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Roger W. Smith is a renowned British watchmaker known for his exquisite handcrafted timepieces that embody traditional horological craftsmanship. His watches are celebrated for their precision, elegance, and the meticulous attention to detail that goes into each creation.
Roger W. Smith is a British independent watchmaker based on the Isle of Man, the protégé of the legendary George Daniels — widely considered the greatest watchmaker of the 20th century. Smith was chosen by Daniels himself to carry on his tradition of truly hand-made watchmaking. Every component of a Smith watch — including the movement, case, and dial — is made by hand in his workshop with minimal use of CNC machinery. He produces approximately 10 watches per year.
George Daniels, who invented the co-axial escapement eventually adopted by Omega, hand-made his own watches entirely — a level of artisanal completeness almost no one had achieved since the 18th century. Smith met Daniels as a student and was so impressive that Daniels took him on as his sole apprentice and eventual successor. When Daniels died in 2011, Smith became the keeper of the tradition. He uses Daniels-style co-axial escapements in his own movements and considers himself the continuation of that lineage.
Most 'independent' watchmakers buy established ébauche movements and modify them, or have movements developed by specialist suppliers. Smith makes every component himself — filing, turning, and hand-finishing each part in his Isle of Man workshop. He makes his own balance springs, his own escapements, his own dials, and his own cases. This level of self-sufficiency is shared only by a handful of watchmakers globally including Philippe Dufour and Hajime Asaoka, and is considered the highest expression of watchmaking craft.