, including a running seconds hand on the left, a 30-minute dial on the right, and a 12-hour chronograph counter at the 6 o'clock position. A wise move from Rec was to inset the tachymeter scale into the case itself, as opposed to having it on the bezel. The markers are still legible at a glance but aren't placed where you'd traditionally expect them. Combined with this, the red tip on the white second hand is a nice touch. Otherwise, the sword and dagger hands are black with a generous helping of lume applied to them, offsetting the darker dial nicely. The hour markers are small, although it's a nice touch that the 'X' pattern lines up with the markers at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock. The Rec and Gunther Werks logos are in the top centre, although are small, and barely noticeable unless you look for them. Clearly, the dial and its various intricacies do the talking here. The strap here is a major improvement over the one found on the Tourer Onyx I looked at a while ago. The one on the 901 GW Chelsea is comprised of calf leather, which is comfortable, combined with red stitching for a bit of flair and some Alcantara inserts, continuing the automotive theming with some lovely materials. The 901 GW Chelsea features a closed caseback, complete with a nice engraving of the 'X' pattern featured on the dial. In the middle of that is the watch's number - this piece is number 148 out of 232 made. Other than the large engraving, the caseback features information in each corner detailing the watch's 50 metres of water resistance, as well as the fact it's automatic and Swiss made. It also contains the watch's reference number. Rec Watches 901 GW Chelsea Performance And Wearability - Weighty, but generally comfortable Normally, with a watch that's 44mm wide and 14.6mm thick, you'd expect to wear rather large, and therefore be a bit of a behemoth in day-to-day wear. However, that wasn't the case with the 901 GW Chelsea. With a shorter lug-to-lug, it wears smaller than the case diameter would initially suggest and feels more like a 42mm watch than a 44mm one. A As much as it fits well on my wrist, this makes for an especially heavy watch that can take some getting used to. With its more sporty and automotive-inspired looks, this is a piece that pairs well with more casual wear, as opposed to anything a bit more formal, although those more out-there looks could restrict you a tad. Inside, the 901 GW Chelsea features a solid Swiss-made Sellita SW510 B calibre with its cam-operated chronograph complication. It's a reasonably accurate movement with a tolerance of +/- 15 seconds per day, while the second hand provides a great sweep. When fully wound, this movement will provide you with a power reserve of 62 hours, giving you some solid endurance, too. The only issue generally is that there's only 5ATM water resistance, meaning it's suitable for withstanding splashes of water, such as rain or snow, but nothing more. Verdict The Rec Watches 901 GW Chelsea is a decent, big and bold chronograph for the price. It looks good, with a detailed and layered dial and an industrial design that brings its automotive roots to the front and centre. It's pretty comfortable too with a great strap, although you will have to watch out for the hefty feel of the case. The Sellita movement inside provides an excellent power reserve and good accuracy, too. Overall, if you want an automotive-inspired chronograph with a lot to like about it, this is a good option. You can purchase the 901 GW Chelsea for £1995 from Rec Watches here (limited to 232 pieces). Rec Watches provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

The Christopher Ward C65 Dune Automatic represents the British-Swiss brand's fresh take on an age-old watch style - field watches. They've always carried a very traditional look to them that makes them a favourite of those wanting a go-anywhere, do-anything sort of watch. This latest entry from Christopher Ward looks to offer an intriguing proposition for those wanting a watch for just about any occasion, and at £760, it makes for a great value option in its price bracket. Christopher Ward C65 Dune Automatic Design - Retro looks with a classy and understated finish I should say before going any further that it's possible to get the C65 Dune Automatic in a number of different colour dial and strap combinations. There are four dial colours - Marine Blue, White Sand, Beachgrass (which is a dark green), and the Black Sand colour I've got here. As for straps, it can come on the brand's Bader bracelet, a Green Vintage Oak Leather strap (only available with the White Sand and Beachgrass dials), a Camel Canvas Webbing Strap and the Camel Vintage Oak Leather strap I've got here. Each of these vary in price between £750 on the canvas strap, £760 on the leather, and then a jump up to £915 on the bracelet. The configuration I've got is firmly in the middle of that. The C65 Dune Automatic is an excellent looking watch, especially with the contrast afforded by the sunray black dial and the polished stainless steel case that catches the light supremely well. Christopher Ward has such faith in that, as the case is called a 'Lightcatcher', and it certainly is one. The 38mm case size is ideal for my wrist, and means the C65 Dune Automatic is able to offer some solid proportions on a variety of wrist sizes. It's a nice happy medium size between some of the smaller watches in my collection, such as my 32mm Hamilton Ventura and the larger Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow I had a couple of months ago. The 43.6mm lug to lug is a little short compared to other watches I've used, but I quite like its more petite proportions. The dial itself on first glance may not be that exciting, with tan-coloured markers, sword