Roger W. Smith Series 2 Wristwatch Collection

The Series 2 wristwatch by Roger W Smith is not only the first high-grade production wristwatch ever to have been entirely designed and made in Britain, it is also the only production watch in the world to be crafted by hand with such meticulous attention to detail.

It was while studying at the Manchester School of Horology that Roger W. Smith first met George Daniels, a watchmaker widely regarded as the greatest living horologist.

George was driven by two challenges: to improve the technical performance of the mechanical watch and to create his own English watches. Aged 20 and inspired by his lecture Roger W. Smith spent the next seven years perfecting the 30 or so different disciplines involved in creating a truly handmade pocket watch.

An invitation followed to work with George Daniels in the Isle of Man on now legendary ‘Daniels Millennium’ series of 50 watches. The experience was priceless – the finest finishing school any aspiring watchmaker could wish for. After this Roger W. Smith founded his own workshop on the Isle of Man. Smith’s goal was to bring the superlative quality of traditional English pocket watches to the modern wristwatch, reviving the fine hand craftsmanship lost in our age of mass production.

His first challenge was the Series 1 – a rectangular wristwatch made in a series of just nine, all of which were bought by watch connoisseurs.

But he wanted to go further; to design and create an entirely hand-made production British watch that would re-set all the standards. And so it was that in February 2006 he celebrated the launch of the wristwatch that embodies the creativity, precision and passion for quality of the Roger Smith workshop: the Series 2.

This extraordinary wristwatch features George Daniels’ legacy to horology – the co-axial escapement.  As the part that releases the power of the mainspring through to the balance wheel, the escapement is the heart of the mechanical timepiece.

The George Daniels co-axial escapement is the most technically advanced in 250 years, representing a huge step forward in quality and durability. In fact, any well made watch featuring this escapement should, if properly maintained, last for ever.

Almost every one of the watch’s 225 parts is painstakingly hand crafted in brand’s own workshop. The company makes its cases, dials and hands and specialize in making its own movements, escapements and balances – extremely rare in a world where all but a handful of the millions of watches sold every year are mass produced.

It’s no surprise then that the Roger Smith workshop makes only 10 of these connoisseur timepieces each year.

With its solid silver dial, solid gold hands, jewels set in gold chatons and a host of other hand worked features, the Series 2 is not only an object of beauty, it is a testament to the unique vision and skills of the company’s specialist team.

The brand’s initial Series 2 release is made up of three editions; each edition comprising 30 watches. You can also commission your own Series 2, choosing your preferred combination of materials and features.

For example, the dials are made up of seven different pieces in which gold and silver can be combined to dramatic effect – especially when teamed with a hand engraved background to create a unique dial. Commissioned pieces also give you the option of a platinum case.

Technical details

(1) Roger W Smith Series 2 Edition 1

• Case: 18 carat yellow gold case (diameter 38mm) and crown; Sapphire crystals to front and rear; Hand engraved lettering and numbering; Hallmarked in London
• Movement: Individually numbered; Signed – Roger W. Smith, Isle of Man – Edition 1; Free sprung quadradjust balance; Co-axial escapement; 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5Hz); Raised barrel bridge; English finished gilded and frosted plates; Gold chatons and cocks; 28 jewels; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Dial and hands: Silver engine turned dial; Silver minute, hour, seconds and up and down chapters; 18 carat yellow gold minute, hour, seconds and up and down hands; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Strap and buckle: Supplied with one black and one tan alligator strap; Fitted with 18 carat yellow gold buckle; Hand engraved – R. W. Smith
• Presentation box: Specially commissioned and executed wooden, inlaid box using English oak with walnut stringing, burr oak and nickel fittings. Made by bespoke furniture maker David Linley, London.
• Pricing: Net £42,000/VAT @15% £6,300/Inc VAT £48,300

(2) Roger W Smith Series 2 Edition 2

• Case: 18 carat red gold case (diameter 38mm) and crown; Sapphire crystals to front and rear; Hand engraved lettering and numbering; Hallmarked in London
• Movement: Individually numbered; Signed – Roger W. Smith, Isle of Man – Edition 2; Free sprung quadradjust balance; Co-axial escapement; 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5Hz); Raised barrel bridge; English finished gilded and frosted plates; Gold chatons and cocks; 28 jewels; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Dial and hands: Silver engine turned dial; Silver minute, hour, seconds and up and down chapters; 18 carat red gold minute, hour,seconds and up and down hands; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Strap and buckle: Supplied with one black and one tan alligator strap; Fitted with 18 carat red gold buckle;Hand engraved – R. W. Smith
• Presentation box: Specially commissioned and executed wooden, inlaid box using English oak with walnut stringing, burr oak and nickel fittings. Made by bespoke furniture maker David Linley, London.
• Pricing: Net £43,400/VAT @15% £6,510/Inc VAT £49,910

(3) Roger W Smith Series 2 Edition 3

• Case: 18 carat white gold case (diameter 38mm) and crown; Sapphire crystals to front and rear; Hand engraved lettering and numbering; Hallmarked in London
• Movement: Individually numbered; Signed – Roger W. Smith, Isle of Man – Edition 3; Free sprung quadradjust balance; Co-axial escapement; 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5Hz); Raised barrel bridge; English finished gilded and frosted plates; Gold chatons and cocks; 28 jewels; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Dial and hands: Silver engine turned dial; Silver minute, hour, seconds and up and down chapters; Blued steel minute, hour, seconds and up and down hands; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Strap and buckle: Supplied with one black and one tan alligator strap; Fitted with 18 carat white gold buckle; Hand engraved – R. W. Smith
• Presentation box: Specially commissioned and executed wooden, inlaid box using English oak with walnut stringing, burr oak and nickel fittings. Made by bespoke furniture maker David Linley, London
• Pricing: Net £45,000/VAT @15% £6,750/Inc VAT £51,750

Commissions

• Case: Choice of materials for case (diameter 38mm) and crown; Sapphire crystals to front and rear; Hand engraved lettering and numbering; Hallmarked in London
• Movement: Individually numbered, Signed – Roger W. Smith, Isle of Man; Free sprung quadradjust balance; Co-axial escapement; 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5Hz); Raised barrel bridge; English finished gilded and frosted plates; Gold chatons and cocks; 28 jewels; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Dial and hands: Choice of materials used to create dial; Choice of engine turned or hand engraved dial background; Choice of materials for minute, hour, seconds and up and down chapters; Choice of materials for minute, hour, seconds and up and down hands; Hand engraved lettering and numbers
• Strap and buckle: Supplied with one black and one tan alligator strap; Fitted with buckle to match case material; Hand engraved – R. W. Smith
• Presentation box: Specially commissioned and executed wooden, inlaid box using English oak with walnut stringing, burr oak and nickel fittings. Made by bespoke furniture maker David Linley, London.