Daniel Roth, one of the first watchmakers to become an independent after a triumphant career in the industry, is regarded as one of the greatest, if not the best, among his peers. Having been instrumental in shaping companies like Breguet, Jaeger LeCoultre and even Audemars Piguet, he established the Daniel Roth brand in 1989 and enjoyed much recognition for breaking the mould of conventional haute horology.

1995 marked the year Roth turned half-a-century old. To celebrate this momentous milestone, the legend released a 50-piece limited edition, Le Sentier Sport. This sporty dress watch is notorious for its “Salmon dial”, fitted in a signature symmetric case, later defined as the “ellipsocurvex”, made of stainless steel. The dial is manually executed with a guilloche finish, complemented by blued hands and Roman numerals in the same hue, further highlighted by a brush-finished fan-shaped plate. Fusing form and function, this clean and legible canvas is topped with a date aperture at 6 o’clock that also enhances its practicality.

Despite not being powered by an in-house movement, the sapphire caseback reveals a Daniel Roth cal. 157, which essentially is a modified and hand-finished Frederic Piguet automatic movement, known as cal. 951. The present example also bears a special oscillating weight, decorated with a not-so-subtle inscription of “Daniel Roth”, “50th Birthday” with its limited edition number “08” out of “50”.

Offered in excellent overall condition with its original accessories, the present example is accompanied by a Daniel Roth signed letter confirming that it is indeed numbered 8 of 50 pieces. Combining its highly desired “Salmon dial” and what the watch commemorates, the opportunity to acquire a Le Sentier Sport 50th Birthday Limited Edition is, without a doubt, as rare as the timepiece itself.