The Time Is At Hand

"They who lack talent expect things to happen without effort. They ascribe failure to a lack of inspiration or ability, or to misfortune, rather than to insufficient application. At the core of every true talent there is an awareness of the difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that by persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized. Thus talent is a species of vigor." - Eric Hoffer, American Philosopher

Introduction Quite often the long hours and personal sacrifices necessary to achieve a specific end are taken for granted: As if personal and professional excellence is a gift and is not earned from constant effort and perseverance. Of course, this is exactly how it is achieved - from enjoyable to frustrating, challenging to tedious, it all begins and ends with work. It has been two years since we first announced Roger Smith's Series 2 wristwatch, as being under construction, and I am sure there are more than a few who have been anxiously waiting for this day. The day the prototype is complete and production begs to commence. "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet," Aristotle wrote, and so it may be said of RW Smith's Series 2. Beginnings In 1754 the great English horologist Thomas Mudge invented what would become one of the most important advances in mechanical timekeeping, the lever escapement. The earliest known example of this escapement (1759) is fitted into a pocket watch made by its inventor 246 years ago for Queen Charlotte. An escapements "job" is to meter out the movements motive power in even increments and to provide impulse to the oscillator. This the lever does quite well despite a fundamental flaw, oil. Requiring lubrication to overcome the friction generated as impulse is delivered through a sliding action to the timekeeping element, the balance & spring, the lubrication will deteriorate over time, affecting its viscosity and in turn, the watch's timekeeping and long term stability. In the 1970's, realizing these inefficiencies, another English watchmaker, George Daniels, set about designing a new escapement - the result was the co-axial escapement. His intention was to devise an escapement that had the reliability of the lever escapement and yet its performance should be unaffected were lubrication to be introduced to the mechanism. He designed an escapement which has two escape wheels mounted one above the other, giving the escapement its name, "co-axial." He also designed the impulse action so that it is delivered tangentially rather than through the sliding action as found in the lever. This arrangement results in a more stable rate of timekeeping over longer periods when compared to the lever. Following a number of years working alongside George Daniels and experiencing his invention first hand, Roger Smith decided to use the co-axial escapement in all of his future watch production. A Work in Progress Having taken several forms since its creation, Roger decided to use the co-axial's original form and adapt it to suit the Series 2's concept. This version uses two escape wheels fixed to an arbor (co-axial), with a standard pinion, as opposed to the later "extra flat" version that is found in later Daniels watches and as adopted by Omega. This "extra flat" version uses an extra wheel in the going train that engages a multi-purpose pinion/impulse wheel which sits co-axially on an arbor with the other escape wheel. The proportions of the original co-axial form have been modified by Smith to suit his requirements and the movement tailored as such. That coupled with its lower oscillating frequency (2.5 Hz) should produce a very stable rate. Just as the co-axial escapement has taken several forms, so has the design of the Series 2 movement. "These changes occur when prototyping a watch and as the watch grows in front of you, so does your imagination," Smith explains. Some of the changes included modifying the placement and geometry of the escapement, making the up/down mechanism visible thanks to a mirror polished bridge and a new monometallic balance, coined the "Quadradjust," which is free sprung, Breguet over coil, and has platinum poising screws and four gold eccentric timing weights. "The new balance design was simply my wanting to create a balance that can be quickly identified as mine, without compromising performance." Considerable thought and effort has been given to the finishing. You see, in a first class watch the aesthetics are every bit as important as the mechanics, and this is demonstrated superbly in Series 2. Steel parts have their bevels and flats mirror polished - no straight graining here, and virtually all of the jewels are fitted in rose gold chatons that are held in place by heat-treated blued screws. 18kt. gold 4th wheel and escape wheel bridges, as well as the mirror polished up/down wheel bridge... Series 2 just may be the most luxurious, high grade, wristwatch to have ever been produced in the British Isles. Making "In order to attain the desired quality it was important to make the watch in house." With a substantial investment in CNC technology, Roger Smith is able to control as much of production as possible. Initially planning on using suppliers for his wheels and pinions, he is now making them himself. This, along with making all escapement parts: escape wheels, lever and balance, makes R.W. Smith's workshop one of only a handful of companies, large or small, who are willing and/or able to do this. Putting the CNC milling machine to further use the plates, bridges and cocks will be shaped, frosted and gilded in the English tradition, with 18 kt. rose gold chatons held in place by heat treated blue screws. Following the traditions of eminent makers such as Breguet, and the English makers James Fergusson Cole, Jump, Daniels and Derek Pratt, he uses engine turning to make his dials. With a straight line and rose engine, silver or gold is fashioned into a dial that has a quality all of its own. That is, the manner in which the material is removed when engine turning is not only different but is superior in appearance to those of stamped and milled "engine turned" dials. The numerals and lettering on the dials are hand engraved by a specialist. The hands are made from either steel or gold, which not only meets an aesthetic requirement but also a larger philosophical one. "These qualities are essential in a watch, particularly if the long term appearance is to be maintained. In 25, 50 or even 100 years time any natural deterioration in the condition of the dial and hands can be brought back to the condition in which the watch originally left the workshop." The careful selection of proven and available materials and methods ensures longevity, as any skilled watchmaker will be able to restore his work to the original vision of the maker. Indeed, properly serviced, a RW Smith watch should go indefinitely. Details The Series 2 will be the first series of watches Smith will make that contains his modified co-axial escapement. Bearing in mind that it has been 246 years since Thomas Mudge completed his famous pocket watch, he has decided to limit the series to 246 movements, with a limited yearly production. He feels this honors the valuable contribution these two great English horologists have made to the advancement of mechanical timekeeping. I couldn't agree more. Future owners will have their choice of various dials (silver or gold engine turned), hands (gold or blued steel) and case (yellow, rose, white gold or platinum) combinations. The manually wound, free sprung, 32mm movement is housed in a round 38mm case, with a power reserve indicator and engine turned dial, which is signed RW Smith. The Series 2 wristwatch will be presented in a handcrafted box made by noted English furniture maker and designer, Linley. For orders, contact Roger Smith directly via his website (soon to be updated). A Series 2 in gold costs £35,000.00, inclusive of VAT. *If there are any discrepancies between the 2004 announcement and this 2006 release, please defer to the information given now as most accurate. **Personal Note: I would like to thank Roger Smith for his support of this forum and allowing ThePuristS.com to be the first media outlet (any form of media) to publish pictures and materials of his Series 2 wristwatch. Thank you! AHCI discussion forum | ThePuristS Homepage Comments, suggestions, and corrections to this article are welcomed. Please e-mail comments or sign the guestbook. Copyright March 2006 - Mr. Curtis D Thomson and ThePuristS.com - all rights reserved Pictures and drawings provided by Roger Smith.