The Best Affordable Watch Just Got Better

I have been pretty unabashed in my praise of the Christopher Ward Twelve.

I was blown away by the watch’s quality and finishing when I reviewed one following its debut last year, and I crowned The Twelve the best affordable watch under $1,000 against some stiff competition (it just barely squeaks under the price threshold on a rubber strap).

Since the initial blockbuster release of steel and titanium Twelves in 40mm, the brand has expanded by launching a 36mm version, the gold-bezeled Twelve Halo and the ambitious — and expensive — Twelve X, featuring a skeletonized in-house movement.

Now, CW has expanded The Twelve line once again, creating pound-for-pound perhaps the greatest example of the affordable watch yet.

Christopher Ward

Christopher Ward Ice Cream Twelve

• $1,275 at Christopher Ward

The Goldilocks Twelve

Making its debut at the Wind Up Watch Fair in Chicago last week was the “Ice Cream Twelve.” This is a new version of the affordable luxury watch that’s aimed at a summer audience thanks to the four very bright and “flavorful” dial colors available: Mango, Peach, Mint and, uh, Blue.

Each of the stainless steel watches is limited to 200 examples and comes with both the integrated bracelet and an FKM rubber strap matched to the dial. The straps are equipped with quick-release mechanisms for easy changes, and the watches are priced at $1,275.

Christopher Ward

As fun as the bright, ice cream-influenced colors are, they’re not the main draw for these new watches in my eye. In fact, they probably limit their appeal a bit. Instead, what I find truly exciting is the case size of the Ice Cream Twelve.

This marks the first time we’ve seen a Twelve with a 38mm case, essentially creating a Goldilocks size for the watch. Many find the 36mm version too dainty and the 40mm a tad too large, so a 38mm case in the Twelve’s integrated style seems absolutely perfect.

Christopher Ward

Beyond its size, the watch looks almost indistinguishable from the 40mm Twelve in stainless steel. It has the same finishing and dial layout, including the six o’clock date window (the 36mm version has no date). It’s also powered by the same Sellita SW200 automatic movement.

Finally, there’s one more trick up the Ice Cream Twelve’s sleeve beyond its perfect case size that really drives home how this is the most perfect iteration of The Twelve yet, and that’s the clasp.

The new watch uses the same micro-adjustable butterfly clasp that debuted on the far more expensive Twelve X just a few months ago — a feature normally reserved for serious luxury watches like the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, which is in another stratosphere price-wise. The mechanism allows for up to 1.5mm of adjustment on each side of the clasp.

Christopher Ward

The Future of The Twelve

I won’t be buying an Ice Cream Twelve. The colors are a little too flashy for me, and I prefer the titanium Twelve over the steel versions thanks to the former’s COSC-certified movement.

But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about what the Ice Cream Twelve means for the future of the product line. Now that Christopher Ward has a 38mm Twelve case, I would imagine that this size will be rolling out to other versions of the Twelve. Similarly, it seems like only a matter of time before the adjustable butterfly clasp also shows up on every Twelve in CW’s catalog.

And when Christopher Ward finally does roll out a 38mm titanium Twelve with an adjustable clasp, my wife is going to have to physically restrain me to keep me from buying one.

Christopher Ward

Christopher Ward Ice Cream Twelve

Specs

Case Size	38mm
Movement	Sellita SW200-1 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

• $1,275 at Christopher Ward

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