Roger W. Smith

Even in the world of independents and their small output of pieces, simply handling a Roger W. Smith is a rare pleasure, while owning one is a privilege even fewer enjoy. His steadfast commitment to producing watches of an English style – in the storied tradition of the likes of Thomas Tompion, George Graham and John Arnold – is as evident on the dial as it is on the finishing of the movement. This historical fidelity stands him apart in modern watchmaking.

While closely tied to Daniels’ legacy, Smith has charted his own path and is today viewed as one of finest modern watchmakers, not just in Britain but anywhere in the world. If Daniels reinvigorated curiosity in the country’s rich horological past, Smith’s watches have sustained that interest.

With a wait time of five years for a finished watch, and Smith currently not allocating new pieces, collectors are looking at the watchmaker’s past work with renewed interest.

It would be no exaggeration to say that Smith, in collaboration with Daniels, birthed the modern, finely crafted British wristwatch. He has since furthered that tradition, whether it is with the continued development of the co-axial escapement, experimentation with complications or his evolution of the English watchmaking aesthetic itself. While the 18 watches he now creates annually benefit from the distillation of his unique perspective, the pieces he has created under his own name since 2003 offer a rich study in his progression as a watchmaker.

As a London-based organisation, A Collected Man’s interest in Roger W. Smith is perhaps obvious. Over the last eight years we have spent a significant amount of time studying Smith’s philosophy and dedication to championing British watchmaking, speaking with the watchmaker and visiting his workshop. This has afforded us a position of knowledge from which to advise those looking to sell and buy the more than 15 pre-owned of his pieces we have handled so far.

It is worth noting the historical significance of some of these watches in Smith’s catalogue of work. It includes the Grande Date Flying Tourbillon No. 1, Tourbillon No. 3 with Date, an open-dial Series 2 bearing the No. 00-OD as well as the only stainless-steel Series 2 ever made. This is in addition to the unique Series 1, with a dial customised by A Collected Man, which fetched a world record price.