News British Watchmakers Day The Premier Showcase Exclusively for British Watch Brands

On March 9, The Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers will inaugurate the inaugural edition of British Watchmakers’ Day, marking the organization’s first major event dedicated to British watch brands. The event will take place at Lindley Hall in Westminster. The highlight of the occasion will be Special Edition watches crafted by exhibitors, exclusively available to guests attending British Watchmakers’ Day. Among the array of special editions featured at the event, Roger W Smith, renowned for his ultra-rare timepieces with famously lengthy waiting lists, will be unveiling a Series One watch exclusively available on British Watchmakers’ Day.

There are over 40 confirmed exhibitors already including: Accurist, Alkin, Arken, Backes&Strauss, Beaucroft, Brooklands, Böken, BVOR, Christopher Ward, Clemence, Duckworth Prestex, Elliot Brown, Escudo, Farer, Fears, Fink, Freese, Geckota, Great British Watch Company, Harold Pinchbeck, Helicon, IOTA, Isotope, MHD, Mr.Jones, Marloe, Monro, Nite, Nomadic, Omologato, Olivier Meylan, Pinion, Pompeak, Schofield, Sidereus, Sinclair Harding, Studio Underdog, Thomas James, Vertex, William Wood, Zero West and, in an exclusive first for the event, Roger W. Smith

As Britain’s foremost watchmaker and Chairman of the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers, Roger W. Smith has shown his full support for the inaugural live showcase dedicated solely to British brands. To commemorate this occasion, the master watchmaker has fashioned a special edition watch inspired by his Series 1.

Roger Smith's reputation as Britain’s most esteemed and accomplished independent watchmaker is beyond question. Despite overwhelming demand and a production rate of fewer than 20 watches per year, his handcrafted timepieces are revered for their rarity. Trained under the tutelage of the late George Daniels, his mentorship has left an indelible mark, reflected in the small yet impactful body of work he produces.

This unique time-only piece has a deceptively simple yet sumptuous aesthetic. Housed in a 38mm red-gold case, it has a mixed metal dial with a silver engine-turned background inset with red-gold chapters. dial and subdial are engraved or engine turned dial and a complementary set of the unique Roger W Smith's sculpted hands

Equipped with a single-wheel co-axial escapement by Daniels, the mechanical movement of this timepiece has Roger’s traditional English finish with gilded frosted plates and gold chatons. Its barrel cover is adorned with the English rose pattern. operated at 18,000 vibrations per hour.

The Series 1 watch will be on high security display throughout British Watchmakers’ Day, along with the rare opportunity to see some of Roger’s other iconic pieces, such as The GREAT Britain; a Daniels Anniversary watch; and a Series 4 piece featuring his ‘Travelling Date'compilation.

British watch brand Christopher Ward is poised to make a significant impression at the highly anticipated British Watchmakers’ Day. As a founding member of the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers, CW is preparing to mark this inaugural event with an exclusive release, introducing a limited run of 10 Bel Canto watches available for purchase at the event.

The standout offering is undoubtedly the C1 Bel Canto, renowned as one of the most affordable Swiss mechanical minute repeater watches ever produced. A variant of this model even clinched the GPHG 2023 Petite Aiguille prize, an accolade dedicated to exceptional timepieces within the price range of 2,000 – 8,000 CHF.

The timepiece boasts a brushed and polished case made from titanium grade 5, marrying strength with aesthetics. Its deep-stamped caseback features a soundwave motif. The push-down crown is elegantly adorned with a twin flag motif, symbolizing precision and heritage. With an anti-reflective domed sapphire crystal safeguarding the rhodium dial, readability is optimized while durability against scratches and glare is ensured. Sized at 41mm and boasting a distinctive platine color with blue accents.

The Bel Canto 9324 showcases a laser-etched Union Jack on its platine, adorned with a combination of polishing, Clous de Paris, and guilloche. This brass platine is then coated with a rich blue, deeper and darker than the initial Auzzurro 300-piece LE, enhancing the meticulous finishing and infusing a touch of regal elegance into its design. The two-piece, time-telling dial introduces Roman numerals for the first time on a Bel Canto, color-matched to the platine. The dial comprises a circular brushed base layer and a polished and chamfered top ring housing a printed minute track.

Equipped with a self-winding movement with an FS01 caliber, the timepiece chimes on the hour. Its floating time display showcases the fully visible mechanism, complemented by hand-finished bridges, spring, and hammer. Conveniently, it features an On/Off pusher located at 4 o’clock, highlighted by a red indicator. Operating at 28,800 VpH and offering a 38-hour power reserve.

Priced at £4,995 GBP, which is equivalent to 23,300 AED. this new iteration of the award-winning C1 Bel Canto model will be available exclusively through a raffle system at the event, with all profits donated to The Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers.

For more information, visit the official website of the british watchmakers.