Have the Maidenhead team cracked the code with their latest creation, the C1 Jump Hour Mk V? This isn’t your typical Christopher Ward release, far from it. This thing has burst out of the proverbial bag with a flourish. The jump hour complication has enjoyed a quiet renaissance in recent years, and Mike France & co clearly didn’t fancy sitting on the sidelines. So they’ve dusted off their 2011 design and dragged it squarely into the now.

There’s been plenty of chatter about where this fits within CW’s current line-up, or whether it fits at all. But honestly, why wouldn’t it? CW didn’t have a jump hour in the current stable, and this one proudly carries the brand’s modern design DNA. It’s the fifth generation of the concept, and easily the strongest yet. The previous four, released between 2011 and 2017, leaned more towards the conservative, dressy side of things. This new incarnation, however, embraces evolution, and celebrates it.

The central disc immediately draws the eye, its design reminiscent of a vinyl record, with 27 concentric rings adding real depth to the dial. Surrounding it is an applied metal ring, brushed on top, polished on the sides, giving a subtle contrast of textures. Beyond that sits a wide sapphire ring functioning as the minute track, with printed markings that appear to float effortlessly above the layers beneath.

The current hour is displayed through a circular aperture at 12 o’clock, framed by a smaller version of that same metal ring used in the centre. The entire hour disc beneath is coated in Super-LumiNova®, ensuring the numerals remain fully charged during the day. The translucent sapphire allows light to pass through while remaining opaque enough to conceal the upcoming hours, clever, and very CW.

But that’s only part of the lume story. There’s also a ring of Globolight® solid ceramic lume sitting beneath the sapphire minute track, and it absolutely pops once the lights go down. The watch’s sole hand, the minute hand, is crafted from sapphire and coated on the underside with multiple layers of Super-LumiNova®. It’s a first for CW, not just their debut sapphire hand, but also their first cantilevered one. The sapphire is mounted on a bent metal base, cleverly engineered to clear the raised sapphire minute track. Even the crystal feels like part of the dial’s architecture. The tall boxed design adds yet another concentric layer, complementing the dial’s depth and symmetry beautifully.

The C1 Jump Hour Mk V features Christopher Ward’s familiar Lightcatcher case design and unsurprisingly for a watch wearing the “C1” badge, the proportions hit that sweet spot. It measures 39mm across, 14mm thick, and just over 47.5mm lug-to-lug. Buyers can choose between a supple Italian leather strap with deployant clasp or the 5-link Consort bracelet for a more integrated, premium feel.

Currently, the C1 Jump Hour Mk V is available in two striking colourways, Noon Blue and Dusk Gold, each offering its own personality under changing light. This design neatly fills a gap in the CW line-up, giving collectors something a little different yet unmistakably Christopher Ward. And as the jump hour complication continues its quiet comeback, I’ve no doubt this one will find plenty of wrists to call home.

Especially when you look at the numbers, £2,150 on the strap or £2,285 on the bracelet. For a piece this inventive, that’s comfortably in the “how are they doing this?” territory. CW have managed to take a niche complication, wrap it in modern design, and price it like they still want the rest of us to join the fun.