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Do you have GMT envy? Are you thirsty for “Pepsi” and “Coke” but can’t wrap your brain around the idea of a nearly $11,000 watch? We hear you. We see you. We are you. We also think we have a solution for you in the form of a new timepiece from British-based brand Christopher Ward.
Friends, fellow horologists, and kindred nerd spirits, feast your eyes on the newest iteration of the Trident Pro 300 GMT from Christopher Ward, a brand dedicated to making the most value-driven watches in their respective categories, whether it’s the chiming Bel Canto or this new GMT. Available in three distinctive colorways, it affords the budding watch enthusiast an entry point into the world of dual-time complications in a budget-friendly manner, saving them from constantly disappointing their banking institution of choice.
Much like Rolex’s famed GMT-Master II of Pan Am–related origins, the Trident Pro 300 GMT is packed in a 40mm stainless steel case, which should fit beautifully on the great majority of wrists out there. Its alternating polished and brushed surfaces, sub-12mm height, downturned lugs, and matching three- or five-link bracelet—your choice!—give it an air of refinement not always present on watches in this price range, while its screw-down crown and transparent sapphire caseback ensure 300m of water resistance. (Christopher Ward specializes in affordable tool watches, ensuring that you can safely travel with, and beat the crud out of, handsome products such as those in the Trident series.)
The watch comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect of its established luxury counterparts. You get a bi-directional 120-click bezel with a 24-hour insert—its coin edge ensures excellent grip and quick adjustment, and it’s available in both lumed ceramic or steel relief, depending on which reference you spring for. Two of these expressions are divided into dual colors (dark blue and light blue, or dark blue and silver) to demarcate night and day; the steel insert is in one color, sort of like the bezel on the Rolex Explorer II. (It still rotates, however.) And while there are no classic “Pepsi” or “Coke” colorways available at the moment, we believe this is a good thing. This helps make Christopher Ward’s GMT distinct.
Speaking of colors, three dial options are available: A beautiful deep blue features a light blue GMT hand and applied, lumed indices and lumed hands; a stark white dial has these same hands and indices; and a cool light blue “ombré”-like dial fades to eggshell in the center and features a bright-yellow GMT hand paired to a yellow rubber strap instead of a bracelet. Each dial features a date window above 6 o’clock—this can be easily jumped via the Swiss-made Sellita SW330-2 automatic movement, which is a “caller”-style GMT with an independently adjustable GMT hand.
Good-looking, easy to operate, and priced between $1,195 and $1,420, depending upon the configuration, the new Trident Pro 300 GMT is an ideal choice for a person on the go. Or homebodies with great taste.
