For a while, Christopher Ward has lived in two worlds at once. There’s the version of the brand chasing serious horological ambition with watches like the Bel Canto and C12 Loco, and then there’s the version that built its name on accessible, well-executed homages. The C63 Sealander GMT has always sat in that second camp, taking obvious cues from the Rolex Explorer II, and it’s reportedly one of the best-selling watches in CW’s catalog. So when news broke that the model was getting a refresh for 2026, my first thought wasn’t whether CW would tone down the Explorer II flavor. It was whether they’d touch it at all. They did. And this is the most interesting the Sealander GMT has looked since the line started.
At first glance, you might not register how much has changed. The case is still recognizably a Sealander, but the new version is slimmer and reshaped, with fewer cutouts and a more straightforward mid case. The crown is now conical with tighter crown guards, and the bezel has been enlarged and reangled for better legibility. CW also added a 42mm option, joining the existing 36mm and 39mm sizes.
The dial work is where things get genuinely interesting. The applied indices have been redrawn with a tapered base, the handset is slimmer, and CW has finally removed the Trident counterweight from the seconds hand. That last detail is the one that hit me hardest. I never really clicked with that design touch, and seeing it gone makes the whole dial feel a lot more grown up. The GMT hand is now fully painted instead of half-painted, the date window at 6:00 gets a diamond-polished frame, and the dial itself is now lacquered. Color options include Black, White, Sky Blue, and a new Pistachio variant with a darker green GMT hand.
Inside, the Sellita SW330-2 carries over, visible through the sapphire caseback. The view is improved by a new skeletonized rotor with better finishing, which is a nice touch for a watch in this price range.
The bracelet is the change that probably matters most for daily owners. The three-link Bader and five-link Consort bracelets both return, but they now use a new tool-free link removal system CW is calling iLink. The links feature built-in pushers and pins so you can resize on the fly. There’s also a new rubber strap with a Clous de Paris texture and a steel deployant clasp, which looks like a legitimate third option rather than an afterthought.
Pricing is consistent across all three case sizes. Leather comes in at $1,395, rubber at $1,535, the Bader bracelet at $1,620, and the Consort at $1,675. CW’s prices have crept up over the years, but this still reads as fair territory for what you’re getting.
The C63 Sealander GMT is going to keep drawing Explorer II comparisons as long as it offers a black and white dial with an orange GMT hand. That said, this version puts more daylight between the two than any Sealander before it. The Pistachio dial alone wanders pretty far from Rolex territory, and the iLink bracelet is the kind of practical detail Rolex isn’t doing.
For me, the harder question now isn’t whether to consider one. It’s whether I’d go 36mm or 39mm. I’m not sure yet. Excellent work from Christopher Ward.
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.