Christopher Ward has consistently carved out a niche for itself by blending British design with Swiss watchmaking precision, all while maintaining a direct-to-consumer model that offers significant value. The brand's philosophy has often centered on creating highly competent, versatile timepieces that appeal to both new enthusiasts and seasoned collectors. With the introduction of the C63 Sealander Rocks collection, the company ventures into a more expressive and artistic territory, building upon its solid foundation with a series of watches that are, by their very nature, completely unique. This new lineup consists of four distinct models, each limited to 150 pieces and defined by a dial crafted from a natural precious stone.
The use of stone dials in horology is not a new concept, with legendary brands like Piaget and Rolex popularizing the practice in the mid-20th century. These materials offered a vibrant and luxurious alternative to traditional metal or enamel dials, showcasing both technical skill and an eye for natural beauty. Christopher Ward’s entry into this space with the Sealander Rocks collection feels like a natural progression. It leverages the success of previous ventures into more decorative dials, such as the C63 Celest, and applies the concept to the widely popular 36mm Sealander platform. The result is a collection that feels both familiar in its core design and thrillingly new in its execution.
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The C63 Sealander has been one of the brand's cornerstone models, celebrated for its "go anywhere, do anything" ethos. Its balanced proportions and robust construction make it an ideal daily companion. The new "Rocks" limited editions retain this fundamental character but infuse it with an individuality that cannot be replicated. By choosing malachite, yellow tiger's eye, charoite, and turquoise, Christopher Ward offers four distinct personalities within a single collection. Each sliver of stone, shaped by millions of years of geological processes, ensures that while 150 watches of each type exist, no two dials will ever be identical. This inherent uniqueness is the central appeal of the collection, transforming a well-designed tool watch into a personal piece of natural art.
The selection of stones demonstrates a thoughtful curation of color and texture. The malachite version presents a dial of deep, rich green, striated with mesmerizing bands of lighter and darker shades that create a sense of depth and movement. This copper carbonate mineral, often formed in caves where water interacts with copper deposits, has been prized since antiquity for its vibrant appearance. The organic, flowing patterns are captivating, providing a lush backdrop for the polished dial elements. Looking at the malachite dial is like peering into a cross-section of the earth, with each layer telling a part of its geological story, making the watch feel connected to a history far older than watchmaking itself.
Equally compelling is the charoite model, which features a stone of captivating violet and lavender hues. Found only in a remote region of Siberia, charoite is known for its distinctive swirling, fibrous appearance, often with a pearly luster that gives it an almost liquid quality. The dial exhibits a complex interplay of purple shades, from deep royal violet to lighter lilac, creating a pattern that is both chaotic and harmonious. The visual effect is dramatic and sophisticated, offering a color rarely seen in watch dials. Its rarity and singular origin add another layer of exclusivity to an already limited edition, appealing to those who appreciate materials with a unique story and provenance.
The turquoise variant brings a bright, serene energy to the collection. Valued across countless cultures for thousands of years, the stone’s vivid blue-green color is immediately recognizable. Each turquoise dial in the C63 Sealander Rocks series will display its own unique matrix and color variation, ranging from pure, sky-blue tones to those with intricate dark webbing. The stone's natural, earthy character contrasts beautifully with the crisp, modern lines of the Sealander case and the polished indices, creating a watch that feels both ancient and contemporary. It evokes images of open skies and tranquil waters, offering a peaceful and refreshing aesthetic on the wrist.
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Rounding out the quartet is the yellow tiger’s eye, a variety of quartz known for its remarkable chatoyancy. This optical effect creates a silky, lustrous band of light that appears to move across the stone's surface as it is viewed from different angles. The dial is a dynamic canvas of golden and brown stripes, shimmering with a life of its own. The effect is bold and confident, giving the watch a warm, energetic presence. The tiger's eye dial constantly interacts with ambient light, ensuring that it presents a slightly different face with every turn of the wrist, making it an engaging and visually active timepiece.
Creating these dials is a significant technical undertaking. As the brand’s Product Manager, Alice Filiot, noted, malachite has a hardness of only 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, making it delicate and challenging to cut into thin, precise discs without fracturing. The successful execution of these dials is a testament to the skill involved. To properly showcase the natural beauty of the stones, the dial layout is kept clean and legible. Polished, diamond-faceted indices are applied to the surface, catching the light and providing clear reference points without overwhelming the stone's pattern. The lack of lume on the indices was a deliberate choice, reinforcing the slightly dressier, more artistic intent of this collection.
Legibility in low light is still a priority, addressed by the generous application of Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1 to the handset. The sharp, faceted hands are a signature of the Sealander line, and their bright glow in the dark ensures that the watch remains functional at all hours. At the 12 o’clock position, the applied twin-flags logo adds a touch of three-dimensional depth, its polished surfaces standing in sharp relief against the organic textures of the stone dials. This careful balance between the natural dial material and the precisely engineered watch components is what makes the design so successful.
