The new Series 1 was created in 2013, the result of popular client enthusiasm for a time-only watch from Roger W. Smith. This was after the watchmaker showcased the GREAT Britain unique piece as part of a travelling exhibition designed to showcase the best of British watchmaking around the world. The Series 1 encapsulates Smith’s philosophy, inspired by the age-old traditions of English watchmaking as well as his master, Dr George Daniels.
The unique expression of the Series 1, which was first delivered in 2021, was born out of close consultation with the commissioning client. As such, it bears several distinguishing characteristics.
The dial immediately sets the watch apart, even if It is at once recognisable as one of Smith’s works. It has an understated countenance, pairing black rhodium with rose gold accents. The base of the dial is crafted from black rhodium, decorated with machine turning in a basket-weave pattern. The repeating pattern, spread over the wide expanse of the dial, creates a dazzling effect. Topping it is a brushed rose gold chapter of drilled minutes. Further in lies a chapter of applied rose gold Roman hours, interrupted between 5 and 7 o’clock by the subsidiary seconds register. However, even these numerals have been given due attention, reflected in the beauty of their incomplete forms.
The subsidiary seconds register mirrors the layout of the dial – along the periphery runs a brushed chapter of drilled seconds, crafted from rose gold. It contains a centre adorned with clous de Paris engine turning.
The hours and minutes hands, a visual signature of Roger W. Smith, are also created from rose gold in this example. They both have a rounded profile and terminate in club-shaped ends. The difference in scale of this detail – a larger one on the hour hand and proportionally smaller one on the minutes hand – serves the purpose of easy readability. Despite their miniature quality, their sculptural forms are a central ridge swoop down the two halves of the club-shape. They are scalloped manually, like so much of the finishing on the dial, case and movement. The hand plying the subsidiary register is a simple pointer with a prominent rounded counterbalance. The small cartouche just below 12 o’clock in this example is also crafted from rose gold.
The white gold case is in the more classical of the two sizes on offer for the Series 1. Measuring 38mm across, its form is reminiscent of those found on Mk1 iterations of the Series 2 – the profile is rounded and pebble-like, while the lugs are compact. The bezel is rounded, with the caseback mirroring its form. Both aspects meet the midcase in lip-like forms. The caseback features hallmarks that detail the brand mark and the precious metal the case is crafted from. The midcase too has subtle curvature, and all parts of the case are evenly polished. The simple and straight lugs curve downwards and are set 18mm apart. The watch is fitted with a curved end taupe coloured grained leather strap secured by a substantial white gold signed pin buckle.
On special request, the fluted crown is crafted from rose gold, tying together with the dial-side aesthetic.
The movement, visible through the caseback is classically restrained. The form of the bridges echoes the aesthetic of pocket watch calibers made in England in the 18th and 19 centuries. A dominant three-quarter bridge features a cleft to match the form of the free-sprung balance. Another bridge that anchors the fourth wheel of the going train. The Quadrajust balance vibrates at 18,000 vibrations per hour, interacting with Smith’s second generation, lightened Co-Axial escapement, anchored by a bridge that is vertically satinated.
Coated in white rhodium, the other two bridges and plates wear a frosted finish, again drawing inspiration from English pocket watches of old, eschewing flourishes such as anglage and perlage typical of fine Swiss watchmaking. The vibrant purple hue of the screws provides visual relief, as does the bright shade of the working rubies. Most of the visible ones are secured by gold chatons, as is traditional. The three-quarter bridge is topped with a shaped plate that simply wears a cartouche with the brand mark. The triskelion motif of the Isle of Man, where Roger W. Smith watches are created, is engraved on a separate cartouche on the three-quarter bridge. On the baseplate, a cartouche details when the watch was crafted. Unusually, this date is scripted with the first three letters of the month and the year in Arabic numerals. This is departure from the Roman numerals Roger W. Smith usually employs.
As is the case with many watchmakers with a diverse repertoire, a three-hand watch often represents a distillation of their philosophy and acquired skills. As a result, such a watch typically comes at a later stage in their career. In the context of Smith’s body of work, the Series 1 represents precisely this. It is simple and refined, with the considered deployment of exquisite hand-finished details. This particular example is rare in that it is a singular expression of this honed package.
The watch is accompanied by its full set of outer and inner boxes as well as warranty paperwork and user manual. Even within the rarefied family that is the Roger W. Smith Series 1 – one of the smallest of serially produced references – this example is singular.