and dagger hands, and the small twin-flags logo Christopher Ward has begun to use. However, the devil is in the details; dig deeper, and you'll find there's a lot more to this dial than initially meets the eye. There is a slight sunray effect to the Black Sand colour I've got here, which gives it this nice sheen when it catches the light, while it is offset by the tan-coloured round markers, which give it the look of a well-worn, patinaed vintage piece. That move is deliberate, and in a way emphasises the C65 Dune Automatic's rugged nature. What's more, the Christopher Ward logo is slightly raised, with a brushed finish, and is applied. It looks excellent, as does the small text at six o'clock, with the red contrast for 'Automatic', and the small date wheel that matches the dial nicely. That red 'Automatic' lettering immediately warranted a comparison to a Rolex Submariner 1680, complete with red text. While I've never thought of Christopher Ward as a homage brand, it's more of a pleasant nod to desirable watches of the past. The Camel Vintage Oak Leather strap present on my sample also aids in emphasising the rugged nature of the C65 Dune Automatic, and it's a smooth feeling strap that aids in justifying the C65 Dune Automatic's price point well,. If you do want to change it out, though, it is a quick-release option. What's more, with 20mm lugs, you'll be sure to find plenty of other options. The C65 Dune Automatic's crown is both grippy and screw-down, too. It isn't the largest, continuing the smaller proportions of the watch, but is still grippy. There is also a boxed sapphire crystal which brings both the benefit of excellent, retro-inspired looks, as well as providing glass that is virtually unscratchable. The reverse of the case is home to an exhibition caseback where you can see the elaboré-finished rotor, complete with Christopher Ward text, as well as the movement whirring away. It's a nice touch, even if it's perhaps a little unnecessary. Christopher Ward C65 Dune Automatic Performance and Wearability - Great proportions, and supremely comfortable The C65 Dune Automatic's slightly shorter lug-to-lug and 38mm case diameter made it an especially comfortable wear on my wrist, especially when paired with the excellent leather strap on offer. For the few weeks I had it available, it became my go-to piece for virtually any occasion. It works well when paired with a range of casual and more relaxed wear, especially in these warmer summer months. With that being said, it could easily be paired with jackets for more of a formal occasion, or when the weather gets a little colder. The 85g weight, strap included, means it isn't too heavy on the wrist, but there's enough heft present to remind you that this is a quality timepiece. A thickness of 11.7mm means this is slender enough to fit under any cuffs or jackets, and doesn't feel obtuse on the wrist, either. Inside, the C65 Dune Automatic opts for a tried-and-tested Swiss made Sellita SW200-1 calibre. It provides some reasonable accuracy with a tolerance of +/- 20 seconds per day, while its second-hand offers a decent sweep. It hits the markers with solid accuracy, while its lollipop shape offers a nice contrast to the sword and dagger handset. 38 hours of power reserve is decent, too, meaning you should be able to take it off for a day or so, and come back to it, and the C65 Dune Automatic's movement will keep on ticking. That's handy if you swap out your watches every day, and don't want the hassle of consistently rewinding one. The C65 Dune Automatic also provides 150m of water resistance, which means you can take it into the water and engage in some underwater activities without worrying. Just don't go down too far - you'll want to look for a dedicated dive watch for this purpose. Verdict The Christopher Ward C65 Dune Automatic is a fantastic do-anything watch that's available for what is a solid price. It offers some of the best case-finishing in this price bracket, while its sunray black dial is understated but brings out the best in the way this piece looks. Its proportions for my wrist are marvellous, and it's one of the most comfortable watches I've worn in a long time on the leather strap. The Sellita movement inside is reasonably accurate and offers a good power reserve, too. If you're after a classy, but understated watch for virtually any occasion, the C65 Dune Automatic should definitely be on your radar. Rating: 4.5/5 You can purchase the C65 Dune Automatic for £760 from Christopher Ward here. Christopher Ward provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

The first thing I do every morning when I wake up is turn my phone on and check Twitter. I don’t know why I do, but for the last few years, it’s been a fixture of my morning routine, besides tea, of course; always tea. When I check Twitter, it’s always the usual doomscrolling in search of an interesting tidbit of news I can ponder on for the rest of the day, or tell someone who may or may not care. When this past Saturday rolled around, I didn’t have to search very far - in fact, it was the first thing I saw: Upon reading the above Tweet concerning the passing of one Jimmy Buffett, I stopped scrolling, clicked on the post, and then locked my phone, putting it down on the bedside table. I was stunned. The effervescent beach-bum balladeer had passed away. The man whose laid-back style and carefree trop-rock sound had soundtracked my life for virtually my entire twenty-one-year existence was gone. At seventy-six years old, no less - that’s no age to go, not least when you’re someone who, on the surface, has lived life how it’s meant to be - to the fullest, doing whatever you want, when you want. Of course, as someone with ounces of business acumen only Uncle Warren could beat and with