From Saskatoon, Canada, This Is The Sarauer Ref. 119C

Now and again we’ve got the pleasure of discovering one thing thrilling, doing a little digging, asking some questions and finally presenting a brand new watch or watchmaker to you. It’s typically by the blessing of Social Media we uncover among the most attention-grabbing stuff from world wide. And at present is a kind of days, as we introduce you to Aaron Sarauer, a Canadian-born indie watchmaker set to launch his latest watch, the Ref. 119C. And although Aaron has studied watchmaking at the WOSTEP institute in Neuchatel, Switzerland, his atelier is predicated in Saskatoon, Canada. Not the primary place to think about relating to high-end conventional watchmaking, however we’ve realized that location shouldn’t be an impediment, actually. And so far as handmade watches are involved, the Sarauer Ref. 119C is kind of a great one!

The story begins with a ardour for watchmaking developed at a younger age, as most of those tales do. Aaron has been fascinated by watchmaking for greater than 20 years, which is about half his life. He accomplished his research in 2011 and since has labored as a prototype and components developer for varied corporations, together with a stint of virtually 2 years as a watchmaker for McGonigle. With 2 many years of watchmaking and associated work beneath his belt, he based his personal firm in 2020, and is now launching his Ref 119C watch, the newest creation to return from his atelier in Canada. We’ll go into Aaron’s historical past and watchmaking a bit extra at a later cut-off date with an interview, so we’ll transfer to the look ahead to now.

The Ref. 119C is a really attention-grabbing mixture of classical parts and modern touches, set in a 39.5mm extensive and 10.8mm tall case. The design of the case is kind of stout, with a straight caseband, sharply edged bezel and formed lugs. The scale sound superb on paper, particularly contemplating the kind of base motion used (extra on that in a bit). On prime is a domed sapphire crystal, with a flat one masking the motion across the again. The case is customized made, and executed in 316L chrome steel though I’m positive valuable metals are doable too (if you happen to ask properly). The crown is made by hand, with units of 4 angled cuts to offer it some profile and grip.

The dial is a murals, with a hand-applied guilloché sample on the periphery. The primary dial has a really nice horizontal brushing, with a grained small seconds subdial reducing into it. The satan is within the element, nonetheless, as you’ll discover the place of the hour and minute fingers is pushed up a bit. The indices and numerals are made and utilized by hand, and the seconds subdial is framed by a sloped and dotted observe. When it comes to colors, the dial exhibits a nice steadiness of varied tones of gray and silver, with a touch of champagne on the offset hour and minute dial part. Aaron additionally designed and made the fingers himself, with a sophisticated spade-shaped hour and minute hand and a heat-coloured small seconds hand. The one script on the dial is Aaron’s private signature, which could be very subtly finished.

Aaron used the geartrain of the tried-and-tested ETA/Unitas 6498 motion as a place to begin to create his personal SH1 motion. It’s designed, manufactured and completed by hand in his workshop in Canada, with many components executed in German Silver. Utilizing the ETA/Unitas 6498 is much from a disgrace, because it offers a somewhat massive canvas to mess around with and stays a dependable motion. It may be present in tons of watches, with fellow indie watchmakers Felipe Pikullik, Keaton Myrick and Torsti Laine coming to thoughts. Aaron fully reworked the mainplate to have the ability to match it into this comparatively compact case. The place of the hour and minute hand has been pushed up too. It incorporates a bespoke steadiness with a hand-formed mainspring with Breguet overcoil. The ending additionally seems extraordinarily nice, with perlage on the mainplate, bevelled edges, polished screws, varied varieties of brushing and extra. The ability reserve is 46 hours when absolutely wound and the motion is signed with an 18k gold plaque.

The Sarauer Ref. 119C comes on a hand-crafted strap in a variety of leather-based varieties and colors, fitted with a bespoke buckle. It’s restricted in manufacturing to only 29 items, with an annual manufacturing capability of three to six watches. The worth is kind of steep, at USD 29,900 earlier than taxes, however contemplating the quantity of labour poured into it, it’s not unreasonable. And as typically is the case, Aaron is open to bespoke choices like gold indices and numerals, totally different colors or guilloché patterns.

For extra data on Aaron and his newly created watch, please go to SarauerHorology.ca