Things have been a bit quieter from Christopher Ward as of late. In 2020, it seemed we had a number of releases from the brand, and then it just sort of went radio silent. Well, that is, until now. While many folks reading this site no doubt have a number of watches, many others prefer to have just a single, versatile watch. Or perhaps you want to get yourself down to “just one watch”. With the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Collection, you could ostensibly do just that.
There are three watches in the lineup, and the first of these – in order of pricing – is the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Automatic. This is a 39mm stainless steel watch housing a Sellita SW200 automatic movement, and represents one of the most affordable automatics that the brand has produced, starting at £595. This is a clean, classy look. You’ve got the handset and trident counterweight that let you know it’s a CW, and then you’ve got simple – but generously sized – bar indices around the dial.
Sure, the one at 6 o’clock is cut a tad short to get the date window in there (always an appreciated addition for an everyday watch), but between that and the double bars at 12 o’clock, you won’t have any problems orienting it to read the time. At just 11.25mm tall, shouldn’t be any problems slipping the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Automatic under a cuff either. The top of the case looks to be mostly brushed surfaces, allowing it to “dress down” a bit, but I think the starkness of the dial – along with a strap change – could easily allow it to work as a dress watch, thereby meeting that “one daily watch” goal.
Moving up the line (again, in terms of price) we’ve got my favorite of the trio, the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT. We’ve got the same case as in the automatic, though the height is slightly increased to accommodate the Sellita SW330-2. We’ve got the bezel slightly changed here as well, to get the 24-hour time scale available. This appears to be a fixed bezel, but I’m ok with that. Yes, it “takes away” one time zone you could track, but I find having just one additional is more than enough, and I appreciate the more compact design of a fixed bezel on a GMT watch.
Looking at the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT, you can plainly see that it’s design is all but identical to the automatic. Dials – and colors – are the same, you just get some different text on it. Case is the same (bezel change aside), still offering the 150m WR rating with the screw-down crown and screw-in exhibition caseback. Of course, the most noticeable change on the dial is the GMT hand in classic orange. Pricing also goes up a bit, with this model starting at £795.
Last up in the new line we have the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Elite. This watch has more than a few changes from it’s brethren in the lineup. First off, though the case shape is the same, it’s been enlarged to 40mm (though just 10.7mm thick), and is made of grade 2 titanium, rather than stainless steel. Gone is the glossy dial, and in it’s place is one with a bit of texture, and some interesting carveouts around the edges, as well as a more pronounced set of numerals around the chapter ring (and indices between the main).
Inside the case, we’ve also got a change for the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Elite. While it’s a Sellita SW200 – as in the entry-level automatic – here, it’s been upgraded to be a COSC-grade, which brings the accuracy from +20/-20 seconds per day down to +6/-4 seconds per day. Oh, and you know what, I almost forgot another external change – somehow, they’ve got a telescoping crown on this, allowing it to look like it’s almost flush with the case. Along with the materials and movement, this is a neat design trick that certainly does elevate the watch to the top of line, with pricing starting at £1,150.
All in all, I’d say the new Christopher Ward C63 Sealander collection is an interesting addition to their lineup. You’ve got watches coming in at a variety of price points, and a design that isn’t overly sporty or dressy. Sure, you’ve got that steel sports watch look – overall – but swapping out a bracelet for a strap on those 20mm lugs, and you can change the character of the watch in a cinch. While some may scoff at the idea of having just one watch to cover all their bases, if that’s something you’re going for, I’d say the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander collection is certainly a way you can do it with Swiss movements and clean design. And yes, we are talking with the brand about getting one of the GMT models in for a review – so more on that later! christopherward.com
Tech Specs from Christopher Ward
C63 Sealander Elite
Technical:
- Diameter: 40mm
- Height: 10.7mm
- Weight: 45g
- Lug to lug: 46.9mm
- Case: Titanium Grade 2
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Dial colour: Black
- Depth rating: 15 ATM
- Movement Sellita SW200 COSC automatic with Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish
- Functions: Hour, minute, central seconds, date, telescoping retractable crown
- Power reserve: 38 hours
- Vibrations: 4hz / 28,800 beats per hour
- Timing tolerance: +6/-4 seconds per day
- Strap width: 20mm
Features:
- Swiss made
- Self-winding 26 jewel mechanical chronometer movement
- 38 hour power reserve
- Date calendar
- Central hacking seconds hand
- Antishock system
- Twin-flag engraving over ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the rotor
- Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the movement
- Matte, semi skeletonised dial
- Super-LumiNova Grade® X1 BL C1 hands, indexes
- Polished indexes
- Brushed and polished hands
- Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand
- Brushed and polished titanium case
- Circular brushed and polished fixed titanium bezel
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Screw in, display caseback
- Embossed retractable titanium crown
- 150m water resistance
- Unique engraved serial number
- Strap options – Titanium bracelet, Hybrid black/ orange, Hybrid black or #tide ocean material® black/ orange
C63 Sealander GMT
Technical:
- Diameter: 39mm
- Height: 11.85mm
- Weight: 62g
- Lug to lug: 45.80mm
- Case: Steel
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Dial colour: Black or White
- Depth rating: 15 ATM
- Movement: Sellita SW330-2 with Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish
- Functions: Hour, minute, central seconds, date, GMT
- Power reserve: 50-56 hours
- Vibrations: 4hz / 28,800 vibrations per hour
- Timing tolerance: +20/-20 seconds per day
- Strap width: 20mm
Features:
- Swiss made
- Self-winding 25 jewel mechanical movement
- Up to 56-hour power reserve Formulation not consistent with the Elite
- GMT complication
- Date calendar
- Central hacking seconds hand
- Antishock system
- Twin-flag engraving over ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the rotor
- Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the movement
- Polished lacquer dial
- Super-LumiNova Grade® X1 BL C1 hands, indexes
- Top-brushed indexes with diamond polished facets
- Brushed and polished hands
- Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand
- Brushed and polished marine-grade stainless steel case
- Circular brushed and polished fixed steel bezel with black lacquer filling
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Screwdown, display caseback
- Embossed screw-down crown
- 150m water resistance
- Unique engraved serial number
- Strap options – Bracelet, Hybrid black/ orange, Hybrid black, #tide ocean material® black/ orange, Vintage oak camel or Vintage oak black
C63 Sealander Automatic
Technical:
- Diameter: 39mm
- Height: 11.25mm
- Weight: 61g
- Lug to lug: 45.80mm
- Case: Stainless steel
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Dial colour: Black or White
- Depth rating: 15 ATM
- Movement: Sellita SW200-1 with Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish
- Functions Hour, minute, central seconds, date
- Power reserve 38 hours
- Vibrations: 4hz / 28,800 vibrations per hour
- Timing tolerance: +20/-20 seconds per day
- Strap width: 20mm
Features:
- Swiss made
- Self-winding 26 jewel mechanical movement
- 38-hour power reserve
- Date calendar
- Central hacking seconds hand
- Anti-shock system
- Twin-flag engraving over ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the rotor
- Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish on the movement
- Polished lacquer dial
- Super-LumiNova Grade® X1 BL C1 hands, indexes
- Top-brushed indexes with diamond polished facets
- Brushed and polished hands
- Signature Trident counter-balance on seconds hand
- Brushed and polished marine-grade stainless steel case
- Circular brushed and polished fixed steel bezel
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Screwdown, display caseback
- Embossed screw-down crown
- 150m water resistance
- Unique engraved serial number
- Strap options – Bracelet, Hybrid black/ red & Hybrid black/ orange, Hybrid black, #tide ocean material® black/ orange and black/ red, Vintage oak camel or Vintage oak black.
