Roger W. Smith introduces the Series Six with travelling date aperture

0 0 Sunday, 7 September 2025 Edit this post

Roger W. Smith has unveiled the Series Six, the latest addition to his line of handcrafted timepieces.

With fewer than 200 watches produced across five previous series, each entirely made on the Isle of Man, Roger W. Smith Ltd continues to uphold the traditions of British watchmaking with uncompromising standards of craftsmanship and durability.

Founded in 2001, the company is led by Roger W. Smith, one of the world’s leading independent watchmakers and the only protégé of George Daniels, inventor of the Co-Axial escapement.

Since 2005, Smith has refined a calibre based on Daniels’ system, which now powers all his watches. His meticulous attention to detail, even on unseen components, ensures each timepiece combines heritage, craftsmanship, and mechanical precision.

The new Series Six highlights the travelling date aperture, first introduced by Roger in 2014 with the Series Four triple calendar. He designed it to replace the conventional central date hand, which can obscure other indications and reduce legibility.

The travelling aperture moves around the dial, offering a clear, precise alternative. Since its debut, this complication has been adopted by other watchmakers and recognised as a notable innovation.

The dial architecture reflects his signature three-dimensional style, with hours, minutes, and seconds displayed on a floating central section, while the travelling date aperture operates on a lower level, echoing the depth and structure of the movement itself.

The 40 mm case is available in gold or platinum, hallmarked in London, and paired with a hand-stitched leather strap secured by a matching engraved buckle.

The floating dial background can be specified in bleached silver or gold, with a choice of hand engine-turned or engraved designs. Chapters and the name cartouche are also offered in silver or gold.

The hands and the travelling date aperture are crafted either in gold or in flame-blued steel, the latter treated to Roger’s signature purple-blue hue.

At the heart of the watch is a new hand-wound calibre that integrates the travelling date aperture with the latest version of Roger W. Smith’s single-wheel Co-Axial escapement.

This mechanism has been designed to improve efficiency and extend service intervals well beyond industry standards.

The movement is equipped with a free-sprung balance and runs at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour, with a power reserve of 48 hours.

Traditional English finishing is applied throughout. Plates and bridges are frosted and gilded, while steel and gold components receive a mix of grained and black-polished surfaces. Jewels are set in gold chatons, screws are flame-blued, and the movement is signed “R. W. Smith” alongside the Isle of Man’s Triskelion emblem.

The Roger W. Smith Series 6 is estimated at about £320,000, but prices may vary. With only twelve made each year, availability is very limited. For details, contact the brand directly. rogerwsmith.com