a fifty-plus year-long music career full of rich tales and countless albums, he was someone who had more than earned the chance to do whatever he wanted. With that in mind though, Buffett wasn’t someone who just sat back. He was consistently involved in areas that normal folks would consider outside the usual realm of responsibility for a musician. He was a restauranteur, a hotelier, a best-selling author on several occasions, and he even had his own beer. Hell, for the last couple of years, he ran his own cruise line - and that’s putting it all in simple terms. In amongst all of this, he still toured consistently every year, bringing that laid-back signature style to tens of thousands in amphitheatres and arenas across the US, as well as to several more thousands over the airwaves and on TV, with the advent of Radio Margaritaville and live-streaming shows online. On a personal level, Buffett was someone rarely heard of in England. Radio coverage is rare on any station here, and if it is, it’s either Margaritaville or It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. For live performances, he’s technically only been here three times. The first at the Concert for Montserrat back in 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall. Flanked by Robert Greenidge and Ralph MacDonald, he launched into a reworked version of Volcano, featuring lines such as ‘So I took a plane to London town/Brought along some island sound/Gotta make some noise, gotta raise some hell…’. The shots of the crowd from the broadcast display surprise or maybe disgust at Buffett’s raising-of-hell, and perhaps in response to this, he wasn’t heard of in London again for twelve long years. A show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in July 2009 marked his second appearance, to a crowd who weren’t so stuffy, and sang in full voice across the set. This isn’t a show I went to personally, being seven at the time, and because we were simply unaware of its occurrence. However, the next time he came to England, if there was a ‘next time’, we vowed to be there. On a cold December morning in 2018, both my parents were doing the school run, which was an oddity. As we entered into the village where my school was, my mother scrolled through Facebook, and proclaimed that Jimmy Buffett was coming to London next year. We’d only been talking about the chances of this happening a few weeks prior when he had done his run of shows at La Cigale in Paris, which we also vowed to do at one point, and there was a picture of him and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits near Hyde Park. The day of reckoning came and we snapped up the best tickets we could, a few rows back in the stalls of the London Palladium. A few months later, and we’re standing outside the stage door of the Palladium where a small crowd has gathered, anticipating something. Soon enough, a black van pulls up next to us, and out gets a burly security guard, and the man whose songs had soundtracked all of my life - Jimmy Buffett. He was real. We were a few too many people behind to get to say hello, and even when my mother thought she could even get a small chance to say hello, the burly security guard simply shoved her out of the way. Nonetheless, we managed to snap an odd couple of photos of the man himself, including my favourite photo I think any one of us has ever taken: I don’t know what it is about that photo as to why I love it so much - the fact it’s Jimmy Buffett, the amazing facial expression, or the moment of being there - but it remains a photo that captures the spirit of that day. We sat in the pub across from the Palladium for a few hours before the show started, the Argyll Arms, which was already full of people donning Hawaiiian shirts and the typical Parrothead garb that American concertgoers would be used to. Inevitably, we got talking to people, but only a handful of them were British. Most seemed to be Americans who had followed Buffett over from the ‘States to three total dates in Europe, London being the middle one. This was testament to how unknown Buffett was in England, where a theatre show didn’t seem to draw a large crowd. A few hours passed, and the queue to get into the Palladium moved slowly. We finally got into the theatre, bought our now priceless merchandise, and sat in our seats. Before Buffett came on was Hawaiiian ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro as the special guest, now all grown up compared to the original glimpse we’d gotten of him on the Live In Angulla CD/DVD set from 2007 when he was a member of the Coral Reefer Band. He was truly excellent, even if his set was only half an hour. After a short interval came the main act - the man who we had been waiting to see for the best part of twenty years. Buffett’s set was fantastic, slotting in some lesser-played tracks across the set compared to the ‘Big 8’, including a cover of Everybody’s Talkin’, Jamaica Mistaica, Oldest Surfer on the Beach and the Grateful Dead’s Scarlet Begonias. It wasn’t so much the setlist that I was enraptured by, but more to do with the entire occasion. This was something that had been on my personal and familial bucklet list for years, and the feeling of warmth and surprise at seeing him and the rest of the fantastic Coral Reefer band on stage is something I’ll cherish forever. If you’re interested, at the time, I wrote a review of that Palladium show, for more details. It isn’t just the live experience that summed up Buffett, though. His studio output across the years was enviable - he was a man beyond a hit single, and beyond a select few tracks that people think of. He most definitely is not just the man who wrote ‘that song about cheeseburgers’ as I’ve read on some social media comments these last few days. His post-Margaritaville