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All four versions are housed in Christopher Ward's celebrated 36mm Light-catcher case. The name is not merely a marketing term but an accurate description of its design philosophy. The case architecture features a complex interplay of brushed and polished surfaces, with flowing lines and sharp chamfers that are designed to manipulate light in a dynamic way. The flanks are vertically brushed, the top of the lugs are circularly brushed, and a mirror-polished chamfer runs the length of the case, creating constant visual interest. Crafted from anti-corrosive 316L marine-grade stainless steel, the case is built to last.
The dimensions of the case are a key factor in its appeal. With a 36mm diameter, a height of just 11.05mm, and a compact lug-to-lug measurement of 42.87mm, the watch is designed to wear comfortably on a wide range of wrist sizes. This ergonomic consideration ensures the case sits close and securely on the wrist, making it a viable option for an everyday timepiece despite its more exotic dial. The fixed, circular-brushed steel bezel provides a simple, robust frame for the star of the show—the stone dial—without distracting from it.
Further enhancing its all-rounder credentials is a water resistance rating of 15 ATM, or 150 meters. This, combined with a screw-down crown and a screw-down display caseback, provides more than enough protection for daily activities, including swimming. It’s a practical specification that reinforces the idea that these watches, while beautiful and unique, are not meant to be kept in a box. They are built on the Sealander platform, and as such, are intended to be worn and enjoyed in a variety of environments.
Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire exhibition caseback, offering a view of the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. This Swiss-made caliber is a well-respected workhorse in the industry, known for its reliability and serviceability. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), which provides a smooth sweep of the central seconds hand. The movement contains 26 jewels, features a 38-hour power reserve, and includes an anti-shock system to protect its accuracy from sudden impacts.
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Christopher Ward has not left the movement in its standard form. It features an Elaboré ‘Colimaçoné’ finish, and the rotor has been customized with the brand’s twin-flag logo engraved over a circular graining pattern. This attention to detail on the movement, while not overly elaborate, demonstrates a commitment to providing a complete and well-finished product at every level. The ability to observe the balance wheel oscillating and the rotor spinning adds a mechanical soul to the watch, connecting the wearer to the intricate machinery that powers it.
The C63 Sealander Rocks collection is paired with the new Consort bracelet, a five-link design that enhances the watch's premium feel. Composed of 127 individual links, this style of bracelet is known for its comfort, as the smaller links allow it to conform closely to the contours of the wrist. For the first time, Christopher Ward has polished the end links and the flanks at the end of each row, adding a touch of refinement that complements the polished surfaces of the Light-catcher™ case. The bracelet integrates seamlessly with the case and features a discreetly hidden butterfly clasp.
For those who prefer a different look or a lighter feel, the bracelet is equipped with a quick-release system. This allows for easy, tool-free swapping between the bracelet and a leather strap, dramatically altering the watch's character and enhancing its versatility. A micro-adjustable ratchet clasp also ensures that the wearer can achieve a perfect fit with the bracelet, a crucial detail for day-to-day comfort. The total weight of the watch on the bracelet is a substantial 149g, giving it a feeling of quality and solidity on the wrist.
Each of the four C63 Sealander Rocks models is a limited edition, with only 150 pieces available for each type of stone. This scarcity, combined with the one-of-a-kind nature of each dial, makes the collection particularly compelling. It offers an opportunity to own a Swiss-made automatic watch that is not only well-built and versatile but also genuinely unique. Every watch comes with an engraved serial number on the caseback, further cementing its status as a limited and collectible piece.
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The introduction of these watches represents a confident step for Christopher Ward, demonstrating their ability to innovate within their established collections. By combining the proven design of the C63 Sealander with the natural artistry of precious stones, the brand has created a series of timepieces that are both functionally sound and emotionally resonant. They appeal to the desire for individuality in a market often saturated with homogenous designs.
The Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Rocks collection is available directly from the brand's website. The Malachite and Charoite versions are priced at $1,385, while the Yellow Tiger Eye and Turquoise models are priced at $1,430. Given the use of genuine stone dials, the quality of the case and bracelet, and the Swiss automatic movement inside, these prices align with Christopher Ward's reputation for offering exceptional value. With only 150 of each variant available, these unique expressions of horology and geology are unlikely to remain in stock for long.
Case: 36mm marine-grade stainless steel Light-catcher™ case, 11.05mm height, 42.87mm lug-to-lug, 150m water resistance, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, screw-down display caseback.
Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, 38-hour power reserve, 26 jewels, 28,800 p/hr (4Hz) frequency, anti-shock system, custom rotor with twin-flag engraving.
Dial: Unique natural stone dial (Malachite, Yellow Tiger Eye, Charoite, or Turquoise) with diamond-polished applied indices and logo. Hands feature Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1.
Strap: 20mm stainless steel Consort™ five-link bracelet with micro-adjustable ratchet clasp and quick-release system.
Price: Malachite & Charoite: $1,385; Yellow Tiger Eye & Turquoise: $1,430.
Reference Number: C63-36A3H1-S00A0-B1 (Yellow Tiger Eye), C63-36A3H1-S00V0-B0 (Malachite), C63-36A3H1-S00B1-B1 (Turquoise), C63-36A3H1-S00P0-B0 (Charoite).
Notes: Limited edition of 150 pieces per stone. As each dial is cut from a natural stone, every single watch is a unique one-of-a-kind piece.