Hands-On With The Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT In White Sand And Khaki Green
I was genuinely excited when the second Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT was officially announced about a month ago. The first version of this watch blew me away last year. I had a chance to wear the C65 Dune GMT for a couple of weeks, and by the end of that time, I knew I wanted one. There was only one small problem: I missed the release of the 200 pieces, so I was too late to get my hands on one. A little less than a year later, I had a chance to find out if the second version of the same watch was the one for me.
The world of luxury watches is not a place to live with regrets. That’s why I’m usually okay with missing out on a release or not having bought all the releases I wanted to. First, it leaves something to desire, and second, you can’t change the past, so why bother, right? But we probably all have watch regrets anyway. I know I have two. Both involve GMTs released in the last few years. My first regret was not buying the Laventure Transatlantique GMT when I had the chance. When it came out, I had a chance to buy the green-dial version, which I should have done, especially since getting one at a decent price now is impossible.
Falling for the first version of the Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT
My second regret is not having been able to get my hands on the first Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT. In all honesty, though, I wasn’t even close because I slept on that release. Christopher Ward released the 200-piece limited edition early last year, and I first read about it when Vincent’s article about the Dune series went live here on Fratello. I had no idea what I was in for when I first read it. The C65 Dune GMT looked like a great watch, but I still had to find out how good it was.
I loved the looks of the watch, especially on the bracelet. The black dial, with its sand-colored details and a nice hint of bright red, combined with the round Explorer-type case looked stunning. I wasn’t too impressed after first trying the watch on two straps. The 38mm watch seemed too small, and I was slightly disappointed and scared that the bracelet could not compensate for that. But something clicked once I switched to the bracelet and put the watch on my wrist. In my review, I detailed what made that watch so special.
A new version of the C65 Dune GMT
In short, I fell head over heels for the design. Even the elements I had doubts about in the past, like the logo and the handset, were integral parts of the perfect picture. Over roughly two weeks, my love grew stronger by the day. Not only did the design turn out to be perfect for me, but the size, comfort on the wrist, build quality, finishing, and overall feel of wearing a great luxury watch also made it my favorite watch I reviewed last year. And not a day has passed since that I haven’t thought about that watch. The hunt for one is still on.
In reaction to reading about my missed chance, the nice people at Christopher Ward told me fairly quickly that there would be a second version of the watch in early 2024. But could it be as good as the first model? The images of the new watch promised another great version of this exceptional GMT. So when the box with the watch showed up on my desk, I smiled. Could it be as good as I hoped it would be?
Let’s quickly recap some specs
The new C65 Dune GMT features a 150m-water-resistant stainless steel case that is 38mm wide, 11.9mm thick, and 43.7mm from lug to lug. This modestly sized case features a predominantly brushed finish with polished chamfers to add some nice details. It also combines well with the different strap and bracelet options. The first is a camel-tone canvas strap, the second is a vintage-oak-colored leather strap, and the third is the brand’s Bader bracelet. While the watch looks amazing on all three options, the bracelet is my go-to. The watch is on the small side for me on the straps, but it hits the sweet spot perfectly on the bracelet.
In the review of the first model, I mentioned that the three-row Oyster-style bracelet looks very nice and offers exceptional build quality. There is simply no better bracelet at this price point. The quality and comfort are unmatched, and the large milled clasp offers great practicality with its toolless micro-adjustment system.
You can debate the clasp size as it can be an issue for people with smaller wrists. On my wrist, though, it is perfect. Additionally, sizing the bracelet is easy thanks to the slotted screws. Lastly, the brushed finish gives it a nice understated look.
Retro vibes combined with modern-day specs
The new model has a White Sand dial with applied markers filled with “Old Radium” Super-LumiNova. The khaki-green 24-hour GMT scale on the periphery contrasts nicely with the dial color and has sand-colored numerals. Overall, the watch gives off a retro vibe, and the box-shaped sapphire crystal that protects the dial enhances this feeling. Christopher Ward has struck gold with the Dune collection because it perfectly combines vintage-inspired looks with modern-day comfort and specs.
Inside the case, the brand equips the watch with the Sellita SW330-2, which is visible through the display back. This automatic GMT movement operates at 28,800vph, has 25 jewels, and provides 56 hours of power reserve. It features a custom rotor to spice up the straightforward finishing nicely. While the movement does not have the added practicality of a flyer-style GMT complication, it is a reliable choice. As I said in the introduction article for this watch, I will skip the flyer-style GMT movement in a heartbeat when a GMT looks good.
A different approach to the 24-hour GMT ring
So, how good is this new C65 Dune GMT? My first impressions were fantastic. I loved the combination of colors. However, after seeing the pictures, I had one question. Why didn’t the 24-hour ring not have a day/night split, the inclusion of which made the first model so striking to me? I asked that question in the intro article and also asked the people at Christopher Ward. They were great sports and passed the question to Will Brackfield, the watch’s designer.
He replied that trying a combination of sand and green looked unbalanced. As I mentioned in the intro article, Christopher Ward also tried two green colors but couldn’t find the right contrast. That’s why going with all khaki green was the best decision. I have to say that it brings a certain stylishness and serenity that looks nice. In combination with the soft tone of the sand-colored dial, it makes for a tasty dial design. While it does not have the immediate impact of the limited edition of the black dial, it oozes style and class.
Wearing the new Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT
While the second version’s initial impact might not have been as great as the first model’s, the charm of this new Dune GMT is undeniable. Once I put the watch on my wrist, I was immediately reminded of another aspect that made me fall in love with this watch: the wearability of the C65 Dune GMT is brilliant. After wearing the watch for half a day, it was as if I had said “hello” to an old friend. The size and bracelet combination make this watch an absolute joy to wear. It sits so well on my 19cm wrist that it’s hard not to love this watch.
The great thing is that it will look great on wrists of various sizes. On the Bader bracelet, the watch has plenty of wrist presence for people with a slightly larger wrist like mine. Additionally, it is modest enough to fit smaller wrists without having too much presence. It’s a balancing act that not many watches master successfully.
On top of that, the quality and finishing make me feel like I’m wearing a luxury watch worth three to four times the €1,465 price of this one. It is that good. Every aspect of wearing the watch is wonderful. The crown feels qualitative when unscrewing it, and operating it is easy. Pulling it out to the first position and turning it clockwise lets the wearer set the GMT hand, and turning the crown counterclockwise will advance the date. As expected, pulling the crown out to the second position will let the wearer set the local time.
Final thoughts on the C65 Dune GMT
While the first model was love at first sight, the new White Sand/Khaki Green version of the C65 Dune GMT turned out to be a slow burner. This new model is simply a different watch in terms of looks. We can’t compare the presence of the two watches, so it seemed unfair to have the same expectations.
Ultimately, I found that I adore both models, but it is a different kind of adoration. Whereas the black-dial model immediately set my heart on fire, this second model slowly started growing on me more and more.
They share what makes the C65 Dune GMT such a great watch. Its overall design, comfort, build quality, and practicality are phenomenal, instantly making both versions best-in-class offerings. And being able to fall in love with both dial designs for different reasons makes the connection even stronger.
As it turns out, it’s not a question of which of the two is better. The answer is that both are incredible watches, and I might have to start a C65 Dune GMT collection. I hope for even more dial variations. But first, I must put my money where my mouth is and get the first two brilliant versions of the Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT.
For more information on the Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT, visit the official Christopher Ward website. In the comments section, let us know which of the two models you prefer. Is it last year’s limited edition or this new version?