output may have shifted to fit the laid-back, beach bum persona that he had cultivated, but his work remains rich and vibrant, straddling so many different genres and styles. Everything from fun rock and roll (Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost) to rap sections (Overkill) and the more traditional waters of the honest and observational singer-songwriter (Woman ‘Goin Crazy on Caroline Street) and his classic trop-rock sound (Lage Nom Ai) is typically Buffett. There is so much more to Buffett’s output than his own string of hits and collaborations with others, most notably Alan Jackson, and there perhaps isn’t an artist out there with as diverse of a discography as him. Picking a favourite out of them is difficult, but it’s his honest singer-songwriter tracks, in the vein of Gordon Lightfoot, Jerry Jeff Walker and James Taylor, that sit the best. Those early to mid-seventies albums - A White Sport Coat And A Pink Crustacean, Living And Dying In ¾ Time, A1A - are full of this sort of thing. It doesn’t get better than the likes of They Don’t Dance Like Carmen No More, The Wino And I Know and Nautical Wheelers. Whichever Buffett album is your poison though, they’re all a treasure of trove of magical songs only a cultured songsmith could curate. Then there are songs I’ve loved for many years for personal reasons. Autour Du Rocher has been present there for a long time, given how influential the Live In Anguilla set was ever since I watched it for the first time as a kid. Both That’s What Living Is To Me and King of Somewhere Hot have been favourites for the exact same reason. Banana Wind is one I had on an MP3 player as a child, and is a song I’ve called ‘Lazy River music’ for at least 12 years. That stems from it being one I associate with both relaxation and my mother’s insistence to remain in the Lazy Rivers at both Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks. Wherever I’ve been in life, Buffett has gone with me. Whether it was as a fixture in the endless rotation of music in the family car, or in the flesh when I saw him at the Palladium, there’s no denying his influence. No other artist has singlehandedly soundtracked my life like he has, and it’s still hard to come to terms with the fact he’s gone. Everyone will have their stories of the personal resonance they feel with Buffett, and these are just mine. Thanks for being part of our lives, Jimmy. Sail on, sailor - there’ll never be anyone quite like you. He's somewhere on the ocean now A place he outta be With one hand on the starboard rail He's wavin' back at me The Captain And The Kid, Down To Earth, 1970.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to more accurately reflect the changes to MX Blues. Gamescom 2023 has already seen some notable announcements in terms of hardware, but on a personal level, this is the most exciting. Longstanding German keyboard manufacturer CHERRY has unveiled their latest revision to the MX line of keyswitches. First released in 1983, the introduction of the new MX2A generation marks arguably the biggest leap forward for decades. We'd already seen some moves late last year by the company with the release of the MX Ergo Clear and MX Black Clear Top switches, but the move to MX2A affects the more 'standard' lines of MX Red, Black, Brown, Speed Silver and Silent Red, as well as their RGB variants. MX Blue unfortunately isn't going to be taking advantage of a couple of the brand new features - most notably the factory lubrication, as well as the move to a barrel spring. So, what's new? Well, CHERRY says MX2A will be factory lubricated using a compound similar to the standard Krytox 205 Grade 0, potentially preventing the issues that users have had with their switches being scratchy on first use. What's more, the springs themselves have moved from being cylindrical in shape to what CHERRY calls 'barrel geometry', further improving the smoothness and consistency of a keypress, while also utilising the brand's 'Hyperglide' tooling for a smoother keypress. Also in the name of negating any issues with scratchiness out of the box, MX2A brings with it an 'enhanced socket design', with the addition of a convex dome in the switch's bottom housing to help keep the spring centered. This surface is also diamond-polished, which is designed to offer super-smooth operation. As well as updating the spring geometry, the same treatment has also been applied to the switch stems. Here, the company has added six ribs to the stem, which they call the 'crown'. This ensures that the spring is consistently centred, in turn reducing key wobble and improving switch feeling and acoustics. Acoustics has become a major part of how people view certain switches in the last few years with the unparalleled rise of enthusiast-level interest in mechanical keyboards, and improvements there should help MX2A to no end. With all of these new innovations, the heart of MX has remained the same. MX's Gold Crosspoint contacts remain, bringing with them a lifespan exceeding 100 million clicks for certain switch variants, as well as an especially quick debounce time of less than 1ms. Gold Crosspoints also support high polling rates too (more than 1000Hz), meaning when paired with the right keyboard, could help to put CHERRY back on top in the competitive gaming scene. As well as the switches themselves, MX2A is going to be featured in a brand-new product, coming out later this year. The CHERRY XTRFY K5 V2 has been announced alongside MX2A, and builds on what is one of my favourite keyboards at the moment, the standard CHERRY XTRFY K5. It brings with it virtually endless customisation with everything from switches to stabilisers, and even the logo plate. What's more, the K5 V2 also features super-scan technology for faster detection of keystrokes, as well as strip RGB lighting. It also comes with a metal top plate, pre-lubricated stabilisers and two layers of sound-dampening foam. Combined with MX2A, it sounds like the K5 V2 could be a great sounding keyboard right out of the box. CHERRY says MX2A will be available for the general public later on this year, but is available for B2B orders starting from now - exciting times ahead. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

