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CHRISTOPHER WARD
Christopher Ward is a British independent watch brand founded in 2004 by Mike France, Peter Ellis, and Chris Ward. Established in London, the company set out to challenge traditional luxury-watch pricing by offering high-quality mechanical watches through a direct-to-consumer business model. The brand has since developed a strong reputation for combining Swiss mechanical movements, innovative engineering, distinctive British design, and comparatively accessible pricing.
Christopher Ward's breakthrough came with its C60 Trident dive-watch collection, which helped establish the brand among international enthusiasts. It has since expanded into aviation, dress, GMT, chronograph, and high-complication watches. The C1 Bel Canto, featuring a striking mechanical chiming complication, became one of the brand's most celebrated creations and won the 2023 GPHG Mechanical Exception Watch Prize.
Founders – Mike France, Peter Ellis & Chris Ward
Christopher Ward was established in 2004 by Mike France, Peter Ellis, and Chris Ward, three friends who shared an interest in watches and entrepreneurship.
The founders challenged the conventional luxury-watch business model by selling directly to customers rather than relying heavily on traditional retail networks. This allowed Christopher Ward to offer Swiss-made mechanical watches at prices significantly below many established luxury competitors.
Chris Ward, whose name became the company's identity, later stepped away from the business, while Mike France became the principal figure behind its strategic and creative development.
Current CEO – Mike France
Mike France is the co-founder and current CEO of Christopher Ward. He has played a central role in transforming the company from a small online watch retailer into a serious British independent watchmaker.
Under France's leadership, Christopher Ward has invested heavily in proprietary movement development, including the SH21, its first in-house automatic movement, and later technically ambitious creations such as the Bel Canto. His strategy has focused on combining British design and brand identity with Swiss manufacturing expertise and increasingly sophisticated in-house engineering.
.jpeg)
CHRISTOPHER WARD
Christopher Ward is a British independent watch brand founded in 2004 by Mike France, Peter Ellis, and Chris Ward. Established in London, the company set out to challenge traditional luxury-watch pricing by offering high-quality mechanical watches through a direct-to-consumer business model. The brand has since developed a strong reputation for combining Swiss mechanical movements, innovative engineering, distinctive British design, and comparatively accessible pricing.
Christopher Ward's breakthrough came with its C60 Trident dive-watch collection, which helped establish the brand among international enthusiasts. It has since expanded into aviation, dress, GMT, chronograph, and high-complication watches. The C1 Bel Canto, featuring a striking mechanical chiming complication, became one of the brand's most celebrated creations and won the 2023 GPHG Mechanical Exception Watch Prize.
Founders – Mike France, Peter Ellis & Chris Ward
Christopher Ward was established in 2004 by Mike France, Peter Ellis, and Chris Ward, three friends who shared an interest in watches and entrepreneurship.
The founders challenged the conventional luxury-watch business model by selling directly to customers rather than relying heavily on traditional retail networks. This allowed Christopher Ward to offer Swiss-made mechanical watches at prices significantly below many established luxury competitors.
Chris Ward, whose name became the company's identity, later stepped away from the business, while Mike France became the principal figure behind its strategic and creative development.
Current CEO – Mike France
Mike France is the co-founder and current CEO of Christopher Ward. He has played a central role in transforming the company from a small online watch retailer into a serious British independent watchmaker.
Under France's leadership, Christopher Ward has invested heavily in proprietary movement development, including the SH21, its first in-house automatic movement, and later technically ambitious creations such as the Bel Canto. His strategy has focused on combining British design and brand identity with Swiss manufacturing expertise and increasingly sophisticated in-house engineering.
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