The Development of the Mechanical Wristwatch by Roger Smith

THE 2019 GEORGE DANIELS LECTURE AT CITY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. Synopsis____After an early career restoring vintage English pocket watches and servicing modern mechanical wristwatches, Dr. Roger Smith OBE started making watches thirty years ago. Today, as Britain’s most highly regarded watchmaker, Dr. Smith will discuss developments in modern mechanical wristwatches and will propose that, in recent decades, this has led to a regression, rather than a progression of the practical qualities of watches. Dr. Smith will share his own observations from developing mechanical wristwatches and offer his own solutions to improving longevity and performance............Short biography____Roger W. Smith’s horological career began, aged 16, at the Manchester School of Horology. He passed out top of his class and was awarded the British Horological Institute’s Bronze Medal. During the course, Dr. George Daniels (1926 - 2011), was a visiting speaker and inspired Roger’s ambition - to hand-make watches. After eventually working alongside Dr. Daniels to create the Millennium Series of watches, Roger established his own studio in the Isle of Man in 2001. His first creation was the Series 1 followed, in 2006, by his seminal Series 2 watch.In 2012, the British Horological Institute awarded Roger the Barrett Silver Medal in recognition of his ‘Dedication to continuing the finest traditions of English watchmaking’. In 2013, Roger was invited by the UK Prime Minister’s office to become an Ambassador for the GREAT Britain campaign, representing the best of British innovation, technology and creativity. To celebrate these values, Roger designed and made the now iconic ‘Great Britain’ watch.In 2015, Roger Smith announced the first range of authentic British watches for decades. The range comprises reimagined Series 1 and 2 watches, newly developed Series 3 and 4 watches and the Series 5 or Open Dial watch. All feature Roger’s latest evolution of his single-wheel co-axial escapement. In 2018, Roger was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘outstanding services to watchmaking’.In 2019, Birmingham City University awarded Roger an honorary Doctorate in recognition of his advancements in horology.