Introducing the Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Lucia

The Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Lucia is a breathtaking watch that has captured the hearts of many with its stunning design and intricate mechanics. Inspired by the opera Lucia di Lammermoor, the watch showcases a bird that appears on the dial and is an integral part of its mechanical architecture.

The watch's predecessor, the C1 Bel Canto, featured a chiming skeletonised complication, and admirers of that watch noticed a resemblance between the exposed hourly striking mechanism and a bird on the dial. This serendipitous observation led to the creation of the Bel Canto Lucia, where the bird becomes a functional component of the watch.

The bird's beak and tail are not merely decorative; they play crucial roles in the mechanism. When the pusher at four o'clock is pressed, a rotating bug on the column wheel prompts the bird to open or close its beak, while the bird's tail serves as the hammer that delivers the hourly D note.

The creation of the Bel Canto Lucia involved a collaboration between Christopher Ward and Mr Jones Watches. The illustration and design process took place at Mr Jones Watches, where Andy Wilx aimed to create a world that could be peer into, with real depth. The bird's artwork is assembled from six separate stamped brass pieces that undergo a meticulous production process at Mr Jones Watches.

The individual components are then aligned and laminated together using custom jigs developed specifically for the project before being assembled onto the movement at Christopher Ward's Atelier in Biel.

The C1 Bel Canto Lucia is an open-series model and is available for £3,995. Those interested can book an appointment at the Christopher Ward showroom or secure their watch directly at christopherward.com. The watch will be featured at the London Watch Week – The City Edition, taking place at the Royal Exchange on 18 November, attracting discerning horology fans.