Introducing Christopher Ward Unveils the C1 Jump Hour Mk V Dusk

Christopher Ward expands its jumping hour collection with the new C1 Jump Hour Mk V Dusk, a limited-edition reference that integrates its proprietary JJ01 module to fundamentally alter how the jumping hour operates. The “Dusk” variant introduces a textured burgundy dial into the Mk V lineage, differentiating it from the prior translucent sapphire or monochromatic iterations.

The exterior architecture utilizes Christopher Ward’s established Light-catcher case profile, with a 39 mm diameter machined from 316L stainless steel. The case geometry relies on alternating surface treatments to visually mitigate the 14 mm overall thickness, which is an unavoidable consequence of stacking the base caliber beneath the proprietary jumping hour module and the heavily domed box sapphire crystal. 

The mid-case features horizontal brushing along the flanks, intersected by highly polished bevels that taper down across the 47.3 mm lug-to-lug span. The fixed steel bezel receives a full polish, framing the anti-reflective sapphire crystal that intentionally distorts the outer perimeter of the dial at acute viewing angles. The push-down crown, embossed with the brand’s twin-flag motif, is proportioned for manual winding but lacks a screw-down mechanism.

Flipping the watch over reveals a solid, deep-stamped caseback. This component utilizes a combination of heavy sandblasting on the recessed lower surfaces and fine polishing on the raised elements, mirroring the contrasting finishes found on the case flanks. The caseback engraving is highly specific to the internal complication, mapping out the 12-hour stops of the jumping hour wheel alongside the minutes positioned between them. It also bears the sequential numbering of the 150-piece limited-edition run along the outer perimeter, alongside the Swiss Made designation and the water-resistance rating.

The dial construction is a complex four-tier assembly that prioritizes physical depth and low-light visibility over traditional flat-printed brass dials. The central focal point is a stepped, three-dimensional brass base stamped with 27 concentric circles in an azzuré pattern, finished in a dark burgundy tone designated by the brand as “Dusk.”

Surrounding this heavily textured burgundy core is a raised, applied metal ring displaying pronounced circular brushing, which serves as a physical boundary between the central texture and the outer time-telling track. The minutes track itself is printed directly onto a translucent sapphire ring, allowing ambient light to pass through the dial surface and continuously charge the fully lumed hour disc concealed beneath it.

The time-telling elements depart entirely from traditional brass hands and printed indices. The single minute hand is machined from a solid block of transparent sapphire, featuring a stepped design that holds a thick application of Super-LumiNova C1 BL Grade X1 on its underside. At the 12 o’clock position, the circular hour aperture is framed by a highly polished, chamfered steel ring that draws the eye downward toward the digital readout. The hour numerals are printed on a Globolight ceramic block, an industry-leading luminous compound mixed directly with ceramic powder to create three-dimensional, rigid glowing structures. Under low-light conditions, the multi-layered undercoat of Super-LumiNova activates, casting a highly saturated, bright cyan glow across the minute track, the floating minute hand, and the hour numeral.

Powering the watch is an automatic movement from the reliable Swiss manufacturer Sellita, alongside an in-house jumping hour module originally engineered by former Master Watchmaker Johannes Jahnke. The foundational base is the Sellita SW200-1, which beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and provides a standard power reserve of 41 hours. The movement maintains a predictable timing tolerance of +/- 20 seconds per day.

The JJ01 module completely circumvents the amplitude drop associated with traditional jumping hours by redesigning the energy delivery pathway for the hour disc. Instead of a sudden build-up and violent release of tension at the top of the hour, the module continuously draws a minute, consistent fraction of power from the base movement over the entire 60-minute rotation. This constant-force approach allows the mechanism to prime the jump lever smoothly so that when the minute hand precisely aligns with the 12 o’clock index, the transition of the hour disc is instantaneous and crisp.

The manufacturing tolerances required to achieve this synchronization are extremely tight, as any play in the gear train or slight misalignment of the hands during assembly would cause the hour numeral to flip either slightly before or slightly after the minute hand reaches the zero marker. The use of a thick Globolight ceramic block for the hour numerals adds additional physical mass to the jumping disc compared to standard flat pad printing. This added mass further necessitates the high torque and efficiency of the JJ01 module to execute the jump without hesitation or the risk of getting stuck mid-transition.

The C1 Jump Hour Mk V Dusk is equipped from the factory with the brand’s Consort bracelet, machined from the same 316L stainless steel as the primary case components. The five-link architecture provides a high degree of articulation around the wrist, utilizing smaller individual links with polished inner sections and brushed outer flanks. The bracelet closes with a butterfly clasp and features an extension system hidden within the inner links.

The Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V Dusk is limited to 150 pieces, each featuring its specific production sequence number engraved directly onto the sandblasted section of the steel caseback. It is priced at USD 3,165, which is equivalent to AED 11,625.

For more information visit Christopher Ward official website.