In my hunt for finding more brands and watches to take a look at on UNTITLED, the Nodus Watches Sector Sport particularly caught my eye. This area of more rugged-looking tool watches is an area often filled by a slew of different brands, but the Sector Sport in its Glacial stood out to me for a variety of reasons, including its left-field dial colour, as well as exceptional value for money at £475, which I'll come onto in due course. Nodus Watches Sector Sport Design - Gorgeous, polar inspired looks Right from the outset, I should say that the Sector Sport is available in two colourways. You can either get it with a Salmon Pink dial, or you can opt for this light blue colour which Nodus calls 'Glacial'. The Sector Sport is a good-looking watch. Right off the bat, I was impressed by the combination of its brushed and polished 316L stainless steel case and its sunray light blue dial that certainly catches the light. That combo makes for an eye-catching design on-wrist that somehow also manages to remain understated. For my wrist, a 38mm case size is ideal, and presents the happy medium between a larger 40mm or 41mm piece like the Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow, and a smaller 36mm option. It's an ideal size for a variety of wrist sizes, and virtually anyone can wear the Sector Sport comfortably without it looking out of place. Its 47mm lug to lug also fits well. The H-link bracelet on offer here is well-made with some quality finishing, too. It also comes with drilled lugs, a milled clasp and solid end links, which taper well when on-wrist, and don't stick out too much. The bracelet come with quick release pins, if you did want to change the strap, too. The Sector Sport's crown is both grippy and screw-down, too. It's quite large proportionately to the watch, but helps along any retro sensibilities it may have. Speaking of retro sensibilities, the slightly raised sapphire crystal also looks good too, as well as providing glass that is virtually unscratachable. When taking a closer look at the dial, it's here where the Sector Sport really shines in its Glacial colourway. The polar blue dial, with a raised chapter ring and in-set centre section, seems to divide opinion with those I've shown the Sector Sport to, but to me, it looks excellent. It's simple enough without being at all bland, and combined with the white hour markers, shines well in brighter light. The Nodus logo is front and centre in the in-set centre section of the dial, but remains small enough to be unobtrusive. It's clear Nodus cares more that the watch speaks for itself, as opposed to feeling the need to plaster its branding all over it. There are line hour markers everywhere except for the larger 3, 6, and 9 numbers, which provide a nice change, and help the dial to be especially legible. The rounded syringe hands offer the same look as the markers, helping the Sector Sport to look generally excellent. Its second hand hits the markers with solid accuracy, while its black spindly chassis provides a nice contrast to the brighter dial. The reverse of the caseback is home to a few interesting touches. Arguably the most important of these is the statement that the Sector Sport, like other watches that Nodus produces is 'Designed and Assembled in Los Angeles'. Nodus is a brand who have a strong belief in quality control, and actually moved their assembly process back to the USA after experiencing some issues with overseas assembly. It would appear this has worked out in their favour, if the Sector Sport is anything to by. Also on the caseback is an interesting pattern of concentric circles, which is a nice touch, as well as information about the watch's 100m of water resistance. Nodus Watches Sector Sport Performance and wearability - Reliable, and rather comfortable The combination of a 38mm case diameter and 47mm lug to lug, as well as an excellent H-link bracelet, makes the Sector Sport a rather comfortable wear. Its proportions are just right, and it was a joy to have the Sector Sport on my wrist for a couple of weeks. With that brighter dial and excellent case finishing, it makes the Sector Sport an ideal watch for the summer, and works well when paired with a range of casual and slightly more relaxed wear. When I was going out to the coast on a a day out, the Sector Sport became an integral accessory when paired with all manner of shorts and t-shirts. If you wanted to pair it with some looser-fitting shirts, then the Sector Sport should also go well with that look, too. Its 12.5mm case thickness is verging on the side of making the Sector Sport a thicker timepiece, but it's all in the name of the movement that's inside. As opposed to opting for a Swiss-made movement such as the Sellita SW200-1 caliber that's present in a lot of microbrand's pieces, the Sector Sport opts for a reliable Seiko movement - the NH38, which is another favourite of microbrands, too. The NH38 offers a 41 hour power reserve, as well as some reasonable accuracy of +/- 10 seconds per day, and is regulated by Nodus at four different positions before it leaves their factory. It's a solid workhorse of a movement that will keep the Sector Sport ticking. The Sector Sport also provides 100m of water resistance, and with a screw down crown, this is a watch you can take into the water, just as long as you aren't intending on going too far down! Verdict The Nodus Watches Sector Sport is an excellent and classy looking tool watch that brings with it some sublime case finishing and a bright dial that makes it an ideal watch for the summer months. It's also a comfortable wear with some good proportions, and a great bracelet for the price. The Seiko movement inside also makes the Sector Sport an accurate and reliable timepiece, with a solid power reserve to boot. For those wanting a slightly dressier and more eye-catching tool watch for a good price, the Sector Sport is a fabulous choice. Rating: 4.5/5 You can purchase the Sector Sport from Watch Gecko here. Nodus Watches provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

