Where time meets nature: the birth of the Cosmopolitan Collection

What was the vision for the Cosmopolitan Collection?

McQuaide was launched with a simple but ambitious idea: to create Damascus Steel watches that are as accessible as they are unique. That idea was first brought to life with the Q1 dive watch, now proudly worn by adventurers and collectors around the world.

Inspired by the overwhelmingly positive feedback on the Q1, I knew it was time for the next chapter in the McQuaide story: to craft my first Damascus Steel dress watch.

McQuaide dress watches must exude sophistication, embodied in sleek designs, yet always be robust enough to journey across continents alongside their wearers.

Allow me therefore to introduce the Cosmopolitan Collection, which as its name implies, is born from a love of travel and the pursuit of new experiences.

The first release in this new Collection will be the McQuaide C1, a 39mm Damascus Steel dress watch with a profile as elegant as the material itself.

What inspired the colourways of the McQuaide C1?

Our 39mm Damascus Steel dress watch aims to harmonise with the wearer’s style, whether in the office, at dinner, or exploring the world. The colour palette therefore had to be versatile, elegant, and timeless, enhancing any wardrobe with ease.

Detailed customer research, combined with my personal reflections on colours and their meaning, led me to be inspired by the intersection of Time and Nature.

Nature’s palette is ever-changing, shifting with the time of day, the season, and the landscape. These colours create memorable moments daily and throughout the year, and this poetic connection between time and nature became the foundation for the four colourways of the McQuaide C1, our 39mm Damascus Steel dress watch.

How do the four colourways reflect time, nature, and travel?

The McQuaide C1 is available in four distinctive colourways, allowing the wearer to complement their individual style, however they choose to dress.

Midnight - celebrating the passing of each day, offering new opportunities.

Solstice - marking the passing of time on a greater, biannual scale.

Evergreen - A tribute to resilience and renewal, with balance and growth through time.

Sunburst - Capturing moments of beauty when clouds part to reveal the sun’s rays.

What are the key features of the McQuaide C1?

The C1 features a 39mm Damascus Steel cushion case, with a 12mm profile and a 22mm lug width. Inside, it houses the Sellita SW200-1b movement, and it is water resistant up to a depth of 100 metres (10 ATM).

Where can I buy the McQuaide C1?

The McQuaide C1 is available now. Funded on Kickstarter in November 2025, it has since made its way from early backers’ wrists to collectors around the world.

Each C1 is available in four colourways, each with its own Damascus Steel case, so no two are alike:

C1 Midnight: the passing of each day.
C1 Solstice: the passing of time on a greater, biannual scale.
C1 Evergreen: resilience and renewal.
C1 Sunburst: the sun breaking through the clouds.

All C1s are priced at £650, with free UK delivery and returns.

McQuaide remains the only UK watch brand dedicated exclusively to the artistry of Damascus Steel. If you’d like to learn more about how Damascus Steel is crafted, you can read our blog on how Damascus Steel is made with forging a billet at a blacksmith’s in Twickenham.

What is a Damascus Steel dress watch?

A dress watch with a case forged from Damascus Steel, so the pattern of layered steel runs through the case itself. The McQuaide C1 pairs that material with a slim 12mm profile and a 39mm case, elegant enough for a suit yet robust enough to travel.

Is the McQuaide C1 water resistant?

Yes. The C1 is water resistant to 100 metres (10 ATM), so it’s suitable for swimming and snorkelling, though it isn’t designed as a dive watch. For diving, the Q1-B is rated to 1000 metres.