Hands-On With The New Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic And GMT
It’s no secret that I have a huge soft spot for Christopher Ward’s C65 Dune series. I own the first-generation C65 Dune GMT, and the C65 Dune Automatic models are easily among the best affordable daily wearers. It came as a bit of a surprise that the brand decided to update the Dune lineup with new dials only two years after its debut. But after seeing the new C65 Dune Aeolian versions, I was happy to find out more about the updated models with their new textured dials. The new C65 Dune GMT does not feature that same dial texture, but it does bring a new dial color to the GMT versions. That’s more than enough reason to find out more!
As I explained in the introduction article for these watches, the new Aeolian dials are a significant update for the Dune series but nothing revolutionary. If anything, they brought the watches closer to the original concept. The new dials used for the stainless steel and bronze C65 Dune Automatic models feature textured and wavy sand patterns and lose the date window at 6 o’clock. They were inspired by the Aeolian sand patterns of the Dune du Pilat in southern France. Christopher Ward also used this dial pattern for the C65 Dune Shoreline limited edition produced in collaboration with Oracle Time magazine last year. As that watch was very popular among fans, it only makes sense that Christopher Ward now brings this dial style to its regular Dune lineup.
The new Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic models
As I explained in the intro article, Christopher Ward also updated the dial colors for the stainless steel Dune Aeolian Automatic versions. The official names of the four dial colors are Silica (gray), Eve (blue), Marram (green), and White Sand. The last is similar in color to the previous model. For the green and blue models, the designers updated the shades of the respective colors. The gray Silica dial replaces the black sunray one. For the new dials, all four models have complementary colors of lume.
For the C65 Dune Aeolian Bronze COSC, the brand offers a Dusk (brown) gradient dial or a Marram gradient dial. The gradient dials are matched with Old Radium-colored lume. This gives them a specific feel that, combined with the patina-forming bronze case, makes these versions stand out from the stainless steel models. For this review, Christopher Ward was kind enough to send us a stainless steel version with the new Marram dial on a bracelet.
Getting a feel for the updated dial
My first impression is that the watch feels very familiar. This makes sense because the brand did not alter the 38mm stainless steel case, which has an 11.9mm thickness and a 43.7mm lug-to-lug. The watch is still water resistant to 150 meters but now comes with the choice of updated 20mm straps.
We prefer the watch on a stainless steel bracelet, though, as it enhances its daily practicality and makes it even better. The bracelet also adds to its visual impact, making it wearable on my wrist, whereas on a strap, it almost becomes too small.
At first glance, I think these dials are a big improvement. They add to the story, and I like them a lot better than the previous ones. The texture brings depth, and the dial design becomes a lot more intricately detailed overall. Plus, with almost every other dial these days having a sunray finish, I appreciate the effort to step away from that trend.
One big change is the light green lume color that suits the dial nicely. It gives the watch an overall much crisper feel than the previous series. I like that variety in balance. If you want a more vintage-feeling C65 Dune, you can opt for the sand-colored dial or one of the two bronze versions. If you prefer a more contemporary take on the theme, the remaining colors are for you. And losing the date window is a win for me. I just wasn’t a fan of it at the 6 o’clock position. That said, I’m sure some people will lament the change.
Still the best for the money
Inside the case, Christopher Ward uses the trusted Sellita SW200-1 caliber to power these Dune watches. The automatic movement operates at 28,800vph and offers 38 hours of power reserve. Accuracy-wise, the SW200-1 offers a tolerance of ±20 seconds per day. For the bronze versions, however, Christopher Ward ups the game with the COSC-certified version of the same caliber. The movement is visible thanks to the sapphire window in the case back. It also comes with a custom-branded rotor that adds a bit of visual pizzazz.
As mentioned, we tried the watch on the stainless steel bracelet. I have said it before, but the Oyster-style Bader bracelet is the best bracelet at this watch’s price point. The build quality is even on par with the bracelets of well-known and much more expensive watches. Sizing it is easy thanks to the screws in the links along with the large toolless micro-adjustable clasp.
Wearing the C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic
After sizing the bracelet, putting it on the wrist felt like coming home. But beyond the familiar feel, it is far more important that the watch is comfortable and exactly the right size. What do I mean by that? Well, the 38mm case is perfect for a variety of wrist sizes. People with smaller wrists can enjoy the watch on the standard straps and Bader bracelet. If you have slightly bigger wrists like I do, you will probably prefer the watch on the latter. However, if you choose something that doesn’t taper too drastically, the watch could also work quite nicely on an aftermarket strap.
Additionally, the design feels very balanced. All the elements are perfectly in sync, which makes it feel familiar and comfortable. The balance between the dial and the case is spot on, the applied indexes are exactly the right size for the dial, and lastly, the new dune-inspired pattern hits the sweet spot.
