It’s not very often that a micro-brand graduates to become a full-scale independent watchmaker, however, Christopher Ward is one of the few that have been able to shed that monicker and with a quick look at their watches it’s pretty easy to see why.
Christopher Ward was kind enough to send over their newest C63 Sealander GMT to get the full Watchout treatment. On paper this is a watch that offers extraordinary value but let’s see how it does in the metal!
We are looking at 5 criteria that should provide a comprehensive overview of the watch and aid anyone who is considering adding it to their collection. Use our quick links below to help navigate;
History of the C63 Sealander GMT
We don’t have a massive amount of history to go over with Christopher Ward as the brand was only launched in 2005. The long and the short of it is…British designed, Swiss manufactured watches with 3 main pillars;
- Sell directly to your customers
- Watches can only be marked up a maximum of 3x manufacture cost
- Avoid costly mainstream advertising and celebrity endorsements
The C63 Sealander GMT was released in 2021, however, it is not shy about where it takes its inspiration from. Paying tribute to the funky 1970’s cave exploration GMT watches that came before it, the C63 uses a fixed bezel and a glorious oversized orange GMT hand similar to the iconic Rolex Explorer II 1655.
Case & Bracelet
In my view, the hardest thing to get right when designing a watch is its case dimensions because 1-2 millimetres can turn a perfectly proportioned watch into a clunky piece of metal on your wrist. CW walks this line flawlessly with its compact lug-to-lug and surprising thinness for a GMT movement.
Coming in at 39mm in diameter, 11.85mm thick and 45.8mm lug to lug, it’s hard to imagine a wrist this won’t work on. Side note – CW gets 10 bonus points for including lug to lug measurements on their website.
The C63 Sealander GMT uses a combination of brushed and polished surfaces which elevates the overall look and finish without making the watch a total scratch magnet. I’m not saying the watch won’t pick up scratches…just that they will be less noticeable.
Flipping the watch over, CW gives you the ability to see the engine powering the watch with a sapphire caseback and a custom CW engraved rotor which is always a nice touch. I’m a big proponent in display casebacks in watches $1,500 and below because it’s one feature that can get new collectors and enthusiasts hooked into this wild hobby.
The strap included was one of the better straps I’ve seen come with a watch. I’d always recommend buying the bracelet if available, as straps are much simpler to come by.
Dial
The dial compliments the tool watch aesthetic of the C63 Sealander GMT quite well with legibility at the core of its design. The white lacquer finish acts as a clean canvas for the contrasting brushed steel black and orange accents. Hour markers and hands are finished with brushed steel that can appear black under the right light and are filled with a very pleasing Super-LumiNova that shines a turquoise-blue in the dark. The date window at 6 o’clock provides excellent dial symmetry, something CW has struggled with in the past.
In the end the real star of the show is the GMT hand…it’s big, it’s orange and it’s amazing! While the C63 was on the wrist it was tough to glance down and not smile at it. Personally, I like a watch with a little funk to it and the GMT hand delivers just that.
Movement
The Sellita SW330-2 GMT is the engine that powers the C63 Sealander GMT, offering some serious bang for the buck. You get your standard 3 hand functionality, a GMT hand (that can be independently set), a date placed at the 6 o’clock and a solid 56-hour power reserve. Sellita is one of the largest movement manufacturers and is trusted by many customers and brands around the world so you can rest assured the movement should stand the test of time. The Sellita SW330-2 GMT is also used by such brands as Sinn, Laco, Farer & Ming in their similarly priced GMT offerings.
Wearability
The C63 Sealander GMT thrives as casual wearer and a perfect travelling watch, fit for use most of the time. It’s the kind of watch you want to throw on when setting off for an adventure because of its rugged design and overall functionality.
While it can be dressed up or down depending on the strap/bracelet choice it may start to look out of place in an office setting with its orange accents and fixed 24-hour bezel, making the watch a little loud to compliment any outfit featuring a pair of dress pants.
Through a few weeks of use the watch has been my go to for bike rides, BBQ’s, and those weekend errands that just don’t seem to end! I like to use the GMT hand to keep tabs on my family across the pond in the UK. When wearing the C63 its orange GMT hand acted as a constant reminder to call my brother every once in a while!
Verdict
Reliable, robust and feature rich that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Wait…that doesn’t sound right?
Well, it’s true! The C63 Sealander GMT smashes it and in this price range I reckon it’s pretty hard to compete with! For this the C63 Sealander GMT scores a total of 63 C’s out of a possible 63 C’s!
Case: 39mm