Christopher Ward · Calibre SH21

Christopher Ward C63 Sealander SH21, C60 Trident and C9 Harrison 5-Day power reserve: inside the Calibre SH21

The Christopher Ward C63 Sealander SH21, C60 Trident chronometers, C9 Harrison 5-Day and the skeletonised Twelve X run on the Calibre SH21. From full it lasts about 120 hours, a full five days.

Updated September 2026 · Based on manufacturer specs, published reviews and watchmaker/owner reports

Watches that use the Calibre SH21

Despite the "SH", this isn't a Sellita. The SH21 is Christopher Ward's own movement, designed by Johannes Jahnke at Synergies Horlogères, the Swiss movement maker Christopher Ward merged with in 2014. Recent Christopher Ward material calls it the CW-001. It sits under the brand's more ambitious watches, while the everyday C60 and C63 models use Sellita's SW200-1 and SW330-2. If a Christopher Ward says "5-day" or "SH21" on the dial or caseback, this is what's inside.

Specs at a glance

History and where it came from

Christopher Ward launched the SH21 in July 2014 in the C9 Harrison 5-Day Automatic. It was the result of the brand's merger with Synergies Horlogères, a movement maker in Switzerland founded by Jörg Bader, and designed from scratch by watchmaker Johannes Jahnke. Worn & Wound called it "a game changer": a five-day, COSC-certified automatic from a brand whose watches then cost well under $2,000. The name comes from Synergies Horlogères' initials and the 21st century.

Since then Christopher Ward has used it, in Worn & Wound's words, "somewhat sparingly", mostly in limited editions and high-profile watches such as the C60 Apex, the Twelve X and the C1 Bel Canto's chiming module. The 2023 C63 Sealander SH21 was the first time it appeared in a simple everyday sports watch. In 2026 the brand used it as the base for the CW-002, adding a proper travel GMT without making the movement any taller.

Accuracy in the real world

Every automatic SH21 goes to COSC, so each one has been tested to the chronometer standard of -4 to +6 seconds a day before it's cased. That's a tighter starting point than the standard-grade Sellitas in most of Christopher Ward's range. Worn & Wound's long-term C9 review found the five-day reserve worked as advertised.

There isn't much independent long-term timing data published, so treat the COSC rating as the guide. Twin barrels in series also help: the balance gets steadier torque across more of the run, which should help the rate stay consistent late in the reserve.

Reliability and servicing

The SH21 has been in production since 2014 without a known systemic fault being widely reported. Jörg Bader of Synergies Horlogères described the goal as "tractor-like strength with incredible precision". Its main practical difference from a Sellita is servicing. Parts come from Christopher Ward rather than an open supply chain, so plan to service it through the brand. A general watchmaker can't order a replacement movement off the shelf the way they can for an SW200-1.

That's normal for an in-house movement, and it's worth checking Christopher Ward's service terms and warranty for your model when you buy.

Quirks worth knowing

• It's big. At 31.5 mm the SH21 is much wider than a Sellita SW200-1, which is why SH21 watches start around 40 mm and the movement fills the caseback window.
• Lots of spring to fill. Five days of reserve means a lot of winding from empty. If it has stopped, give it a good number of turns by hand rather than hoping a short wear will fill it.
• Name confusion. The "SH" leads people to think it's a Sellita, and some listings call it one. It isn't. Newer Christopher Ward material calls it the CW-001.
• Date danger zone. As with most date movements, don't use the quickset date late in the evening. Here's why.

How it compares

• Sellita SW200-1: the 38-hour movement in most Christopher Ward C60s and C63s. Cheaper and serviceable anywhere, but a third of the reserve.
• Oris Calibre 400: the closest rival: also 120 hours, 4 Hz and in-house, in the Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 and other Oris models.
• Powermatic 80: 80 hours at 3 Hz in the Tissot PRX; less reserve, but far cheaper watches.
• Swatch Sistem51: 90 hours at a tiny price, but sealed and not serviceable.
• Grand Seiko 9RA2: the same five days in a Spring Drive, at several times the price.

Living with the 120-hour reserve

This is the reserve that makes a watch rotation easy. Take your Christopher Ward C63 Sealander SH21 off at 6pm on Friday, wear something else all week, and from a full wind it's still running at 6pm the following Wednesday. A weekend away never stops it, and you can leave it for a short holiday and pick it up running.

The catch is the "from a full wind". A few hours on the wrist won't fill a 120-hour spring, so if it's only been worn for an evening, it may have far less in it than five days. Watch Winder counts down the reserve for each watch you own and reminds you before it stops, which matters most for a watch you're tempted to leave in the drawer for a week. To check a specific trip, try the "Will my watch stop?" calculator.

Verdict

The SH21 is Christopher Ward's best argument that it's more than a Sellita assembler: a five-day, COSC-certified, twin-barrel automatic in watches that cost a fraction of most in-house pieces. The trade-offs are size, a service route that runs through the brand, and a shorter public track record than a Sellita or ETA. If you rotate watches, the reserve is worth paying for, and a C63 Sealander SH21 is the simplest way to get it.

FAQ

How long does a Christopher Ward C63 Sealander SH21 run off the wrist?

About 120 hours, or five days, from a full wind. If it was only partly wound when you took it off, it will stop sooner.

Is the Christopher Ward SH21 a Sellita movement?

No. The SH21 was designed by Johannes Jahnke for Christopher Ward and Synergies Horlogères, and "SH" stands for Synergies Horlogères. Christopher Ward's everyday C60 and C63 models use Sellita movements; SH21 models don't.

Is the SH21 a chronometer?

Yes. Automatic SH21 movements are COSC certified, which means each one was tested to within -4 to +6 seconds a day before casing.

Does the Christopher Ward C60 Trident SH21 hack?

Yes. The SH21 stops the seconds hand when you pull the crown to set the time, and it can be wound by hand.

What is the difference between the SH21 and the CW-001?

They're the same movement. Christopher Ward's newer material calls the SH21 the CW-001, and the CW-002 GMT is built on it.

How long does the Christopher Ward C9 Harrison 5-Day run?

About 120 hours, five days, from a full wind. It was the first watch to use the SH21, in 2014.

Sources

• Worn & Wound: Introducing the Christopher Ward SH21
• Worn & Wound: Christopher Ward C9 Harrison 5-Day Automatic review
• Worn & Wound: Christopher Ward debuts a pair of C63 Sealanders with the SH21
• Monochrome: Christopher Ward C9 Harrison 5-Day Automatic
• Monochrome: Christopher Ward debuts Calibre CW-002 and the C63 Sealander True GMT

Keeping it running

• On an average day an automatic gains roughly 4 hours of reserve per hour on the wrist, so about 30 hours of wear fills the Calibre SH21. Desk days charge more slowly.
• Most automatics can also be wound by the crown. If yours has stopped, a few dozen turns gets it going before you put it on.
• Off the wrist it stops about 120 hours after it was last full. Stopped sooner?
• On a watch winder, start at about 650 turns per day, both directions. Winder settings for every movement.
• If it does stop, don't set the date between 9pm and 3am. Check if it's safe.

Other 80-hour movements

Never let it stop

Watch Winder counts down the reserve of every watch you own and reminds you before one stops. It already knows the Calibre SH21: type your watch's name and the reserve fills itself in.

Manufacturer's published figure. Real reserve varies with the watch's age and service; check your manual.