Marking time with the Schofield Telemark

If you recall, back in January we first brought you word of the Schofield Telemark. Well, just as time marches on and the earth rotates and orbits, we simply bided our time to come for the hands-on review that we teased at the end of that article. I was probably as eager as any of you, as I’ve long admired Schofield from afar. Finally, it was time to go hands- (and wrist-) on with the Schofield Telemark.

While the watch itself is certainly stunning, I want to spend some time talking about the packaging that the watch came in. Normally, I don’t give much attention to watch packaging, as it’s just redundant, nothing special, or (as is more common for review units) simply just enough to protect the watch in transit. Now, don’t get me wrong – this box, made of Osmo Ash, does protect the watch (and did so with aplomb for it’s trip over the pond). From the outside, it just looks like a heavy, dark box. When you flip it open, though, you get the first surprises – the lovely cover over the watch, as well as the magnetic stay holding the owners manual in place. While most packaging would be tossed or tucked into a closet, this is something I would have quite proudly out on a dresser or nightstand, for sure.

Then, you get to the watch. What struck me first what the dial. As I noted in the preview, this is the brand’s first white dial, and they’ve done a lot of other interesting things on the dial (see the ‘Features’, below). I particularly liked the lumed pips and the font used for the numerals. Spinning over those is a unique handset as well. Partially skeletonized, and lumed, they maintain legibility day or night. To my eye, with how they’re mounted on the center arbor, it also looks like beams of light coming out from a lighthouse (as seen from above) with just sort of carries that overarching theme of the brand forward.

Then, as I picked up the Schofield Telemark, something else struck me about the piece. For being as large of a watch as it is (44mm by 15mm thick), the watch is surprisingly light (specs list it at 134g). Enough so that I had to chat with the brand about it, to figure out what was going on, and how they got a steel watch so light. As it turns out, it’s from a rather hidden element – the movement holder. Here, they made it from aluminum. This is a development that started in the Beater range, and carried forward here. And wow – I would not have guessed a movement holder could have this much of an impact to the weight and comfort, but it certainly did.

Also assisting the Schofield Telemark in terms of comfort would be the strap. The lugs have a nice amount of curve to help hug things in there (and with the lighter weight, even if you have some overhang, well, it’s not a big deal), but it’s the strap that really seals it in there, you know? I knew that the brand had some lovely straps, and the one on the Schofield Telemark continues that trend. Up front, you’ve got a fairly simple grey (that almost looks like suede), but flip it over, and you get hit with a blast of hot pink. I like it when brands hide a bright color underneath an understated strap, as it brings some whimsy to things that is really just for the owner. In general, I’m normally not a fan of a padded strap, but I think Schofield got it figured out, in terms of proportions and how much padding to get in there, for it to look and feel good.

Wearing the Schofield Telemark around, yeah, it feels good. This was a fun one to wear around (as my Instagram feed will attest), and I wore it across all sorts of things – mostly to the office, of course, but there was some weekend wear, as well as a couple of pairings with a suit. The taller height could be a concern for some, but if you’re used to tall divers, you’ll be just fine here. This is also a watch that will garner comments. The large white dial just reflects all available light like a beacon (or, you know, a lighthouse reflector), and the iconic case shape certainly stands out, even to the untrained eye. While recognizable as Schofield (to those in the know), it’s also recognizable as being different from just about everything else.

You might notice something else different in that lume shot above – the Schofield Telemark almost looks like the pip fell off at the 6 o’clock mark. Do not worry, no watches were harmed in the creation of this review. The brand just left if off the dial so they could print their name there. Also, to my mind, it’s a way of orienting the watch. Some brands may rely on a double dot or something up at 12 to tell you which way is up. Here, the blank space tells you which was is down.

And should you head down (perhaps checking out some wrecks that didn’t heed the lighthouse), the Schofield Telemark will be ready for it, with the 200m WR rating. Sure, the strap may not be as ready, but the watch itself is. And I think that says a lot about this watch. While I have specific tastes (as I’m sure most of you do), I prize everyday usability and function above most other things in a watch, and this watch has it. With the blasted case and white dial, it blends into any scenario. On the padded leather, it’s able to be dressy or casual. And, should things get hectic, the sealed steel case is ready for you.

When you realize that the Schofield Telemark will run you about $3,952 (after you take out VAT and convert the price to USD), that sort of broad applicability is important. For me, while the bank account wouldn’t stand for the Schofield Telemark hitting my watch box (or the dresser, since the box is so awesome), I do like and appreciate the sort of sophisticated ruggedness that the watch embodies. And I dare say, if you picked one of these up, you’re not likely to run across another one in the wild (until your buddy sees it and has to get one for himself). But really, who cares – if you like it, wear it, and that’s the only one you need to worry about seeing. I’m glad we got to spend some time with the Schofield Telemark, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for the brand. schofieldwatchcompany.com

Review Summary

Brand & Model: Schofield Telemark
Price: £3,600 (after removing VAT and converting, that’s about $3,952)
Who’s it for? You like your luxury with a British sensibility

Would I wear it? In a heartbeat
What I’d change: If you know me, I like my thin watches. One wonders what a dressier profile (same shape, just thinner, say 10-12mm) would look like
The best thing about it: All of it. The case, the dial, the strap, the overall lightness.

Features, per Schofield

Fully numerated submarine dial
The word ‘Schofield’ replaces 9 minute marks on the chapter ring

The hour markers in the chapter ring are black anodised appliqués filled with Super-LumiNova C5
Date disk reprinted for horizontal readability at 4:30
All the parts of the hands and the windows line up when overlapping