First Impressions: Christopher Ward C63 True GMT
- rogtwatches
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
Christopher Ward started where most microbrands start sourcing movements, keeping costs down, and hoping the watch community would take notice. Over the years they've built an in-house movement program, a loyal following, and a reputation for punching well above their price point. Their latest release, the C63 True GMT, with its brand new in-house CW-002 calibre, is very exciting look into the future of Christopher Ward.
What works well
The main story here is the new in-house movement. The CW-002 is built on the foundation of CW's existing CW-001 calibre — the twin-barrel movement that's been the backbone of the brand since 2014. Their engineers integrated a new GMT mechanism using 16 newly designed components and 7 reworked parts, and managed to do it without adding any height to the movement. That's a genuinely impressive feat of engineering, and it's the kind of detail that deserves credit. It's also COSC certified with a five-day power reserve, two details that make this a reliable option.
When you flip the watch over and you're rewarded with an exhibition caseback that's just beautiful. I'm a sucker for an open caseback, the engineering and craftsmanship on display is so impressive, why wouldn't you always show it off? The rhodium-plated movement features circular Côtes de Genève, visible twin barrels and balance wheel, and a tungsten rotor with contrasting sunray-polished and sandblasted surfaces. It's a proper showcase of what this brand is capable of and the highlight of this watch.
Where it falls short
As excited as I am about the movement and what it means for Christopher Ward's future, I can't fully get behind the dial design. First, the power reserve indicator. It's a complication I've never really understood the need for. It doesn't change how I interact with the watch day-to-day. I wind it when it needs winding. I don't need a gauge to tell me that. This power reserve indicator takes up a large portion of the dial landscape and overpowers the surface area.
The sunken date window at 3 o'clock also has me wondering how it'll perform in real life. My concern is that the depth of the recess will cast shadows and make the date harder to read. Then there's the polishing across the dial. The ring around the power reserve indicator seems to have the same high polishing as the hands and indices, which makes me think you'll be fighting the watch for legibility as the hand move across the dial.
There's also the exposed GMT bridge. I understand the thinking, they want you to see the movement, and a see-through element on the dial is a classic way to do that. But the execution feels a little slapped-on. The pearl-shaped opening doesn't quite integrate with the rest of the dial. It reads like something added to the watch rather than designed as part of it from the start.
The asymmetry in the dial design is what really bugs me. The larger power reserve indicator, the sub-seconds counter, the pearl shape opening exposing the GMT bridge, and the sunken date window are all cool concepts for a dial on their own but together its too busy. Plenty of asymmetric dials are beautiful. But here, it just reads as cluttered rather than a cohesive design.
Final Thoughts
The CW-002 is a genuine milestone for Christopher Ward, and I'm excited to see where they take it from here. But the dial is trying to do too much at once. Simplify the front of this watch even slightly, and the whole thing would land so much cleaner. The movement deserves a dial that doesn't get in the way.
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