Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Lucia: Chiming Bird Watch
By Nick·November 12, 2026· 6 min read
Christopher Ward's C1 Bel Canto Lucia reimagines its hourly chiming mechanism as a stunning, hand-printed songbird, striking a D-note on the hour. This unique collaboration with Mr Jones Watches blends whimsical art directly into mechanical function.
The C1 Bel Canto Lucia from Christopher Ward carries a price tag of $5,550. For that, you get a Swiss-made automatic watch with an hourly chiming complication, a Grade 5 titanium case, and a multi-layered dial produced in collaboration with London’s Mr Jones Watches. It’s an unusual combination of mechanical watchmaking and artisanal craft.
41mmCase
$5,550Price
65hPower Reserve
30mWater Res.
This release builds on the brand’s GPHG-winning Bel Canto platform, which brought the sonnerie au passage complication to a new price point. The Lucia, however, transforms the watch from a piece of mechanical sculpture into a miniature piece of theatre, where the artwork is not just decorative—it's part of the function.
The Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Lucia in Detail
The core concept of the original Bel Canto was to expose its bird-shaped striking mechanism. The Lucia takes this idea literally. It turns that abstract shape into a fully-realized songbird, brought to life through a detailed, multi-part construction.
From Opera to Horology
The watch’s name comes from Donizetti’s opera, Lucia di Lammermoor. Its famous ‘mad scene’ features a duet between the soprano and a flute, with phrasing that evokes birdsong. Christopher Ward translates that musical idea into a physical form.
The bird’s tail acts as the hammer, striking a D-note on the hour. Its beak serves as the on/off indicator for the chime: pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock turns a small ladybird mounted on the column wheel, which opens or closes the beak. The time itself is displayed on a separate, floating sub-dial with a fumé sunburst finish.
A True Manufacturing Collaboration
To execute this, Christopher Ward partnered with Mr Jones Watches, a London-based maker known for its artistic and narrative-driven timepieces. The design was created by illustrator Andy Wilx, who drew inspiration from fantasy, nature, and the lush patterns of William Morris.
The dial isn't just a printed image. It's constructed from six stamped brass components, individually colored and assembled, making Mr Jones Watches an integral part of the manufacturing process.
The scene uses 19 individual colors. Each color required its own plate and was applied using a pad-printing process at the Mr Jones workshop in London. These parts, including gold-plated framing elements, were then sent to Christopher Ward’s Atelier in Biel, Switzerland, for final assembly onto the movement.
This approach is similar in spirit to what we saw with the Yema x Silberstein Marine 2 CMM.20, another piece that merges a specific artistic vision with a capable in-house movement module.
Calibre FS01-2: More Power, Same Song
The Lucia is powered by Christopher Ward’s new Calibre FS01-2. This is the brand's in-house sonnerie au passage module, developed by technical director Frank Stelzer, now paired with a new base movement: the Sellita SW200-2 Power+.
The updated calibre brings a real step up in performance. Christopher Ward says FS01-2 features an optimized gear train, a redesigned barrel and mainspring, an enhanced automatic winding system, and an updated balance assembly. Combined with the Power+ base, the key result for the wearer is a power reserve of 65 hours.
The movement runs at a modern 4Hz (28,800 vph), providing a smooth sweep to the seconds hand, with a stated timing tolerance of -5/+12 seconds per day. The total jewel count is 32, accounting for the addition of the complex FS01-2 chiming module. Christopher Ward continues its strategy of packing significant specs into its watches, a pattern we also noted in the C63 Sealander Chronograph.
Case, Dimensions, and Wearability
The 41mm case is made from Grade 5 titanium. This material choice serves two purposes: it reduces weight and is thought to improve the resonance of the chime. The case alone weighs just 54 grams, and the entire watch with its leather strap comes in at 79 grams.
At 14.31mm thick, it’s not a thin watch. That height is necessary to house the automatic movement, the FS01-2 module, the multi-layered dial assembly, and the box sapphire crystal that provides a deep, uninterrupted view of the scene. The 48mm lug-to-lug dimension suggests a modern presence on the wrist, but the low mass of the titanium should make it wear comfortably for its size.
A water resistance of 3 ATM (30 meters) confirms this is an art piece, not a tool watch. It’s built for visual and acoustic enjoyment, a different mission from the robust utility of something like the brand's own C63 Sealander Yalos. Every dialhead will appreciate the sheer depth and complexity visible under the anti-reflective crystal.
The caseback features a dedicated deep-stamped engraving celebrating the Christopher Ward x Mr Jones Watches collaboration.
The C1 Bel Canto Lucia is a mechanical watch from Christopher Ward featuring a sonnerie au passage (hourly chime) complication. It was developed in collaboration with Mr Jones Watches and features a multi-layered, 19-color dial depicting a songbird that is integrated into the chiming mechanism.
How does the chiming mechanism work?
The watch chimes a single D-note once every hour, on the hour. The bird's tail acts as the hammer for the chime. A pusher at 4 o'clock turns the function on and off by rotating a small ladybird on the column wheel, which opens or closes the bird's beak on the dial to show the chime's status.
What is the difference between the Lucia and the standard Bel Canto?
The Lucia features a highly elaborate, artistic dial made in partnership with Mr Jones Watches, turning the mechanism into a literal songbird scene. It also uses the upgraded Calibre FS01-2, paired with a Sellita SW200-2 Power+ base, for a 65-hour power reserve.
Is the C1 Bel Canto Lucia a limited edition?
The official technical specifications do not state a numbered production limit for this model. It is available for pre-order, with deliveries scheduled for the end of December 2026.
How much does the Christopher Ward Bel Canto Lucia cost?
The C1 Bel Canto Lucia is priced at $5,550 USD on the camel Fine Italian leather strap. A version on the Consort bracelet is available for $5,995.
The Takeaway
The C1 Bel Canto Lucia is a 41mm automatic chiming watch that prioritizes horological art. It combines a capable Swiss movement with a complex, hand-printed dial, positioning it for collectors who value animated displays and acoustic complications over traditional sports watch specifications.
GALLERY
WRITTEN BY
Nick
I originally started VELOCE to put my skills to work, hone my app design and web development practices, and dive deeper into the world of horology. I wanted to learn more about the watches, the brands, and the incredible people behind them - the creators, the designers, and the collectors. I love discovering new timepieces and sharing their stories with the world. VELOCE is my ultimate passion project and hobby, the creative space I head to after my full-time job to build something I truly care about.
By Nick·November 12, 2026· 6 min read
