Australian independent watchmaker Reuben Schoots’ watch is on Loupe This – but I am the highest bidder so BACK OFF!

Zach Blass

Watchmaking is a source of pride for various regions. Of course the most famous are the Swiss, but Japan, Britain, Germany also proudly boast high quality watchmaking – where each region has their own personal stamp on the art form. The USA, once home to a burgeoning watch industry, finds itself working back towards prestige, with J.N. Shapiro and Roland Murphy of RGM, among others, leading the charge. Perhaps the greatest current underdog story in watchmaking, however, is happening in Australia with independent watchmaker Reuben Schoots who is bringing the famed Daniels method to his workshop in Canberra. Schoots, while known for his ongoing pursuit to realise a hand-made pocket watch using the Daniels method, also recently presented his first series watch. And, in an exciting turn of events, one of these six watches, which were pre-sold before they were announced, has just turned up for auction on Loupe This.

Of course, as a publication headquartered in Australia, we have long supported Schoot’s endeavours and have previously shared his fascinating story both on-site and in the first edition of our print magazine. We even commissioned him to analyse calibres like the Grand Seiko 9SA5 in a manner only a watchmaker could.

While I own a copy of George Daniels book Watchmaking, I have yet to read it cover to cover in the years of owning it (as much as I am ashamed to admit that). Reuben, however, not only read the entire book in just a few weeks, his completion of the book inspired him to pursue watchmaking in the purest and most classic form. Schoots once explained to us: “My biggest goal is to help keep watchmaking alive and contribute to the world of horology. I really want to be making handmade watches without automated machinery, just like Daniels and Breguet did. I find something really beautiful in how long the process takes, because there is so much meaning to be extracted from the journey. I like the idea that you can sit down for a while and make something tick. Handmade watches in Australia is what I want to be doing.”

As Roger W. Smith once did with his mentor George Daniels himself, Schoot’s, upon completing his pocket watch, which he once estimated will require 3,000 hours of work, will look to get the seal of approval from Smith.

Schoots told us: “At some point, I will also have to make a visit out to the Isle of Man, to try and receive rite of passage from Roger Smith,” said Schoots. “I’ve spoken with him briefly, and I know that once I finish this pocket watch, he is interested in taking a look at it.”

Reuben has since realised that he does not need to rush the creation of the pocket watch. He has by no means given up, and will inevitably put in all 3,000 hours, but he also must begin the creation of his own wristwatch in order to turn watchmaking into a profession versus just a passion. His first endeavour was his Series 1 watch, six stainless-steel watches priced at A$15,000. Eventually his goal is to produce everything in-house, but, admirably, much of his first-effort has been produced by Schoots himself. For example, all four parts of the German silver dial, the chapter ring, subsidiary seconds ring, the dial plate, and nameplate were forged, engraved, and filled with India ink by Schoots himself. Even the steel hands were made and finished by Schoots, and they were each heated to a purplish blue as expected by George Daniels. The “scraped” dial pattern, also performed by Schoots, offers a distinct aesthetic and finish, inspired by the precision waves of watchmaking machinery – which create a flat surface that retains oil.

As for the calibre, Schoots personally made the barrel bridge, the wheel train bridge, the balance cock, the clickspring, the ratchet pawl, the movement screws, as well as all the finishing and engraving.

For a die-hard watch enthusiast like myself, it is always a dream to own something created with the Daniels method in mind. Ideally, of course, such a watch would be one of Roger W. Smith’s or George Daniels’ own design. But, what Reuben has offered in his first series watch presented the six lucky buyers with an incredible opportunity to own a piece of true watchmaking at an attractive price. Schoots himself has remarked that the sale of the six watches was by no means a huge money maker, rather an opportunity to create something without taking a loss. To “keep the lights on” as he put it. He has yet to even pay himself any sort of salary. This will of course inevitably have to change, and he has already revealed that his second series watch, which will have even more in-house components and a case made in-house, will be priced at A$52,500.

With all of this in mind, it probably is not too much of a shock that I, at least at the time of writing, have placed a bid on the watch. And, it just so happens that I am currently the highest bidder. While its 42mm size is a bit larger than what I would like, I would have immense pride in, at the very least, being a custodian and supporter of his work. That being said, I will certainly still wear it. I also have a bit of Aussie pride, having worked for Time+Tide for over three years, and it would just feel so right to own what is arguably Australia’s richest effort in the world of watchmaking today. I would really like to win the lot, so I implore you: BACK THE F**K OFF. Jokes aside, as this is what I believe to be the first time anything made by Schoots has gone for auction, I really would love for this Series 1 watch to achieve the strongest result possible. Therefore, I will happily win or lose this auction. To see someone like Reuben Schoots get the recognition he deserves is a victory in of itself.

The auction is currently being held here on Loupe This, and will close July 13, 12:10 PM EDT.