I finally got a few minutes to sit down and write this.
I visited the CW Showroom finally got a few minutes to sit down and write this.
I visited the CW Showroom on the 17th of May, as I always try to do when in that area of the UK whilst on holiday.

I really wanted to check out The Twelve on this occasion.

My watch size sweet spot is 41/42mm so with this being 40mm, albeit not a standard case shape, I wanted to try it on to see if it would be okay as I have sold/not kept any watch below 41mm recently, vintage watches aside of course

Firstly, The Twelve is a stunner of a watch !!
Amazing detailing throughout, case, dial, bracelet etc.
Initially when I first saw the photos, the Nordic Blue stood out as 'the one' to get, then I fell for the Glacier Blue but I had eventually decided on the Basalt Grey as 'the one'.
This just proves how beneficial a CW showroom visit really is, or if you can't get to their showroom then their 60/60.

Declan, as always was the ultimate gentleman and treated us all extremely well on our visit.
He had a great selection of CW watches on display for us including of course the full stainless steel Twelve selection, the titanium versions were unavailable at the time.
I started to properly check out each colourway.
Firstly the Nordic Blue which is gorgeous, they all are really to be fair.
Then the Basalt Grey and then the Glacier Blue.
All fantastic.
However when I checked out the Arctic White version, something became very clear indeed, pun totally intended !
The Arctic White version has a different handset and indices colouring to the rest of the colourways !!!
I hadn't realized this from all the photos beforehand.
And it's a game changer.
The sides of the hands and the indices are a dark grey/charcoal finish which makes the Arctic White version the most legible of all the colourway options !!
It is very obvious when having all the colourways to hand, literally.

As usual with me, funds are always the issue, the lack of..... so I didn't buy one on the day but I will be getting one at some stage, hopefully sooner than later. But it will be the Arctic White for me.

Bracelet wise, Declan kindly sized it for me to properly see it on my wrist and also important for me to see that even though it's 40mm, because of the dodecagonal case shape it to me feels and looks 41mm or thereabouts

Here are some photos, my wrist size is somewhere between 6.5 & 6.75" inches for reference.
Also, in one photo, the Christopher Ward name is upside on the bracelet. This was my fault for putting the bracelet on the wrong way round for fitting to the Artic White version. Just in case anyone was wondering or thinking this was odd for CW to do this

Thanks for the write-up Ferg. I’m wondering what Louise thought about it - will she be looking out for a 36mm version?

@MiniMpi Thanks so much for taking the time to put these thoughts and pictures together, Ferg. Most informative.

I’m intrigued by the fact that, although your wrist is clearly smaller than mine (7-7.25”) you prefer larger watches. It goes to show that sweet spots and wrist sizes don’t always correlate…so much of it is down to personal preference. Anyway, I can see that the Twelve is likely to be a good size for me.

missF wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 5:19 pm Thanks for the write-up Ferg. I’m wondering what Louise thought about it - will she be looking out for a 36mm version?

Hi Lindsey,

Louise did like watch and a 36mm might be a possibility for her as she wears up to a 39mm in her collection currently.
Saying that she said her current watch, the 36mm C63 Lucerne Blue LE is the perfect watch for her.

MiniMpi wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 5:31 pm Saying that she said her current watch, the 36mm C63 Lucerne Blue LE is the perfect watch for her.

Ah, of course... that one doesn’t really need any upgrading

Excellent write up Ferg, sounds like you had a great visit and I bet you’re looking forward to getting your own 12.

