Edward Christopher Manta
The ethos of a brand, to some matters. As does their Mission Statement, and for Edward Christopher it’s to design and sell standout luxury watches and to support over a million children and young people worldwide in overcoming the challenges they face. It’s a noble cause and one they hold close to their hearts.
This intrinsic value, which is at the heart of the company, is the main reason that Edward Christopher was chosen as a brand name. Its owner Seán, is as clearly as proud of the name, as the watches he has designed. Seán wanted to not only build a watch brand but to make sure it also had a legacy alongside it, allowing for it to be carried on.
It was at the Watch Pro Salon last November that Edward Christopher had a soft launch, temping us with their prototype models. Only 4 days before the British Watchmakers Day event in March did the ordered stock finally arrive, and just in the nick of time.
We’ve crossed paths several times at different shows and spent time with Seán understanding the brand and his current range. Now we have a couple of watches in hand to have a better look at them, so, let me introduce the Edward Christopher Manta.
Passionate And Full Of Colour
Seán Brickell is a very colourful and charismatic man, who has a deep connection with working with young teenage criminals, hoping to offer that spark of inspiration and to change their fate. With every watch sold 10% of the profit is donated to charities that help children and young people around the world. This is a heartwarming change from the norm and one I wish more brands would get on board with.
According to Seán, it’s all about the colour, as it evokes moods and reactions from his customer base. The Edward Christopher Manta has been designed to stand out, and they do extremely well. The dial design takes its inspiration from Seán’s mother jewellery case of all things. It had a guilloche design carved into it, which has been replicated on all the dials.
Backstory
Edward was named after the founder’s great uncle, who served in the trenches on the Western Front during World War I. Despite surviving the war, his health deteriorated due to weakened lungs from the harsh conditions. His act of bravery, rescuing a drowning boy, further weakened his health, leading to his tragic death from influenza shortly after the war.
Christopher, named after the founder’s father, played a pivotal role in igniting his passion for watches. At age 10, he gifted his son a Seiko, sparking a lifelong fascination. Like his great uncle, Christopher also demonstrated heroism by saving a young girl’s life during an asthma attack in the countryside. With his quick thinking and preparedness, he administered life-saving medication from his car, ultimately rescuing her.
Freedom – Humour – Courage
Royal Blue
Forest Green
Sky Blue
Rose Red
Midnight Black
Draws Its Inspiration From The Beauty Of A Manta Ray
With a choice of 5 colours, there is something for every day, from Monday through to Friday. The 40mm 316L marine-grade stainless steel case has a brushed finish to it and has the look and feel of a luxury dive watch. With nicely detailed polishing on both the upper and lower case edges, this elevates the watch, giving it an elegant aesthetic. The internal rotating bi-directional bezel, crafted from aluminium, features numerals illuminated by blue-green Super-LumiNova BGW9 luminance. This ensures easy readability in low-light conditions.
The case has colour-coded crowns, inspired by watches from the past. One for the internal bezel adjustment, and the other for the time. As for the bezel itself, it’s a fixed design, with an unusual grip. The flat sapphire crystal is triple-coated and scratch-resistant with an AR coating on both sides.
The Dial
A hydraulically stamped 3D kaleidoscope guilloché style pattern adorns the colour-coded dial. Blue BGW9 lume illuminates the applied shark tooth Esq indexes, ensuring visibility in low-light situations. The syringe-style tapered hands complement the applied indices and give a nice coolness to the bi-coloured design. These bi-coloured designs create a balanced and harmonious look when the colours complement each other effectively, and the Manta’s dial does just that.
Under The Hood
Powering the Edward Christopher Manta is the Swiss Sellita SW200-1, which offers up to 38 hours of power reserve. It’s a workhorse with a proven track record that is used in watches almost 3 x the price. Another feature that may prove a sticking point to some is the use of an integrated strap. I personally like these, but they may receive some pushback because only proprietary straps can be used. However, Seán has assured me that straps for mixing and matching will be available at some point, and further down the line, a matching bracelet may also be introduced.
The 4-piece case has a water resistance of 200m, so ideal for any summer beach fun. Let’s be honest, these coloured watches will brighten up any collection. As a brand, they stand apart from some of their rivals by embracing colour. Far too many brands prefer a more conservative-looking watch, but not Edward Christopher, this is part of their DNA.
My Thoughts
After some time with the Edward Christopher Manta on my wrist and getting familiar with the watch, I like it, especially the brighter colour versions. I imagine these will be the most popular of the range. There is a huge market that will rejoice in this coloured ensemble and my highlight of the range is the Sky Blue.
But no matter which you choose, once on your wrist, you get that feeling that although Edward Christopher is a super new brand. It’s a brand that many will embrace and connect with, not only for the colour connection but with its ethos and narrative it pushes.
A Colourful Connection
A watch needs to stand out, as there are hundreds of designs and brands out there. Many, if you saw them, you may walk by and not even turn your gaze. But not Edward Christopher, if you stop here, you’ll need your sunglasses, sunblock and sandals too, as they evoke fun and well-made watches all at the same time.
Specifications
- Case Dimensions: 40mm x 47.6mm x 11.3mm
- Case Material: Marine grade 316L stainless steel.
- Case Construction: 4-piece marine grade stainless steel with a screw-down case back.
- Bezel: Internal rotating bi-directional bezel.
- Crowns: Two colour-coded tubes & crowns.
- Crystals: Sapphire crystal AR triple coated.
- Dial: Colour-coded dial.
- Strap: Quick-release 2-piece FKM vulcanised rubber strap.
- Movement: Swiss Sellita SW200-1 (26 jewels) self-winding mechanical movement
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Water Resistance: 200m/660ft (20ATM)
- Price: £1095.00
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