Should CW go 'all in' on The Twelve?

wanged · Post by **wanged** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 4:56 am

While I think a chrono variation of the Twelve would be cool, I doubt CW wants to be known as the Twelve company, as Tudor is the Black Bay company, and AP is the Royal Oak company.

More variety in models means more markets to sell to. Even within the same customer base, one is more likely to buy a Trident and a Twelve than just two slightly different Twelves.

Post by **Amor Vincit Omnia** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 8:01 am

@wanged
Interesting point about a brand being defined by a watch. As a defining watch for CW, I’d prefer the Sealander, it’s their most versatile range and has the most “one-watch” potential.

Your final point doesn’t quite bear out in a place like this forum. Personally I try to avoid too much repetition, but I know many people who have two or more slightly different Tridents.

DEV.Woulf · Post by **DEV.Woulf** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 9:23 am

Dive: Trident
Sport: Sealander
Dress: Twelve
Moon: Moonphase
Specialty: Bel Canto

Those CW watches tend to get most of the buzz online. I don't think they should be a one-watch brand. But simplifying things and focusing on the favorites might help. Dive and Sport covered by the Trident/Sealander with some GMTs and Chronos. Twelve can cover Dress or Casual. Most people will buy one of those kinds. Then someone who wants something more fancy and unique will head for the Moonphase or Bel Canto. There will, of course, be some overlap and things like this skeleton Ti X. CW can drop most of the vintage-inspired stuff as I think most people want modern pieces and they sell better. They can even drop the lettering of the case before the name... most people search CW Trident, CW Bel Canto, etc on Google so no need for C60 or C63.

I'm sure they're growing fast and don't need my advice but they have a lot of stuff on the website which, while nice or interesting, I would pass to get a one of the main watches mentioned above.

asqwerth · Post by **asqwerth** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 12:46 pm

JAFO wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2024 7:14 pm
...... a watch for the fairer sex has a lug width of 16mm or less. 18mm is unisex, 20mm plus is manly.

Disagree.

I think women are freer to wear small watches and also large ones. Everything can be dressed up or down as a fashion statement. Wear a large watch with a loose/thick strap and it's more of a bracelet.

All my modern watches have lug widths of 18mm and above.

It's only my vintage (men's) watches and the Nomos 33 that is 17mm and below.

So many women wear smart watches nowadays as well, and they aren't small.

The Watcher CW · Post by **The Watcher CW** » Mon Apr 29, 2024 4:54 pm

i'd like to see a black 40mm twelve. inquired, but no go.

and more importantly, some integrated alternatives to rubber strap option. a leather, and possibly an alligator type strap like what is sold aftermarket for the tissot prx. a more versatile watch gets worn more often.

aa_bcfc. · Post by **aa_bcfc.** » Mon Apr 29, 2024 6:30 pm

hadon2525 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:37 am As a long-standing buyer/customer of our favourite watchmaker, I have a question...
Should Christopher Ward go all out and all in on The Twelve? Make it their signature watch?
It was released in 2023 to massive acclaim from almost all on this forum and most of the horological 'experts' in the media, especially YouTube.
I like it, I want one, especially now we are going to get micro-adjustment on the bracelet, but, and here's my problem with it... it's a bit limited, in size and the dial design.
40mm is a BIT too large for what is, mainly, a dress watch. Although I'm not averse to keeping it for our larger brethren.
36mm is quite a good size but too big for most women. (And before you get on your high horses, large watches, for both genders, are 'out,' thank goodness).
Here's my idea... several sizes: 30mm, 32mm, 34mm, 36mm, 38mm, and, for the gorillas, 40mm. We don't need titanium, SS is fine.
Plus, and this is important, the option of some PLAIN dials. Black, white, grey, dark blue, without the stippled flags motif. They've done it on the Halo and it looked great.
I'll gladly order a 38mm, with date, in dark blue.

I agree a 38mm in dark blue without the twin flags motif would be my choice and I’d be all over it.

OllyW · Post by **OllyW** » Mon Apr 29, 2024 8:05 pm

The Watcher CW wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 4:54 pm i'd like to see a black 40mm twelve. inquired, but no go.

and more importantly, some integrated alternatives to rubber strap option. a leather, and possibly an alligator type strap like what is sold aftermarket for the tissot prx. a more versatile watch gets worn more often.

This bespoke Twelve looks good in black.

ralfybaby · Post by **ralfybaby** » Mon Apr 29, 2024 8:25 pm

hadon2525 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:37 am....
I like it, I want one ....
40mm is a BIT too large for what is, mainly, a dress watch....

The Twelve is a fantastic watch. I bought one on the January sale and it is first choice now. It goes with just about everything.
It is definitely a bit more dressy than a diver but I would not call it a dress watch myself. It really is quite sporty.
It is not actually very large, at my 7 1/8" or 18mm not exactly tree trunk wrists it does not wear particularly large I think.
I say get one!
I could easily see myself get a couple more, a white one for the Summer, maybe a dark grey one. Well, if I weren't a somewhat sensible sort that is.

To answer the other question, as others have mentioned, CW's bread and butter seems to be dive watches and in particular the Trident. The Sealander is another big hitter for CW. Perhaps the Twelve could be a third leg for CW. They seem to have abandoned most of their dressier watch lines so the Twelve could perhaps reinvigorate that aspect of CW's products.

The Watcher CW · Post by **The Watcher CW** » Mon Apr 29, 2024 11:01 pm

OllyW wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 8:05 pm
The Watcher CW wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 4:54 pm i'd like to see a black 40mm twelve. inquired, but no go.

and more importantly, some integrated alternatives to rubber strap option. a leather, and possibly an alligator type strap like what is sold aftermarket for the tissot prx. a more versatile watch gets worn more often.
This bespoke Twelve looks good in black.

thanks for posting, black looks much better in the renders rather than my imagination. now cw has to get a regular model black in production - this looks good! if not for the bees background and special edition date wheel i'd be all over this le.

end even more now, a leather and alligator strap option...with the black watch, definite looker!

johncolescarr · Post by **johncolescarr** » Mon May 06, 2024 7:18 pm

I would say the light catcher case is still the signature for CW. I do very much like the twelve in the photos I’ve seen, but the 70s style is bound to wax and wane, whereas the light catcher is much more traditional (but I think utterly beautiful).

It’s nice that CW are experimenting with different cases and hands, dials etc as for a while the light catcher case with large triangle hour hand was permeating through several lines and they all started looking a little too similar for my tastes.

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