Giles Ellis is a man obsessed with details. This personality quirk — or curse, as Ellis has called it — came from a youth spent trolling Casio watch catalogs comparing the arcane functions on offer. Thankfully (at least for us), there are none of Casio’s aesthetics evident in Schofield watches, Ellis’s ultra-successful British timekeeping pet project. Though the brand’s watches — like the Signalman, which won praise from connoisseurs for its innovative design and its attention to detail — have been extremely successful, Ellis does not want Schofield to be pigeonholed as a mere watch company. Quirky hard goods like a machined aluminum LED torch (flashlight for us colonials), a leather case lined in vintage sailcloth, cigar tubes and pocketknives are all for sale, in addition to Schofield’s extensive line of straps made from materials from wool tweed to cricket ball red leather. In short, this is a brand fully driven by design that remains rooted in the traditions of watchmaking and a distinctive British pride. So what makes the man behind it all tick?
Q. It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?
A. Salad and a fish cake followed by a bowl of Coco Pops.
Q. What are you reading at the moment?
A. Global Denim, which is overly academic but informative.
Q. If you could go back and give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
A. Start saving. Don’t spend all your money on rare Air Jordans.
Q. What is the most important aspect of running a small company?
A. Follow your own path.
Q. Who or what are the greatest influences on you and what you’ve done with Schofield?
A. The greatest influence on Schofield is our desire to be impressive and make things that have been thought through on every level, encapsulating who we are and what we take inspiration from.