Click bait - A Grand Seiko alternative

i think the bezel proportion is different and look alot like gs than the rolex explorer. they used the term probably just to get more views 😃

Completely agree. Only caveat being that CW publicly stated that the C63 Sealander was inspired by the Rolex Explorer II in a 2021 Loupe magazine (https://issuu.com/christopher-ward/docs/21_-_2021_-_summer).

I wish they hadn't because the C63 GMT has a ton of character and modern touches in its own right. I had been eyeing that exact Grand Seiko GMT for a while but could not get over the $3,000 price tag.  As soon as CW came out with the C63 GMT at $1,000, I purchased without hesitation and been extremely pleased.

Both versions of the Sea Lander somehow manage to both use CW's distinctive design language while still crossing a certain line.   The normal Sea Lander is a dead ringer for the Aqua Terra.  (Sea Lander... Aqua Terra) while the GMT looks a bit too much like an Explorer 2, at least with the white dial version.  In fact, I went for a blue dial version just to try and put a little visual space between the CW and the Rolex*.

* And make me less likely to attract the wrong sort of attention, bearing in mind crime levels around luxury watches. Perhaps I overthunk it.

OK so CW have themselfes to ”blame” also then. Might do good for business. If you had the GS in mind I fully understand that the CW came handy.

I have the white C63 GMT myself and didn’t get that strong Explorer II feeling. Now I did the comparison in black since there seems not to be a white version of the GS. If there was one I would consider it a spitting image of the CW63 GMT.

Sorry I don't see any similarities between the two, they both have their own design elements. The comparison of a Rolex to nearly any new watch has been used to death and if it were true then they should just label them "homages".

CW's case designs, the light catcher case of the CW is totally different to that of the Rolex for starters and the dial has no similarities at all, all you could say is the bezel, which looks like a thousand other GMT's has the same layout and I could say the same for the GS.

People need to stop comparing every new watch to a Rolex and just appreciate it for what it is, if you want to compare watches to others there would be no watches , even going back 20 or 30 years that doesn't look like another in some aspect or another.

No I don’t get the Rolex comparison either.

I tried on that GMT GS at a boutique and that watch is an amazing watch - from the fit to the finishing on the case is 👍🏼. For me, if I were to get a GS this model would be the one to get (even though it’s a quartz)

I agree they all are just a bunch of Homages to my original GMt 

😜 joking aside I do agree 100% each watch should be looked at it’s own personality but human nature we love to compare but each has its own merits…

For the sake of my wallet, I will pretend like I didn't read this

Some YouTubers are good about admitting they use Rolex in titles to generate clicks, and feed the algorithm. 

Teddy even called the community out in a video, because people complain about him doing too much Rolex, or other mainstream stuff, but then they don't watch his other content.  

As long as Rolex is the muggle/flex brand, people will compare other things against it. 

As for the C63, I get much more of an Omega AT/Globemaster vibe than Rolex. 

It may be useful if people were looking at the Rolex or GS and were not aware of the alternative options. Even if they are compared, it still boils down to: Do I like it and do I care that it may (or may not) look similar to something else?

Be Honest Guys when was the last time you saw a truly original watch? All watches have some kind of nod to whats become before. I agree with Pers initial point, but suppose you have to look at it as a compliment taking design cues from successful models. I think the the C63 is a great looking watch. It stands up very well and is great Value unlike RLX

Whenever I hear someone say alternative to something I take it to mean it will scratch the itch, not that it is necessarily an equal or whatever.  Just a decent option if price or availability prevent someone from getting the unobtanium.

Agree. That is the most important always. I’m after the click bait use of the Rolex comparison, particularly if it’s used wrongly or just by lazyness.

Ok, but some comparisons are more accurate than others IMO.

Well… I don’t think any other watchmaker can claim to make their own steel and pretty much every last component in their own movement.  At retail, there is value in owning a Rolex albeit with a bunch of caveats (some of which are around the person buying the watch).

Me? I’m fine with the Sealander and Caller/Office GMT.  These watches punch above their price point, but the same argument can be made for Rolex when comparing Rolex to its price peers.  

