Despite launching less than 20 years ago, Christopher Ward has managed to grow from an upstart independent watchmaker to an entry-level luxury mainstay in that short period. The London-based company has now unveiled its newest collection of watches that refines its retro dive model, the C65.
Inspired by 1950s elegance and named after Jacques Cousteau’s birthplace, the Aquitaine collection features three new 41mm automatic watches in Christopher Ward’s C65 line: the Aquitaine Automatic Diver in stainless steel, the Aquitaine GMT, and the Aquitaine Bronze. This collection ups the depth rating from 150m on the brand’s existing C65 to 200m, and also features high domed, fully-lumed sapphire bezels with the same superior rotating mechanism found on the company’s C60 dive watches.
The Aquitaine Automatic comes in either a green or blue dial with matching bezels and houses a self-winding Sellita SW200 movement with 36 hours of power reserve. Moving on to the Aquitaine GMT, this travel watch sports a Pan Am-reminiscent white sand dial with a blue bezel and is powered by the Sellita SW330-2 movement, which has an impressive power reserve of 56 hours. Lastly, the Aquitaine Bronze features a bronze case with a marine blue dial and bezel to go along with its bronze hands and numerals. It’s equipped with a Sellita SW200 COSC-certified chronometer movement. The Aquitaine Bronze has three choices of straps — vintage oak leather, Tropic rubber, or canvas webbing. The Aquitaine GMT and Diver, meanwhile, are also offered on vintage oak leather and Tropic rubber, but add the option of a brand-new stainless steel bracelet that tapers from 22mm at the lugs to 16.5mm at the micro-adjustable clasp. All three watches also feature Grade X1 Super-LumiNova for superior brightness.
Christopher Ward has also proven that they listen to their fans (and critics) with the release of the Aquitaine, as the watch features screw links on its bracelet rather than a pin and collar system. Even more welcome is the removal of the “Christopher Ward” text from the dial. A divisive feature of the brand’s timepieces, CW has opted to ditch it here in favor of its Twin Flag logo at 12 o’clock. It’s also worth noting that five percent of every Aquitaine sale will be donated by Christopher Ward to the Blue Marine Foundation, which helps protect the ocean from over-fishing. All versions of the C65 Aquitaine can now be pre-ordered for either a May or June release, with prices starting at $1,075.
