The best goes bronze
The best goes bronze
The first C65 Sandhurst was an instant hit when it first appeared in 2019.
Now this mid-century-inspired field watch, named after the British Army’s officer training academy, returns in a new bronze iteration with improved engineering, legibility and finishing levels.
Like the original C65 Sandhurst, this version takes the classic 1969 Smiths W10 as its starting point but brings the design up to date with improved luminosity on the indexes and Arabic numbers (we use two separate lumes here) and a bold design that’s even easier to read.
The textured black dial hosts CW’s ‘twin-flags’ emblem. Not only is this in line with our sophisticated design aesthetic, but it also harks back to days when military watches didn’t carry the names of the companies that made them.
The new arrowed hands are coated in gold, and deep-filled with Super-LumiNova® Old Radium BL Grade X1 to aid timekeeping after dark. The bronze 38mm bronze Light-catcher™ case is designed to sit low on the wrist and will patinate over time as it reacts with oxygen in the air – becoming a one-of-one that’s personalised to your lifestyle.
As befitting a field watch, power comes courtesy of a COSC-certified Sellita SW200-1, which is in the top six per cent of Swiss-made movements for accuracy. As with the regular SW200-1, this chronometer version has a ‘hacking seconds’ function: a throwback to the time when being able to ‘synchronise watches’ was vital in operations.
Turn the watch over, and you’ll see the heraldic badge of the British Army, deep-stamped into the back. And for a watch that could face action at a moment’s notice, the Sandhurst’s 150m water resistance may just come in useful, too.
Sellita SW200 COSC
Sellita SW200 COSC
Befitting a watch named for the British Army, the C65 Sandhurst is powered by extremely rugged and precise Swiss-made automatic movement - in this case, a chronometer-certified version of the Sellita SW200-1. Tested by the Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres, an institute responsible for ensuring the highest standards of horological excellence, the SW200-1 has been tested in a number of positions and temperatures to ensure precision timekeeping throughout.
What the press say about the
C65 Sandhurst Series 2
Mid-century marvel
Inspired by the Smiths W10 field watch given to British soldiers in 1969, the bronze C65 Sandhurst is a classic military timepiece. And like the W10, it’s been officially approved by the UK’s Ministry of Defence.
Signs are good
The C65 Sandhurst is the first Christopher Ward model approved to carry the heraldic badge of the British Army. You’ll find it deep-stamped into the back.
A bolder dial
The textured black dial is an exercise in legibility, while the use of our twin-flags logo both harks back to the no-name military watches of the past and CW’s latest design language.
The case for bronze
Our 38mm bronze Light-catcher™ case boasts brushed and polished surfaces which reflect light beautifully. As it ages, a unique patina will form – making it a true one-off.
Lume time
The Arabic numerals are printed with Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 BL C1, while Old Radium Super-LumiNova® is applied to rectangular indexes located at each quarter-hour, along with five minute-positioned dots and a triangle at 12 o’clock.
NEW C65 Sandhurst
Bronze Series 2
A 38mm bronze Light-catcher™case. Ultra-legible arrowed hands, Swiss chronometer movement and authentic mid-century dial. Wear on a bracelet – or a strap.
Making the best better
Christopher Ward’s Military Collection gets its first upgrade since its launch in 2019 – with a set of stunning retro-style watches named after the Services’ world-famous training academies.
Read the article
