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#1 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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A confirmation came from the Isle of Man, and the wait begins
My AD is an official partner of Roger Smith and he was invited to meet up with a small group of collectors in October 2023. Over the session, Roger heartily shared information of his manufacture, his watches and of course, stories of the late George Daniels. It was fun sitting next to a watchmaker who is charming, witty and passionate about his crafts.
He was wearing his Series 1 Great Britain (pictured) and we were given all the time to handle it. I was blown away by the fantastic engine-turned dial. It is simple but the Union Jack is subtle and tastefully done with his signature blue hands. The movement (sorry for the poor picture) does not have the typical anglage we see on other Swiss independents and there are no interior angles, but I respect his philosophy that focuses more on the mechanical aspects of the watches. He told us his current production is 18 pieces annually and to date, he has made 150 watches since he started his career. He used to produce less watches but 18 is the current number. He also shared he is starting on a new Series 6 but I'm not sure if that info is embargoed hence can't divulge here now. I understand he is not taking on new orders as the order book has been closed for a few years. After the meet up, I then tried my luck with my AD because my AD could have placed an order earlier with no particular allocation to a customer. This shooting the moon tactic works thankfully ![]() After a few calls and emails, I decided on the Series 5 open dial (will post a pic in the next post). This means I will not get to enjoy the famed guilloche but I thought the open dial is aesthetically more appealing to me and I will enjoy that dial more. I also have some options with the engravings behind. In terms of delivery, I'm not sure when I will get it and that remains to be ironed out with my AD. I will be expected to pay a 30% deposit closer to delivery date. Caroline informed me each watch takes 2 years to manufacture, and the variable here is when they will start to make my watch. The total duration is the start date plus another 2 years. In the Patek subforum, I have a thread for an application for a minute repeater and that has since been canned due to my preference for this Series 5. All my friends have advised me against choosing a simple 4-hander over a minute repeater but I have followed my heart. I have also dropped my order for a Vingt-8 with the same AD. Effectively I'm choosing the Series 5 over a Patek MR plus a Vingt-8. It's ridiculous I know ![]() Sorry for this long post and I hope to update as soon as I get more news from my AD. ![]() |
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#2 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
|
This is a picture of the Series 5 which I took from A Collected Man. I'm so smitten with it.
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#3 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 4,200
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Many congratulations and I look forward to reading about the journey to ownership.
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#4 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 46,283
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Nice.
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#5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Europe
Posts: 627
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That’s a lovely piece. Open dial is much nicer to look at. Look forward to your updates.
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#6 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Asia
Posts: 800
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Amazing choice and congrats, can't wait to see photos of the journey.
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#7 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 75,913
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Wow, congratulations (in advance) Michael
![]() Your collecting journey is super interesting to follow. Thanks for taking us along ![]() |
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#8 | |||
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
|
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![]() I will update along the way as and when I hear from my AD or Caroline. |
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#9 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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Quote:
![]() Finger cross the wait is not too long. That said, I felt like I have almost come to the end of my collecting journey. If this is my last watch, I'm contented. |
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#10 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Real Name: Steven
Location: Glocal
Posts: 20,301
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__________________
__________________ Love timepieces and want to become a Watchmaker? Rolex has a sensational school. www.RolexWatchmakingTrainingCenter.com/ Sent from my Etch A Sketch using String Theory. |
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#11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,130
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My dear friend, congratulations ! Well deserved and I can see how this will be well placed along your amazing collection.
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#12 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: NY
Watch: Voutilainen (2030)
Posts: 700
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That’s amazing news. Congrats on being one of the truly lucky few. I love seeing watches like this get into the hands of well deserving collectors.
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#13 | ||
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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#14 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 2,176
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Congratulations, but it will be a tough wait. They are amazing watches in the metal, especially when you consider the handwork involved. It will be a capstone piece for sure. Cheers!
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#15 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 174
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#16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,841
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Curious, what appeals to you about someone like Roger Smith VS some of the other pieces you have en route like Gauthier/Kari/etc?
To me, the others seem like a substantial quality difference, but maybe I'm missing something. |
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#17 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 1,928
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Quote:
How so? Interested in your thoughts. Surely we're not talking about the finishing styles? |
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#18 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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#19 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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Quote:
The Patek MR + Vingt-8 is definitely more expensive, but I canned my Vingt-8 order because I have another Vingt-8 ordered, and it doesn't make sense for me to have 2 Vingt-8 given the number of other interesting watches in the market ![]() |
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#20 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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Quote:
That said, there appears to be 4 inward angles on 1 bridge of the Series 5. I haven't had the chance to use a loupe but it is obvious in pictures. |
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#21 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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#22 | ||
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,841
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For me, it's just stuff like this: https://quillandpad.com/2015/04/10/b...mith-series-2/ In both the image immediately above and the prior dial-side images, some of the glitches with this particular example of the Series 2 become evident, including the rough edges of the Romans VII and VIII, uneven lacquer fill in some of the engraved numerals, and (a bit less visible) non-uniform color of the blued hands. There are probably another half dozen images I've seen from auctions with equally avoidable errors. It's not like these require a macro lesn/tons of zoom to see really. To me, those are mistakes you won't ever see on some of the other watches you have on order. IE Gauthier, Voutilainen & Pinaud. RW also uses CNC now so I don't think the handmade aspect has much credence. I don't want to shit on this thread though lol, wasn't my intention, was more so genuinely curious what made you fall in love with RW VS the other pieces you have en route, which make way more sense to me. |
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#23 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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No problem, I have a tolerance for handmade watches. I'm very drawn to the aesthetics of the Series 5 and that alone is good enough for me. I also buy Patek for the same reason.
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#24 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,841
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#25 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2011
Real Name: Larry
Location: San Diego, CA
Watch: ROLEX
Posts: 25,287
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Beautiful! Really interesting and I'm very happy for you. Thanks for sharing!
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#26 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
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#27 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Nowhere
Posts: 56
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Whoa. I don't think I'll ever get a chance to see a Roger Smith, let alone own one :). Congrats!
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#28 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: NY
Watch: Voutilainen (2030)
Posts: 700
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Quote:
But damn you’re right I don’t think I’ll probably ever see one in person either. Kind of crazy to think about how rare they truly are. |
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#29 | ||
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
|
Quote:
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#30 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: Michael
Location: Dotonbori
Watch: Mostly blue dials
Posts: 7,816
|
No update for my watch but I saw this in IG. It's a customized Series 3 open dial for another customer. This is other-worldly spectacular. It makes my Series 5 look ordinary
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