Christopher Ward causes a sugar rush with the new Twelve 36 Pick ‘n’ Mix
Russell SheldrakeWhimsey and watchmaking don’t always go hand in hand, but there are cries for more of it, and with this latest limited release, it would appear Christopher Ward is heeding those cries. The new Twelve 36 Pick ‘n’ Mix brings scoops of childish joy to the wrist in the form of crystallised sugar, thanks to the delightfully textured dials on these six different editions. Paired with both matching rubber straps and full titanium bracelets, these watches can go from full-on colour assault to something a little more utilitarian on the wrist. While we have definitely seen sweet-inspired watches before from the likes of Richard Mille, these are not only more accessible in price point, but feel far more wearable from a design perspective.
The standout feature of these new pieces is the wonderfully sharp texture that has been applied to the dial. It feels almost remiss of the texture we saw on the John Mayer Audemars Piguet perpetual calendar, this time with a candy-inspired gradient colour applied to it. There are six colours available, each limited to 50 pieces: Sour Apple green, Kola Krystals brown, Fizzy Orange, Cherry Pop red, Blue Sherbet, and Berry Burst purple. All of these shades have a sense of fun and youthfulness to them that appears to be a growing trend in the watch industry right now.
While Studio Underd0g might have the monopoly on food-inspired watches, the execution of these Christopher Ward dials, which has been carried out via a custom stamping tool that took two months to develop, brings a fresh flavour to these pieces that I had only seen in the Underd0g and Fears Mim0sa collaboration before.
Everything else that you would expect from a Christopher Ward Twelve 36 is here. You have a grade two titanium case with a dodecagonal bezel that is mainly brushed, with a few edges being finely polished. Obviously, it measures 36mm across and just 8.95mm thick, thanks to flat sapphire crystals both front and back. The screw-down crown delivers 100m of water resistance, meaning this will hold up to any fizzy drink accident that it may incur.
The back of the watch, normally offering a clear view of the Sellita SW300-1b, now features the graphic text “Pick ‘n’ Mix” that really doubles down on the retro kids feel of this watch. That movement inside is an automatic, COSC-certified calibre that has had its date function removed, so you will never have a ghost date position on the crown, while also delivering 56 hours of power reserve.
All six of these watches come with both a colour-matching rubber strap and an integrated bracelet, both of which make use of a butterfly clasp for securing to your wrist that comes with 3mm of micro-adjustment – offering both fun and comfort at the same time.
These watches are packed with nostalgia for those of us who still remember the giddy excitement of standing in front of a wall of tall glass jars, filled to the brim with your favourite sweets, and getting to pick exactly what you wanted to go into a small paper bag. Whether you wanted sour cherries or chewy cola bottles, the sense of joy was the same. For me, it was either on a trip to the cinema or the now sadly closed Woolworths, which meant I was about to begin weighing up if I wanted Jazzles or strawberry pencils to be the final addition to my miniature hoard. And then undoubtedly devouring the lot far too quickly to the dismay of my parents and dentist. And now, we have an adult-acceptable alternative that offers that same level of excitement that lasts far longer than your standard sugar rush. A whole 56 hours on full charge.
Christopher Ward The Twelve 36 Pick ‘n’ Mix pricing and availability
The new Christopher Ward The Twelve 36 Pick ‘n’ Mix is limited to just 50 pieces per dial colour. Price: £1,695/US$2,350
| Brand | Christopher Ward |
| Model | The Twelve 36 Pick ‘n’ Mix |
| Case Dimensions | 36mm (D) x 8.95mm (T) x 40.8mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Grade 2 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Gradient green, brown, orange, blue, red, purple |
| Bracelet | Integrated titanium bracelet, folding clasp with micro-adjust Dial matching rubber strap, folding clasp with micro-adjust |
| Movement | Sellita Sw300-1b, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 56 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Limited to 50 pieces per dial |
| Price | £1,695/US$2,350 |