Long before the Swiss came to dominate the watchmaking world, British horologists were leading the way, grappling with miniscule screws and the vagaries of time. In the eyes of many collectors and aficionados they still are, thanks to Roger Smith, who spurns quartz crystals and mass production techniques to produce exquisitely crafted mechanical timepieces almost completely by hand. He joins theartsdesk from his studio on the Isle of Man to discuss “retrograde date complications", six-figure price-tags, and being named Best British Luxury Craftsman at this year’s Walpole Awards. Read the article on the Bruichladdich website.
reviews, news & interviews
We Made It: Watchmaker Roger W Smith
The world-leading horologist keeping British watchmaking alive, crafting exquisite timepieces by hand
Consuming time: Roger W Smith
Roger Smith
Support the future of arts journalism
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thanks so much for choosing genuinely independent arts journalism theartsdesk’s mission has never been more important – in an age of relentless algorithmic recommendation, sponsored content and unreliable AI, the expertise and discernment of individual critics deeply embedded in their specialist areas is absolutely vital.
If you want more of that in your life, why not subscribe now?
If you do this before the 31st August, you’ll be able to keep at this “founders rate” for life: your subs will never increase! You can choose to subscribe annually for just £40 simply click here
or monthly for £5 per month simply click here.
Not ready to subscribe?
If you want to support with a little extra or aren’t ready to subscribe just yet, there’s also the option to give direct to our crowdfunder to support our imminent redesign and exciting expansion with new features and collaborations Simply contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d.
However you choose to be involved, you can proudly say that you are picking the right side in the battle for truth and humanity in the modern information landscape. And we will be very glad to have you on board!
more we made it
The incredible one-man string band
Weaving works of art from 'ghost gear' and the detritus of consumerism
Bespoke horns, handcrafted in a Derbyshire cellar
From U2 and Madonna to Chinese theatre and the Martian Fighting Machine
How she brought a melange of styles to Todd Haynes's sublime period romance
Forget Evel Knievel: a well-crafted stunt is more about precision than daring
How he stunningly recreated the authentic American frontier of 1823
Love at first sight, a six-day week and the satisfaction of a job well done
Pete Hutchison's quest for musical perfection on vinyl
The world-leading horologist keeping British watchmaking alive, crafting exquisite timepieces by hand
The RSNO have a new concert hall. The lead acoustician explains why it sounds so good
Chris Chapman explains the genesis of his animated character app