My Favorite Affordable Watch Just Launched Its Most Daring Version Yet

’90s kids, you’re gonna want to see this.

a closeup of a christopher ward watch dial

Published January 29, 2025

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Updated January 29, 2025

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Independent watch brand Christopher Ward and “horological artist” Romaric André (who goes by seconde/seconde/) nearly broke the internet last year with their first collab, an office-ready dive watch that took the enthusiast moniker “desk diver” literally.

Now, the two collector favorites are back with their second project, and it’s already proving that their first go-around wasn’t a fluke.

Instead of a reworked Trident diver, the new CW collab uses the Twelve integrated sports watch as its template — a model that happens to be my favorite affordable watch. And the result is the wildest incarnation of the Twelve yet.

a green christopher ward watch — The Twelve always turns heads, but this is crazy.

Year of the Snake

Given the massive importance of China in the modern luxury watch landscape, most brands have gotten into the habit of producing special-edition watches each year for Lunar New Year. These watches are based on whichever animal corresponds with the Chinese Zodiac for the coming year.

This year is the Year of the Snake, and several brands have already produced watches that are decidedly elegant to mark the occasion. Christopher Ward and André have also produced a Year of the Snake watch, but they took a slightly different approach.

a green christopher ward watch on the wrist of a man wearing a sweater — This is the most creative take on a Year of the Snake-themed watch I’ve seen.

Instead of being inspired by the actual reptile, CW’s special-edition Twelve is modeled after Snake, the iconic game that came pre-loaded on Nokia cell phones in the late 1990s. Those of a certain age — such as myself — have fond memories of this addictive early mobile game.

The Twelve Snake has the watch’s usual textured dial featuring a repeating raised pattern of the brand’s twin flags logo, but creative printing has given it a pixelated look. The dial is a head-turning shade called “Venom Green” that’s meant to look like an old-school backlit LCD phone screen, with a printed black angular snake undulating across it to take a bite out of the applied logo. There are no indices, giving the snake more hypothetical room to roam.

There’s an Easter egg on the dial in the form of a non-date date window. Located between the 7 and 8 markers on the dial is a window that, on most days, appears blank. But on random days, it displays a “bonus bite” from the original game. There are six different “insect treats” in total.

Other Easter eggs on the dial can be found at 6 o’clock, where “Hiss Made” text replaces the usual “Swiss Made” designation. (The watch is still made in Switzerland, like all CW watches.) Just below that is a pair of red dots on the minute track, signifying a snake bite.

Flip the watch over and you’ll find even more fun (and another snake). The sapphire caseback features a co-branded custom printing in Venom Green marking the occasion of the Snake Year(s), with portions of the Sellita movement visible behind it. Tracing around the exterior of the printing is a pixelated snake on the edge of the green custom rotor.

a closeup of a christopher ward watch caseback — A secret second snake appears printed on the movement’s Venom Green rotor.

Pricing and Availability

Outside of the aesthetic makeover, this is the same Twelve that ranks as the best affordable watch on the market for the money (IMO). It has the same 40mm case and integrated bracelet with micro-adjustable clasp, all in stainless steel and impeccably finished. The watch is also available on a black or Venom Green rubber strap.

Like with other stainless steel Twelve watches, the water resistance remains 100m, there are sapphire crystals on both sides, the crown screws down, the hands have Super-LumiNova X1 and the movement powering the watch is the Sellita SW200-1 automatic.

Naturally, the Twelve Snake is a limited edition, but thankfully it’s limited in time and not number. The ordering window opened today and will close on February 10 at 10 am EST, giving you plenty of time to grab a snake before they slither away for good.

Pricing is surprisingly the same as all steel Twelve models: The watch is $1,225 on the bracelet, while on a strap it’s just $995.