I’ve always found it interesting how much personality a dial can give an otherwise familiar watch. Grand Seiko has practically built an entire design language around the idea, with textured surfaces inspired by everything from snow to the bark of a birch tree. Now Christopher Ward seems to be exploring similar territory with the new C63 Sealander Yalos. And I think it’s a pretty sensible direction for a collection that has traditionally leaned toward straightforward, everyday sports watches.
The Yalos introduces four dial options: Ice Blue, Salt Pink, Sand White, and Sea Green. Each features a different nature-inspired texture created through a 20-step process involving repeated stamping, color treatments, and lacquer. The Grand Seiko comparison is fairly obvious when looking at these dials, although Christopher Ward has kept the familiar Sealander handset, case design, and overall proportions.
I actually like what they’ve done here. The regular Sealander has always struck me as a fairly reserved design, and these new dials give it some personality without making the watch look completely unfamiliar. The colors are also relatively restrained, which I think helps. There’s enough going on with the textures already.
Christopher Ward has made a few other changes to accommodate the dressier look. The 39mm case is made from 904L stainless steel and measures 9.9mm thick, a full millimeter thinner than the standard Sealander Automatic. There’s also a raised box sapphire crystal, while the hands and applied indices now feature polished facets in place of their usual luminous material.
I’m a little torn on that last decision. I understand wanting a cleaner appearance, especially with the additional dial texture, but removing lume seems like an odd compromise for something carrying the Sealander name. One of the things I’ve appreciated about the collection is its versatility. I think Christopher Ward could have maintained some degree of nighttime legibility without interfering too much with the overall design.
The movement is another area where the Yalos separates itself from the regular Sealander Automatic. Christopher Ward has gone with a COSC-certified Sellita SW300-1, offering a 56-hour power reserve. Water resistance is rated to 100 meters, and the watch comes on either a Vesuvio suede strap or an updated five-link Consort bracelet with tool-free sizing.
Pricing starts at $1,815 on suede and reaches $2,095 on the bracelet. For context, the standard Sealander Automatic costs considerably less, so there’s a meaningful premium attached to these changes. Still, I think the thinner case, chronometer-certified movement, and more involved dial production make the pricing fairly reasonable. I’d want to see the watches in person before drawing any conclusions about the finishing.
What interests me most is Christopher Ward’s willingness to keep developing the Sealander rather than introducing an entirely separate collection for this kind of watch. The Grand Seiko influence is certainly there, particularly in the dial treatments, but the Yalos still looks like a Christopher Ward to me. My only real reservation is the missing lume. Otherwise, I’m curious to see how these textured dials come across in person, especially at this price.
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.