[VIDEO] Christopher Ward Goes Ultra-Thin with The Twelve 660
When Christopher Ward’s The Twelve debuted a few years ago, I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first. At the time, every brand under the sun was trying to get into the integrated bracelet sports watch game, and on paper The Twelve seemed a little derivative (there were many, many comments about its resemblance to a certain integrated bracelet sports watch from a much loved indie brand). Those first watches were…exactly fine. I appreciated the execution and the price point, but they weren’t really for me – I think it was the logo inspired dial texture that didn’t quite work to my eye. But over a relatively short time, The Twelve has evolved. Lots of new colors, sizes, and dial treatments means that there’s basically a Twelve for anyone, and the watch has become an effective platform for some of Christopher Ward’s most adventurous watchmaking. Indeed, their marquee release for 2025, the C12 Loco, is based on the architecture of The Twelve. And you know what? After being around these watches at Windups and other enthusiast events, I’ve even warmed up to that dial texture. Tastes change, what can I say?
All of this is to say that The Twelve is maturing, and has been around long enough at this point to win people over who might not have been on board at the start. And that’s the environment into which Christopher Ward is releasing what seems to be to be among the most exciting watches in The Twelve collection yet, the new The Twelve 660. The name “660” is derived from the case’s most critical feature, its diminutive case height, which is just 6.6mm. That puts this watch in the realm of a legitimate ultra-thin sports watch, something this case shape has been begging for since it launched.
It’s not like The Twelve was ever a super thick or bulky watch. The standard 40mm version measures just a tad over 10mm thick. But integrated bracelet sports watches are almost always more appealing when they get very thin. It really allows for a better fit on the wrist, and a better drape for the bracelet, which is what wearing a watch like this is really all about. With the 660, Christopher Ward gets close to a watch like the much lauded Bulgari Octo Finissimo, which comes in at just 5.15mm tall and is truly defined by its thinness. That’s what we’re talking about with a watch like this: thinness is almost a complication unto itself.
The 660 gets to its 6.6mm height primarily through the swapping of an automatic movement for one that is manually wound, the Sellita SW210. This is a simple and reliable caliber, but Christopher Ward has made a number of aesthetic improvements to it to match the contemporary style of the watch itself. Those customizations include a skeletonized bridge, vertical brushing, and polished chamfers.
Christopher Ward has also reworked the integrated bracelet for the 660. Because the case is so thin, the version of the bracelet used on a standard Twelve would be thicker than the watch itself. The bracelet links are 2.9mm thick, and it’s 4.2mm tall at the clasp. The butterfly clasp is also now actuated with in-line push buttons, keeping everything as sleek as possible.
There are four variants in total: BLK, WHT, GRN and BLU. You can probably surmise the dial color for each. The black version (BLK if that wasn’t clear) has a DLC coated case and bracelet, while the others are in uncoated stainless steel. All cases measure 38mm in diameter, and the dials are all date and seconds hand free. The idea here, according to Christopher Ward, was for a minimal, pared down aesthetic that could be suitable for everyday wear. Because the thing about an ultra thin watch is that they’re comfortable enough that you tend to reach for them frequently. The 660 has 30 meters of water resistance and a push/pull crown, so while it’s not suitable for prolonged exposure to water, for many this will be a completely suitable daily companion.
The retail price of the new The Twelve 660 is $1,660 for a steel version on a bracelet, and $1,790 for the BLK on a bracelet. They are also available on integrated rubber straps for $1,495 and $1,550, respectively. Christopher Ward
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