Roger Smith OBE

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Roger Smith OBE - R.W. Smith
2 minutes read
Independent watchmaker**

Roger Smith was just 16 when he entolled on a watchmaking course at the Manchester School of Horology in 1986. While studying, he attended a lecture by George Daniels CBE and, fascinated by the idea of making a watch by hand, Smith knew where his future lay. After graduating, he famously spent a year and a half making a pocket watch that he took to the Isle of Man for Daniels’ feedback and approval.

“In the back of my mind, I knew that it wasn’t good enough, but I needed to hear it from him,” says Smith, speaking of the moment Daniels rejected his watch. “But watchmaking is addictive, which suits my personality, and I spent the next five years remaking the piece before returning to show it to George.” This time, all 34 skills required by the ‘The Daniels Method’ had been mastered and, on that basis, nine years after Smith’s watchmaking journey had begun, Daniels invited him to work with him.

Three years after moving to the island, Smith set up his own studio. Grateful for the mentorship given by Daniels right up until his death in 2011, Smith hopes that he is honouring the legacy of his friend and teacher by picking up where he left off and taking things to the next level.

Roger Smith OBE

After presenting his Series 1 and 2 watches, Smith was asked to become an ambassador for British innovation, technology and creativity and, in 2013, presented the symbolic ‘Great Britain’ watch, which has since toured the world. In 2015, he embarked on production versions of reimagined Series 1 and 2 plus all-new Series 3, 4 and 5 pieces – all using his revolved Co-axial movement.

Asked about his greatest personal achievements, Smith cites being the first British company to make a production wristwatch. “We proved it can be done, now there are others doing it, too,” he says. “And with the development of the Co-axial movement, we have made what I believe is the world’s most mechanically efficient watch. We are definitely making in-roads in improving mechanical timekeeping and the watches require servicing only once every 10-15 years.”

As for the future and his footnote in the history of watchmaking, Smith looks to the greats that have gone before him: “I want to be remembered for making a contribution to improving mechanical timekeeping,” he says. “Breguet was a creator and an innovator, so was George. A lot of watchmakers just want to make watches; I want to contribute to making them better.”

*Written by Tracey Llewellyn

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

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