Christopher Ward has just released its new C63 Sealander collection, which is headlined by three new watches: the C63 Sealander Auto, the C63 Sealander GMT, and the C63 Sealander Elite. With these watches, Christopher Ward is hoping to address the question of the “EveryWatch” — a watch the brand says “can go from beach to office to soiree.”
No relation to a certain hot-rod sedan from Affalterbach, these new C63 Sealander watches feature slim cases and robust construction so owners don’t have to think twice before taking them to activities. Regardless of which model you pick, water resistance is a very adequate 150 meters — more than sufficient for a swim in the pool or even a shallow dive in the sea. Impressively, none of these watches is more than 12mm-thick, which means they should slide under office shirt cuffs easily.
The C63 Sealander Automatic is the entry-level model of the collection. It has a modestly sized 39mm stainless steel case that’s just 11.25mm-thick. You can choose from a white or black dial. The dial is best described as simple but effective with large hour markers and hands. The white dial model gets orange accents on the dial, while the black dial model has red. A nice touch is the trident counterweight on the seconds hand. The date is at 6 o’clock. You can order the watch with a variety of straps including a metal bracelet, leather strap, and hybrid strap. The C63 Sealander Automatic is powered by a Sellita SW200-1 movement, which is visible through a sapphire display caseback. It’s the Elaboré grade version, which has been adjusted in three positions and is accurate to +20/20 seconds per day. The power reserve is 38 hours.
For folks who need to keep track of multiple timezones, there’s the C63 Sealander GMT. This also comes in a 39mm stainless steel case but the case is slightly thicker at 11.85mm. Again, there are white and black dial options. The dial is largely similar to the C63 Sealander Auto, except for the addition of the GMT hand. There are no 24-hour markings on the dial; instead, the 24-hour markings are engraved on the fixed stainless steel bezel. Regardless of which color you pick, the dial has a large orange GMT hand and orange accents. The large orange GMT hand has a whiff of Rolex Explorer II about it. The date is also at 6 o’clock and you can get the watch on a metal bracelet, leather strap, or hybrid strap. Inside, the watch is powered by the Sellita SW330-2 movement, and it has a longer power reserve of 56 hours. The movement is also visible through a display caseback.
Finally, we have the range-topping C63 Sealander Elite. As befits its name, this watch has a titanium case. Case diameter is slightly larger at 40mm, but this watch is easily the thinnest at just 10.7mm-thick. Water resistance is unaffected at 150 meters. The C63 Sealander Elite also has Christopher Ward’s new retractable crown design. This model is only available with a black dial, and it’s evident that this is a step-up model because the dial has more flourishes. At 6 o’clock, you have the date, and, above it, the chronometer label. That’s right, the Sellita SW200 that powers it has been chronometer-certified by the COSC, so it is guaranteed to run with +6/-4 seconds per day. The power reserve is 38 hours, and the movement can be admired through a display caseback. The C63 Sealander Elite can be ordered with a matching titanium bracelet or a hybrid strap.
It seems that Christopher Ward is addressing the needs of customers who perhaps want a slimmer watch than offered by its vintage-inspired collection but with the more modern design of its dive watches. I like how the brand is releasing watches with a greater focus on case design and wearability. The C63 Sealander Automatic starts at $695, while the C63 Sealander GMT and C63 Sealander Elite start at $950 and $1,395, respectively. For more information, visit www.christopherward.com.