My first thought was that the sand ripples should have been smaller to create a greater contrast with the hands and indexes. In that case, though, they would also lose definition. So, after some getting used to them, I quickly found the new dial a great step up from the previous version.
Final thoughts on the C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this new C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic. It still proudly sports all the traits from a traditional Explorer-esque adventurer’s watch that make the series great. With the updated dials, I think that Christopher Ward made the right decision in moving forward. Some people will come up with visual references to other watches — hey, I was guilty as charged in the intro article. Other people might not like the new textured pattern, but I do think that group is rather small.
If you compare the old and new versions, you will quickly see that the new Aeolian dials are a great improvement. Kudos to Christopher Ward for taking this step rather quickly after introducing the Dune collection.
The C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic models are offered on a canvas strap for €950. The second option is a vintage leather strap, which brings the price up slightly to €965. Last, you can choose the brand’s Bader bracelet, which will raise the price to €1,165. It is no surprise that I would pick the last option and run with it. It simply makes this my favorite daily wearer around the €1,000 mark.
Christopher Ward C65 Dune GMT
The second model we received was the latest C65 Dune GMT. It’s the second standard-production version of the C65 Dune GMT and the third variant overall. The first was the black-dial limited edition that I managed to add to my collection, and the second was last year’s sand-dial version with green accents. This new third edition comes with an Eve (blue) dial with sand-colored accents.
This new dial does not feature the texture of the Aeolian Automatic model. What it does have, though, is the layout of the black-dial limited edition with the day/night split on the internal 24-hour GMT scale. The watch also features the same 150m-water-resistant stainless steel case as previous models, with its 38mm diameter, 11.9mm thickness, and 43.7mm length. This modestly sized case displays a predominantly brushed finish with polished chamfers for a bit of nice visual detail.
The blue dial features applied hour markers filled with Old Radium-style lume, giving it a more vintage feel than the Automatic models. To be honest, I like the warmth of the dial and lume colors. Where the watch does follow last year’s version is the GMT hand, half of which blends in rather than standing out with a contrasting color.
As you can see, the GMT hand has a blue base and a stainless steel outer half that matches the hour and minute hands. This creates a handset that feels homogenous, and I was able to read the time for the second time zone instantly. The shape of the GMT hand will do the work, so you won’t get confused.
The movement inside the C65 Dune GMT
The automatic Sellita SW330-2 caliber powers the C65 Dune GMT. This caller-style GMT movement operates at 28,800vph and offers 56 hours of power reserve. While it is not the preferred flyer-style GMT movement, in my time with the C65 Dune GMT, I’ve never considered it a problem that the watch doesn’t offer that convenience. If you do not travel a lot, it should suit you just fine.
This new blue-dial C65 Dune GMT model is available on a canvas strap for €1,250, a vintage leather strap for €1,265, and a Bader bracelet for €1,465. We tried it on the stainless steel bracelet with the large folding clasp. We also received a canvas strap that suited the dial’s style very well. In terms of daily comfort, though, the Bader bracelet is unbeatable.
Wearing the Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian GMT
On the wrist is where I got a better overall feel for the watch. It comes as no surprise that it takes after my C65 Dune GMT, but the blue dial gives the watch a much different presence. In all honesty, I would have preferred a darker shade of blue. I do understand the choice of this medium blue in combination with the sand-colored details as these colors go well together. On top of that, a darker blue would also bring it closer to the black-dial version I own.
Overall, the dial color didn’t speak to me as much as those of the first two models. Don’t get me wrong; I adore the C65 Dune GMT. Unfortunately, this is just the least exciting version of the three for me. That said, there will be fans who love the new color. It is in line with the crisper overall feel of the new C65 Dune Aeolian models, so as an addition to the refreshed lineup, it makes perfect sense.
Final thoughts on the new Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian and GMT models
Overall, I like the changes that Christopher Ward made to the dials of the Dune Automatic. It shows that the brand is constantly looking to improve its watches, and we can only applaud that. As a result, the new C65 Dune Aeolian Automatic series has been updated with better dials that bring more depth and detail. Knowing how popular the C65 Dune Shoreline was, I don’t doubt that fans will love these new Automatic versions as well.
I already gave my thoughts on the latest C65 Dune GMT. However, I want to add that seeing all three versions next to each other made me reconsider adding last year’s edition to my collection. I love that one, and after not having seen it for a while, this was a great reminder. Knowing that my black-dial version was my most frequently worn watch of 2024, I would wear that sand-colored version a lot as well. And who knows? Hopefully, Christopher Ward will come up with a new dial variation every year, and I will end up becoming a C65 Dune GMT collector. I say that jokingly, but that remark still has a serious undertone. I simply love the watch, and sometimes, simple things make the most sense.
