Roger W. Smith Launches The Series Six: A Unique Combination Of Evolution And Revolution

Roger W. Smith stands today as one of the world’s foremost independent watchmakers, carrying forward the legacy of his mentor, the legendary George Daniels. As the only watchmaker in the world to fully employ the Daniels Method crafting every component of a timepiece by hand from start to finish Smith has elevated traditional watchmaking into a discipline of obsessive artistry.

From his quiet workshop, just fifteen to twenty watches emerge each year, each one built entirely to order. Some commissions take more than two years to complete, with every detail perfected by hand. For Smith, time is not just the measure of his creations it is the essence of his craft. His ongoing refinement of the co-axial escapement, pioneered by Daniels, has led to improved efficiency and longer service intervals, pushing mechanical watchmaking well beyond conventional standards.

In September 2025, Smith introduced his latest creation, the Series Six, a watch that embodies both evolution and revolution. Its defining feature is the travelling date aperture a complication Smith first developed in 2014 to resolve the longstanding issue of date information being obscured by a traditional hand. In the Series Six, this idea has been reimagined with a newly developed calibre, one that combines the travelling date system with the latest generation of his single wheel co-axial escapement.

The dial, like the movement, follows Smith’s architectural philosophy. Hours, minutes, and seconds are displayed on a floating central dial, while the date glides across a lower plane, revealed through the travelling aperture. The result is a design that balances precision with depth, creating a three-dimensional interplay between form and function. Reflecting on the launch, Smith explains: “I’m thrilled with the sector’s embrace of my travelling date aperture concept and what better way to celebrate than with a new watch. Even after years of designing and building watches, and building up my workshop and team, the desire to push the boundaries of mechanical timekeeping forward never fades. Each new project is an exciting challenge that draws on my 36 years of watchmaking experience, and while the Series Six may appear simple, it can only come to life through the depth of this journey.”

The Series Six is not just a continuation of Roger Smith’s vision it is a testament to the enduring spirit of independent watchmaking. A watch born from patience, precision, and relentless curiosity, it underscores what makes Smith’s work so remarkable: the commitment to pushing horology forward, one hand-crafted watch at a time.