School me on this...what watch is this face based on?

The Rolex Explorer II is often cited as inspiration for these watches, but i think the GS Sport 9F is more of a role model:

On the Christopher Ward front, I would have thought the C63 was somewhere between an Oyster Perpetual on the 3-link bracelet and the Datejust on their 5-link consort bracelet. Both have stick indices more or less.

Kinda hard to say though. On the face of it, both the Vaer and the CW are round sports watches in stainless steel with pretty minimal dials and no complications.

I guess following the family tree backwards, you’d be looking to answer the question; “Who made the first steel sports watch?”

The Vaer dial is much more OG Explorer 1 to me. Nivada Grenchen do similar things on their Antarctique line.

For me is an Oyster Perpetual homage

Rolex explorer

Patek Phillipe Calatrava ref 96 introduced in 1932. The pattern on which almost all modern, round watches are based.

Basically all of them. Indices and minute track are universal , so is black

Looks like a Seamaster Aqua Terra...non teak dial

I think they are broadly based on pretty common/standard watch dials and shapes...

The Sealander is a homage to the Aquaterra, but isn't a copy.

Edit: nevermind, the groupthink is Rolex invented clocks, so they are Rolex homages. Did you know writing was also invented by Rolex, so they could sell watches. They even invented the concept of time to sell you watches to track it. Essentially Rolex invented the universe, so every question about anything you need to know is answered by Rolex.... at least according to the "watch community".

Not sure about case design, but regarding dials, the Vaer is inspired by Rolex professional models, most closely the Explorer (triangle on top), while the CW is mostly inspired by the base Rolex Oyster Perpetual. You could also say Datejust, but that has a date at 3 o'clock and a magnifying glass over it, plus often a fluted bezel.

With bracelets, Vaer copies Rolex' Jubilee bracelet and the CW copies their Oyster bracelet.