Roger W. Smith OBE, Watchmaker, Roger W. Smith Ltd. (Isle of Man, British Isles)
At the June 2026 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), independent watchmaker Roger W. Smith OBE will trace the remarkable story of the co-axial escapement from George Daniels’ original invention in the early 1970s through to its continuing modern evolution. Beginning with Daniels’ determination to address the fundamental limitations of the Swiss lever escapement, the talk explores the development of his early experimental pocket watches, together with the long and often difficult process of persuading a skeptical Swiss watch industry to adopt an entirely new escapement system.
Drawing on firsthand experience working alongside Daniels during the Millennium Watch project and the launch of the first Omega co-axial wristwatch in 1999, Smith will provide a rare personal insight into a pivotal moment in modern horological history. The second half of the presentation will examine the subsequent technical evolution of the escapement from 2005 onwards, including the development of the single-wheel co-axial and the changing philosophy behind escapement design — moving beyond pure chronometric performance towards long-term stability, durability, and extended service intervals.
Due to limited seating, tickets will be released according to this schedule:
Gold Members...............May 26 (12 PM ET)
Silver Members..............May 28 (12 PM ET)
Bronze Members............June 2 (12 PM ET)
General Public................June 4 (12 PM ET)
A dedicated email with a unique code will be sent to each membership tier. Limit two (2) RSVPs per member. Non-transferable.
*Doors open at 5:30 PM ET, lecture to begin at 6 PM ET. RSVP is required.
** The lecture video will be available to members immediately, and to the general public following a two-month delay.
About Roger W. Smith OBE
Roger W. Smith OBE is a master watchmaker and widely regarded as one of the leading practitioners of traditional horology working today. After studying at the Manchester School of Horology, Roger became the only apprentice to the late Dr. George Daniels CBE, working alongside him to develop the Millennium series and the industrialization of the co-axial escapement. Since establishing his own studio on the Isle of Man in 2001, Roger has remained the only watchmaker to fully execute the “Daniels Method,” mastering the 32 individual skills required to build a timepiece from raw materials. His work is defined by a philosophy of “putting the making back into watchmaking,” combining traditional hand-building techniques with cutting-edge technology to create just 15 to 20 pieces per year. A prolific innovator, he has spent the last two decades pioneering the super-efficient single-wheel version of the co-axial escapement, extending service intervals beyond industry standards whilst also continuing his research into long-term chronometric stability and durability in mechanical watchmaking. A recipient of the 2025 Gaïa Prize, Roger is also the founder and Chairman of the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers, where he continues to advance the legacy of British horology.