There's a lot of innovation going on at Christopher Ward these days. They've just announced a mechanical chronograph and now a new mechanical diver, the Tri-Tech Diver Elite pictured at right. Available in yellow, blue or black dial, this PVD-based beauty sports:

• Sellita SW200 movement (a Swiss clone of the ETA 2824-2).
• Helium release valve for you saturation divers out there.
• PVD-coated stainless steel case.
• Tritium lights, dual color, on hands, indices, and bezel. (Pictures after the break).
• Rubber strap.
• 43mm by 13mm, 90-170g (which implies a bracelet in the offing).
• Knurled screw-down crown.
• Water resistant to 500m (1600ft).
• 4.5mm thick convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
• Serial-numbered screw-in caseback.
• Non-EC price of 343UKP, or $558 (395UKP in EC).

Read on for more pictures and discussion.

Christopher Ward, one of our favorite value brands, has just introduced their first mechanical chronograph, the SpeedHawk C40. Based on an upgraded and decorated Valjox/ETA 7750, the SpeedHawk has

• 7750 with blued screws, Geneva stripes on the CW-logo'd rotor.
• Hand-polished 316L stainless steel case, water resistant to 50m (165ft).
• Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
• Screw-down knurled crown.
• Leather strap with butterfly deployant (alligator available for an extra 100GBP).
• Lumed indices and hands.
• Ratcheting bezel - unusual on a chronograph, but useful.
• Priced at 495GBP, which is excellent for this grade of movement and case.

Please continue to see more pictures and discussion.

Today I'm reviewing a watch that I like a great deal: the Christopher Ward C8 Pilot, model number C8SKK. It's a mechanical watch in the style of pilot's watches from decades ago, updated using modern materials and the ETA 2824-2 mechanical movement. Let's start with the specs:

• 44mm by 9.7mm, 140g.
• 22mm leather strap, black with off-white (ecru) stitching, brushed rivets and a nice butterfly double deployant clasp.
• Antimagnetic inner case and dial.
• Sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating.
• Small mineral crystal on the back for viewing of the balance and rotor.
• Signed oversized crown, gasketed but not screwdown.
• 50m (150ft) water-resistant.
• Matte finish stainless steel case.
• Lumed indices and hands in the new blue-white SuperLuminova SLNBGW9.
• Applied double-dot triangle at 12 o'clock to rapidly show dial orientation.
• ETA 2824-2 movement, 28,800 vph and 38 hour power reserve. Hacking, handwinding with center seconds and date at 3 o'clock.
• Swiss Made (which usually denotes a vastly more expensive watch).
• List price is 212 pounds for non-EC buyers, or about $311 as of December 2008.
• Christoper Ward has an unusual "60/60" guarantee for a 60-day no quibble return and 60 month (5 year) warranty.

Other versions are also available (white dial, brown strap, PVD case), but all share the same basics. Read on for our review.