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. And the watchmaker never puts his new watches on public sale.
Which makes Mr Smith’s contribution of a unique Series 1 watch for the inaugural British Watchmakers’ Day, which takes place in London in March, all the more important.
The watch has just been completed and presented by Roger Smith and you do not need to be in Britain to buy it.
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, coinciding with 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 promoting watchmaking in the UK. The organisation is similar in its ambitions to the Horological Society of New York.
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.”