Roger Smith - Hong Kong Watch Auction: THREE Hong Kong Monday, November 28, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Roger Smith
    Year: Circa 2010
    Movement No: 3
    Case No: 3
    Model Name: Series 2, Edition 3
    Material: 18k white gold
    Calibre: Mechanical, 28 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Black Roger Smith crocodile leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Roger Smith buckle
    Dimensions: 38 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Roger Smith Certificate, additional black crocodile leather strap, polishing cloth, leather wallet, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
    Literature: For another example of Series 2 wristwatch, please see Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking by Michael Clerizo, pages 230 and 231.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Roger W Smith was born in Bolton, England in 1970 and upon reaching the age of 16 his father suggested enrolling on a course at the local Manchester School of Horology. Subsequently, he passed out top of his class, winning the British Horological Institute's Bronze medal awarded for the highest overall mark of the year. During his time on the course, one of the 'guest visits' was in 1987 by Dr. George Daniels where he showed his iconic Space Travellers pocket-watch and in Rogers words "Suddenly, my life’s purpose was crystal clear - though its path was less defined”

    He then embarked on a seven-year quest to master 'The Daniels Method' learning all 32 trades of the British watchmaker to become worthy of collaborating with the great master himself.
    It was in 1997 that Roger visited Dr. George Daniels with a pocket watch that he had created entirely by following instructions from Daniels’ book ‘Watchmaking’, and for the first time, George found a student of high enough promise to take on as an apprentice. It would be one that led to a great friendship and partnership and we would be bold to say a legacy was formed.

    Dr. Daniels asked Roger to assist him with production of a new series of wristwatches, called 'The Millennium' series. Launched in 1998 to celebrate the acceptance of the Daniels Co-axial escapement by the Swiss watch industry, Daniels and Smith worked together for over three years creating the Millennium series and, following the huge success, Roger finally opened his own studio making watches under his own name, R.W.Smith.

    This Series 2, Edition 3 No.3 here is an exceptionally rare watch but its genesis was, somewhat ironically, an attempt to produce a watch in higher numbers. In 2010 Roger decided to explore the idea of producing Edition 1, 2 and 3 versions of his Series 2 watch. The plan was to produce 30 watches of each edition, offering yellow gold, red gold and white gold finishes such as this one, each with a standard dial. This standardisation would allow them to remain uncompromising in using the Daniels Method of handcrafting the watches, while at the same time enabling them to produce several more watches.

    Only 5 of these white gold Series 2 Edition 3 pieces were ever made and, once they introduced their later 40 mm. cases, any notion of this model ever being made again was consigned to history.

    With a production of approximately 10 watches per year produced by Roger Smith and a current waiting list, this is a rare opportunity for the passionate collector to own and enjoy wearing a truly hand made masterpiece.

    The dedication to the artistry of watchmaking and the fine details and skills that go into producing a watch like this can be seen clearly. The beautiful gilded and frosted plates of the movement, with the Co-axial escapement with raised barrel bridge to the hand engraved lettering and numbers. Housed within an 18k white gold 38 mm. case with a true balance and sense of proportion. Each case hand engraved and acting as a frame to the solid silver engine turned dial with Up and Down indication. The watch is finished with silver and blued steel hands.

    Roger Smith當代知名的獨立製錶師,生於1970年英國北部曼徹斯特Bolton地區,年輕時已才華畢露,16歲依父親安排入讀當地著名製錶學府-Manchester School of Horology,以優異成績畢業,並獲得英國製錶學院年度最佳成就銅牌獎。1987年的一次探訪,遇到製錶大師Dr. George Daniel,並欣賞了大師的經典作品Space Traveller懷錶,自此深受 George Daniel的影響,確立了人生目標和事業方向。

    為與頂尖製錶師合作,Roger Smith共花了七年時間鑽研George Daniel 方式,學習32種英國式製錶工藝。1997年Roger帶著自已製作的懷錶拜訪 George Daniel,表示是依照Daniel’s book製成,他的才華,令George Daniel大為欣賞,收他為徒,奠定了日後合作的基礎。

    1998年為慶祝瑞士製錶業認同George Daniel研發的同軸擒縱系統,George Daniel聯同Roger合作生產一系列手錶,名為”The Millenium”系列。此系列手錶銷售非常成功,三年後Roger成立自家工作室,以R.W.Smith製作手錶推出市場。

    本拍品編號3,是第二系列的第3版,非常罕有。原計劃大量生產,及後改變以分系列推出,第二系列分為1,2,3版,只生產30枚,每版分別以黃金、紅金、白金的標準錶盤,貫徹Daniel方式手工製作,以達到Daniel嚴謹的製作水準和增加產量。

    此第二系列第3版只生產5枚,自從40mm推出後,此型號和規格已不再生產,市場流轉極少,因此極為罕有。Roger Smith每年只生產手錶約10枚,由於需求殷切,現正依據輪候名單,需時安排付貨。因此,為喜愛真正全人手製作的手錶藏家們,不容錯過此罕有機會。

Σ1092

An exceptionally fine and extremely rare white gold wristwatch with power reserve, co-axial escapement, original certificate and fitted presentation box

Circa 2010
38 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$600,000 - 1,000,000 
€70,400-117,000
$75,000-125,000

Sold for HK$1,125,000

Hong Kong Watch Auction: THREE

Hong Kong Auction 29 November 2016