Christopher Ward listens to its fans and releases The Twelve 38, a Goldilocks-sized take on its integrated sports watch

Tom Austin

• A 38mm option joins The Twelve range permanently, alongside 36mm and 40mm models – something CW fans have been asking for.
• Four dial colours are available at launch: Nordic Blue, Glacier Blue, Arctic White and Midnight Sun.
• Also available for the first time in a steel Twelve is a clasp with integrated micro-adjustment, as well as a white rubber strap.

The watch enthusiast community can be a fickle beast: we know what we like, and we’re often difficult to please. All too often, watch brands release their latest and greatest, and we’re quick to draw conclusions and nitpick at the details. More often than not, the big brands tend to follow their own path; they, in essence, tell you what you will like, and you will like it. The beauty of microbrands, however, is that they are not so constrained within these self-imposed limitations. They have the luxury of being flexible and, given their size and impact on the market, it makes sense for them to listen to their consumers.

That’s precisely what Christopher Ward has done with the Twelve 38. The Twelve collection now consists of three sizes: the 36, the 40, and now, the 38. The 38mm variation isn’t necessarily a new watch, as it was released in July 2024, albeit in a more limited capacity with the “Ice Cream Collection”. These were scooped up by collectors, and the general consensus was: “we love the size, we hope it sticks around and becomes a part of the normal range”. Christopher Ward listened and delivered another staple piece to the successful Twelve range, this time in the so-called Goldilocks size, which is not too big, not too small, but just right.

The Twelve 38 is very much a Twelve in every way we know. It’s a stainless steel sports watch with a stylish integrated bracelet, but now it’s slightly scaled down and delivered in a size the enthusiasts love. 38 millimetres is the purist’s choice, and it suits the Twelve perfectly. The Gérald Genta-inspired case features a combination of highly polished chamfers and brushed finishes in all the right places and feels like a premium wristwatch. At just 9.95mm thick, the watch is comfortable to wear and is appropriately sized for a watch in this category.

The case is finished with a dodecagonal bezel, bringing some subtle angles to the design, without coming too close to some more premium watches with similar design languages. Atop sits a sapphire crystal, and below a sapphire exhibition caseback can be found, but the watch still manages to stay relatively thin as well as maintains 100 metres of water resistance.

The introduction of the 38 in the main body of the Twelve collection meant that it needed some staple dials to run with, and Christopher Ward has selected some beauties. Nordic Blue, Glacier Blue, Arctic White and Midnight Sun are available, with Midnight Sun being a particular favourite and unique to the 38mm, with the textured dial shimmering with light golden accents. We all know what watch this particular design is reminiscent of, but CW has done a fantastic job making sure the fascinating twin-flags dial pattern remains unique against its competitors. Unlike the 36mm model, the 38 features a carefully placed date at 6 o’clock, colour-matched to the dial so as not to upset the date window haters too much.

The 38 is powered by the same automatic Sellita SW200-1 as the rest of the range. It’s a fine movement, although we do still want to see a fresher calibre in the future, to increase the power reserve from the current 38 hours. CW have continued the practice of customised finishing for the movement and rotor in this model though, which is great to see at this price point.

The bracelet is simply superb; the design is beautifully integrated from the case lugs, and it’s wonderfully thin and flexible. The big news: available for the first time in a steel Twelve is a clasp with integrated micro-adjustment. This is the same clasp that is featured on the Twelve X (Ti), and offers 3mm of adjustment to dial-in the perfect size for the wrist. Additionally, another 38 exclusive is a white rubber strap option, which again is the result of fan requests.

While the Twelve is technically no longer a new watch, and a 38mm is a somewhat “simple” addition between the 36mm and the 40mm versions, it shows that Christopher Ward is a brand that cares what their fans think of them. Rather than just releasing what they believe works or whatever fits within R&D budgets, they have listened and acted on enthusiasts’ requests, which, to me is great to see from any microbrand.

Christopher Ward The Twelve 38 pricing and availability

The Christopher Ward The Twelve 38 is available from February 20th 2025, directly from Christopher Ward. Price: US$995 (on a rubber strap), US$1,225 (on a steel bracelet)