C12 Loco

The C12 Loco marks a major milestone for Christopher Ward: the debut of CW-003, the brand’s second in-house movement and its most ambitious project to date. This new calibre realises Christopher Ward’s ambition of combining the beauty of an elevated open balance design with the technical precision of a free-sprung balance wheel - a first for the brand.

Developed under Technical Director Frank Stelzer, the hand-wound CW-003 delivers accuracy of -0/+7 seconds per day, a six-day (144-hour) power reserve via twin barrels and features a bespoke free-sprung balance wheel. Replacing traditional regulating pins with inertia screws, the balance allows for finer adjustment and improved long-term accuracy.

At the core of the five-year project was the challenge of aligning the robust performance and reliability required by Stelzer’s technical vision with the symmetrical, clean, and highly intentional architecture envisioned by Senior Designer Will Brackfield and Design Director Adrian Buchmann. Mediating the ‘ping-pong’ between these perspectives was Product Director Jörg Bader, who also drew on a refined supply chain of new and existing partners to deliver the high level of componentry required.

Over five hours of hand-finishing are applied to each piece, with the multi-layered movement combining grené stippling, brushing, and polishing with multiple rounded facets that reflect light in a way that enhances the movement’s depth.

The two-part dial features zapon-tinté to apply colour to the finely brushed ‘wings’ flanking the floating sapphire time-telling dial on the upper level. Below, further grené stippling adds contrast, divided by a sculptural, highly polished ‘ski slope’.

A great deal of sampling and deliberation took place to decide on the four colours; Brackfield describes those chosen as “high-octane”, supporting The Loco’s highly contemporary movement architecture and unmistakably sporty feel.

The watch debuts an all-new 41mm version of The Twelve case, refined to just 13.7mm in total thickness, with a case height of 9.75mm and box-domed crystals front and rear. It sits close to the wrist and retains The Twelve’s signature multi-faceted silhouette.

The result is a design language that celebrates horological motion without excess: clean, open, and perfectly balanced. CW-003 was developed exclusively for the C12 Loco, with no plans for extensive wider use, reflecting the project’s purity of purpose within the Christopher Ward portfolio.

Named in accordance with its state of constant motion and the sheer madness of a watch of this calibre being available at this price, and produced in this volume, the C12 Loco is the culmination of years of development and exemplifies everything Christopher Ward stands for: innovation, accessibility, an uncompromising commitment to quality, and a refusal to shy away from a challenge.