New Watch Release: Christopher Ward C12 "Loco"

Christopher Ward has once again redefined the boundaries of accessible haute horology with the release of the C12 Loco. Building on the success of the Bel Canto, the C12 Loco showcases the brand's obsession with innovation, design excellence, and value.

Christopher Ward shocked the watch industry a couple years back with the release of the Bel Canto, a chiming hour watch that was unlike anything else on the market. The Bel Canto was Ward’s first foray into haute horology, and they absolutely nailed it. I did not think that my jaw would be on the floor again from an entirely new model just a few years later, but here we are.

The C12 Loco features a 41mm diameter and 13.7m thick stainless steel case. The Twelve case boasts steeply downturned lugs and a twelve-sided bezel, giving the watch a distinctive appearance that enhances the main feature: the dial.

The dial features a large time-telling sub-dial at 12 o'clock and an exposed balance wheel below. The free-sprung balance wheel is prominent on the dial, similar to the chiming mechanism on the Bel Canto, because it is the horological star of this show, and it’s just hard to put into words how well-designed this watch is.

At the heart of the C12 Loco is the newly developed CW-003 movement. This manual in-house caliber offers an impressive 144-hour power reserve and its architecture is visually impressive, featuring twin mainspring barrels and an anthracite finish. This level of design and finishing is more typical of high-end brands such as Armin Strom and Czapek, but the Loco is in a league of its own.

Available in four striking colors, the C12 Loco offers versatility to suit various tastes, but I think I’ll be going for the “Pasadena” Blue on the matching FKM strap for a unique look.  Priced at around $4,600 on the rubber strap, the Loco offers exceptional value for a timepiece of its caliber.

With its in-house movement, meticulous finishing, and distinctive design, the C12 Loco stands as a worthy successor to the Bel Canto and a testament to the brand's upward trajectory in the horological world, and I can’t wait to add this one to my collection.