Bonhams
Los 101
Roger Smith. A fine and exceptionally rare 18K gold manual wind wristwatch with power reserve indication and co-axial escapementModel: Series 2, Commission Piece No.20-CDate: Purchased January 2011Movement: 28-jewel English finished gilded and frosted manual wind, Co-Axial escapement, free sprung quadradjust balance, raised barrel bridge, gold chatons and cocks, hand engraved No.20-C and MMXIDial: Engine turned silver, black Roman numerals to brushed surround, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6, up/down power reserve indication at 10, 18K gold pointed baton hands, blued steel power reserve handCase: Polished round, exhibition back secured by 6 screwsStrap/Bracelet: Tan brown Roger Smith alligator leatherBuckle/Clasp: Hand engraved 18K gold buckleSigned: Case, dial & movementSize: 38mm Accompaniments: Wooden Roger Smith display box made by Linley with silver plaque stamped No.20-C, Ownership & Service History booklet, yellow Service Return Box, Roger Smith leather pouch, spare black Roger Smith alligator leather strapFootnotes:Independent watchmaking has finally started to command the attention it deserves and it is with great pleasure we offer the current timepiece at auction by one of the most well respected living watchmakers - Roger W. Smith OBE.In 1986 Roger enrolled on a course at the Manchester School of Horology aged just 16. This proved to be a life changing moment for Roger as it was at the School that he first encountered the late George Daniels (1926-2011), considered the greatest watchmaker of the last century leaving a lasting legacy like no other. Aged just 22, Roger completed his first working pocket watch and was able to present it to George Daniels at his workshop on the Isle of Man. The sharp but constructive advice he received resulted in a further 5 and half years honing his skills. In 1998 Roger finally succeeded in impressing George Daniels and was invited to move to the Isle of Man to work on the Millennium series with Daniels directly. The Millennium was created over a period of 3 years with delivery made in 1999 ahead of the new millennium. This was the first collaboration between George and Roger and each watch was painstakingly hand-finished by the two of them in what is considered as an 'English style'. With just 48 examples made in yellow gold it is difficult to overestimate just how important these watches were to the advancement of independent Horology using the Co-Axial escapement - a movement that is considered a greater development than any other since the work of Thomas Mudge in 1755 and is quite simply phenomenal.After the success of the Millennium, George and Roger conspired to create a further collaboration with the Anniversary, a step further into fully hand created watches consciously creating a fully British born handmade watch. This was a true collaboration with Roger making changes and also improving on the Co-Axial design. They planned to create 35 Anniversary watches to signify the amount of years that had passed since George created his first hand created watch.The Series 2 was the first of Rogers watches to be entirely made in-house. Each watch comprises of 225 parts and have all been meticulously and lovingly finished to an exceptionally high standard. The current example is numbered 20-c and was the 32nd Series 2 to be delivered. In late 2011 Roger moved from a 38mm case to a 40mm case making this 1 of just 9 Series 2s that was housed in the early Phase 1 38mm case. This watch is particularly special as it is believed to be the last of the Phase 1s to have been cased in yellow gold. This Series 2 is in excellent condition having been kept safe since first received in 2011. Accompanying the watch are all the original accessories including a finely crafted wooden Roger Smith display box by Linley and the Ownership and Service History booklet. Limited to producing just 15 watches a year, obtaining one of Rogers works of art is a rare thing. Since Roger formed the company in 2001 he has made 128 RW Smith watches with 68 of them being a Series 2. This auction therefore represents an extraordinary opportunity to be the keeper of one his exclusive timepieces. As a British company we are also honoured to be offering a British made watch on British soil.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: YY Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
