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Christopher Ward The Twelve – £850
Christopher Ward is technically still a microbrand given their relative size; however, it has been around since 2004. In the last few years, the coverage of the brand has grown. I believe this has been reflected in the watches they have been offering.
Christopher Ward The Twelve
A steady design language has been found, the logo has been fixed (although there are still split opinions here), and they have been very active in offering a high level of quality for the prices they are asking.
In 2023, Christopher Ward continued this trend by launching their own interpretation of an integrated sports watch – The Twelve.
By combining the value for money that the brand has come to represent with one of the most in-demand designs of the last decade, it was sure to be a hit. The extent of positive coverage is remarkable, and while at first, I was skeptical, having reviewed one for a month, I can confirm the hype is justified.
The Twelve is offered in two sizes, 36mm and 40mm, and in two different case materials, stainless steel and grade II titanium. There are also multiple dial color choices, so you can find one that works for you.
The Twelve either comes with a Sellita SW200-1 or SW300-1, depending on the case material, with the SW300-1 bringing better accuracy and a longer power reserve in a slightly thinner package. Regardless, both will serve you well on a daily basis.
Christopher Ward The Twelve
The name, The Twelve, derives from its bezel, which is a dodecagon, a twelve-sided figure. Clearly, this is a watch inspired by the famous Royal Oak and Nautilus, and Christopher Ward does not hide that fact.
They highlight Gerald Genta as the inspiration on their website and take ownership of why they produced such a design.
Christopher Ward The Twelve bezel details
Given the twelve sides, the bezel looks more fluid than the Royal Oak , which has eight, and you may have noticed it already, but the Twelve resembles the Czapek Antarctique more than anything else.
Adrian Buchmann, the head of product design at Christopher Ward, was credited as one of the principal designers behind the Antarctique.
I appreciate this and it somewhat makes The Twelve a more affordable Czapek offering with credibility.
Christopher Ward The Twelve dial details
The Twelve itself has extremely good finishing for the price. There are well-placed beveled edges, the dial texture is sharp, and changes in visibility depending on the light, and details like the hands and indices are executed well.
It is hard to fault this watch, especially because, at the same time, it is so comfortable on the wrist.
Of all the references available for this collection, I would go for the white dial, stainless steel variant on the strap. Typically, I recommend buying the bracelet option as it is more cost-effective, but I am working on a budget for this hypothetical challenge!
Christopher Ward The Twelve with titanium case (photo courtesy Raman Kalra)
Regardless, I find the rubber strap looks great on The Twelve. They have the integration to the watch case done very well – better than I find with the PRX. The white dial is legible and most attractive to me given the grey accents.
Like the Seamaster 300M, The Twelve can be worn in all situations, and it provides you with a taste of the integrated aesthetic that has been so coveted without breaking the bank!
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