Schofield Light

Brands often make watches that look a little familiar. Some stick to the rules and constraints and make watches that aren’t different from the rest. There are exceptions, as some don’t use a rule book and do their own thing. Schofield Watches is one of those such brands. You can tell with a Schofield watch that every little detail has been thoroughly thought through.

Just pick one up and see if it looks like anything from one of those “larger brands”. It won’t, as Giles Ellis is a man on a mission. He wants to design beautiful and well-thought-out things, and his watches are just that. Just take a look at the Schofield Light.

The Case Has An Elusive Look To It

The Schofield Light has taken on a look not covered by Scofield Watches till now. With an all-new smaller case design that has a fluid feel to it, a detail I applaud. The 40mm bead blasted stainless steel case, has a beautiful matte finish, that has an anti-fingerprint coating applied. Where the bezel is formed on the case, the clean curves and transitions from one surface to another give this watch an organic look. The short lug design makes this watch wear well and sits nicely on the wrist.

The signed crown sits at my preferred position of 4 o’clock and elegantly accommodates the winding crown’s base by curving outward at its upper and lower edges, a design solution necessitated by the crown’s larger diameter in comparison to the flat surface of the case side. It’s these small details that elevate Schofield Watches above many of their competitors.

The simplistic two-piece dial and lack of a minute track epitomise the “Lights” allure to the wearer. The 4 hands, all have a purpose, however it’s the approximation of exactness that I like the most. Does the wearer need to know the exact time, possibly not? The intention of the GMT function does make it harder to read without a 24-hour scale.

With two variants of the Light “Dark One” & “Light One”, these were to represent a slightly more affordable entry-level watch to their current lineup. However, it doesn’t fall into what most would consider an entry-level offering due to its high-quality construction and attention to detail. Schofield’s meticulous craftsmanship is reflected in the pricing of its products, making none of its watches inexpensive for what they are getting.

From the moment your watch arrives, all wrapped in the delivery bag, your insight into Schofield Watches has begun. As you remove the box from the bag, you receive your first visual hint that the ritual of opening a box has been carefully considered. The box comes neatly wrapped in oil paper, instantly evoking memories of my first job as a Toolmaker in 1984—a welcomed and unexpected trip down memory lane. Once unwrapped with care, you’re greeted by a very smart box in a paper sleeve.
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Every Process Has Been Considered

Inside the sleeve, you encounter the instructions, warranty, and more before reaching the box itself. A joyous sight awaits: a perfectly engineered cork box with a wooden lid. The exactness of this was such a treat. As an engineer myself, it was the all-around tolerances and the seamless fit of this cork box that was so appealing. Upon removing the lid you see the two straps and a screwdriver that come with the watch, then under the round lid is the watch head, all wrapped and perfectly protected.

I honestly feel that every action I made opening the box had been meticulously planned and part of the Schofield journey. This definitely added to its perception of value.

I have been occasionally guilty of overlooking some brands, not for any other reason than their designs don’t fit in with my own collection. Schofield Watches is one such brand, and although I’m not sure if they are for me, they will resonate with many avid collectors. However, as an engineer, I do connect with them and appreciate what they have done and continue to do. They are pushing their own narrative and boundaries in places others don’t.

They do this because they aren’t scared to innovate and try something different, and for this I applaud them. Their attention to detail is exceptional and again, it’s the small things that make the difference. Schofield does this very well and I have enjoyed getting a proper hands on. I’m looking forward to their future releases and spending more time wearing this Schofield Light “Dark One”

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