Many many years ago, I had the chance to buy a Rec watch. It was a model that featured salvaged parts of an old Mini, and something that I had long forgotten about. In 2023, the interesting microbrand lives on, and has progressed from those heady days, continuing to offer their timepieces with salvaged parts from all manner of cars and aircraft, as well as offering a core collection of pieces that are designed to fit with the brand's aesthetic. One such collection is the brand's Tourer line - a set of watches inspired by the classic roadsters of the 1960s, and it's one of those I've got in for review at the moment. Let's take a closer look. Rec Watches Tourer Onyx Design - Sublime looks and feel, marred by an iffy strap Generally speaking, I'm impressed by the looks of the Tourer, especially in this Onyx configuration. It offers more of a dressier aesthetic look to it, complete with some exceptional brushed case finishing for the price, as well as being made of the industry-standard 316L stainless steel. A 39mm diameter means this offers more of an understated look to it compared to some bigger dress watches, such as the Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow I looked at recently. Its holed leather strap takes inspiration from driving gloves by the looks of things and pairs well with the brushed stainless steel case, and the general idea of what Rec is going for with the Tourer's inspiration. However, the strap itself doesn't feel like it belongs on a watch at this price point - it's quite coarse and feels cheap. It's a bit of a let-down when compared to the rest of what's on offer here. In delving deeper into the dial, the Tourer Onyx opts for a waffle-type pattern, with a black dial, complete with small silver squares to offer a bit of contrast. It's akin almost to The Twelve from Christopher Ward, although not quite as big, and not quite as impressive. Still, it's a good-looking dial that keeps in with the overall understated looks that the Tourer Onyx opts for. Clearly placed on the dial in an unobtrusive manner are the Rec Watches logo and words bearing the model name of the watch - 'Tourer Automatic'. The font used here is decent enough, and wouldn't look out of place on an older Austin Healey derivative of some form, which I guess is what Rec is going for here. The syringe-style handset on offer is brushed too, much like the case, and feature some solid finishing to my eye. A small amount of lume is present at the base of the watch's hands, helping the Tourer Onyx to be seen well enough in low light environments. Its lume isn't that impressive, though, with it appearing quite dim when checking the time after dark. The numbers feature quite a rounded finish to them, again linking back to this watch's GT-car type looks - they look similar to those found on an Jaguar E-Type's rev counter, or similar. The date window is placed at the six o'clock position, and is dinky, to be honest. It's a little difficult to read the date, compared to some other watches I've looked at in the past. On the reverse of the case though, things become a little more impressive. The Tourer Onyx's caseback features a slightly open design, so you can see the movement's balance wheel whirring away when the watch is wound up. Combined with this, it provides an engraving of a spoked wheel, again continuing the GT car-type styling that's present across the entire timepiece. This looks excellent, although seems a little redundant considering you can't see it when the watch is being worn. It also seems right to mention that the Tourer Onyx is provided in a good-looking tin that resembles an older gasoline tin, which rounds off the 1960s-style GT-car aesthetics well. Every little helps, I suppose. Rec Watches Tourer Onyx Performance and wearability - Comfortable, and understated Coming from wearing a bigger watch for the last few weeks, the 39mm diameter of the Tourer Onyx provided a welcome downsizing for my wrists. It looks and feels good on the wrist, with a diameter that makes it suitable for those with a variety of wrist sizes, sitting in the middleground of where men's watches can be. A 45.6mm lug to lug fitted my wrist well, and meant that the Tourer didn't look too big or too small at all. At 11.25mm in height, it's a pretty slim watch, and fits neatly under shirt and jacket cuffs, if you want to wear it in a more formal setting. With an unobtrusive colour combo and an understated look to it, the Tourer Onyx is suitable to wear with a wide range of outfit types. In my time with it, I paired it mostly with some casual wear, although on the couple of occasions I opted for more formal wear to go out to things, the Tourer worked just as well. Inside, the Onyx Tourer features a Sellita SW200-1 movement, a favourite of microbrand watches so it seems. It's a reliable 20 jewel movement that's accurate for +/- 5 seconds per day when wound, which is excellent. A 41-hour power reserve also means it provides plenty of endurance and keeps time for a good while before needing to be wound up again. If you're someone who