The Twelve Snake

Christopher Ward keeps hitting the mark with their new releases. This time, they have, for the second time, teamed up with that crazy Frenchman Romaric André, aka seconde/seconde. Celebrating 2025 with a nod to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, we have been blessed with The Twelve Snake. The horological disruptor has taken the year of the snake to another level with a pixelated dial reminiscent of 8-bit gaming.

The Chinese Zodiac’s 12 animals have long been a source of inspiration in the watch world, but *The Twelve* takes a refreshingly unconventional approach. With its pixelated dial, playful name, and distinctive logo, it hints at a non-traditional celebration of the Snake. “This low-res aesthetic transports us straight to the late ’90s,” André explained. “Beyond nostalgia, I wanted to capture the sense of optimism we felt during that era—the kind of hope that’s perfect for welcoming a New Year. And so, here we are. Cheers to the Snake year(s)!”

The Snake, the sixth sign in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac, is often associated with traits like mystery, wisdom, determination, and care. While legends surrounding the Snake don’t exactly reference a fondness for retro gaming, this collaboration playfully reimagines the symbol through a nostalgic, pixel-inspired lens.

The Twelve’s signature textured dial becomes an 8-bit playground, showcasing a pixelated, well-fed snake navigating sharp right angles toward its next meal—this time, the Swiss half of CW’s iconic twin-flags logo.

For retro gaming enthusiasts, the thrill of chasing ‘bonus bites’ is fondly reimagined. These larger, time-sensitive treats, which once appeared randomly on screen, now come to life through a cleverly placed ‘no-date’ date window positioned between seven and eight o’clock—a playful nod to the classic game mechanic.

Staying true to its retro inspiration, The Twelve Snake removes traditional indices, keeping the dial uncluttered and fully focused on the snake’s pixelated journey as it slithers freely across its digital terrain. Unique to this design, the venom-green dial evokes the luminous glow of early LCD screens, delivering a nostalgic throwback with every glance.

This will probably be another hit from Christopher Ward, as they keep knocking it out of the park with each new release. I love the vibrant green dial, it’s reminiscent of the Oris Kermit, although this is over half the price. Apart from the 8-bit snake on the dial, there are playful references, including the “Hiss Made” at the bottom of the dial and a nod to the Chinese calendar on the case back. There is a choice of coloured rubber straps, with either black or matching green, as well as a bracelet option.

These will only be available during a window of opportunity that will be open from January 29th at 3 pm GMT and closes on February 10th at 3 pm GMT, so if the green snake takes your fancy, get in quick.

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