![]() ![]() ![]() Smith’s pieces start at close to six figures. He also will continue to take on commissions. ![]() While Smith continues to work on the Series 2, which is an open edition limited by the nature of production, he has plans to increase his product range to between 6-8 key pieces in the next 5-10 years. Obviously, collectors find the price reasonable because the series is almost sold out. It is a hand-wound movement that will display hours, minutes and seconds, power reserve and calendar. The watch doesn’t have a tourbillon or a perpetual calendar either. Getting all this history and know how in the Anniversary watch is coming at the hefty price of £142,000. The Co-axial escape wheel can now be made in one single operation, removing the potential for error by getting rid of a pivot point. He combined the upper and lower wheels into one by adding raised teeth onto the lower wheel. After working 12 years on the Co-Axial escapement with Daniels and in his own workshop, Smith came up with a way to improve the performance of the part. The Anniversary watch is going to feature a new technical advancement developed by Smith. They are creating a series of 35 Anniversary watches to commemorate Daniels’ invention of the Co-Axial escapement, the watch representing a bookend to Daniels’ illustrious career. A couple months ago Smith announced a collaboration with his mentor George Daniels. However, his workshop is going to get a lot busier. With the amount of time put into each piece, Smith is only able to make 10 watches a year, but he plans to increase production to 30. Also, he hand engraves all the notations on the movement and the case. Characteristics of Smith’s work include a ¾ plate, jewels in gold chatons, a raised barrel bridge, silver dials, and hands sculpted from 18k gold or steel. Still, Smith has grown into an accomplished and confident watchmaker, establishing a style of his own. How could there not be? Smith was Daniels’ protégé, after all. He wanted to translate that experience into a watch, and I have to say he succeeded beautifully.ĭon’t get the idea that Smith is walking step for step in Daniels’ shoes, though there are visual similarities in the two men’s watches. That’s because Smith comes from the tradition of pocket watches, where you can appreciate the workmanship with the naked eye. Better yet, I don’t have to squint through a loop to enjoy it. And the view is just stunning because Smith takes great pride in his finishing. I got lost in the balanced and thoughtful architecture. I got to hold and examine quite closely one with an open dial, as well as the Big Date Flying Tourbillon. He’s currently in production on the Series 2 and now all the Series 2 come with a hand-engraved movement, which is really quite lovely and gives the decoration from behind extra panache. ![]() What makes Smith’s watches so aesthetically interesting to me is the three dimensional nature of the dial and the movement. Smith even makes his own cases! By the very nature of a handmade watch you’re going to see mistakes and flaws, but Smith says that’s what gives them character and life. He literally makes and finishes all the components by hand in his workshop, with the exception of such things as balance springs, rubies and straps. In fact, he confesses he really wouldn’t know how. Smith doesn’t produce watches in the industrial fashion. A watchmaker couldn’t ask for a better education. For four years, Smith worked side-by-side with Daniels on the Millennium watch for Omega. Needless to say, Daniels was satisfied and asked Smith to work for him. At this point, Smith felt confident to show Daniels the results. Smith’s next effort took five years to complete and in that time period, he remade the watch four times. Rather than become dismayed by the master’s criticisms, Smith got invigorated. The styling wasn’t there and the watch wasn’t homogeneous. Smith relayed that Daniels said the watch looked unmade and that it should look created. After 1½ years of toil, the young and enthusiastic Smith trotted off to show it to Daniels. That pocket watch inspired Smith to make his own at 19 years old. When Smith was in watchmaking school, Daniels came to the classroom and showed his Space Traveler watch to the students. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |