RIDDLE EXCLUSIVE…. All Improved and Superb
Harking back to the days of old with grand old cars and milk bottles
Review by John Galt
The new Signalman Silvertop is certainly eye-catching but still keeps the very essence of the much lauded original design. Schofield have put the original through the mill to create a watch that is not a re-issue but a watch which has been improved and tweaked with some obvious changes like the two tone case and some so subtle that they will only be identified by true enthusiasts.
The Silvertop is the fourth offering from Schofield and is launched in two dial colours, where the style harks back nostalgically to a time when prestige cars were often two tone, and also to those early mornings of yester year when everyone had milk delivered to their doorstep in glass bottles with silver-foil tops (note: I still bear the scar of a glass milk bottle and doorstep accident aged 3..).
The new watch takes its inspiration from the great British lighthouses of the 18th and 19th centuries with its shape and circular engraving on the crown, the domed sapphire crystal set below the lip of the bezel, the buttress style lugs and the large chamfer in the case body all reflect the design of Fresnel lenses, which magnify and focus light, allowing lighthouses to be visible over great distances. The case back has a new engraving which features the Smeaton’s Tower on the Eddystone Rocks as a testament to its strength, longevity and precision of engineering.
The watch case is two tone with the lower part and lugs in deep Black DLC and the chimney style bezel in mirror polished stainless steel giving a beautiful contrast. There are two dial colour variants in Black and Grey, both limited in production to 300 units.
The Silvertop is powered by an Automatic Swiss Soprod A10/2-9335 movement. Beautifully decorated with perlage and ray graining, rhodium plated with blued screws. As with the original Signalman, the dial consists of the unique Schofield power reserve indicator at 12 o‘clock, a GMT display at 6 o’clock and a small date window at 3 o’clock.
The watch has just been launched at the British luxury watch show Salon QP 2015 at the Saatchi Gallery and has been chosen by the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club as one of a select number of brands to celebrate British luxury and design at their showcase at the Saatchi Gallery on 4th December 2015. The Signalman Silvertop marks a return to the origins of Schofield for creator Giles Ellis and he is quoted as saying:
“It has always been my intention to create striking watches for Schofield, watches that are instantly recognizable as Schofield from across the room. We aimed to create something that is undoubtedly a cool watch, a stand out piece, which rewards Schofield owners by making good adjustments to the Signalman design wherever I have identified the opportunity to do so.”
Conclusion:
Hats off to Giles and the Schofield Watch Company the Silvertop is superb….. the mix of deep black DLC with the cool of the stainless steel top contrasts each other seemlessly in perfect harmony creating a harmonious marrige. Long may this marrige work. On a personnal note, I have a real soft spot for Schofield as they launched the original Signalman at Salon Qp 2011 which co-nsided with my first visit to SalonQP, so seeing Schofield establish themselves by doing it their way and only their way you have to congratulate Giles and the team. 