The Twelve Snake by Christopher Ward x seconde/seconde/ takes the Year of the Snake back to 1998
Buffy Acacia- Christopher Ward and seconde/seconde/ have forgone any traditional associations for the Lunar New Year, instead paying tribute to the iconic Snake mobile game from 1998.
- The dial has been given a new offset texture to make it look more pixellated, harnessing the late ‘90s Nokia vibe.
- It’s powered by a Sellita SW200-1, decorated with another snake that will endlessly chase its tail as the watch winds.
For many thousands of years, serpents have appeared in human mythology and symbology. Their danger and beauty have given them associations of seduction, wisdom, cunning and protection, and some of those qualities may have been passed down to those born in the Year of the Snake according to the Lunar Calendar. In a more recent sense, snakes have also become synonymous with mobile gaming. Snake first appeared with the Nokia 6110 in 1998, and its cultural impact never waned until touchscreens took over. That’s the Snake to which British independent brand Christopher Ward and cheeky French watch customiser seconde/seconde/ have collaboratively paid tribute with The Twelve Snake.
Christopher Ward took its time before jumping onto the integrated bracelet trend, and its patience paid off in 2023 with the introduction of The Twelve. The 40mm stainless steel case has a sleek silhouette with well-defined facets and a slender bezel which offers plenty of dial space while still including a geometric edge. The flat planes are brushed while the angled bevels are polished, playing with dimension and light cleverly. The lug-to-lug distance of 44.5mm ensures comfort, as does the impressive total thickness of 9.95mm despite 100m of water resistance, an automatic movement, and a sapphire caseback.
Doused in ‘Venom Green’, there’s a lot to unpack with The Twelve Snake’s dial. It isn’t just a new colour and some fun graphics, because the entire stamped texture of the dial has been changed from the Cristopher Ward flag logo to an interlocking weave which is more reminiscent of snake scales. It also helps to delineate each individual square of the dial, enhancing the pixelation effect. Speaking of the CW logo, one of its twin flags representing England and Switzerland has been turned into a tasty morsel for the snake, which is poised to take a bite. If by some miracle you’re unaware of how Snake is played, you try to eat as much food as possible without running into your own tail that grows upon each bite. There’s also an extra snack tucked away between 7 and 8 o’clock which may appear or disappear depending on the date. Perhaps my favourite touch is actually very easy to miss, and that’s the ‘Hiss Made’ text at 6 o’clock.
Although the caseback is sapphire, the view has been sacrificed for a plaque that celebrates the Year of the Snake as well as Christopher Ward and seconde/seconde/’s collaboration. The outer edge of the automatic winding rotor has been painted green and decorated with another pixellated snake, so you can see it chasing its own tail as it spins. The movement is a Sellita SW200-1, achieving a nice balance between quality, utility, and affordability. It has a 38-hour power reserve which is perfect for an automatic daily wearer, a 4Hz beat rate for a smooth-ticking seconds hand, and an average accuracy within +/-20 seconds per day. The Twelve Snake is also available on either a black or Venom Green rubber strap, the latter of which screams of Brat summer, and all of them have quick-release spring bars should you wish to swap them over.
Christopher Ward x seconde/seconde/ The Twelve Snake price and availability
The pre-order window for the Christopher Ward x seconde/seconde/ The Twelve Snake is now open, closing on February 10th at 3 pm GMT. Deliveries are expected to begin from July 2025. Price: US$995 (rubber strap), US$1,225 (steel bracelet)
| Brand | Christopher Ward x seconde/seconde/ |
| Model | The Twelve Snake |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 9.95mm (T) x 45.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Venom Green with pixellated snake |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet Venom Green or black rubber strap |
| Movement | Sellita SW200-1 with customised rotor, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, ‘no-date’ date window which shows a surprise bit of food for the snake |
| Availability | Now available for pre-order until February 10th, delivery expected from July 2025 |
| Price | US$995 (rubber strap) US$1,225 (steel bracelet) |