Christopher Ward Launch C65 Dune Collection with Refined Field Watch Style

It’s difficult to say how much the Bel Canto has changed people’s perception of Christopher Ward. On the one hand, it’s certainly their most successful and hyped watch ever but on the other, it’s not exactly the kind of watch they’re known for, a refined chiming complication amid a sea of tough divers and tool watches. However, their latest launch, a trio of watches dubbed the C65 Dune Collection, bridge the gap between the refinement of the Bel Canto and CW’s signature utility.

C65 Dune Automatic

The C65 Dune Automatic is the core, baseline model in the new collection. It exemplifies what the new watches are all about in its purest form. Structurally, it has a 38mm stainless steel case with 150m water resistance and a smooth bezel. The shape is based on CW’s signature Light-catcher design, but instead of the usual sapphire crystal, it has a vintage style box crystal instead, giving the piece a seventies retro flair.

As for the dial, it’s very clean with large, lumed indexes, a date window at 6 o’clock and little else. It’s available in four colours, each of which has been given a suitably beach related name in keeping with the collection’s dune theme. There’s black sand, marine blue, beachgrass (green) and white sand.

Between the retro slant of the C65 Dune’s case, its go-anywhere durability and a hyper legible display, it would be fair to call it a field watch. Although, rather than lean into the tactical, militaristic aesthetic that most field watches use, Christopher Ward have gone in a more refined direction. The case is polished and the dial features a sunburst finish (with the exception of the white sand, which is matte), the same kind of finishing as seen on the Bel Canto.

Inside, it houses the Sellita SW200-1 with 38-hour power reserve. A staple of both Christopher Ward and the watch industry at large, I’m sure you’re familiar with it. As we always say when this movement crops up, at least it helps keep the watch accessible at £695.

C65 Dune Bronze

Second in the collection is the C65 Dune Bronze, which is largely the same as the automatic model except with a bronze case and bracelet. It’s actually Christopher Ward’s first bronze bracelet in their general collections. As with any bronze watch, it will patina over time and develop its own unique character.

There are fewer dial colours available for the bronze model, limited to just the marine blue and beachgrass. If they were in pastel, they’d remind me of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candies from a couple of years ago, which were some of my favourite watches from 2021.

Another difference between the C65 Dune Bronze and the regular Automatic model is the movement. Instead of the base Sellita SW200-1, the Bronze houses the higher spec SW200 COSC, which is essentially the same movement but with chronometer certification, which means it’s been tested to a far higher degree.

Naturally, the change in materials and addition of a full metal bracelet means the Bronze edition has a higher price tag than its steel counterpart. However, it’s not exactly exorbitant at £1,205.

C65 Dune GMT Limited Edition

Lastly, we have the limited edition of the trio, the C65 Dune GMT. As its name suggests, this is a GMT variation on the design. It has the same overall structure but the periphery of the dial now features a 24-hour scale with day-night indication. The additional scale pairs with a fourth hand to display the time in a second time zone.

It’s based on the black sand colourway, although the 24-hour scale’s white portion is the same tone as the white sand version of the Automatic. There’s also a splash of vibrancy in the form of a bright red GMT hand.

Due to the extra complication, the C65 Dune GMT Limited Edition houses the Sellita SW330-2 GMT movement. It has a 56-hour power reserve, which is substantially better than either of the other Dune watches. But then again, it is limited to just 200 pieces, making it far more exclusive. As might be expected, the limited edition has the highest price of the three but remains sub-£1K – just about – at £995.

More details at Christopher Ward.