Christopher Ward, a brand that has consistently carved its own path in the watch industry, has introduced its slimmest integrated bracelet watch to date: The Twelve 660. This new collection reimagines the brand's popular Twelve design, distilling it into a minimalist form that emphasizes wearability and refined detail. At a mere 6.6mm thick, the watch's name is a direct nod to its slender profile, a convention Christopher Ward previously used with its C1 Malvern 595. The name also carries a neat coincidence: 6 + 6 equals 12, tying it perfectly to the collection it represents.
Before diving into the specifics of the 660, it's worth understanding the brand behind it. Founded in 2004 on a boat on the River Thames, Christopher Ward set out with a rebellious mission: to create high-quality, Swiss-made mechanical watches and sell them directly to consumers online, bypassing the traditional retail markups. This approach made fine watchmaking accessible to a much broader audience. Over its 20-year history, the English-Swiss company has grown into the UK's largest watch brand, with customers in over 100 countries. Their ambition didn't stop at sales models; they also ventured into movement creation, developing the Calibre SH21, the first commercially viable mechanical movement from a British brand in over half a century. This spirit of innovation was recently celebrated on a global stage when their chiming watch, the Bel Canto, won the prestigious Petite Aiguille award at the Grand Prix D'Horlogerie De Genève (GPHG) in 2023.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The project for The Twelve 660 began in mid-2023 with a clear objective: to craft the most elemental and wearable version of The Twelve. However, the brand is quick to clarify that this is not an entry into the hyper-competitive, often impractical race for the world's thinnest watch. CEO and co-founder Mike France emphasizes this point, stating, “The 660 isn’t a ‘novelty’ to be handled with white gloves at a convention centre in Geneva, it’s something you can truly live with: understated... whether you’re heading to a gallery, a boardroom, or a supermarket.” This philosophy positions the 660 not as a delicate safe queen, but as a sophisticated daily companion that blends into any situation.
Achieving this level of refined simplicity was a comprehensive process. It wasn't merely a case of shrinking the existing design. Senior Designer Will Brackfield explains the meticulous approach: “We didn’t just shrink the case - we re-evaluated every surface and proportion. Minimalism is honest. There’s no room to hide. Every decision has to serve the whole.” This ethos is immediately apparent in the watch's 38mm stainless steel case. The design is both familiar to fans of The Twelve and distinct in its execution. The compact 43.30mm lug-to-lug measurement ensures it sits comfortably on a wide range of wrists, while the 38g case weight makes its presence known without being burdensome.
The defining feature of the case is its sculpted, twelve-sided bezel. For the 660, this bezel has been subtly widened compared to its predecessors. This decision cleverly adds a sense of structure and wrist presence, preventing the ultra-thin form from feeling fragile or disappearing on the wrist. The finishing on the bezel is a masterclass in texture, featuring a combination of fine linear brushing on its top surface, brightly polished bevels that catch the light, and sandblasted accents that provide a subtle, matte contrast. This interplay of finishes gives the case a dynamic quality that belies its minimalist design.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The dial of The Twelve 660 is an exercise in intentional reduction. The textured, three-dimensional pattern of the original Twelve is replaced by a fine-grained surface, which is then protected and enhanced by a layer of clear lacquer. This creates a subtle, almost velvety backdrop that allows the other elements to stand out. The applied hour indices are long and slender, featuring a top surface of linear brushing that contrasts with their diamond-polished facets. The hands mirror this treatment with brushed centers and polished flanks, ensuring legibility while maintaining a cohesive look.
Two of the most significant decisions in the dial's design were the omission of the seconds hand and the date aperture. These were deliberate choices aimed at purifying the time-telling experience. Without the constant sweep of a seconds hand or the interruption of a date window, the dial achieves a clean, serene aesthetic. The focus is solely on the hour and minute, a nod to classic dress watches and a statement of confidence in its minimalist approach. The only other feature is the applied twin-flags logo at the 12 o'clock position, perfectly balanced within the clean space.
Color is used to express the distinct character of each model in the 660 lineup. The naming convention itself—BLK, WHT, GRN, and BLU—reflects the watch's pared-back nature. As Will Brackfield humorously notes, "We took out everything that didn’t need to be there with the 660 - even most of the vowels." This tongue-in-cheek detail perfectly encapsulates the essentialist philosophy behind the watch. The stainless steel models come in a deep blue, a muted green, and a shimmering silver/white, each color giving the architectural case a different personality, reminiscent of the integrated sports watches of the 1970s but with a modern sensibility.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
The standout model is arguably the BLK version, a full black-on-black execution. The case, bracelet, and clasp are all coated in a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) finish, creating a stealthy, monolithic appearance. The DLC coating is not just for looks; it provides a surface hardness of 660 HV (Vickers), making it incredibly resistant to scratches and wear. On this model, the deep, inky blackness of the case and bracelet is punctuated only by the silver-toned hands and indices, creating a stark, legible, and thoroughly modern look. It is the ultimate expression of the 660's sleek design.
