I was lucky enough to get an early peek at the prototype C12 Loco during a visit to their Maidenhead HQ back in January 2025, months before its official release, when it was still going by the name “Open Balance.” (You can read more about that chapter [here].) Fast forward to now: the dust has settled, the waiting’s over, and the C12 Loco has finally arrived for a proper hands-on review.

Lifting the lid and peeling back the cover reveals something not just extraordinary, but downright cool. We were sent the blue “Pasadena” version on a matching blue rubber strap, and honestly, if I were picking one for myself, that’d be the combo. No question.

If you’re a Christopher Ward fan, the case of the C12 Loco will feel instantly familiar. It borrows the same twelve-sided, integrated case architecture introduced with The Twelve back in 2023. This time, it’s a 41mm steel affair, very much in the mould of the Twelve X, but measuring in at 13.7mm thick. Don’t panic though: a good chunk of that height comes from the box sapphire crystal. Strip that away, and you’re looking at a svelte 9.75mm, which wears far slimmer than the spec sheet suggests.

With no crown guards in sight, the C12 Loco keeps things clean and purposeful, this is a manually wound watch that isn’t pretending to be your next dive buddy. Water resistance is rated at 30 metres, which, let’s be honest, is more than enough for daily wear. Not that you’re going to wear this while washing the car… unless your idea of suds and soap includes admiring open balances under a garden hose.

But it’s on the dial—and around the back—where things start to really sparkle. The front layout is built around a free-sprung balance positioned proudly at 6 o’clock, with the escape wheel nestled directly beneath it. Both components are suspended via full bridges, forming a symmetrical, architectural display that’s both technical and beautifully balanced. Time is indicated via a separate hour and minute ring at the top of the dial, echoing the angular design language we’ve seen throughout The Twelve series. And yes, true to CW’s style, the C12 Loco comes with a variety of dial colours and strap combos to mix things up.

Flip the watch over, and the magic continues. The caseback reveals a triple-bridge construction supporting twin mainspring barrels, delivering an eyebrow-raising 144 hours of power reserve—yes, that’s six days of juice. The darkened mainplate makes the polished finishing and mechanical details pop, and the overall look is nothing short of a showstopper.

You’d be forgiven for drawing parallels with the likes of Armin Strom or Czapek. But here’s the kicker: Christopher Ward is offering this kind of openworked theatre and mechanical artistry at a fraction of those price tags. And you can’t help but wonder—how on earth are they pulling this off?

Christopher Ward has done something genuinely impressive here: they’ve brought the drama of an open balance to the forefront of affordable watchmaking. And at under £4,000, the C12 Loco isn’t just a technical achievement—it’s a gift to the enthusiast community. No, it’s not playing in the same league as MB&F or Czapek, those are haute horology heavyweights operating on a completely different level—but that’s not the point. Mike France and his team have carved their own lane, and they should be immensely proud of what they’ve pulled off.

Perhaps the most remarkable move, though, is the development of the CW-003 calibre. Designed exclusively for this watch, it’s the kind of decision that seems to defy business logic, years of R&D for a single application, with no plans to use it elsewhere. But as Mike himself put it (no offence, Mike): “It’s Loco.” And that’s exactly the charm.

Whether you go for the integrated bracelet or the super comfy FKM rubber strap (my pick, for the record), the C12 Loco is a head-turner. Not just because of how it looks, but because of what it represents: bold design, mechanical ambition, and a watch that unapologetically stands out in any collection.

What’s most compelling is how Christopher Ward continues to evolve, always in motion, never content to coast. From their early, modest beginnings to their increasingly confident and complex releases, the brand has charted a course that feels both purposeful and daring. Like the unpredictable brilliance of bands like the Beatles or the Stones, not every release hits the high notes, but when the elements align, the result is electrifying.