Christopher Ward and Mr Jones are two stalwarts of the British watchmaking industry known for their creative approaches to watch design. Watches like the Bel Canto and C1 Moonphase capture collectors’ hearts and minds while Mr Jones is best known for their cartoonish dials and focus on entertaining artwork. It was only a matter of time until the two brands would come together for their first collaboration and now it’s here with the launch of the Christopher Ward x Mr Jones Celestial.
The C1 Moonphase that I mentioned above is an apt reference because the Celestial is essentially the same watch but with a dial designed by Mr Jones. That means structurally it’s more or less identical to the C1 with a 37mm diameter, 13.1mm thickness and stainless steel construction with brushed and polished finishing. It’s a really nice case, balancing the vintage proportions with a modern, almost sporty aesthetic that works well in conjunction with Mr Jones Watches’ playful dial.
Speaking of that dial, it was designed by Mr Jones Watches’ lead assembly technician, Bea Watts. In fact, in a fun twist the brand held an internal design competition where everyone at the business was invited to take part, creating a community atmosphere and friendly rivalry with Bea coming out on top with her pastel colours and cartoonish moon floating in the sky above the birds and clouds.
Bea said: “My design celebrates the beauty of the night sky in a playful way. I was inspired by the magical feeling of sitting outside to watch the sunset, and staying there till day transitions into night. The moon begins to appear in the sky, swallows swoop and dive through the air, and in my design, you’re transported into the air too, hovering above a blanket of clouds. It’s a cosy, secret space from which to stargaze; my design captures a feeling of comfort and quiet, and encourages you to appreciate the fleetingness of a certain moment.”
In terms of timekeeping, the birds are more than simply decorative as they serve as the Christopher Ward x Mr Jones Celestial’s hands. The bird closes to the central cloud is the hours and the one slightly further out is the minutes. Of course, the moon at 12 o’clock is the moonphase. The overall quality of the artwork feels very dreamlike and cute, like a children’s story. Considering the number of Peanuts, Disney and other mega-corporate IP that watches have been featuring lately, it’s nice to see something original.
Inside the watch is the Sellita SW220-1 with Christopher Ward’s JJ04 module. It’s automatic with a 38-hour power reserve supplied by a swirling brushed rotor visible through the sapphire exhibition caseback decorated with more Mr Jones drawings. The rotor also bears an inscription of the watch’s name, Celestial.
In terms of availability, the Christopher Ward x Mr Jones Celestial is limited to 300 pieces and the price depends on which of the bracelet or strap options you go for. On steel Consort bracelet it’s £2,330 and on Italian leather strap (in either blue or grey) it’s £2,195. It goes on sale today, March 27th, from 3pm. For the first ever collaboration between Christopher Ward and Mr Jones, I can say with firm certainty that these are going to sell our rapidly. The level of creativity and charm is off the end of the scale.
Price and Specs:
More details at Christopher Ward.