An integrated bracelet watch lives or dies by the quality and comfort of its bracelet, and the 660 introduces a completely new design. The single links are just 2.9mm high, contributing significantly to the watch's overall slim profile. The bracelet flows seamlessly from the case, creating an uninterrupted stream of metal that wraps around the wrist. The attention to detail extends to the clasp, which was a critical component to redesign. As Product Director Jörg Bader explains, “Had we used the original Twelve clasp, it would have been thicker than the watch head itself – so we knew that had to change!”
The new clasp is a remarkable piece of engineering, measuring only 4.2mm high. It features a butterfly locking mechanism with push-buttons that are cleverly integrated to be inline with the clasp itself, maintaining the bracelet's sleek lines. This new design is not only thinner but also enhances the overall comfort and wearability of the watch, a testament to the team's commitment to re-evaluating every single component. The total weight of the watch, including the bracelet, is a comfortable 85g.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
Powering this slender timepiece is the Sellita SW210-1 b, a Swiss-made, hand-wound mechanical movement. Christopher Ward didn't simply use a stock caliber; they extensively modified it to suit the aesthetic and technical requirements of the 660. The choice of a hand-wound movement was crucial for achieving the 6.6mm case height, as the SW210 itself is only 3.35mm thick. This movement features 18 jewels, beats at a modern frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), and offers a solid power reserve of 42 to 45 hours.
Visible through the exhibition caseback, the modifications are on full display. The standard movement architecture has been opened up with a custom-designed, skeletonized train bridge. This new bridge is rhodium-plated and features a combination of vertical brushing and diamond-polished chamfers, creating a visual spectacle as it interacts with light. Further detailing includes sunray-brushing on the crown and ratchet wheels. Jörg Bader notes that these custom components were designed in-house and produced by key suppliers Paoluzzo and APJ, the same partners who worked on the award-winning C1 Bel Canto, showcasing the brand's growing capabilities in high-end finishing.
The combination of its slim profile, integrated bracelet, and minimalist dial places The Twelve 660 in a fascinating position. Is it a dress watch? Is it a sports watch? The answer is that it comfortably occupies the space between these traditional categories. Its tough, marine-grade stainless steel construction and versatile design make it a perfect "go-anywhere, do-anything" piece. As Mike France suggests, "The classic 1950s dress watch doesn’t exist any more... The Twelve 660 incorporates elements of both in a way that would have made no sense 40 years ago, but does so today." It is understated and lightweight enough for daily life but has the refined presence to be worn on the most formal of occasions.
Courtesy of Christopher Ward
Christopher Ward has strategically positioned The Twelve 660 within its collection. It sits between the standard steel Twelve and the higher-end titanium COSC-certified models in price, offering a distinct proposition focused on its slim, minimalist character. The stainless steel models with blue (C12-38H2H1-S00B0-B0), white (C12-38H2H1-S00W0-B0), and green (C12-38H2H1-S00V0-B0) dials are priced at $1,905.00. The full black DLC model (C12-38H2H1-SK0K0-B0) is available for $2,050.00. These watches represent a compelling package of thoughtful design, custom-finished Swiss mechanics, and versatile wearability, continuing Christopher Ward's tradition of offering exceptional value in the world of horology.
Case: 38mm diameter, 6.6mm height, 43.30mm lug-to-lug. Marine-grade stainless steel (or Black DLC coated stainless steel). 3 ATM (30m) water resistance. Exhibition caseback and anti-reflective glass box sapphire crystal.
Movement: Sellita SW210-1 b (modified). Hand-wound, 18 jewels, 42-45 hour power reserve, 28,800 vph (4Hz), +/- 15 sec p/day timing tolerance. Custom skeletonised train bridge with high-end finishing.
Dial: Grained surface with applied, top-brushed indices and hands with diamond-polished facets. Available in Black, Blue, White, or Green. No seconds hand or date window.
Strap: Integrated bracelet in stainless steel or Black DLC coated steel. 23.30mm width. Redesigned super-thin pusher clasp with butterfly mechanism and quick-release system.
Price: $2,050.00 (Black DLC); $1,905.00 (Stainless Steel models).
Reference Number: C12-38H2H1-SK0K0-B0 (Black DLC); C12-38H2H1-S00B0-B0 (Blue); C12-38H2H1-S00W0-B0 (White); C12-38H2H1-S00V0-B0 (Green).
Notes: Christopher Ward's slimmest integrated watch at just 6.6mm thick. The minimalist design features a heavily modified hand-wound movement, a redesigned ultra-thin bracelet and clasp, and no seconds hand or date.