A celestial collaboration
A celestial collaboration
Room 813 at the Sheraton Kowloon hotel in Hong Kong isn’t the most obvious place for horological inspiration. But when Christopher Ward CEO Mike France checked in after a day of meetings in November 2023, he began to ruminate on a collaboration with Mr Jones Watches – a London watch brand known for its unmistakable artist-designed dials.
The two companies had worked together in 2021, when CW provided a jumping-hour movement for MJW’s ‘Indefatigable Sphinx’ watch, but for Mike, there was still an itch to be scratched. As both brands were founders of the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers, creating another watch together would send out the perfect signal about the health of UK watchmaking.
Mike rang Crispin Jones, CEO of MJW, from the hotel. Would he be interested in collaborating on a moonphase? A watch that would bring the technical nous of CW together with the unabashed artistry of Mr Jones Watches? He would.
That watch is the 37mm C1 Celestial Moonphase – a limited edition of just 300 pieces. And what makes Celestial so unique is the dreamlike dial, created by artist and MJW assembly technician Bea Watts, who was chosen to create the design after an internal competition.
Take a look and you’ll see the layers of cloud Bea has created act as a three-dimensional cradle for the sleepy-but-smiley moon as it makes its way across the dial in alignment with the real thing. And when day turns to night, the moon’s lume-painted surface delivers a calming nocturnal glow.
You may also notice a lack of hands. Instead, Bea has painted a pair of rotating birds, with the one near the edge displaying minutes, and the other, further in, hours. It’s a quirky and beautiful way to tell the time.
When you turn Celestial’s 37mm case over you’ll get another surprise in the shape of the transparent case back, which has also been decorated by Bea – and which adds the perfect frame to the view of JJ04 modified movement within. The word ‘celestial’ engraved into the rotor adds to the art-meets-science feel.
The Celestial’s accuracy is only possible thanks to the ingenuity of the minds that created our JJ04 movement. Not only does it tell the time precisely, but it follows the moon’s movements with accuracy – and can do so for up to 128 years if kept fully wound. It works, as you’d expect on a watch as ethereal as this, like a dream.
Meet Calibre JJ04: perpetual perfection
Meet Calibre JJ04: perpetual perfection
Most moon phase complications transition once per day, but not our in-house Calibre JJ04 module, piggy-backing on Sellita’s robust SW220-1. Instead, it offers a more dynamic approach, using four wheels to drive the moon disc, and two more for the setting mechanism. The result: a constant, smoothly moving moon.
Built around surely the most romantic of all watch complications, our Moonphase echoes the waxing and waning of the moon with great accuracy – and for a mighty 128 years. For all this time, your watch’s own moons will chart a graceful unbroken journey across the dial’s star-splattered night-time sky.
Partners in time
The C1 Celestial Moonphase is a unique collaboration between Christopher Ward and Mr Jones Watches – both members of the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers. The fusion of MJW’s artistry and CW’s technical know-how has delivered a watch that’s the perfect mix of art and science.
Bea’s dream
Bea Watts says her illustrations are inspired by sitting outside when day becomes night. “It’s a cosy, secret space from which to stargaze,” she says. “The illustrations capture a feeling of comfort and quiet, and encourage you to appreciate the fleetingness of a particular moment.”
Back beauty
When you turn over your Celestial’s 37mm case, you’ll witness the clear case back – but with a difference. Of course, you can view the JJ04 movement – complete with the word ‘celestial’ engraved into the rotor – though here it’s framed with a ring of Bea Watts’s signature fluffy clouds.
Layered with love
On the C1 Celestial Moonphase, it’s not just that the clouds are beautiful, but that their intricate layering gives the dial a unique feeling of depth – and a dreamlike frame for the moon to complete its journey around the dial.
The moon’s lume
The moon on the Celestial is coated with luminous pigment, so it delivers a gorgeous glow when darkness falls. Though its smiling, sleepy visage is an addition you’ll find only on the Celestial.
Strap up for style
If you like the organic feel of leather, this blue leather strap is the perfect partner for the Celestial. Each strap has been treated for durability and wearability – and has a taper from 20mm to 16mm.
Look mum, no hands!
Nothing symbolises the genius of the C1 Celestial Moonphase better than its way of telling the time. Instead of hands, Bea has painted a pair of birds – one for ‘minutes’, the other for ‘hours’ – which rotate around the dial.
Technical
- Watch Model C1
- Size 37mm
- Dial Colour Celestial Blue
- Case Material Stainless steel
- Case Colour Silver
- Height 13.1mm
- Lug-to-Lug 44.07mm
- Case Weight 52g
Features
- Swiss made
- Self-winding 26 jewel movement with 'JJ04' in-house Moonphase module
- 38-hour power reserve
- Brushed and polished marine-grade stainless steel case
- Unique rotor for this collaboration
- Exhibition backplate with unique printing & engraved serial number
- Circular brushed and polished fixed steel bezel
- Push-down crown with twin flag motif
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