My personal opinion is that this is all about the person. I don’t think anybody at Christopher Ward would mind people putting their name and Rolex together in the same sentence. Being considered a worthy alternative to one of the most coveted watches out there is actually a positive. If you can’t afford or find an Explorer II, maybe consider a C63 which has many of the same character traits and is attainable. I think that is the key difference - that Rolex is just not attainable for the majority of folks. You could say the same for the Grand Seiko (in comparison to the C63) but I’d bet it’s also considered an Explorer II alternative to many based on it being more attainable.

Unfortunately, I think the word alternative, and to an even greater extent the term homage, carry with it some negative connotations because people have chosen to use/see them in derogatory fashion. Being considered an alternative does not mean worst. Being an homage - as in having a design that pays respect to an original design - in itself is also not a bad thing. The only “drawback” I can see here is that theses terms can potential provide power to the parent (via comparison) by setting it on a pedestal… but this only matters if you dislike Rolex I guess. In the specific case of the C63, it may have its own unique design elements that allow it to stand on its own (and that some may actually prefer over an Explorer II) but Rolex has the greater brand awareness and CW is probably happy to be in the conversation if it puts more of their watches on peoples wrists. Just my 2 cents.

I don't mind the comparisons personally, and I doubt most companies do either.  The only thing I dislike is the constant barrage of articles telling me that Omega or whoever is crushing Rolex.  Like it or not, nobody's doing anything to Rolex.  They just aren't.  It's annoying, but Rolex does whatever the hell they want, and it sells.  Look at the Milgaus...a few years ago it was the ugly step-child nobody wanted, now it's expensive and hard to find.  Same with Air King.  Older models are "affordable", but you can see the prices going up as more models move out of reach to mortals.

My thing about saying this or that brand is beating Rolex is that Rolex buyers don't care at all that Omega makes better movements.  Omegas look like nice watches, Rolexes look like wealth.  People recognize them and look at you differently when you wear them.  People look at an Omega and think it looks nice, but couldn't tell you if it cost $500 or $5000.  For better or worse, that's important to a lot of people.

I think that is a brief and correct summary 👍

If the ”alternative” refers to the brand not the watch model due to unavailibility it’s sad but maybe true. On the other hand then the ”alternative” phrase is redundant since any other brand is an alternative😎

I’m maybe too sensitive about this click baiting thing. I shall maybe look at it in a broader perspective. If there is a slight resemblence of the sought after brand and/or the function are the same then maybe it is fair to use the click bait.

From where I see it it’s the pedestal issue I’m concerned about. I like many of Rolex models but I also like other models from other brands. By using the ”alternative to”term, uncalled for, the glorification is even more cemented IMO.

I’m no fan of bashing Rolex headlines either. For me it’s just another click bait with the brand name. Beside the click bait discussion I avoid all which brand? or which model? polls or questions in this forum as well. I rather discuss pros and cons on a watch without unneccesary comparisons to other watches or brands.

I was surprised that that the gmt have Christopher Ward logo, coz I wanted to buy the green one, but the logo on the green dial (they use “Christopher Ward” name instead of the logo) is holding me back for now. l

Anyway, I’ll wait until they change the logo on the green dial for now, and hopefully they’ll do it asap! 🤞🏼

I’m actually glad I have the texted logo. It’s a good thing that we appreciate different things and details. If not this would have been a boring hobby.

Actually that's quite ironic, I sold a CW, and followed up with the purchaser who was planning on turning it into an Explorer look alike. The thought had never really occurred to me before that. Personally I'd save up and buy the watch, but having fun with an homage look, could be a sub-reddit.

you’ve got the OG GMT 🤘😎

I may be a week late but I can give some insight on this. When pitching a new idea, the best way to do it convincingly is to ground it against something relevant your audience understands. Rolex is the most well known entity in this space and is often considered the benchmark and originator for many of these endeavours. Such then, it is going to bring context to whatever’s being reviewed to pitch its performance against that benchmark. Another way to think of it is like this: the people making the watch, what do you think they were thinking of when they made it, what audience where they hoping to grab? Buyers of Rolex, or perhaps admirers of Rolex who can’t afford it? It’s a bit like Porsche in the automotive world; all roads lead back there. 

I agree with you on watches deserving their own identity - for me the “Rolex alternative” term came up when Rolexes became impossible to purchase at an AD