If the Bel Canto put the Maidenhead brand on the map in a major way, it’s the Twelve that conquered it. But what happens when you take Christopher Ward’s best-selling integrated sports watch, strip it back and make it even more wearable? You get the Christopher Ward Twelve 660 – the brand’s second slimmest watch ever, after the C5 Malvern, coming in at just 6.6mm.
The numbers behind the 660 are impressive. The case measures 38mm across with a 43.3mm lug-to-lug and weighs just 85 grams on bracelet or 60 on the rubber strap. Most important is the thickness of 6.6mm, which is not only the inspiration behind its name but also a full 3mm thinner than the original Twelve, which is already a very wearable watch. The crystal is a box-top sapphire, the crown is push/pull rather than screw-down which of course impacts the water resistance, which is rated to 30m. Definitely leaning more dressy than the sporty influences of the original. However, this isn’t some wafer thin novelty designed for display cases, as on the wrist it feels solid.
The case is still crowned by the Twelve’s signature twelve-sided bezel, but here it is slightly wider than before, a subtle tweak that grounds the watch visually and adds presence. The mixed finishes of linear brushing, polished bevels and sandblasted accents mean that despite its thinness, the watch still plays beautifully with the light.
The bracelet too has been completely re-engineered. The original clasp would have been thicker than the case itself, so Christopher Ward designed a new 4.2mm butterfly clasp with integrated push buttons and flatter 2.9-millimetre links. The result is a bracelet that sits flatter and wears as comfortably as any of its Genta-esque sports-chic steel rivals.
The dial is where the minimalist philosophy really comes through. Gone is the textured twin-flag pattern of the original Twelve. In its place is a cleaner, more elemental design with a grained texture under clear lacquer. Joined by diamond-polished indices and brushed and polished hands. There’s no date, no seconds hand, and no clutter, just hours and minutes presented in a way that feels refined.
Colour options lean into the same stripped-back attitude. Here we have the BLK, a full black DLC model that emphasises stealth and thinness and WHT, a crisp, clean version that feels classic. There are also two more colours available in the GRN and BLU. Even the names are shortened, vowels removed – a tongue-in-cheek nod to the essentialist philosophy.
Speaking to Jorg Bader (Head of Product) on a recent trip to Biel to visit their Swiss arm (Christopher Ward SA), it was explained candidly that various different movement options were explored. However, it was an old favourite collaborator that was settled on with the Sellita SW210, a manual wind calibre slim enough to allow the 6.6mm profile. Although, the execution is anything but stock, with the brand choosing to elevate the calibre by working with Paluzzo AG – of which CW own a 20% stake and who were used on the Bel Canto project – to create custom bridges, skeletonised and rhodium-plated, with vertical brushing and diamond-polished chamfers. Even the crown and ratchet wheels are given a sunray finish. It’s presented through a display caseback and frankly it looks unrecognisable (bar the rough layout) from the original movement.
On the wrist, the Twelve 660 feels balanced, not delicate. The slightly wider bezel gives it structure, and the absence of dial clutter makes it look crisp and modern. My personal pick is the white dial version, which looks clean and quietly confident. However, the black version does feel very rock and roll with its smoky sapphire caseback. Yes, the water resistance is a downgrade and yes, the minimalist dial may feel plain to some compared to Christopher Ward’s more ambitious recent releases. But in my view, that’s the whole point. The 660 isn’t about shouting. It’s about refinement. It’s Christopher Ward proving they can do restraint as well as complexity.
For price, it sits between £1,250 – £1,495 depending on whether you opt for bracelet or strap and if you go for the added DLC coating on the black model. That puts it comfortably in the mid-range of Twelve prices, which feels right due to it being a smaller but more ambitious design. The Twelve 660 goes live on August 28th, 8am BST.
Price and Specs:
More details at Christopher Ward.