Thanks so much for sharing your visit to No.1 Park Street, Ferg! I found your well thought out & written review to be most helpful & thought provoking. Since you & I clearly share watch preferences, your impressions & likes do carry a lot of weight with me. Just my opinion on the rather subjective subject of watch sizing, the Twelve looks like a perfect fit on your wrist from looking at your pictures. I believe the watch looked not too big nor not too small. I think your observation that the Twelve may wear larger than its 40mm size is a correct one judging from your showroom photographs. The Twelve's bracelet is stunning in its own right & is part of what makes this Christopher Ward integrated bracelet version different than some other brands. Thanks for the keen observation in regard to the Artic White's indices & handsets being a different color than those used with the other colorways. That is something to keep in mind. Like yourself, funding at the moment is a bit of an issue & a commitment to color choice. In the interim of my selling a watch that isn't being worn for legibility issues, more colors may be introduced to make that choice easier or more difficult! Thanks again for sharing your visit with your wife to the CW showroom. If not for the distance involved, I would love to do the same. Never know, maybe someday!

Delmar

When the Twelve came out, I didn’t like it; the dial looked too busy and the official photos on the website didn’t do anything for me.

Looking at your pictures of the basalt, glacier and nordic, I thought to myself “nope, still not keen at all”. However, the Arctic White variant looks brilliant and has very much turned my head.

Must. Not. Order.

Thanks @WileyECoyote Delmar
Lou and I are not married but are as good as, we are together 13 years this June 6th actually

MiniMpi wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 11:09 pm Thanks @WileyECoyote Delmar
Lou and I are not married but are as good as, we are together 13 years this June 6th actually

“As good as” & good enough for me. Thirteen years is a span of time but yet it passes so quickly, doesn’t it? Betty & I have been a couple for twenty-two years & it seems scarcely possible. The fact that Lou likes watches & doesn’t mind a stop at a watch showroom is all good! Betty indulges my watch interests, so Ferg, we have something else in common! Maybe a special supper out to celebrate on the 6th?

Delmar

Ferg, looking back at your photos I notice the different watch heads without the bracelet attached. I’m assuming this watch also comes with quick release bracelets/straps because of how they’ve been presented to you.

How does the mechanism differ on the 12 to a “normal” bracelet? Is there a quick release system in the watch and the big centre link, or is it in the bracelet? To be honest I can’t see how the bracelet or strap could fit one in but hadn’t even thought about it until now.

Just being nosey but interested to hear how this one is set up.

Ferg, thank you for this write-up, I was fascinated. I'm sure that Declan wouldn't be applying any hard sell but I can't help wonder how they feel when a visit to the showroom doesn't culminate in an "I'll take this one moment"?

iain wrote: ↑Sat May 27, 2023 6:40 am Ferg, looking back at your photos I notice the different watch heads without the bracelet attached. I’m assuming this watch also comes with quick release bracelets/straps because of how they’ve been presented to you.

How does the mechanism differ on the 12 to a “normal” bracelet? Is there a quick release system in the watch and the big centre link, or is it in the bracelet? To be honest I can’t see how the bracelet or strap could fit one in but hadn’t even thought about it until now.

Just being nosey but interested to hear how this one is set up.

Yes, the QR is on the watch head: I'll add a photo shortly. Here:

Thanks for doing the write up Ferg.

Pleased you enjoyed the visit. The only one that I have tried on so far is my nephews Arctic blue, so I am still undecided as to which version to go for. Ideally I would like to try them all on before deciding, or wait for further colours.

Did you get an indication from Declan as to whether any of the forthcoming 36mm models will have at least a couple of normal colour dials like the 40mm?

It is interesting how the hands and indices are different on the arctic white, but not the arctic blue.

Neil

Interesting to read the write up and see the photos of your visit Ferg, including one of you and Lou.

It shows how much better it is to judge fit, colour, legibility etc in the flesh rather than online. The glacier white is a surprise and looks like it has great legibility as well as looks. Hopefully not long till you get your hands on one.

tikkathree wrote: ↑Sat May 27, 2023 7:55 am I'm sure that Declan wouldn't be applying any hard sell but I can't help wonder how they feel when a visit to the showroom doesn't culminate in an "I'll take this one moment"?

I’m sure there is probably an acceptable figure built into the thinking for the shortfall/discrepancy between visits and sales. Because of the way in which it is set up, it is probably more akin to visiting car showrooms for test drives than casual browsing in stores. Not every one will result in a sale.