Roger W. Smith Series 2 Open-dial, 00-OD, Platinum

The round, platinum case measures 40 mm in diameter, excluding the fluted crown. The case has sapphire glass on the front and back. The case-back is engraved with "SERIES 2" and "No. 00-OD", as well as bearing the traditional and maker's own hallmarks. The case has straight lugs with a black alligator strap, supplied by Roger W. Smith. It is debossed with "R. W. SMITH" on the lining, just like the platinum, tang buckle.

The open-dial features an early, thick, outer-chapter of engraved, black minute markers, with every ten seconds, further identified by its corresponding arabic numerals. The dial features english-finished, frosted and gilded plates, gold chatons and flame-coloured  screws. Unusually, rather than a raised cartouche at twelve o'clock referencing "R. W. SMITH" in black engraving, the watchmaker's name is engraved on the dial side plate, along with "No.00-OD". All parts are hand-crafted from beginning to end; including the slender, purple-flamed gold hour and minute hands, tipped with spades.

At ten o'clock sits a power-reserve indicator. The up/down hand is made from steel which is flame-blued to a purple hue. The boss and counter balance are black polished. The hanging chapter is made from silver.

The large, sub-seconds register at six o'clock, is detailed through a grained seconds chapter, circumnavigating it. Black, drilled dots mark the seconds, centring around a slim, flame-blued steel seconds' hand, with an elegant counter-balance at one end.

The beautiful movement is revealed through the sapphire case-back. Much like the dial, the movement also shows multiple layers of depth. This, together with the dominating three-quarter main plate, shows what makes Roger W. Smith the flag-bearer of British haute-horology. The movement is very-much inspired by the British style of pocket watches of Tompion, Graham and Arnold. It has a custom, english, floral-engraving, a raised barrel bridge and balance cock, and again english-finished, frosted and gilded plates.

Finally, the watch is equipped with the first iteration of Roger's modified, single-wheel Co-Axial Escapement, invented by the late George Daniels.

Closer look