Christopher Ward showcases the heart of mechanical watchmaking with the brand’s second in-house calibre, bringing haute horology to more people than ever before
April 23rd, Maidenhead/Biel - Britain’s leading watchmaker, Christopher Ward, lifts the concept of horological motion to new heights, blending newfound, contemporary design language with the uncompromising technical execution of an all-new movement for The C12 Loco - the brand’s most ambitious, complex, and invested launch to date.
The C12 Loco debuts CW-003, Christopher Ward’s second in-house movement, delivering a six-day (144-hour) power reserve. It also incorporates a custom-designed free-sprung balance wheel and hairspring, replacing traditional regulating pins for greater precision. The Loco’s architecture has been carefully engineered for both function and aesthetics, with an open dial design that highlights key components while maintaining a clean, symmetrical layout.
Co-founder and CEO Mike France encapsulates the excitement: “This is a truly audacious piece, taking us as high up the watch ladder as we’ve ever dared to climb. The C12 Loco embodies a state of perpetual motion - both in its mesmerising mechanics and in what it signifies for Christopher Ward: a refusal to stand still and an unrelenting drive forward. In 2022, we turned the watch world on its head and proved that haute horology could be both groundbreaking and accessible. Now, with The Loco, we’re ready to do it again.”
From the front and rear, CW-003 combines technical innovation with a strikingly clean, symmetrical aesthetic. “It’s the high-end indie brands who’ve really been championing open balance watches,” says Adrian Buchmann, Design Director at Christopher Ward. “And there’s a real joy to them, in that you're looking at something in constant motion - they’re always fun, always alive. The oscillating balance wheel is the centrepiece of some incredibly well-considered movement architecture, with many elements hidden and others exposed.”
The custom-designed free-sprung balance wheel featured in The Loco is adjusted by tiny screws to refine inertia, rather than relying on commonly used regulating pins. “An exposed free-sprung balance wheel is one of the most captivating sights in watchmaking,” says Jörg Bader Jr, Director of Product at Christopher Ward. “We wanted a design that feels effortlessly precise - nothing disorganised, nothing too playful. Achieving that level of balance is incredibly complex, but we were determined to make sure The Loco truly embodied this vision.”
Developed under the leadership of Technical Director Frank Stelzer, the manually wound calibre CW-003 evolved from SH21 (now CW-001) but was entirely re-engineered to suit The C12 Loco’s brief.
The new CW-003 movement has been designed exclusively for this watch, with no immediate plans for extensive future use. It features a symmetrical layout, utilising empty space and aligning the balance wheel and barrels to achieve both visual harmony and optimal energy flow. What sets CW-003 apart is its exceptional hand-finishing; the bridges, meticulously polished with multiple rounded facets, reflect light in a way that enhances the movement’s depth.
“Creating our own free-sprung balance wheel was a major undertaking, but nothing less would do. We needed a custom solution to achieve the level of precision and visual clarity this watch demands,” says Stelzer.
With its 144-hour power reserve (a day more than CW-001), twin barrels, and a movement architecture designed for both form and function, CW-003 is CW’s biggest technical achievement to date.
The C12 Loco debuts a redesigned, three-piece, 41mm Twelve case, refined for comfort with steeper downturned lugs that contour naturally to the wrist. At just 9.75mm thick, excluding its 3.55mm front and 0.4mm rear box sapphire crystals, it maintains a slim, elegant profile.
The C12 Loco is as audacious in colour as it is in mechanics. Available in black, white, vibrant blue, and a dynamic metallic orange, each platine finish was chosen for its ability to complement the watch’s striking open-heart design.
“This watch embodies everything Christopher Ward stands for: innovation, accessibility, and an uncompromising commitment to quality,” Mike France concludes. “We’re definitely not one to shy away from a horological challenge.”
Technical Specification:
Availability: Open Series
Case diameter: 41mm
Case height: 13.7mm
Lug-to-lug: 47.5mm
Case material: Stainless Steel
Water resistance: 3 ATM (30m)
Movement: CW-003
Winding: Manual - Hand wound
Power reserve: 144 hours
Jewels: 29
Frequency: 4Hz/28,800 vph
Timing tolerance: -0/+7 seconds per day
The C12 Loco is priced from:
£3,795/$4,595/€4,950 on a rubber strap with deployant clasp.
£3,995/$4,825/€5,205 on an integrated steel bracelet.
I think it looks lovely. 
