As I sit here gazing into the dial of this newly released Christopher Ward C65 GMT Worldtimer, I can’t help but admire the level of craftsmanship and originality coming from such a relatively new brand.
Don’t get me wrong, Christopher Ward isn’t exactly a new brand, they were founded in 2004, but they certainly don’t have the heritage that comes from a brand such as Longines for example.
The C65 Worldtimer is a model that harkens back to the 1960s, it’s the first Wordtimer in the C65 collection, and the first Christopher Ward watch to feature both Worldtimer and GMT functionalities. It’s also a new release I’ve been dying to get my hands on.
Available on 3 different strap options, and 1 bracelet option. The one I have here today is on the Hybrid strap, which appears to be a combination of rubber and nylon.
CW Logo
Before we dive into the look, feel, and function of this watch, I just want to address one controversial aspect of all Christopher Ward watches – the logo. The CW logo is widely criticized for being plain, boring and similar to a Microsoft word font.
I agree the font is basic, but it doesn’t bother me, I actually think it suits this brand because of it’s British heritage. Are Brits known for being exuberant fancy extroverts? No. They are known for being reserved and calculated, witty and proper, and after living in the UK during my glory days, I can attest to this. The logo suits the brand to the T.
Look & Feel
The C65 GMT Worldtimer is an exceptional looking watch, they really nailed the 60s era vibe. The colours and attention to detail are just superb, the yellow on the inner bezel pops really well.
One of my favourite things about this piece is the outer bi-directional rotating bezel, containing a slew of cities, the outer ring in black and the inner ring in silver, it just makes you feel globally connected, which is a nice feeling during this corona virus era of 2020.
The solid caseback is also really nice, its black, which matches the outer bezel well, and has an embossed CW logo in the center. I’m a solid caseback purist, so the absence of an exhibition caseback is fine with me, and in my opinion suits tool watches better anyways.
Christopher Ward also states this model as actually being a dive watch first, GMT and Worldtimer second. They’ve backed this up a screw down crown and 150 meters water resistance, pretty impressive.
The watch is also slim enough and classy enough to be worn with smart casual wear, and if you swap out the band to leather you might be able to get away with a formal look.
The sides of the case, and lugs are high polished, and give off a nice sheen. The dial is intricate but easy to read, with the date wheel blending in very well at the 3:00 position.
Sizing
It also wears compact for a 41mm case size, due to its short lugs spanning only 47.1mm. Compare that to a Rolex Explorer 1 coming in with a 39mm case size but with much longer lug span, and those with small wrists can pull off the C65 Worldtimer easier.
Final Thoughts
For its base price of $1,140usd or 995 Pounds, this watch is a pretty good deal. It’s loaded with functionality, has a high quality Swiss build with a Sellitta SW330 movement and feels fantastic on wrist. If you’re looking to purchase a new tool watch in this price range, this should be a strong contender on your list.Case size: 41mm
Specs
- Thickness: 12.05mm
- Steel: 316L
- Water resistance: 150 meters
- Lume: Super-LumiNova X1 GL C1
For more info and specs on the C65 Worldtimer or to view the entire Christopher Ward range of watches head over to their official website here.
