In just two decades, Christopher Ward has become a mainstay in the world of tool watches. Previously known for making dress watches, the London-based watchmaker has since turned itself into a powerhouse in the realm of affordable sports watches. While its C60 Trident is a remarkable budget alternative to the Rolex Submariner (and at just a hair over $1,000!), The Twelve model may be your go-to alternative to Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the company has debuted a brand new version of The Twelve with a titanium body and a skeletonized dial.
Named for the twelve sides of its bezel, The Twelve series has come in several variations over the years but this current iteration is certainly the most notable. Housed in a 41mm titanium case that’s 12.3mm thick and water resistant to 100m, The Twelve X (Ti) had to be made a bit larger to fit the COSC-certified in-house SH21 automatic movement, which can be seen through the top of the dial as well as the exposition caseback. Celebrating its own anniversary of 10 years, the movement has a whopping 120 hours of power reserve.
The Twelve X (Ti) has a lot of different coveted watch elements rolled into a single package. Aside from the titanium case material, it features an integrated bracelet, most associated with high-end luxury sports watches, and most obviously, it features a skeletonized dial. Similar to what Zenith has done in its DEFY series of openworked models, The Twelve X utilizes its bridges as part of the main design aesthetic. Finished in matte black, these elements bring a nice contrast to the metal features on the rest of the watch.
This isn’t Christopher Ward’s first skeleton watch. Back in 2021, the London-based watchmaker debuted a limited-edition version of its famed C60, dubbed the C60 Concept, that sported several design cues prescient to the watch you’re looking at here.
For those who aren’t aware, titanium is making a strong charge in the watch world as of late. Advancements in technology have made the material more affordable and easier to work with. Wearers love it for its lighter weight compared to stainless steel (around 40% lighter on average) and its corrosion-resistant properties. Here, Christopher Ward opted to use grade 2 titanium for much of the case, while a more durable grade 5 titanium was implemented on the bezel and caseback.
It’s admittedly difficult to incorporate a glowing lume into a skeleton watch but Christopher Ward having a proclivity towards tool-focused timepieces found a way to enhance the utility of the Twelve X. To give you nighttime visibility, the watch sports a blue-lumed ring around the outside of the dial with notches for the hour markers, aside from the 12 o’clock spot which glows green. The hour and minute hands also feature the blue lume.
Case Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 12.3mm
Case Material: Grade 2 and grade 5 titanium
Movement: In-house SH21 automatic
Power Reserve: 120 hours
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap: Integrated titanium bracelet
Deliveries of The Twelve X (Ti) aren’t expected until November of this year but you can currently pre-order the watch from Christopher Ward’s website with a $1,800 deposit on a total price of $4,865 (there’s also a rubber strap option for $4,495).
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Christopher Ward’s openworked The Twelve X (Ti) is an integrated, titanium skeleton watch that balances luxury with affordability from the London-based watchmaker.
