C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

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tightlywound
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by tightlywound »

I love it. I think it's a very classy piece, especially for a field watch. I also like that the MSRP seems just a bit better than some others, even at it's introduction. I predict this will be a hit.
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by JAFO »

I must say I like this dial treatment. The flowing, organic swirls contrast with the orthogonal lines of teak dials, and even the repeating style of guilloche patterns. I wonder how high the dunes actually have to rise above ground level (or the other way round) to provide the3D effect.

I've seen this on a few AliX offerings, but I do think CW have a well-positioned price point - above AliX but well below many well known swiss brands.

Is this really a field watch? I thought field watches came with arabic numerals.
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by timepieces_and_bags »

This is a big YES from me in terms of the updates CW have made. I must say that the previous iterations did not catch my eye at all; I would tend to just scroll on by. But the new wave pattern and color combinations are a real winner in my book. My personal preference is that, while I very much like the trident counterweight generally, I think I prefer the Dune without it, as I think it suits the style of watch better.

Now, as to whether I'm interested in personally buying any?

- In the automatic I think all the colors are pretty lovely actually. I can't see myself wearing the Sand even though I think it's nice, but I could imagine any of the Marram, Eve and Silica on the wrist (although maybe the marker/dial contrast on the Silica is a bit too much for me).
- The Dusk and Marram bronze are both lovely in my book. Particularly the green. Interesting reading the comments above about removal of the bronze bracelet from the website already. I assume we should read nothing into that except it's a stock issue and they don't know the pre-order date? I didn't see anything anywhere about anything being limited on these releases. With a bronze trident on the way I won't be in a rush for another bronze watch for a while though.
- With the GMTs I'm not such a fan of the color combinations.

As several have mentioned, the 38mm size is the real concern. I've just taken in two Studio Underd0g watches that on all case measures are bigger, and I'm concerned they're a little small. So that's likely to put an end to any interest, unless I find the opportunity to try them on and feel differently. For example, I could imagine an all-bronze wears a little larger.

Still, I think it's a fantastic release which will sell very well.
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by Macdaz »

I'm in a field watch phase, and I've bought nothing from CW since the last Dune release as nothing really tickled my pickle, at least nothing I was prepared to afford. So I attended the preview with high hopes. I left a little disappointed as, lovely though they are, especially the blue, I concluded they were too similar to my current Dune. The one thing I would change about the Mk1 was the Trident counterbalance as I always thought it a little incongruous, but even that was not enough to justify the expense. My watch fund was safe.



As of 1448 today I have a blue Dune Aeolian on the way. :roll:
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

jkbarnes wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 2:24 pm If anyone in the US is on the fence about purchasing, if you buy on the leather strap in GBP, it brings the price down to below the tariff threshold - $783 plus local sales tax versus the advertised USD price of $910 plus local sales tax and import duty! With the local sales taxes in MD, where I am, that amounts to $831 paying in GBP versus $1,058 paying in USD. That’s a nice savings, slightly more than 21%! I’m actually tempted. :shock:
I am glad we both to continue to get the word out on this legal way to avoid the USA Import Duty. I have been updating my post about it.

As of this morning the US/UK currency exchange rate is: $1.23 => £1.00
Dune Cur Exc.JPG

An important issue to note is that local/state sales tax is not included in the Import Duty Calculation so as long as the GBP RRP is under the $800 US Import Duty limit after factoring the currency exchange, the import duty will not be charged. As you suggested, buy the Dune on a leather or canvas strap (and get the bracelet later and/or as a separate order if you want it). This amounts to a 15% savings (not including local/sales tax).

In NYC, the savings is more than 24% when you factor the lower sales tax amount factored on the lower selling price by purchasing in GBP.
Dune Savings.JPG
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by welshlad »

^^^ Yes, it's been known about for several years, but there are always new US customers for whom the information is very relevant.
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by ironcurtains »

nycWATCHnerd wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 6:08 pm
jkbarnes wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 2:24 pm If anyone in the US is on the fence about purchasing, if you buy on the leather strap in GBP, it brings the price down to below the tariff threshold - $783 plus local sales tax versus the advertised USD price of $910 plus local sales tax and import duty! With the local sales taxes in MD, where I am, that amounts to $831 paying in GBP versus $1,058 paying in USD. That’s a nice savings, slightly more than 21%! I’m actually tempted. :shock:
I am glad we both to continue to get the word out on this legal way to avoid the USA Import Duty. I have been updating my post about it.

