Christopher Ward has been knocking it out of the park with some of their recent releases. A particular favourite of mine towards the back end of 2023 has been the C63 Celest, a watch I loved so much from the initial press pictures that I ended up getting one this past Christmas.
Christopher Ward C63 Celest. Credit: Christopher Ward.
The smaller 36mm size is indicative of the trendiness of the C63 Celest, as is follows in the wake of that smaller Sealander model, and the move towards smaller watches in general. There’s a certain daintiness to the C63 Celest which I can’t help but love. The smaller case size also makes it more of a unisex piece than the bigger C1 Moonphase, meaning it looks equally excellent on both male and female wrists.
Its more restrained lug to lug (42.87mm and 10.75mm) thickness also means the case’s proportions feel just right aesthetically and make the C63 Celest visually stunning. It’s more than slim enough to fit under jacket and jumper cuffs, and I’ve certainly made the most of this with the colder weather we’ve been experiencing. Wherever I’ve been, and whatever I’ve worn, the C63 Celest has gone with me. Perhaps it’s the blend of the generally dressier sentiments of the C63 Celest combined with a sportier case, which makes it a watch you can pair smartly with a variety of outfits.
Christopher Ward C63 Celest. Credit: Guest Author.
The Dial
As eye-catching as the C63 Celest’s Lightcatcher case is, its aventurine dial is where things become most interesting. It’s the second Christopher Ward piece to feature this sparkly glass slice after the C1 Moonphase. That model originally caught my eye when it was launched back in October 2023, particularly because of its dial, and the material fits especially well on the C63 Celest.
To explain a little further, aventurine glass is a type of glass invented on the Venetian island of Murano back in the 17th Century. It’s made by mixing a deep, red, ruby glass and a brown-red purpurin glass together, before adding shavings of cobalt. Christopher Ward, however, have slightly altered this process, opting to add copper instead of cobalt. This turns the glass a deep blue colour, as seen here, while also maintaining the sparkly finish that mimics the night sky.
Christopher Ward C63 Celeste. Credit: Christopher Ward.
There’s no other word for it - the C63 Celest’s dial is sublime. It’s one of the most interesting dials I’ve encountered on a watch, and that aventurine glass gives it a lot of depth and intricacy. While it may not have as much presence as on the bigger C1 Moonphase, it’s the same sentiment with the aventurine glass, and it’s since sent me down a rabbit hole of looking at the glass, and other watches that share the same dial type. However, although there are other options, there’s just something about the C63 Celest that beats its competitors within the same price category. It’s perhaps the execution of the dial - despite being so simple and minimalistic, it’s functional enough to make the C63 Celest an everyday wearer.
Combined with this, its minimal dial furniture also focuses your attention on the dial. It isn’t quite as minimalistic as the C1 Moonphase, given there are lumed-up hands, hour markers and even a raised Christopher Ward twin flags logo here, but the C63 Celest still keeps things functional yet elegant at the same time.
Christopher Ward C63 Celest. Credit: Guest Author.
The Movement
Inside the C63 Celest is a movement that the brand has become synonymous with for over the last few years, the Sellita SW200-1. It’s a reliable Swiss-made movement that offers a reasonable beat rate of 28,800p/hr, allowing for a decent second hand sweep, whilst a 38 hour power reserve means that if you want to rotate the Celest in and out of use for a couple of days, you should be able to without needing to wind the movement back up.
A tolerance of +-/20 seconds per day is perfectly reasonable and the fact that there is an elabore-finished rotor on the rear of the caseback is a nice touch, especially as it’s complete with ‘Christopher Ward’ lettering.
Christopher Ward C63 Celest. Credit: Guest Author.
The Strap
My model of the C63 Celest came with the ‘Dark Blue Fine Italian Leather’ strap option, which is the most affordable choice available. I’ve never really gotten on with watches on bracelets for day-to-day use, so the leather strap was my natural preference. It’s a great strap, too, with some soft and smooth leather that helps to make the C63 Celest a rather comfortable watch to wear. The leather itself can be stiff on first wear, but after a few days it begins to soften and become increasingly comfortable.
Conclusion
The C63 Celest reflects the more modern and interesting independent watch brand that Christopher Ward has become over the last few years. It’s classy and refined with one of the most interesting and eye-catching dials I’ve seen in a long time and a smaller case size that makes it a surefire hit in this age of seemingly ever-decreasing case sizes.
Christopher Ward C63 Celest. Credit: Guest Author.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Christopher Ward
- Model: C63 Celest
- Price: £750
- Material: Stainless steel case, aventurine dial, leather strap
- Movement: Selitta SW200-1
- Complications: None
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Dial: Aventurine glass
- Size: 36mm case diameter, 10.75 mm thickness
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: It can be dressed up or down, but pairs well with polo shirts and jeans
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone who likes smaller watches with eye-catching dials
- Best characteristics of the watch: The combination of the aventurine dial and the Lightcatcher case
- The worst characteristics of the watch: The initial stiffness of the strap, as is typical with leather
