NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

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Mikkei4
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by Mikkei4 »

jkbarnes wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 6:43 pm In my defense, the thought was driven by the idea updating the line with design language from some of the newer models.
Drew, I apologise if my reply gave the impression I was having a dig at your suggestion.....I wasn't, it was directed at a previous post whose content I followed using Omega rather than Rolex.

Personally I like the indices on the CW 12 and think that they would look good on a V2 Sealander. Again personally, I don't think it matters if it would take the Sealander close to the AT as this thread is about being invited to submit our ideas for a new Sealander not whether somebody thinks another people's suggestions could be considered "ugly" or not acceptable to their own personal tastes.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by jkbarnes »

Mikkei4 wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 7:15 pm Drew, I apologise if my reply gave the impression I was having a dig at your suggestion.....I wasn't, it was directed at a previous post whose content I followed using Omega rather than Rolex.

Personally I like the indices on the CW 12 and think that they would look good on a V2 Sealander. Again personally, I don't think it matters if it would take the Sealander close to the AT as this thread is about being invited to submit our ideas for a new Sealander not whether somebody thinks another people's suggestions could be considered "ugly" or not acceptable to their own personal tastes.
Absolutely no offense taken!! I simply wanted to add context to my comment about the indices.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by jkbarnes »

rkovars wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 4:15 pm The Sealander range is pretty solid as is. Here are the few tweaks I would suggest:

1. Play with the bezel a bit. Different textures and finishes here. I'm not taking all out fluting but something to add some visual interest

2. A more refined handset. The handset is a bit toolish for this line I think. Something more refined like what is on the Dune would be better. I also somewhat agree that the trident counter balance could go on the seconds hand. Leaving this exclusively for the Trident range.

3. A more refined crown. This too is a bit toolish. A more refined crown in a slightly smaller size would be good.

4. I would advocate for a blue dial back in the range that is more refined and understated. Something between the original blue (which was very dark and flat) and the Kingfisher. Add some texture for visual interest. But it should be subtle. Not 12 ziggurat style. Take a cue from the Super Compressor dial and make it a darker deeper blue.

5. I would shy away from adding additional complications. I don't think that is what the Sealander is trying to be. I would not add anything over the current GMTs. It is okay to experiment with something like the Valour in a different range but leave the Sealander functionality as is.

6. Maybe introduce a no date option.
This is the post I was waiting for. Solid suggestions all around. I think you hit on two great interconnected themes - less tooly, more refined - with considered suggestions to illustrate that.

I’d love to see a dial decoration akin to the waves on the new Dune, but maybe a bit more subtle and a bit less organic looking. Does that make sense?
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by A1soknownas »

Just proves how difficult it is to design a watch which looks different to the iconic brands/models.

CW have done a good job of being on the right side of the line with a wide range of similarities to others but spead across multiple models.

Different indices to the trident as i mentioned before, but maybe not the 3,6,9 then. A more interesting bezel texture/finish/shape rather than the standard smooth version might add a bit of interest.

As long as they don't do a chicken wire dial like the land-dweller they will be fine :thumbup:.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by rkovars »

Another addition I would like to see on the accessory side would be a nice compliment of fitted rubber straps with a Bader deployant.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by Kip »

A brief summary without yay and nay count of the items brought up so far, for reference.

Case
40/41mm case options
thinner case
Titanium

Movement
Date function with GMT
Anti magnetic
Keep date at 6
No date option
True GMT
World timer
Power Reserve
chronograph (mechanical)
SW 300 COSC
Power reserve on back
Inhouse movement
SW 300 across the line
Sub seconds
Manual wind Sw 210

Other comments
Titanium COSC GMT
Cw-003

Bezel
a "no bezel" Lumiere would be a good option
Bezel - Different textures and finishes - more refined

Dial/hands
Round date like moonglow
Strong(er) lume
Retaining flat or ombre style dial finishing.
Use red for the highlight colour on GMT hand and wording rather than orange.
Bring back a dark blue dial.
More white dial exploration from CW.
Something like a linen dial maybe
matte graininess of the Lumiere
3/6/9 (12)become a production model!
Darker surrounds for batons and hands
More GMT color options
new/more colors/textures
Lose Trident second hand
LE colors like sunburst yellow
Refined handset (Dune)

Bracelet/straps
Consort bracelet option
Introduce a CW equivalent to the Erika's Original strap (complete with twin flags motif) as a GADA option.
Retain option for both bracelet types plus rubber and leather straps.
Darker surrounds for batons and hands so easier to see, particularly on a white dial.
New GADA /field type strap that's just for the Sealander. Two-piece nylon please, or a two-piece Velcro
that folds back on itself. No taper.
Female end links
Fitted rubber straps with a Bader deployant

Other comments

...not be too radical with the design, it still needs to look like a Sealander.
Retain a slim case.
more of an evolution of the line rather than a whole new redesign.
Elite version which is COSC, titanium and uses Globolight for the hands and indices like seen in the Lumiere.
swapping the date and GMT around or internal bezel
Perhaps rather than the current Sealander being replaced with a new Sealander, we might see an additional
model introduced along of the lines of the Trident 300 joining the line up to sit alongside the Trident 600?

