Today’s subject is the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT 36, this British watchmaker’s entry into the booming mid-to-small-sized automatic GMT niche. I’m a long-time fan of Christopher Ward watches, and Mike has already reviewed the C63’s 39mm stablemate for The Time Bum and loved it, so I opened the Sealander GMT 36’s bamboo box, expecting big things. Or, shall I say good things, just in a smaller package? Once again, the brand came through. The Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT 36 is delightful. If you are in D.C. this weekend, you can experience that delight firsthand at the District Time event. Consider this review an appetizer.
I’ve owned and reviewed many Christopher Ward watches through the years. While they have always done excellent work, I think their designers caught lightning in a bottle when they penned the Light-catcher. We’ve sampled that sleek, nuanced, and remarkably slim case in several variations and always walked away impressed. While I knew I would like the general appearance of the 36mm, I wondered if that appeal would scale down. I appreciate the trend to 36-38mm men’s watches, but it is easier to shrink a case’s diameter than shave off thickness. This can sometimes result in noticeably squatter proportions. The Sealander GMT 36 is 36mm wide, 43mm long, and 11.15mm thick, which is significantly narrower and shorter than the bigger watch but less than 1mm thinner.
I needn’t have worried. The Light-catcher’s array of brushed surfaces, polished chamfers, and gentle arcs combined with the brand’s typically excellent, razor-sharp finishing worked its voodoo on the 36mm wide, 43mm long case. Even though it isn’t all that much thinner than the 39mm, it does not look as if it is out of balance; rather, the ever so slightly more stout proportions give it a sportier feel that I suspect many will find an appealing trait in a more modestly sized watch. A fat and deeply fluted screw-down crown nestled between reminds you that the C63 36 is rated for 150m water resistance and game for a plunge.
On my 6.75″ wrist, the 36 was a classic fit, presenting a pleasing balance between case and bracelet. I’ll confess that having joined this hobby when gigantic cases were all the rage and 42mm was considered a men’s mid-size, I generally did not wear my watches on bracelets because I did not like the sharp break at the end link where the first link folded to wrap my tiny wrist. Now that I am wearing smaller, more traditionally sized watches, I realize that there is no need to have that drop-off between the end link and the first link following.
A watch that fits your wrist correctly should show a smooth transition and a link or two at the top of your wrist, like in the photo. It turns out there was a good reason that for most of watch history, they were not the size of dinner plates.
While we are talking bracelets, I’ll note how satisfying the C36’s 5-link Consort bracelet is. It is 20mm wide with short, smoothly articulated links, dual finishing to match the case, quick-release spring bars, and a signed butterfly deployant clasp. That last bit is key for me. I am a stickler for case-to-clasp proportionality, and too often, watchmakers will fit a boxy dive watch clasp to a smaller head, throwing the whole thing off. That is not the case here, as the deployant adds nearly nothing to the thickness and vanishes into the links when secured.
The fixed, brushed bezel is clean and understated, with an engraved 24-hour index filled in black. The sapphire crystal is flat, further minimizing the C63’s profile. And that brings us to the dial, which is, I must tell you, pretty special.
It would seem that the same meticulous brushers and polishers who perfected the case also gave the same degree of effort on the hands and markers. You will not find a rough edge or blurred transition here.
The markers and logo stand tall, the facets are crisp and bright, and the large arrow-point hour and GMT hands look like they would draw blood if you touched them.
The review sample is Dragonfly Blue, a magnificent color that hovers between aqua blue and teal green, depending on how the light catches the sunray surface. Dabs of tangerine mark the pips in the minute index, the secondary text, and, of course, the prominent GMT hand. You can buy it in a black or white dial as well. Personally, I’d find the Dragonfly Blue impossible to resist.
Did the folks at CW cut a corner and supply a white date wheel? No, they went all out and gave us Dragonfly Blue date at 6 o’clock. I’ll also note that despite the small dial, that date does not eliminate the 6 o’clock marker, so all 12 are present and accounted for when the generous application of C1 Super-LumiNova in the hands and markers pops to life.
Inside, the C63 runs an accurate and reliable Swiss Sellita SW330-2 (28.8k bph, 25 jewels). Not to be outdone by the fishing on the outside, the Sellita shows off an elaboré “Colimaçoné” finish on both the movement and the signed rotor. Less flashy, but perhaps more impressive, is the unit’s 56-hour power reserve.
The Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT 36 is available for purchase now for $1,275. It is worth every penny, not only because it is gorgeous and well-specced, but because this Swiss-made beauty practically radiates quality.
Don’t believe me? Come to District Time on March 2-3, 2024, and see for yourself. Even if you can’t make the trip, I’d recommend checking out the Sealander 36 online. Christopher Ward makes it look like a million bucks on its website, and I can now attest that it is just as impressive in person.
For more information or to buy your own, visit christopherward.com.
