Big, Beautiful, Bold Dive Watch: Christopher Ward Trident Reef 44mm Review

It was an iconic Colorado summer day. A clear blue sky shimmered above a flower-studded meadow as a fresh breeze quickly dried the sweat on my arms. As I hiked up the steep incline high in the Rocky Mountains, I checked the time on the Christopher Ward Trident Reef, a brash 44mm dive watch.

It glistened in the bright sunshine. I still had time to gain the ridge and return to my truck before sunset.

Far from the ocean, this dive watch, complete with 200m water resistance, felt very at home in the mountains. A gleaming white strap, black face, and highly polished facets proved both form and beauty. And it simply screamed “summer” in its appearance.

I tested the Christopher Ward Trident Reef 44mm over 3 weeks in July, and while I genuinely adore the reliable functionality and bling of this well-crafted dive watch, the size may be a bit overwhelming for my smaller wrists. That said, it sure does make a statement.

In short: The Christopher Ward Trident Reef 44mm is an automatic dive watch with a 200m waterproof rating, Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, and a 38-hour power reserve. It comes in an array of bright colors, making it a clear statement piece. I’ve enjoyed wearing it, but I think it suits larger wrists better than my own. At $850, it’s a solid value for such a striking and functional watch.

Compare the Trident Reef with the best dive watches on GearJunkie’s guide.

Christopher Ward Trident Reef 44mm Review

The Trident Reef 44mm is highly legible. My test sample had a black dial circled with 11 single batons and a double baton at the 12 o’clock position. Each hour indicator is faceted with polished steel, which glistens incredibly in even low light. It seems to catch light at nearly any angle, so as jewelry, it is quickly attractive.

But it goes well past a sparkly bauble. The Trident Reef 44 is generally quite practical. Its 38-hour power reserve, while on the shorter end of the spectrum, is enough for a day off. And with a very simple and pleasant crown, it is very easy to reset the time if it does wind down.

It’s technically a dive watch, with a firm, precise, unidirectional rotating bezel, but I wouldn’t consider it seriously for diving. It would work in a pinch, yes. But realistically, the lack of numerals makes critical underwater calculations too dicey.

But I doubt many people are judging it for its in-ocean functionality. This watch should fall squarely in the land of desk-diver, which has plenty of durability for outdoor use and won’t make you fret in a rainstorm or quick swim.

Movement

I used the Trident Reef 44mm for 3 weeks. It’s been solid and accurate, although I’ve let it die a couple of times while not wearing it for a couple of days. Yes, it’s a short test. But so far, Christopher Ward again lives up to its reputation for building excellent automatic watches that measure up well against much more expensive competition.

That’s in part due to its Sellita SW200-1 movement, which you can see clearly through the display caseback. The movement has a great reputation as a workhorse. And Christopher Ward does warranty its watches for 5 years if something does go awry.

An Outdoors ‘Dive’ Watch

I tested the Trident Reef 44mm in some rugged conditions. Beyond hiking, I wore the watch for a week of camping during GearJunkie’s camp gear test. That meant a lot of general outdoor use in the Rocky Mountains.

I wore it through several heavy rainstorms and in the back of my truck, where it survived lots of dust and lots of modest impacts. I wore it while shooting a bow, hammering stakes into the ground, and just general outdoor abuse.

After all that, it still looks great, although the rubber strap does show a little dirt. It is white, after all.

But it does check the functionality boxes of an outdoors watch. The lume is very good, allowing me to read the time when awaking to a pitch-black night. It provides easy readability in all conditions, minus the fact that it has no numerals. But the bars make for reliable indices that are easy to navigate with the eye.

Again, I don’t really see using it as a dive watch largely due to the lack of numerals, as well as the fact that dive computers are just better for the modern world. But it certainly has all the mandatory tools to function as a dive watch in a pinch or to wear as a backup to a computer.

Bringing the Bling

Here’s the big selling point in my opinion: This watch really grabs the eye. It’s a very beautiful watch and you can grab it in myriad color combinations. It sparkles, it dazzles, and it looks well-balanced and proportionate.

I wore the watch during a tour of the Deerhammer Distillery in Buena Vista, Colorado. The owner, who happened to be a Christopher Ward fan, noticed the watch immediately and asked for a closer look. After a nice chat about the brand and its high value proposition, we agreed that it’s currently a reigning champ of bringing seriously nice automatic watches to the public at an attainable price. And we took a few photos with his whiskey as a backdrop.

The model I tested has a white band, black dial, and black bezel. The minute hand carries a hit of light blue, which I like. I think most buyers will gravitate to the more colorful models, but the white-and-black version is certainly stunning as well.

Drawbacks: Mind the Size

At 44mm, it’s a big watch. That’s the first comment others have made when discussing it, and I think it’s fair. For those with larger wrists, or who love the look of a big, bold watch, it’s fantastic.

Personally, I find it a little too big for my build. With a 7.5-inch wrist, I wear it on the third smallest hole, with the midpoint a solid inch larger. It could easily fit a 2-inch-larger wrist.

That said, you can also buy this watch in a 41mm version. That would be my choice for a purchase at my wrist size.

Who’s It For?

Those who want a very handsome statement piece under $1,000 should consider this watch. If you like its appearance, there’s little not to love. Having worn dozens of watches in this price range over the last year, it measures up very well in terms of build quality, fit, and finish.

The display caseback, tight tolerances, and dazzling sparkle make the Christopher Ward Trident Reef 44mm reviewed here a colorful, eye-catching addition to any collection.