Christopher Ward has become one of the most talked-about independent watch brands in the world — evolving from an early online disruptor into a serious force in modern watchmaking.
In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Mike Pearson, Senior Vice President of North America and Global Retail at Christopher Ward, to talk about his path into watches, his time at Bremont and Zodiac, and what brought him to Christopher Ward.
We discuss Christopher Ward’s growth in North America, its direct-to-consumer model, showroom strategy, community, pricing transparency, and how the brand is bringing more physical, human experiences to collectors.
Mike also walks through the current collection — from the Sealander, Trident, and The Twelve to the Bel Canto, C12 Loco, and True GMT — and explains how Christopher Ward has evolved from being seen primarily as a value-driven brand into one showing real creative and technical ambition.
The conversation is also a great look at Mike himself: his approach to the industry, how he connects with collectors, and what he’s learned moving from being one of the most recognizable individual voices in the enthusiast watch space to building and leading one of its most impressive teams.
If you're interested in microbrand watches, independent watchmaking, direct-to-consumer brands, watch retail, watch design, or how modern enthusiast watch brands are built, I think you'll enjoy this conversation.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:59 Mike’s Watch Journey
02:46 Bremont, Zodiac, and Industry Lessons
10:01 Joining Christopher Ward
13:45 Building the Team
15:12 Showroom Strategy
19:58 From Value Brand to Serious Watchmaking
20:55 Sealander, Trident, The Twelve, and the Core Collection
23:37 Bel Canto, C12 Loco, True GMT, and In-House Movements
25:30 The “Power of Three” Pricing Philosophy
29:40 Customer Service, Community, and Personal Learnings
31:05 Delegation, Team Building, and Finding “Your Trey”
34:53 What’s Next for Christopher Ward
37:37 Closing Thoughts
Learn More
Mike Pearson: https://www.instagram.com/mikepearson6/
Christopher Ward: https://www.christopherward.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswardlondon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherWardLondon
X: https://x.com/ChrisWardLondon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/christopher-ward-london-limited/
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#christopherward #mikepearson #independentwatchmaking #watchpodcast #watchcollector #watchenthusiast
