Roger W Smith OBE is recognised as one of the greatest watchmakers of the modern era. Recently awarded a Gaïa Prize — the ‘Nobel Prize’ of watchmaking — we sat down with the man himself for a conversation surrounding all things horology. www.rwsmithwatches.com
How did your career begin?
“I enrolled at college at 16 to study horology, a three-year course designed to turn me into a watch and clock repairer. During my second year, a man called George Daniels came to visit. I had no idea who he was, but by the end I understood this was an extraordinary man living an extraordinary life. That meeting was life-changing experience, and from that moment on I knew I wanted to make a handmade watch.”
What happened next?
“After college, I wrote to ask if George would take me on as an apprentice. He replied saying he always worked alone, but did offer to meet to discuss my ambitions. The meeting ended with George saying, ‘If you want to make a watch, it is only you who can do it. I cannot teach you. And it is such a huge undertaking that if you have the drive to do it, you will succeed’.”
But he wasn’t impressed with your first attempt.
“I completed it in 18 months, and George commented it looked too handmade — and that a fine handmade watch should look as though it has been created, not simply handmade. It was the wake-up call I needed, and I began work on my second, which took five and a half years to create.”
Why so long?
“I realised I had to focus on each individual skill required to create it completely handmade — all 34. When the second watch was finished, George said ‘congratulations — you’re now a watchmaker,” and it was this moment that led to my invitation to work full-time with him in his workshop.”
Before dedicating yourself to hand-crafting movements, was there an industrially-produced timepiece you coveted?
“I’ve always been impressed by Omega watches from the 1950s and 60s. In my early days as a watch repairer, if I received an Omega I knew it would be an easy day. The mechanisms were so well designed and made to such a high standard that I could strip them, clean them, reassemble them, and be confident the watch would keep time just as well as the day it left the factory.”
How do you articulate the intangible value — the ‘soul’ — that a wholly hand-created watch possesses?
“Watches are incredibly personal pieces. When someone engages with me we begin a journey, defining the specification and dedicating the entire workshop to the creation of that watch. Every one of the 20 pieces that leaves each year carries a part of my soul. What my clients are buying is that experience, that knowledge, and that devotion to creating a handmade watch.”
Moving on to the Series 6. How does it demonstrate how your work has evolved?
“The Series 6 concept began while I was working on the Series 4, which features a date dial at its periphery — with the traditional method of displaying it a hand radiating from the centre. The problem was the hand would sit over key information on the dial for several days. This was unacceptable to me, as I’ve always strived to create a legible, open dial. That challenge led to the idea of the travelling date aperture — and as the industry has now adopted the concept, I thought it fitting to celebrate its acceptance by creating a very simple watch with a real focus on the aperture itself.”
What has been your most challenging Series to date?
“The Series 4, largely because of the travelling date aperture and the triple-calendar complication, which is, incidentally, instantaneous. Creating a mechanism like this demands a tremendous amount of effort, particularly when everything must occur in a split second. It becomes a delicate balancing act — refining the design of each component while perfecting the spring tensions throughout the entire mechanism.”
Is it true you’ve closed your books?
“My list is open to owners of an RW Smith or a Daniel’s, but at times we do allow new customers to join our waiting list: but there’s a careful process involved. Our team consists of 15, and we produce just 20 pieces per year. We could increase production, but doing so would come at the cost of quality — and as a watchmaker, I couldn’t allow that.”
How many watches have you created?
Over 24 years, we have produced around 185 pieces. I recall a conversation with an existing client who visited looking to add another piece to his collection. He showed me his Series 2, which he’d received a few years earlier, and was astonished to learn it was one of only 12 pieces made since the introduction of my Mark 2 two-movement in 2019. These are incredibly rare!”
What role do you believe your workshop plays to secure the future of British horology?
“It is very difficult for us to make a real impact because our production is incredibly low. What we can do is demonstrate what is possible. My work with the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers has been an eye-opening experience, and I am encouraged to see a rebirth of British watchmaking. We are still a long way from factories across Britain producing watch components, but you must start somewhere. If my work can, in any way, help support that growth, then I believe that can only be a good thing.”
What would you say to an aspiring watchmaker looking to seek a career in horology?
It’s a fascinating world and there are many different paths to take. While bench work is at the heart of the industry, there are numerous supporting roles that contribute to the growth of watchmaking in other ways. From technical development and quality control, to sales, marketing, and education, the industry offers a diverse range of ways to engage and thrive.”
So is there anything you can reveal about the Series 7?
“While there will be another watch in the future, for now I need to stay tight-lipped. We’re also extremely excited about 2026 as it marks the 25th anniversary of RWS; the centenary of George Daniels’ birth. This dual milestone demands a tribute that will not only honour the legacy but celebrates the evolution of British mechanical watchmaking. Watch this space.”
