Look at the new Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Chronograph in white and tell me you didn’t immediately think of a Rolex Daytona. I did. And I think Christopher Ward knows exactly what they’re doing here. The new C63 marks the return of a mechanical chronograph to Christopher Ward’s regular lineup after roughly six years away. The brand has made chronographs before, including the C9 Single Pusher and C1000 Typhoon, though the complication never became a major part of its catalog. This time, Christopher Ward has built one around the recently updated Sealander and given it a very recognizable face.
The white version gets a lacquered dial with three black opalin subdials and a black ceramic tachymeter bezel. Christopher Ward openly references the Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, and TAG Heuer Carrera when discussing the design, so there’s little reason to pretend those similarities aren’t there. To me, the Daytona connection is especially hard to miss. I’m also not particularly bothered by it.
Panda chronographs have existed well beyond Rolex for decades, and there’s only so much ownership any one brand can claim over three black subdials on a white background. My take is that Christopher Ward has picked a familiar formula and put together a pretty compelling watch around it. Whether the C63 develops enough personality of its own is another question.
Inside is a Sellita SW510 automatic chronograph movement running at 4Hz with up to 62 hours of power reserve. The steel case measures 41mm wide, 48mm lug-to-lug, and 13.9mm thick. You also get a sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance.
That thickness is probably the first thing I’d want to investigate in person. Christopher Ward says this is its thinnest mechanical chronograph case so far, and 13.9mm isn’t unusual for an automatic chronograph. I just don’t know how it wears yet. That matters more to me than shaving fractions of a millimeter off a spec sheet.
There are also black, pink, pistachio, and sky blue dials. I’d take the panda. Predictable? Sure. I think it’s the best-looking one.
Prices start at $2,625 on rubber and $2,765 on the Consort bracelet. I think that’s pretty compelling for what Christopher Ward is offering, especially considering the ceramic bezel, SW510, 100-meter water resistance, and overall package.
It also arrives at an interesting time for the company. Watches like the Bel Canto, Twelve X, and C12 Loco have given Christopher Ward opportunities to show what it can do with more ambitious designs and movements. Now some of that attention is landing on a much simpler proposition: make a really appealing mechanical chronograph and sell it for under $3,000.
Which brings me back to the Daytona. Who needs one? I’m being a little provocative there. A Daytona and a Sellita-powered Christopher Ward are very different watches, separated by movement architecture, finishing, history, price, and about a thousand other things watch nerds can argue about.
But I think the C63 asks a fair question. If you simply love the look and function of a panda chronograph, how much do you actually need to spend? At $2,625, Christopher Ward has given us another possible answer. I’d just like to get this one on the wrist before deciding how good that answer really is.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.