switches between watches every few days, a longer power reserve such as this one, is definitely welcome. Verdict The Rec Watches Tourer Onyx is a solid dress watch that brings with it some 1960s-inspired looks in a classy looking package. Its case finishing is excellent, while the dial looks good, allowing the watch to line up well with its desired aesthetics. This is also a generally comfortable watch that makes it rather wearable, although you may want to change the strap, given the one provided is quite coarse. The movement inside is a reliable and accurate one too, helping to make this a good choice for those wanting a decent dress watch with automotive-inspired aesthetics for a reasonable price. Rating: 4/5 You can purchase the Tourer Onyx from Rec Watches for £347 (usually £695) here. Rec Watches provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

Should you build a mechanical keyboard? Well, in short, yes, but allow me to explain why, and what the key things to consider are..... Purchase the kit mentioned in this video below: Keychron Q1 V2: https://www.keyboardco.com/product.asp?PRODUCT=2822 Logitech MX Mechanical: https://amzn.to/3ri4hp0 (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases made through the above links) Make sure to like and subscribe! JOIN US: Blog: www.untitledblog.co.uk Merchandise: https://untitled-merch-3.creator-spring.com/? Twitter: https://twitter.com/UntitledBlogs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untitledblogsite UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

In 2023, the moon phase complication may be a bit of an outdated one, but it sure is one of the most eye-catching, at least to mine. I've pretty much always loved the idea of a watch with a moon phase, although the traditional interpretation of them offers a complication that's exactly that, with a stereotypical yellow and blue representation of the Moon. What if you want a modern take on the moon phase then? Enter the Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow, a watch from the Swiss-British brand that offers the gorgeous looks of a photo-realistic moon phase complication and a whole lot more in an amazing value package. Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow Design - Some especially gorgeous looks The Moonglow, in its varying forms, has been part of CW's lineup of watches since 2015, and this latest iteration I've got on my wrist is a small revision, offering their brand new logo in the centre of the dial. Apart from that, it's pretty much the same watch as previous years, with that eye-catching moonphase, complete with a pair of photo-realistic moons that really draw attention. As much as this may seem like I lament the lack of change and innovation in this particular watch, you couldn't be more wrong. The Moonglow looks absolutely fantastic. It is more of a dressier watch, working well when paired with all manner of suits and jackets, although works equally well with a pair of decent jeans and t-shirts. For the few weeks I had the pleasure of using the Moonglow, it became my everyday piece, as opposed to simply using it as 'just' a dress watch. You may choose to do things differently, but the appeal of the Moonglow is so universal which means you can wear it with almost anything. For the price, its case finishing is exceptional, opting for a brushed and polished stainless steel case that really catches the light when out and about on a sunny day. Combine that with the unobtrusive nature of the black shell cordovan leather strap, and you've got a watch that oozes class and quality for what is, in the grand scheme of things, quite reasonable money. I should also say that the Moonglow is also available on a mesh bracelet, which looks classy, although the black leather is the standout for me. In delving deeper into the dial, it's worth discussing what makes the Moonglow stand out from the crowd. It's particularly hard to ignore its two large photo-realistic moons that bring an age-old complication firmly into the twenty-first century. Ever since I got the Moonglow through the door, I can't help but just keep looking down at them. They look fantastic, as do the small stars also present on the dial. It shows that you certainly can revive older features and bring them to a new audience when executed in an innovative fashion. My only criticism with the moonphase though is that the darkened bottom half where the secondary moon lives arguably isn't dark enough, and it may have made sense to make it especially tinted, so you're only ever seeing one moon at a time. Alongside the two moons comes a set of understated silver and white hour markers, as well as a red date wheel around the edge of the Moonglow. Initially, finding the date was a bit of a challenge, just given how small the marker is, but after a few minutes, it was easy to spot. It's a nice take on adding a date to a watch, with it arguably offering a less obtrusive form than a more traditional date window. The second hand also features a small splash of red on its end, just making it pop a little more than it if it had been left in silver, like the rest of the handset. The designating of the date and tip of the second hand in red also makes the Moonglow appear more as a pilot's watch (similar to the Hamilton Khaki Field, for instance) than a dress watch, too, reinforcing its positioning as a utilitarian, yet understated timepiece. I know a lot of people have an issue with the Christopher Ward logo, and it's arguably the most divisive component of any of their watches, apart from the Bel Canto. It's taken on many forms over the years, including simply spelling out 'Christopher Ward' on some of their newer timepieces. However, the twin flags logo present on this iteration of the Moonglow looks an awful lot better than some of the brand's older logos and brings a further sense of refinement to the Moonglow. Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow Performance and wearability - suitable for virtually anywhere A 41mm case diameter may put this on the bigger side for men's watches, especially if you're used to wearing small timepieces like I am. For reference, the Hamilton Ventura I usually wear is only 32mm in diameter. With this in mind though, the Moonglow doesn't feel overly large on the wrist and wears exceptionally well. Its 88g weight isn't too heavy either, but there's enough heft there to reinforce that the Moonglow certainly is a quality product from a respected brand. In putting the watch on for the first time, it felt a tad heavy, but within a few minutes, I was used to the weight of it. At 12.35mm in height, it isn't the slimmest of timepieces, but the Moonglow is still slim enough to fit neatly under shirt and jacket cuffs, if you choose to pair it with more formal clothing. With that in mind though, as it wears so well, you could easily pair it with more casual wear, too, as I did for the majority of my time with the Moonglow. Leading on from this, the Moonglow features a modified Sellita SW220 movement (the same featured in The Twelve) with the Calibre JJ04 module added to provide a moonphase. Four extra wheels were added to drive the movement's moon disc, and two more to allow it to be set. Setting the moonphase is as simple as pulling the crown out once, and rotating it anti-clockwise. It's quite fun to set the moonphase if you haven't worn the watch for a few days, as you spin it round. Turning it clockwise sets the date, by comparison. Christopher Ward rates the C1 Moonglow's movement to have a 38-hour power reserve. This means that if the watch is wound, you should be able to take it off for a day or so, and come back to it, and the Moonglow's movement will keep on ticking. As well as offering a solid power reserve and the added fun of an in-house developed complication, the C1 Moonglow's movement is also estimated to be accurate for up to +/-20 sec per day, which makes it a reasonably accurate one. The addition of 30m of water resistance is also handy for ensuring the Moonglow survives day to day usage, although this is perhaps the minimum expectation for a watch at this price. Verdict The C1 Moonglow from Christopher Ward is an excellent dress watch that brings the moonphase complication firmly into the twenty-first century. It's absolutely gorgeous, with some sublime case finishing for the price, and a fresh take on an age-old complication. What's more, it's a comfortable wear and works well with a wide range of outfits, as well as offering an accurate movement with a good power reserve. Rating: 4.5/5 You can purchase the C1 Moonglow from Christopher Ward for £1995 here. Christopher Ward provided a sample for this review. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.

After a few days of cryptic teasers, British-Swiss watch brand Christopher Ward has unveiled their brand new watch, The Twelve, ahead of next week's Wind-Up Watch Fair in San Francisco. Designed by Will Brackfield, the man behind several of CW's best-loved watches, The Twelve Comes with a dodecagonal bezel and a case back that features three different finish types. That's a first for CW, and another shining example of the brand bringing high-horology features at a more affordable price point. We saw it with the Bel Canto and its chiming complication for $3595 in November 2022, and less than six months later, the brand has pulled the rabbit out of the hat again here. The Twelve also comes with an integrated bracelet, complete with screw links and a hidden butterfly clasp. It's available in either steel or titanium, which makes it an excellent-looking sports watch suitable for everything from dress to casual wear. There is also 100m water resistance thanks to its screw-down crown. The link height and length at 2.5mm and 6mm respectively help to make The Twelve an especially comfortable timepiece. With this in mind, it is also possible to get The Twelve on a rubber strap, if you'd prefer. Moreover, the rubber strap is available in Black, Dark Blue, and Light Blue. As for dimensions, both the steel and titanium versions have a diameter of 40mm and carry a lug-to-lug of 44.5mm, while the Ti version is 1mm slimmer than the steel - their heights are 9.95mm (steel) and 8.95mm (titanium) respectively. The star of the show though, is the watch's gorgeous textured dial that finds inspiration in some of the greatest integrated bracelet watches of the last five decades, without skipping out on CW's own innovative and eye-catching designs. There are a total of six colours available, with four available in the steel and two exclusive to the titanium model. In the steel, The Twelve is available in a light Glacier Blue and a darker Nordic Blue, as well as Basalt Grey, and Arctic White. By contrast, the Ti model is available in a choice of fume colours - either Astral Blue or Nebula Purple. As for mechanics, the steel model of the Twelve is fitted with a 26-jewel Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, which features a 38-hour power reserve and a tolerance of -20/+20 seconds per day. The titanium model comes with a 25-jewel Sellita SW300-1 COSC automatic movement complete with a 56-hour power reserve and a tolerance of -4/+6 seconds per day. As for pricing, in steel, The Twelve retails for £850/$995/€1,095 on a rubber strap and for £1,050/$1,225/€1,350 on a bracelet. The titanium models are a little more expensive at £1,225/$1,450/€1,595 on a rubber strap and for £1,595/$1,895/€2,075 on a bracelet. UNTITLED may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through the links on our site. Find out more here.