Sealander Elite - an internal rotating diving bezel, titanium, updated bracelet, with two recessed crowns.
metalic silver color way with blue accents in addition to the black with orange accents, more lume .
Possibly two versions, 42 and 40mm, updated cos certified sw300 or higher.
So, there are 2 options I would prefer:
1 Virtually no change - A C60 trident look with no bezel and a design generally as is. 39/40mm case
size and a smaller case option of 37/38 for those that prefer. Range of standard and colourful dial
options (as exists now). Lumed date window to compliment the tiny applied marker at 6 just for a
laugh and ultimate symmetry in low light for 30 minutes! Or get rid of the date as it interrupts more
fancy dial finishes if developed later.

2 Create a unique Sealander. 39/40mm case size. No trident hand. Unique indices like other models
have as an identifier by introducing 3,6,9 etc. No date. It will make a simple dial more interesting.
A 3,6,9 dial may struggle to pair with more adventurous dial finishes though.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by thomcat00 »

I look at the C63 and there’s little I’d want to change. Different/added dial colors, perhaps even a seasonal or annual LE color or set of colors. I understand the intent of darker/black polished hand and index set; I look at my dagger silver and sometimes find it hard to distinguish the hands on the dial. The issue doesn’t feel as pronounced with the white dial but the greater contrast seems appropriate for a GADA type watch. At the same time I enjoy the more subtle aspect of the dagger palette as is.

The trident counterbalance on the seconds hand ought to be preserved. Anyone can have a simple stick seconds hand. The trident fits the Sealander theme in my opinion.

For the dial texture, a matte finish or a sandblasted look appeals to me.

I don’t feel a push for a radically different Mk2. Evolution of an already successful design. Then again I am not much of an early adopter; it was a full year before I got my first Sealander.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by jkbarnes »

thomcat00 wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 12:54 am I look at the C63 and there’s little I’d want to change. Different/added dial colors, perhaps even a seasonal or annual LE color or set of colors.
I really like that suggestion!
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by thomcat00 »

Addendum: some degree of antimagnetic faraday cage might be an interesting GADA upgrade, perhaps more at an Elite level.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by mhh8901 »

Not a fan of the minute text at the end of indices. Much prefer the indices without the 05, 10, 15 etc.
Since Omega aquaterra has those. I think this would make the sealander even more different than that model.
Also a big fan of textured dials.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by UncleLoco »

thomcat00 wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 12:54 am The trident counterbalance on the seconds hand ought to be preserved. Anyone can have a simple stick seconds hand. The trident fits the Sealander theme in my opinion.
Yes! One of my favorite bits. It’s not just the “Lander” after all. This along with the screw-down crown and crown guards as familial link to the Trident make such a cool connection across models. Someone made the Seamaster / Aqua Terra comparison which seems apt. (Not as homage, but a similar collection connection.)
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by mhh8901 »

Another cool detail they could consider adding is a colored second hand and a matching colored CW logo.
Like this girard perregaux sage laureato has the gold second hand and gold GP logo.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by TickTockJoe »

Apologises if some of this has already been covered but it's a very long thread and I may have missed something.

Take the Elite & FLE 23 as a starting points
36mm case option for people like me with scrawny wrists.
Black & white dial like the FLE 23 but black in the center and black outer band for the minutes like Elite with white Arabic numerals on black band (or batons?)
Much simpler texture on face of dial compared to FLE23
Minute marks/numbers as per Elite
Simple dial - no chronometer mini dials
Simple hands & second hand
What is orange on the Elite make dark red
Day & date (I find a 'day' display invaluable when travelling and one day blends into the next) 'Day' at '9' & 'Date' at '3'
Manual wind option?
'Shoulders' to protect crown from snagging (or recessed like Elite)
Stainless steel case with solid back
Choice of bracelets to include polished leather & small sizes.

So merge these two great designs to create a classic.
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by Maxim »

I would love to see interseting textured Dials with the new Sealander.

Kind of, CW Sealander meets Grand Seiko Snowflake, you get the idea.

Otherwise, you can stick with the basic design of the watch, don´t change too much.

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D5F85C1A-DC5A-4519-B022-4774EC078EEA.PNG
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Re: NPD Sealander 2.0 Project

Post by KevinB »

I purchased my black-dial GMT shortly after release and it has easily been my most-worn watch since. I love the idea of additional dial textures/materials/colors, but the fundamental watch is nearly perfect for me. The date at 6, orange GMT hand, the legibility, the case, the hands all just work and whether I wear it on the leather, NATOs, or an Artem sail cloth the watch is as sporty or dressy as I need it to be which makes it ideal when traveling. I just got back from 12 days in Egypt where I chose it over a Tudor BB GMT specifically for flying under the radar and didn't regret the choice for one moment. It was awesome!

The haters focus on a few things: the trident seconds, the CW name in general, and in the GMT the so-called caller vs. traveler. The name isn't going anywhere and the Twin Flags has just shown that haters are just going to hate. The Trident seconds I think needs to be there if the watch staying in the Trident "family" but I wouldn't be fussed either way. The caller vs. traveler debate for the GMT, as one who for many years was the use-case for these watches, I find dull. There are plenty of moments on an international trip to set an independent GMT hand and hour hand. Getting home to a traveler that didn't come? I hate having to flip the hour hand for 2 x days since worn. They are both equally a pain - just depends where you want the pain to be. I think moving to a traveler-type movement would end the bad-mouthing about "just a caller", but this only really matters if the next-gen has in its mission to stifle bad-mouthing in the forums. Does the customer base outside of the enthusiast market care or even understand the difference?

I guess I'd love to see some new dials and colors. My C63 GMT is darn near perfect so I'd like to see a little iteration, but not a big change. I agree whole-heartedly with upgrading the movement in the 3-hand. That and a new killer dial and I might have to get one!!
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