A Slice of Canadiana: Sarauer Horology
Canadian watchmaking is a rare craft, especially on the independent side. While countries like Switzerland, Germany, and even Japan dominate the field, Canada has largely remained off the radar. With a few notable exceptions, like Bradley Taylor, whose work have already gained international acclaim, the scene has been relatively quiet.
That’s beginning to change though, thanks to Aaron Sarauer, a skilled watchmaker from Saskatoon who is redefining what it means to be a Canadian independent watchmaker. With his work, the 119C, Aaron is proving that Canadian craftsmanship can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world. As a one-man operation, Aaron designs, builds, and finishes his watches entirely by hand. Aaron’s journey from an electrician to a fully independent watchmaker overseeing every step of his process is as remarkable as the pieces he creates.
I got to sit down and chat with Aaron at the recent Toronto Timepiece Show where I learned about his passion, his process, and how his journey from his tradesman days to a WOSTEP graduate has shaped his approach to watchmaking.
Image credit: Monochrome.
Aaron’s love for watches didn’t begin with Swiss luxury brands or technical schematics. It started in high school during the late 1990s, when Nixon Watches were making waves in the extreme sports world. “I was really into snowboarding, and Nixon was huge in that scene,” Aaron shared. His first watch was a Nixon, and over time, he collected a few more without really realizing the depth of the watchmaking world.
119C next to one of his Nixons.
His curiosity about watches took a turn when he noticed a job posting for a “watchmaker” on Nixon’s website. “That word stuck with me,” he explained. “I didn’t know much about watchmaking as a career, but it sparked something.” That curiosity led Aaron to explore horology more seriously. His research brought him to WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program), widely regarded as the gold standard for watchmaking education.
In 2009, Aaron began a two-year course at WOSTEP in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, immersing himself in the mecca of traditional watchmaking. “WOSTEP was an incredible experience,” he said. “It gave me access to tools, expertise, and a community that was unmatched.” During his time there, Aaron discovered his true passion: manufacturing and creating watches from scratch rather than servicing existing pieces. Under the guidance of his teacher, Aaron took on a project outside the curriculum—designing and building his own wristwatch; apparently something that is not that common at WOSTEP.
“I wanted to challenge myself,” Aaron explained. The project involved fabricating every part of the watch, from the mainplate and bridges to the dial, hands, and complications like a moon phase and power reserve indicator. He even designed a custom case and learned AutoCAD to bring his vision to life.
This wristwatch, which he dubbed the AMS-1, became the foundation for his future designs, including the 119C. “The AMS-1 taught me so much about precision and finishing,” Aaron said. “The movement architecture I designed back then carried over into what I’m doing now.”
AMS-1, his pièce école. Image credit: Sarauer Horology.
Towards the end of his time at WOSTEP, Aaron’s journey took an unexpected turn when he met John McGonigle, a well known Irish watchmaker - at a pub in Neuchâtel. “We were chatting over beers, and he offered me a job,” Aaron recalled with a smile.
In 2012, Aaron moved to Ireland to work with the McGonigles, where he honed his skills in finishing and assembling high-end, complicated pieces. “Working with John was transformative,” Aaron noted. “I got to work on his Tuscar and Banu models, as well as some incredible restoration projects.” Aaron’s time with the McGonigles also gave him the chance to assemble Christophe Claret minute repeaters and play a key role in building the Maîtres du Temps Chapter 3, a collaboration between Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler. “I even got to refine mechanisms directly with Andreas, which was an incredible learning experience,” he said.
Maîtres du Temps Chapter 3. Image credit: Andreas Strehler.
Despite gaining invaluable experience, Aaron faced challenges finding long-term opportunities in Europe. Strict EU visa laws prevented him from working with brands like Armin Strom and Grönefeld. “I realized that if I wanted to continue growing as a watchmaker, I’d have to forge my own path,” he said.
Then in 2020, Aaron made a bold decision: to build his own wristwatch from scratch as a one-man operation. “I wanted to create something entirely mine,” he said. His approach to watchmaking is deeply personal. He oversees every aspect of the process, from hand-finishing each component to constructing the wooden presentation boxes and even building his own workshop.
The result of this effort is the 119C, a limited-edition masterpiece that represents Aaron’s philosophy of quality over quantity. “I make between three to five watches per year,” he explained. “It’s not about mass production. It’s about crafting something that will last for generations.” He aims to make 29 pieces.
The 119C is powered by the SH1 movement, a hand-wound caliber based on the 6498 design but heavily modified by Aaron. The movement features a stop-seconds function, an offset hour and minute track, and a seconds sub-dial at six o’clock. “I redesigned the layout to make it smaller and give it a unique geometry,” he explained. However, Aaron made some significant modifications, including reducing the size and changing the geometry. As a result, the hour and minute hands are placed off-center, while the seconds sit at the six o’clock position. It’s these subtle changes that give the 119C its distinctive look and feel.
The amount of hand-finishing that Aaron puts into each piece is painstaking, and that includes the Bréguet overcoil to construction the pallet fork bridge. Aaron’s hands touch nearly every part of this piece. In today’s world, where many high-end brands rely on machines or external suppliers for these tasks, the fact that Aaron is doing this all by hand is truly remarkable. “I bring a personal connection to every piece,” he said. The movement itself is made from German silver, which gives off a a rich, golden hue, and even the crown wheel has a unique design, being mounted from the back of the barrel bridge.
If there’s another thing that immediately draws your eye to the 119C, it’s the dial. Aaron collaborated with Darren Tiffany, a guilloche expert from Arizona, to create the complex patterns on the dial’s outer section. The guilloche work is hand-turned on a rose engine, which adds a beautiful texture and depth to the dial that changes as light hits it.
Dial details of the 119C.
Aaron’s journey is great proof to following your passion, no matter the odds. What sets Aaron apart isn’t just his technical skill, it’s all about his personal approach. Every detail of his process, from hand finishing every single component, to the wooden presentation boxes, is infused with his passion for the craft. With the 119C, Aaron has not only built a great watch, but also carved out a space for Canada in fine watchmaking.
As we parted ways at the Toronto Timepiece Show, one thought stayed with me: this is just the beginning. Aaron’s vision, skill, and dedication ensure that his name will continue to rise in the watchmaking scene. For collectors and enthusiasts, Aaron Sarauer is a watchmaker to watch. And with pieces like the 119C, we can only hope it inspires young aspiring Canadian watchmakers to follow suit.
Please visit sarauerhorology.ca for more details.
