Discover the NEW C65 Dune Aeolian
With cars, the old nip ’n’ tuck has been a fact of life since the Model T. A little freshen-up can keep customers interested; introduce new technology; reflect changing tastes. It can even fix rare moments of design madness – and yes, Ford’s Edsel, we’re looking at you. Other times, the facelift is simply a surrender to second thoughts, a desire to fiddle. Traditionally, Americans were the cynical geniuses of this: the revolutionary ‘Tri-Five’ Chevrolets of 1955, ’56 and ’57 are essentially the same car, but with different details – radically so in the case of the ’57, with its giant tail fins and, according to Chevy’s brochure, “rakish sweep of chrome”.
There’s no chrome on the new iteration of the C65 Dune, currently replacing outgoing models across the line, but there’s certainly something of a rakish sweep to the dials of the automatic and bronze versions – though not the GMT, for reasons that will become clear. The two new three-hand models boast a three-dimensional horizontal ripple pattern, inspired not by wet beaches or the sea, but rather the fascinating curvy lines the wind itself creates in dry sand, not least at the giant Dune du Pilat on the French coast, where Christopher Ward found inspiration for the Dune in the first place. It’s the rare facelift done simply for the purposes of making everything better, and new versions feel more directly related to this environment than before.
The Dune, of course, is an elevated field watch, just as capable but a little less macho than its sister, the C65 Sandhurst: indeed, it began as a winning match between Sandhurst’s compact case and the smoothly retro Aquitaine dial and box crystal. As a luxury timepiece that’s happy getting its hands dirty, it always represented Christopher Ward at its most accessible and go-anywhere. Think of it, perhaps, as the field watch with the martial history stripped away, resulting in a mildly nostalgic yet of-the-moment piece that speaks of outdoor adventure, engagement with the environment and no-nonsense practicality more than it does trenches and landing craft.
“The new Dune dial has no sharp corners: it’s undulating and organic”
And now, with these spectacular new dials, it becomes even more contemporary, and more its own unique beast: no less luxurious than before, but more outdoorsy somehow. With military black eschewed, and glittering details bejewelling it lightly, it’s both more polished and more rugged, the neatest of tricks.
“Three-dimensional textured dials are not something we’d done much before The Twelve,” says Mike France, CW co-founder and CEO, “But they’re fun and exciting, and can really bring a watch to life. The new Dune dial is very different to the Twelve’s, though: with no sharp corners, it’s undulating and organic.”
Unlike the Army-inspired Sandhurst, part of CW’s celebrated MOD line, the Dune uses everyday features familiar from much of the CW range – an exhibition caseback, for one – while the classic size makes it similarly perfect for almost any wrist.
“We recently created a limited edition Dune called ‘Shoreline’, in collaboration with watch magazine Oracle Time,” says watch designer William Brackfield. “There were only 100 pieces and it sold out super fast. Everyone loved its unusual colour – the grey of the British winter coast teamed with blue lume – and especially the evocative stamped wave pattern on the dial. The new Dune line takes that design direction and refines it, pairing the 3D rippled dial with improved leather straps, a new range of versatile, vintage-inspired natural colours, and subtle changes to the design itself.”
Some so subtle it may take you a while to spot them, in fact, but they include eliminating the glittering sunray finish from all colours, dropping the trident counterbalance from the seconds hand, and removing the date display – “it just feels better, more purposeful, and a more pure field watch without them,” William says.
The watch is notably better yet the cost remains the same
What we have here, then, is a comfortable, versatile piece for weekends and downtime that’s happy to dress up for the week – rather than the other way around. Specs remain the same – power from Sellita’s SW200-1, SW200 COSC and SW330-2 in the auto, bronze and GMT respectively, with all water resistant to 150m – as does the flat, traditional dial on the GMT, its four hands and raised outer dial ring deemed to make it more than three-dimensional enough already.
“The new Dune feels young, vital and all-weather,” Mike says. “Without being radical in any way, this is just a better, more cohesive and more distinctive watch all round. And that’s not just to do with the new dials and colours, but all the minor details too – the straps, for instance, are heavier, more rugged, and in less shiny colours; a tiny change, but it helps make all the difference.”
It was said of the Mini MkII that it “gave the customer virtually nothing… but enabled [British Leyland] to put up the prices.” Not so at Christopher Ward, where the watch is notably better yet the cost is the same: the Auto starts at £760, the Bronze at £975 and the GMT at just a fiver over a thousand pounds.
That’s right: you can get this antidote to the military field watch for well under £800: remarkable value for a remarkable piece.
The C65 Dune Aeolian is available from £750/$895/€950Related watches

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