Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300

The Christopher Ward Trident is one of the best dive watches available at almost any price point. Consistently rated through its iterations with insane water resistance, a diverse set of colorways, and an excellent case profile, the Trident is primarily why Christopher Ward has the reputation they have today. 

I reviewed the Trident Mk3 over three years ago, and at the time, I loved it. The small package with nothing cut out from its larger brothers made it an attractive package. However, when Christopher Ward started refinding the lightcatcher case, the Mk3 began to show its flaws. Compared to other watches in the catalog, it was thick, and many people still couldn’t get on board with the sans serif text logo at 9 o’clock. Christopher Ward has taken the Trident Pro and given it a much-needed makeover. This is the dive watch I’ve been waiting for from the London-based brand. 

On the Wrist

The C60 Trident Pro 300 sings on the wrist. I received the 42mm blue dial variant for review, and when I put it on the first time, I thought, “this is what the Tudor Pelagos FXD should have been.” The case lines are beautiful, make the watch appear thinner on the wrist, and is only 10mm wrist-to-crystal. The lug-to-lug is also kept in check at 49mm. This is about as good as it can get for a 42mm dive watch with 300 meters of water resistance. 

If I were buying one of these for myself, I would get the 38mm version (this watch will come in 38, 40, and 42mm), just like I would have when I reviewed the Mk3 in 2019. That said, Christopher Ward did well with the execution of the dial, specifically the proportions. Some watches that come in multiple sizes can suffer from weird proportions, especially if the same parts are used on all case sizes. This watch feels like everything was crafted individually for their respective case size. 

I’m glad that the industry is starting to see the benefit of thin watches. Early microbrand watches were packed with Seiko NH movements and had no problems with 200-meter dive watches over 15mm thick. While I don’t know if I can consider the Orion Calamity the pioneer of this movement, it is one of the first dive watches I remember being remarkably thin. This is the feeling I get from the Trident Pro 300. It is what I wanted Christopher Ward to do since I got my hands on the C65 Dartmouth. Put that case into the C60 line, and they’ve done just that with this watch. 

Dial Details

While not much has changed from the previous generation of Trident Pros, the changes that have been made are sure to make a lot of people happy. The most obvious is the logo change. I can certainly understand the sentiment from some people that Christopher Ward changes their logos too much. They’ve gone from one logo to another and the placement of that logo to another. The Trident Pro 300 has the twin flag logo that has been signed on their crowns for some time, and I hope Christopher Ward sticks with it this time. I like this logo.

In almost every review I’ve posted during Christopher Ward’s sans serif logo days, people have consistently commented that they would buy a Chris Ward if it didn’t say Christopher Ward on the dial. Time to put your money where your mouth is, buy one, or shut up about their logos. 

The same sporty handset is carried over from the previous Trident Pros and is one of my favorite handsets. It is legible, modern, and isn’t an off-the-shelf handset. There is no mistaking the time when reading this watch. The hands also feature different finishing (brushing and polishing), which gives them a dynamic look depending on the lighting. The markers also remain unchanged, and the markers and handset are packed with lume. I’ve always thought Christopher Ward did a great job with their lume application and considering they are using higher grade lume; this should come as no surprise. 

The most significant change on the face of the watch is the bezel. They moved from a graduated bezel to numerals every 5 minutes around the entire bezel. The font is sleek and contemporary, and the best part is that it is fully lumed. The lume application is just as good as the dial, and the watch lights up at night. Christopher Ward tweaked the bezel action, and it is superb. Each position has such a satisfying click that I found myself spinning it around like a fidget toy. If you’re all about bezels, you’ll love this one. 

A fixed ring between the bezel and crystal does not move when you spin the bezel. I don’t know that I would call it a chapter ring, but I don’t know what else to call it. An external chapter ring, maybe. Either way, I love it. There is something about it remaining static when spinning the bezel that looks cool. You may notice in the photos that it is polished; however, it will be brushed on the production models. 

Case & Strap

The lightcatcher case is one of the best case designs of the past ten years. Christopher Ward spent a lot of time refining this case and adapting it to multiple watches. Everything about it feels modern, well-finished, and precise. Even though there are multiple cut-ins, transitions between brushing and polishing, and lines, it feels cohesive. 

The sides of the case have a polished chamfer that runs the length of the case, and this chamfer transitions to a brushed surface before finishing in a polished undercut. The polishing extends to the crown guards on the crown side of the case, which helps them almost disappear. If you have not had your hands on a lightcatcher case, you need to find a Christopher Ward to try out. It will ruin other case designs for you. 

The crown is large with deep knurling. I want an oversized crown for tool watches and size matters here. Winding the watch should be easy, and when you screw it back in, you need plenty of grip to ensure you have adequately screwed it in. 

As with all Christopher Ward watches, the Trident Pro 300 is offered in multiple strap options. The usual suspects like a quick-release bracelet and leather straps are offered, but my review sample came mounted on one of their #tide nylon straps. #tide nylon straps are made entirely from recycled plastic recovered from the ocean. I have no idea how they make this into a strap that feels like fabric, but it works. These straps are comfortable, feel like your favorite NATO, and give you the peace of mind of making some slight difference for the planet if it matters to you. My only complaint about them is they have a bit of a break-in period, and I recommend getting them wet and rolling the strap between your fingers to help form it. 

Final Thoughts

I love seeing brands refine their watches. I’m sure it makes some people angry to see a watch they have purchased get better in a new version, but I try not to get too bent out of shape about that. The automobile industry does it; why can’t watches? Christopher Ward does this exceptionally well, and they’ve done it a few times with the Trident Pro. Although it might seem obvious, this is the best version of this watch, and I’ll go a step further and say this is the best watch in their entire lineup. If Christopher Ward keeps releasing watches like this and the C63, I will have to get another job to keep funding them all. 

Check out more Christopher Ward reviews at The Watch Clicker here

Check out the Christopher Ward website here

More Images of the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300