Christopher Ward Introduces The C63 Valour — A Quartz Chronograph Inspired By Military Watches From The 1980s
The speed at which Christopher Ward releases new watches is impressive. But it’s even more impressive that the brand maintains a certain level of variety that keeps every release fresh. There’s truly something for everyone in Christopher Ward’s rapidly expanding collection. The newest creation from the CW kitchens is the C63 Valour. This quartz timepiece was inspired by the watches used by the British military in the 1980s. With this release, the brand dedicates a watch to all three of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. And as we’ve come to expect from Christopher Ward, it’s done in style. It’s time to find out more.
The story of the Christopher Ward C63 Valour
The Christopher Ward C63 Valour was made possible with the help of IMG, the British Ministry of Defence’s global licensing representative. As a result, Christopher Ward can tell the watch’s story with the crests of the Army, Navy, and RAF on the case back. On the front of the watch, the links to the armed forces are a lot more subtle. The hands in the sub-dials use different colors, referring to the different branches. As a result, this is not just a watch for people interested in the British Army, Navy, or RAF.
Let’s look at some specs. The new C63 Valour is part of the brand’s Sealander collection. It comes with the collection’s signature Light-catcher case, characterized by nice flowing curves and contrasting facets. Additionally, it features a nice combination of brushed and polished finishes. The case measures 39mm wide, 11.55mm thick, and 45.8mm long with a 20mm lug spacing. The watch is also water resistant to 150 meters and weighs 61 grams without a bracelet or strap. Christopher Ward will offer the C63 Valour on the brand’s three-row Bader bracelet, the five-row Consort bracelet, or a black canvas strap with a stainless steel buckle.
A stylish reverse panda dial
The matte black dial features a fine frosted texture to create some nice depth. It is graced by diamond-polished applied numerals and white sub-dials featuring concentric graining and black numerals. At 2, 6, and 10 o’clock, the numerals are replaced with small applied square markers because the sub-dials don’t allow for a full numeral. As mentioned, the sub-dials feature three differently colored hands, which refer to the different branches of the His Majesty’s Armed Forces. The red hand is for the Army, the dark blue one is for the Navy, and the light blue hand is for the RAF.
The central hour and minute hands are executed in the familiar Christopher Ward style. The hour hand has a large arrow shape, while the minute hand is a longer sword-style hand. Both are filled with white Super-LumiNova for excellent readability in the dark. Lastly, the thin central chronograph hand has a polished finish, just like the hour and minute hands. Overall, the difference in finishing between the textured dial and the polished hands and markers will hopefully ensure a nice bit of contrast.
A thermocompensated quartz movement powers the C63 Valour
Hidden behind the case back is the quartz engine that powers the watch. It is a return to quartz technology for Christopher Ward. But it’s not just any quartz movement. The brand chose the ETA G10.212 AD. It’s a thermocompensated and chronometer-certified quartz chronograph caliber. It delivers accuracy to ±10 seconds per year and has a three-year battery life.
The reason for making this watch a quartz chronograph is that the British Military’s quartz watches from the 1980s inspired this new release. As a result, the designers could keep the profile pretty slim, which probably makes the C63 Valour a joy to wear. Regarding looks, the Bader bracelet is my favorite of the three options. However, I have to say that the black canvas strap is also a nice one.
Final thoughts on the Christopher Ward C63 Valour
Overall, I think this is another great release from Christopher Ward. While the story might be very specific and attract a limited number of fans, the design has a broader appeal. On top of that, it’s nice to see a chronograph with a slim profile. Combined with the nicely sized case, it will probably wear like a charm. Sure, it is a quartz chronograph, which makes the relative thinness possible. But it’s based on a story, and on top of that, it’s not just any quartz movement.
The new Christopher Ward C63 Valour is available now on the Bader bracelet for £675 / US$750 / €800. On the Consort bracelet, it is £715 / US$790 / €840. Lastly, on the black canvas strap, it is £550 / US$625 / €675. What you get in return is a lot of watch for your money. This new C63 Valour is more proof that Christopher Ward is hard to beat in the realm of affordable watches. With every release, that feeling gets stronger.
For more information on the C63 Valour, visit the official Christopher Ward website. In the comments section, let us know your thoughts on this new quartz addition to the Christopher Ward collection.
