The Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian might just be my favourite release from the British-Swiss independent watchmaker yet.
I say that as someone who happily owns a C60 Atoll 300 and C63 Celest, as well as having been wowed by both the original C65 Dune Automatic and The Twelve Ti in the last few years.
Priced from £760, this new model is actually identical in cost to the original Dune, but comes with some new amendments that might just make it one of the most compelling options in CW's range and in the sub-£1000 area of the market in general.
Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Design - A gorgeous, wavy dial in an excellent case
The C65 Dune Aeolian is different in a couple of important ways to the original C65 Dune from a couple of years ago, chief among which is that fantastic dial that certainly hones in on this piece's sandy quality.
If it looks familiar at all, that's because we've seen this style of dial from CW before, on a limited-edition collab piece between the brand and Oracle Time - the C65 Dune Shoreline. This new Dune democratises that dial work in a watch that's available in more than just a 100-piece limited edition, and in more colours, too.
You can get the C65 Dune Aeolian in the grey I have here, blue, green, and a sandy colour for maximum authenticity. There is also a bronze case variant, whose dial has more of a fume quality to it in green or brown, and a GMT which does away with the intricate dune pattern altogether but gives you the benefit of a complication.
With this in mind, even the more 'standard' model is compelling enough. I mean, just look at it. The way the lines curve and sweep across the dial, while having actual texture and depth, simply means I can't take my eyes off it. It's got a fantastic sense of class that more traditional field watches lack.
In listening to what the lovely Will Brackfield, the man who designed the C65 Dune Aeolian, had to say at a recent launch event for the piece, he stated that CW had looked at 3D-worked dials with the Twelve Ti's waffle-style dial, and wanted almost to take it a step further. I think that's the case here, and it has worked beautifully.
If you're sat there screaming and asking why this piece isn't available in a black or any other colour, there is good reason for that, too - reflections. Because the C65 Dune Aeolian's lines shift across the dial, it can cause unwanted light to reflect and bounce off them, therefore ruining the legibility. This is affected by the dial colour and the height of the dunes on the dial. CW put a lot of work into working out which colours created little to no reflection and at what height the dunes could go before any issues were caused.
The result speaks for itself with a sublime dial that's easy to read, and elegant, especially without the added dial furniture of unnecessary lettering, the small trident on the second hand, or even a date wheel. This was done to draw as much attention as possible to the dial itself. While I can't speak for everyone who's seen this piece, I know I've spent a good amount of time gawping at it for the last few weeks.
The sword and dagger handset, as well as the round markers and lollipop second hand, come with a generous application of Super-LumiNova Grade X1, which allows this piece to have excellent visibility in the dark, with a bright, light blue glow.
The big thing that hasn't changed with the C65 Dune Aeolian is its case, and therefore its proportions. This new model comes with the same brilliant Lightcatcher case, complete with a 38mm diameter and compact 43.7mm lug-to-lug, which fits my 18.5cm wrist wonderfully. It's an excellent size that's befitting of a piece with more retro sensibilities.
The quality of the finishing, as is seemingly always the case with recent CW releases, is second to none. This case features a lovely blend of polished and brushed surfaces which play with the light wonderfully and work especially well with the brilliantly executed dial.
My C65 Dune Aeolian sample came on the colour-matched grey Orlando Leather strap, although each colour variant is available on a matched strap, as well as a canvas webbed strap and CW's Bader Bracelet if you'd prefer. The strap itself has a pleasant distressed look to it, emphasising the rugged nature of the piece, while also feeling excellent on-wrist. It also tapers down to 16mm from the 20mm width at the lugs, which looks clean.
The C65 Dune Aeolian's crown is both grippy and screw-down, too. It isn't the largest, continuing the smaller proportions of the watch, but is still grippy. There is also the same boxed sapphire crystal as its predecessor that brings both the benefit of excellent, retro-inspired looks, as well as providing glass that is virtually unscratchable.
Also identical to its predecessor is that the reverse of the case is home to an exhibition caseback where you can see the elaboré-finished rotor, complete with Christopher Ward text, as well as the movement whirring away. It's a nice touch, even if it's perhaps a little unnecessary.
Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Performance & Wearability - Marvellous comfort and precision
As much as CW have fiddled around a bit with the outside of the C65 Dune Aeolian, the internals remain the same. On this base model, you've got the same Sellita SW200-1 calibre that's good enough to power the piece for up to 38 hours when fully wound with decent -/+ 20-second per day accuracy. It's been a reliable movement in the other CW watches I've used, and that's no different here.
The Bronze variant is available with a COSC-certified Sellita SW200 COSC movement that can last for longer with a 56-hour power reserve and is even more accurate with -4/+6 second per day tolerances.
The C65 Dune Aeolian is also a wonderfully comfortable watch thanks to a combination of its excellent proportions and suede-like leather strap which meant it's been virtually glued to my wrist ever since I got my hands on one a few weeks' ago at the time of writing. It's an ideal watch for summer in any colour on their respective colour-matched straps, and can be dressed up or down depending on what you're wearing. I had no trouble pairing mine with anything from one of my grey suit jackets to a simple casual attire with a pleasant over-the-head hoodie and jeans.
On the point of summer, this piece also comes with 150m of water resistance, so you can even take it diving to a degree if you wish without too much trouble. Just make sure you've got the crown screwed down all the way.
Verdict
The Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian is easily one of the best watches of 2025 already. It's classy and understated in its 38mm case but comes with easily one of the most impressive dials and levels of finishing at its sub-£1000 price point. It's also wonderfully comfortable, comes with good water resistance and a reliable movement. If you're looking for a left-field choice for a field watch that's sure to impress, look no further than this absolutely beautiful option.
Rating: 5/5
You can purchase the C65 Dune Aeolian from Christopher Ward here. Christopher Ward provided a sample for this review.
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