One of my jobs is to share my enthusiasm for tiny details. Let’s start with how Schofield created the best thumbnail buckle, possibly ever.
Tiny, tiny things that matter because they make the world more beautiful. The brief for all Schofield stuff; how cool can you make it? So, you take the thing you had and make the new one cooler, this is why I generally don’t re-order parts, I re-design which is expensive as you need new tooling and set-up. It is also time-consuming – in the best way. It was the buckles turn for some energy and this is the result. The world’s best thumbnail buckle!
This buckle was designed for the Obscura but also retro-fitable to all other Schofields, this is why the Obscura buckle is not Damascus, that was too cheesy and watch specific. Overall, it is slightly bigger than the old types, an appropriate shift in the visual balance of weight between the watch and the buckle. The one shown is the blasted type – there are others coming and you will see those soon.
One of my besties, a legend of a designer, always remarks that my design consistently looks old-fashioned and futuristic at the same time. This is a compliment and validates my vibe. The SWC logo is paint filled in such a way that we still have the meniscus visible – more akin to old enamel signage, like a plaque found on a steam engine. This method is way more tactile too.
The biggest change is the screw. I sometimes see that the conventional thumbnail buckle screw can work its way undone, just a little but enough to make it a revision point. Also, I see that the side of the buckles can get scratched with screwdriver mishaps. The new design mitigates both these points, the buckle being larger means there is a longer thread and the way the head sits in the counter-bore gives us more friction.
The head is also rebated creating a pocket for the driver blade to fit into, it simply cannot slip sideways onto the buckle body now, and this is good. And, and, it is blue! Like the blued screws in the Obscura’s hand wound Unitas movement. I celebrate this by building it out so you can see it from above.
The side is laser engraved BKL – 2/1.6 SWC. It is the second full buckle design hence the 2 and it takes a 1.6mm screwdriver. Here it is on a Christmas watch strap, the Quality Street kind, of which there are a few left so do go to the straps page and get one before these limited edition straps are gone!
The Obscura dial. Freaky cool, just how awesome is that! Oh my gosh! And you should see it lume! The lume grooves are also filled low like the buckle engraving. The O is a zero not slashed because it stands for Obscura and is not filled because it is obscured! More next week 🙂 Remember there is an Obscura list – if you want to be on it please email! Also read more on the Undercurrents site.
✦ Peace!