As of this morning the US/UK currency exchange rate is: $1.23 => £1.00
Dune Cur Exc.JPG


An important issue to note is that local/state sales tax is not included in the Import Duty Calculation so as long as the GBP RRP is under the $800 US Import Duty limit after factoring the currency exchange, the import duty will not be charged. As you suggested, buy the Dune on a leather or canvas strap (and get the bracelet later and/or as a separate order if you want it). This amounts to a 15% savings (not including local/sales tax).

In NYC, the savings is more than 24% when you factor the lower sales tax amount factored on the lower selling amount by purchasing in GBP.
Dune Savings.JPG

It looks like I will be going this route to get my first ever Christopher Ward, because I absolutely love the blue dial. I had been waffling back and forth over possibly getting the Mido Ocean Star 39 with the similar dial pattern that shifts from black to blue, but I think I like this more.

I do 100% need a bader bracelet for this as well though, are we confident they will sell them separately at some point? (I dont see why they wouldnt).

Or is there any bader already on the store that will work with this? ( I assume not )

I also am back and forth between the brown and blue leather strap. Obviously brown probably makes the most sense but the all blue actually kind of looks cool!
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

ironcurtains wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 7:03 pm ...is there any bader already on the store that will work with this? ( I assume not )
On the new Dune listing page, the Bader bracelet part number is: 20-STL-22-SXS-MA1
https://www.christopherward.com/int/dun ... nical-data

Unfortunately, it appears CW does not currently list the Dune and Dune GMT bracelets separately for sale but they may in the future. Interestingly, they already have the leather straps for separate sale but they do come from a different supplier. I'll leave it to someone who has been around much longer than I have to comment on future availability of the bracelets. Or...contact customer service and ask for the official answer.
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by welshlad »

CW rarely offer bracelets separately for new ranges at outset, as they prioritise supply for those who want bracelets directly with their watches. In the case of the Dune Aeolian, the steel bracelets aren't ready at launch, so that will delay things further. But eventually, you can expect the bracelets to be listed separately.
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by strapline »

Well...they are all very nice imo. I particularly like the bronze versions and their two dial colours. The new leather straps really appear to compliment the watches, too. I can see these selling incredibly well, another great release.

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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by Kansas City Milkman »

Nice, I like them. My only reservation is how high the peaks are on the dial. I love the subtlety of Grand Seiko dials - this looks a little too textured for my liking. I'm sure it'll sell well
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by ironcurtains »

welshlad wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 7:41 pm CW rarely offer bracelets separately for new ranges at outset, as they prioritise supply for those who want bracelets directly with their watches. In the case of the Dune Aeolian, the steel bracelets aren't ready at launch, so that will delay things further. But eventually, you can expect the bracelets to be listed separately.
Great info, and makes sense. Thank you for that.

As an aside, anyone have any opinions on which strap to pair with the blue Eve colored dial? I’ll get the bader at a later date :mrgreen:
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

ironcurtains wrote: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:01 pm
As an aside, anyone have any opinions on which strap to pair with the blue Eve colored dial? I’ll get the bader at a later date :mrgreen:
I'm not a fan of CW's Canvass straps, and feel it will look best with a contrast, so my suggestion would be the Camel Orlando leather.

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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

Please ignore my poor pic editing skills but wanted to try this out...

Dune Sand Bronze.png
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Re: C65 Dune Aeolian - Shifting Sands

Post by Noush »

@nycWATCHnerd No excuses necessary, that looks great. :thumbup:
Thanks for the effort!

That's the combination of case and dial I 'campaigned for' in the original Dune release and all the more compelling with the textured dial.
As it stands though I REALLY like the dusk dial in the bronze case on that tobacco leather strap. I'd absolutely have one: a bronze cased piece has been gnawing away at me for years and this would be the one. 38mm is perfect for me.

Also as it stands, my watch fund is currently well into the negative just now so it can wait. Well, it has to....
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