tristan.led
15
Back in the days
Before he moved workshops and bought the CNC lathe, yes. A couple of years ago he posted a picture on instagram with a new CNC lathe. Before that, the case, pinions, as well as wheels were made by hand, on a regular (or even 3) Schaublin 70. Mainplates and bridges were made using a cnc mill. The dial and hands are still made by hand.
Dufour doesn't make components in house. So in that area, Smith is more "involved" with the parts in his movements. Dufour's dial is also outsourced to Metalem.
Gauthier does everything in house I believe, with a very impressive workshop. The finishing is "higher" than the Smith, but the philosophy isn't the same. And I suspect that there's more handmade operations for the Smith, and more handmade finishing in the Gauthier
My 2cts
Roger Smith - I don't get it
I don't really understand Roger Smith. The watches seem to be pretty basic and even sloppy relative to something like Gauthier, Dufour, etc... in the same price range? quillandpad.com The error mentioned in this article for example, just seems outrigh...
totally unacceptable
When I saw the defects at the. 7 and 8 , I couldn't believe that a watch at that price point would look like that. I'm sure he was aware of it and too lazy to correct it. Pitiful
I was able to see one of his first (I think)...
...rectangular watches in person waaaay back in the day. That thing haunted me for years...part of the charm was that is was rough in a good way. It looked exactly like something made by one man in his garage. But even at a reasonable price (compared to n...
Regarding thickness, no co-axial watch yet made has been under 10mm.
The piece unique Nautilus that Daniels fit a co-axial into may be the only exception extant. Omega's Tresor line may make it happen in their next iteration in a few years.
A lovely watch--but not under 10mm! 😉
The 2021 Tresor is listed as 10.02 or something...
Read the comments in the article?
Writer and others seem to say the flaws noted aren't typical of other Roger Smith pieces. I've never seen one in person so no personal opinion one way or another but it sounds like this isn't representative of most of their watches.... Or maybe it is. I g...
I own a RWS Series 2
And LOVE it, I was like you for many years, could not understand the RWS type independent watchmakers world of 100 watches made over many years. Then as time went on and with the help of some friends I got it, yes you can own lots of independents, and I o...
On the issue of thickness,
It is not an issue with my series 2 RWS 40mm, I don’t know what it I like on the 38mm. I can tell you the watch fits fine under a cuff with it’s rounded case and crystal, if fact the watch seems very balanced and one of the reason wearing it is a pleasure...
Hand-made* watches will exhibit some variance under a loupe. It's either charming or it's a problem, in the eye of the beholder.
This isn't a typical example, as you should know. However, the question is a good one. I'd say Roger is a self-taught watchmaker who apprenticed under George Daniels, and his work shows all of that. If one wants a machine made and finished watch, that is ...
I believe RWS did attend watchmaking school
But yes, much of his education comes from Daniels no doubt. I’m very interested to learn more about his frictionless nanotechnology experiments. It’s been tried before, but the process of depositing the material has greatly improved, and a small maker lik...
Back in the days
Before he moved workshops and bought the CNC lathe, yes. A couple of years ago he posted a picture on instagram with a new CNC lathe. Before that, the case, pinions, as well as wheels were made by hand, on a regular (or even 3) Schaublin 70. Mainplates an...
Yes,
I am aware of that, a red kern. This is a CNC mill, and if I recall this one is only 3axis. Only mainplates, bridges and some springs can be done with that. However, (and I just checked on instagram) since may 2019 he now has at least one CNC lathe. This ...
That's a good point
Which also raises another important point. Roger has significantly modified and improved the coaxial escapement over the years. His current movement requires tolerances that are likely much too great for "traditional" lithes. The use of CNC machines is no...
On a sidenote...
Do you know who makes cases for Dufour? Regarding difference in manufacturing, it is interesting that even George Daniels had Derek Pratt make escape wheel pinions and probably other stuff as well on his spark erosion machine. I actually consider Derek Pr...
Yes, he deserves the credit, and...
I am happy to see it more out in the open so to speak. Personality certainly plays a big role in this, and I feel a bit disappointed about Georges lack of acknowledgement, but I guess that this trait made him have succes at all costs. On a tangent, I pref...
I agree with Jim’s post
There is a certain purity to his watches that appeals to me. They are a distillation of a perfect (for me) watch that is built to last hundreds of years. But I didn’t always feel that way. And really only recently did it click for me. As an aside, the thi...
Very much the same vision as KV.
Kari values thick plates and screws for long term durability. I like this approach as well. Built to outlive any of us.
The charm of authentic handmade
Like burning wood. It is a choice. GD learned him to produce perfect finished watches. (made by hand) RS is on his own feet, and can decide which direction he go. I like perfect shiney watches, Swiss school. But i like also the raw and honest presence of ...
FYI - RS has officially closed their order book for now.
For those that have paid a deposit I understand they are unaffected. For anyone else whom had been on the fence about a 5k deposit to secure a place in line then I guess the message may be check back in a few years. Seems like a prudent and sensible appro...
A fair move
which will allow Roger to satisfy most of his current orders before taking on new ones but when orders do re open in the next few years, there will be a mad rush for his pieces especially as used prices will probably escalate in the mean time,
Probably
Especially since he probably won’t make much more than 200 watches in his entire career
I think it is a very differnet philosophy when it comes to RWS in comparision to other manufactuers as mentioned by other peps here!
I would compare the watch to something more like Masahiro Kikuno or jean baptiste viot in that the point is not necessarily perfect hand finishing but that it has the "feeling" of being hand made and that a lot (i know RWS uses CNC machining etc...) of th...
I love Kikuno's work
But I'm not sure I would compare Kikuno or JPV to Smith. Kikuno and JPV are sculptural artists. Smith is a horological scientist whose primary purpose is to perfect the function of the mechanical watch.
Same!!
I dig that!! Maybe in between then? Like maybe a sculptural artist who also makes better watches?
FYI - RS has officially closed their order book for now.
For those that have paid a deposit I understand they are unaffected. For anyone else whom had been on the fence about a 5k deposit to secure a place in line then I guess the message may be check back in a few years. Seems like a prudent and sensible appro...