Story Highlight
– Christopher Ward openly acknowledges Rolex design inspiration.
– New movement enhances Sealander’s power reserve to 65 hours.
– Improved features include better finishing and upgraded lume.
– Collection relaunch offers diverse sizes and colors.
– Prices remain competitive without incremental hikes.
Full Story
Christopher Ward is taking a bold approach in a market where many brands shy away from acknowledging their influences. During a recent launch event, Managing Director Mike France openly stated that the new Sealander GMT draw inspiration from Rolex’s iconic Explorer.
The British watchmaker has adopted a strategy that mirrors Rolex by implementing thoughtful enhancements across its core collections, aiming to elevate the quality of its offerings. Notably, unlike Rolex, Christopher Ward does not raise prices with each incremental improvement.
The latest generation of Sealander watches features two models—a three-hand automatic and a GMT—both available in various sizes and dial colours. At first glance, they resemble their predecessors, but a closer look reveals significant enhancements in all areas, from engineering to design aesthetics.
The new three-hand automatic models incorporate the Sellita SW200-2 Power+ movement, marking Christopher Ward as a pioneering volume producer to utilise this upgraded mechanism. This latest movement increases the watch’s power reserve from 38 to 65 hours while ensuring a daily accuracy of -5/+12 seconds through refinements in its gear train and winding system.
The SW200-2 Power+ movement approaches the performance level of the ETA Powermatic 80 calibres, which are known for an 80-hour power reserve. Additionally, the movement’s skeletonised rotor, showcasing Christopher Ward’s branding, enhances its visual appeal through a transparent case back.
For the GMT models, the brand continues to use the Sellita SW330-2, which offers a 56-hour power reserve and shares the same accuracy of -5/+12 seconds per day as the new automatics. This release signifies a complete re-launch of the collection, with earlier versions now discontinued.
The 2026 Automatic range presents options in slightly slimmer dimensions of either 36mm or 39mm, both crafted from stainless steel and rated for a water resistance of up to 150 metres. Dial colours span a polished lacquer finish featuring classic options like white and black, alongside a striking sky blue. A pastel pink variant is available exclusively in the 36mm model and was notably popular among attendees at the launch event, while the 39mm option offers a unique pistachio green.
Each model can be outfitted with interchangeable straps, including leather or rubber options, as well as two styles of steel bracelets—the five-row Consort and three-row Bader—both of which feature Christopher Ward’s patented iLink system for effortless adjustments.
The GMT lineup offers choices in 36mm, 39mm, and 42mm sizes. Dials in white and sky blue are standard across the range, with black featured in the larger models and pistachio reserved for the 39mm variant.
At the launch event, microscopes were strategically positioned to allow attendees to observe the meticulous upgrades in finishing. Mike France elaborated, “When a watch becomes as important to customers as the Sealander has, you don’t chase change for its own sake. You focus on the details. They represent the very best we can do, everything we have learnt poured into one collection.”
Improvements include more defined faceting on the applied hour markers and around the date window, with upgraded luminescence provided by the brighter Super-LumiNova Grade X1 BL C1. The automatics feature a polished bezel atop a streamlined Light-catcher case that showcases an elegant contrast of polished and brushed surfaces.
Pricing for the Sealander Automatic starts at £850 for a leather strap, with options increasing to £1,055 for the Consort bracelet. The Sealander GMT begins at £1,025, with the highest price for the Consort bracelet set at £1,230.
These timepieces are available for purchase now through the Christopher Ward website and select showrooms in both the UK and the USA.
