Watchmakers have been playing in the lume sandbox a lot over the past few years, with a preponderance of fully-lumed dials, lumed bezels, and even white-colored lume. However, we’ve yet to see a situation where the rulebook has been thrown out entirely, until now.
Christopher Ward, known for its affordable yet respectable timepieces, impressed everyone in 2022 when it dropped its C1 Bel Canto, a chime watch that not only looked good but was relatively affordable compared to its haute horology compatriots. Now, the British brand has tapped the model for one of the most confident evolutions in lume play we’ve ever seen.
When Too Much Is Just Right
The C1 Bel Canto Lumière doesn’t just add lume but commits to a full-blown lightshow. Christopher Ward’s taken their GPHG award-winning chiming watch and built an entire aesthetic around Globolight, the luminous ceramic they’ve been championing across their recent releases. The time-telling dial features a smoked sapphire disc topped with a three-dimensional Globolight ring in blue, with matching Globolight-tipped hands that deliver an intense neon-green glow after dark.
But underneath that disc sits an all-new platine finished in vivid turquoise with a sunray pattern. Multiple layers of Super-LumiNova are embedded in broad rays that radiate from the center, creating a dual-tone effect — the inner sector ring glows green while everything else radiates blue, giving serious depth to the presentation.
The Bel Canto DNA Remains Intact
Strip away the sci-fi aesthetic and you’ve still got the same impressive FS01 movement that made the original Bel Canto such a hit. Christopher Ward’s technical director engineered this caliber around a Sellita SW200-1 base, adding a proprietary chiming module with over 60 components that delivers an hourly chime in the key of D. The “songbird” striking mechanism, with its hand-finished bridges, spring, and hammer, remains visible through the dial, now set against that glowing turquoise backdrop.
The 41mm Grade 5 titanium case keeps things light and comfortable while amplifying the chime’s acoustics. At 13.65mm thick, the Lumière is slightly taller than the Bel Canto Classic (likely to accommodate that Globolight ring), but the proportions still work.
Full-Wrist Illumination
Gilding the lily even further, the Lumière comes with an optional white rubber strap infused with blue Super-LumiNova along its edges, creating a cohesive glow all the way through. For those who want the Lumière’s dial without the glowing strap, there’s the three-link Bader bracelet or five-link Consort bracelet, both in Grade 2 titanium.
Spec Sheet
Model: C1 Bel Canto Lumière
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium
Case Size: 41mm
Case Thickness: 13.65mm
Lug-to-Lug: 48mm
Movement: FS01 automatic (Sellita SW200-1 base with chiming module)
Dial: Smoked sapphire with Globolight ring, sunray platine with Super-LumiNova rays
Lume: Globolight X1 GL (ring and hands), Super-LumiNova X1 (dial and strap)
Water Resistance: 30m
Strap Options: White rubber with lume, Bader bracelet, or Consort bracelet
Pricing & Availability
Priced starting at $4,840, the C1 Bel Canto Lumière is available for pre-order now through Christopher Ward’s website.
Recap
Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Lumière
Christopher Ward just dropped the Bel Canto Lumière, which takes their acclaimed chiming watch and absolutely loads it with lume, including a Globolight ring, Super-LumiNova rays across the entire dial, and even a glowing rubber strap option.
