Christopher Ward C65 Chronograph

I won’t waste your time with an introduction to Christopher Ward. At this point, the British brand has firmly established itself in the watch world. Several years ago, the brand released the C65 “Light-Catcher” case, a dynamic, sportier design wherein no two adjacent facets have the same finish and you’d be hard-pressed to find a straight line. It remains one of the best cases on the market, especially at its price point. (There’s a reason Worn and Wound chose the C65 design as the base for their first collaboration with the brand.)

Until recently, the models using the case didn’t include a chronograph. To be sure, almost every other style was available, including several divers, a GMT, a world timer, and a few field watches. No longer do those C65s have to sit without a proper timing companion. The new C65 Chronograph is a colorful, vintage-inspired model that builds on the already phenomenal C65 lineup.

Color and legibility are what stand out for me. Color because look at that dial–blue, white, black, orange, red. Legibility is of note as, despite what is arguable a busy watch, time-telling is a cinch. And the size is just perfect; most chronos seem to go 42mm and over, but at 41mm, this is just right.

Despite its height and its male end links, the C65 Chronograph sits rather well on the wrist. This has more to do with the styling of the case than anything else, which visually diminishes the depth. Note how smoothly the lugs transition to the bracelet–at least on my 7″ wrist, it was perfect.

I love the subtle luster to the thin bezel, and how easy the bezel is to operate, even with wet or damp hands. But I don’t love it as much as I like the lug contours. Brushed, polished, brushed, polished. In love.

Light, caught.

I don’t much care for screw-down pushers (sorry, Daytona). They just get in the way of my unplanned chronograph usage (these days mostly baby naps, toddler tantrums, and dinner prep). But the C65 Chronograph does have some decent water resistance, and without the screw-downs, you’ll ruin the watch. As you can see in some of the shots towards the end of the review, I favored leaving them open, as I used the watch more frequently for timing than for anything water-related. And fortunately, the crown is large (it’s perfectly wide without being too thick, without protruding too much) and the pushers easy to screw/unscrew, so getting it ready for a deep dive (bath time) is no problem at all.

Did you like all those macros? Thanks. I liked taking them. Here are some standouts on the dial: red date (which adjusts with a very satisfying click) with a framed and beveled window; radial subdials; beveled subdial edges; orange lume pips from 12 to 4; and of course that deep, beautiful blue.

Lume is fine but not exceptional. Enough to tell time with a 2-3 second glance, not enough to use as a night light.

What’s the point in a display caseback when you have an undecorated movement? To be clear, etching a design into the rotor does not mean you’ve decorated the movement, and it certainly doesn’t mean you need to show us. In fact, use a generic rotor, close the caseback, and save me a dollar or two. (Of course, I tried it out on the Barton rubber, and yes, it fit and looked great.)

Christopher Ward’s excellent bracelet is an option, of course, and I strongly suggest you get it. Pin-and-collar links aside, the bracelet is comfortable and easy to use. Below, you can see the clasp’s integrated micro adjustment system–no tools required! And the end links feature integrated quick-release tabs, which obviate the need for drilled lugs (which would interrupt the beautiful case profile).

There’s a lot of color, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of options for straps. And even on NATO, the C65 Chronograph remains wearable.

Well, it’s another win for the team at Christopher Ward. The C65 Chronograph rounds out the model family with a bang of color and wearability. With the screw-down pushers (no thanks) and the depth rating, perhaps appending “Diver” to the model name would have been appropriate. No matter, this watch is a win in my book, with very little to complain about. I’m hopeful we’ll see some additional dial options in the near future.

Available on rubber, leather, or bracelet, the Christopher Ward C65 Chronograph tops out on the bracelet at $2,055. You can save a buck by buying one of the other straps, but that’s a terrible idea—always get the bracelet when you can. If you want to get one of these gorgeous time tellers for yourself, head over to the CW website.⬩