Few would question Roger Smith’s status as Britain’s most respected and successful independent watchmaker.
With demand in the stratosphere, but still making fewer than 20 watches per year, his handmade timepieces are almost mythical in their rarity.
Like a unicorn, the chances of seeing, let alone touching one, are remote.
Which makes Mr Smith’s contribution of a unique Series 1 watch for the inaugural British Watchmakers’ Day in March all the more important.
It will be a massive draw for collectors and watch enthusiasts, which will benefit all the other British watch brands — most young microbrands that can only dream of Roger Smith’s success — at the event on March 9.
When Mr Smith wrote a column for WatchPro promoting the British Watchmakers’ Day earlier this month, the Series 1 watch was not quite ready to show.
It is now, and WatchPro can share these pictures of the completed piece.
“We started making this over a year ago,” Mr Smith reveals. “We were asking other members to make pieces so we had to lead by example – that was always the case no matter what. Why should anyone else bother doing it if we thought we were too grand for it?” he adds.
The members he refers to are part of the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers, a recently formed organisation designed to help businesses in this country grow in size and sophistication.
Many are making special edition watches for the British Watchmakers’ Day on March 9, with Mr Smith leading by example.
The Series 1 watch is being sold via an auction, which went live this week on Roger Smith’s website.
Only sealed bids are being accepted for the one-of-one timepiece, but those bids must exceed a reserve price of £297,500 (excluding VAT).
The auction closes at 3pm on March 9 and the winning bidder may even be able to collect the watch at the British Watchmakers’ Day.
An percentage of the sale will be donated to the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers which is a not-for-profit organisation.
Mr Smith describes the timepiece as “The Series 1 watch I would make for myself”.
He adds: “Over the years, all the commissions for my Series of watches have been made with a modest customisation in their design to give my clients unique variations. The opportunity with this piece was to make what I wanted, and to have some fun!”
The time-only Series 1 comes in a 38mm red-gold case. It has a mixed metal dial with a silver engine-turned background inset with red-gold chapters.
“The movement which, as ever is driven by the single-wheel co-axial escapement has my traditional English finish with gilded frosted plates and gold chatons” explains Mr Smith. “I went back to my sketches and worked with our engraver to create the resulting English rose pattern on the barrel bridge. It really is my ideal vision for the Series 1.”
WatchPro is a media partner for the sold-out British Watchmakers’ Day and will be publishing details of all the special edition watches being made exclusively for the event in the March edition of the magazine and online in the week leading up the March 9 show.
