This hand-made, open-dial, platinum Roger W. Smith Series 2 is one of the smallest "production watches" in the world, with fewer than seventy examples created to date. If not rare enough, only nine open-dial executions have been delivered so far. This very early example was delivered in 2011 and bears all the characteristics of an early transitional piece, further reinforced by its special numbering.

The round, platinum case measures 40 mm in diameter, excluding the fluted crown. The case has sapphire glass on the front and back. The case-back is engraved with "SERIES 2" and "No. 00-OD", as well as bearing the traditional and maker's own hallmarks. The case has straight lugs with a black alligator strap, supplied by Roger W. Smith. It is debossed with "R. W. SMITH" on the lining, just like the platinum, tang buckle.

The open-dial features an early, thick, outer-chapter of engraved, black minute markers, with every ten seconds, further identified by its corresponding arabic numerals. The dial features english-finished, frosted and gilded plates, gold chatons and flame-coloured  screws. Unusually, rather than a raised cartouche at twelve o'clock referencing "R. W. SMITH" in black engraving, the watchmaker's name is engraved on the dial side plate, along with "No.00-OD". All parts are hand-crafted from beginning to end; including the slender, purple-flamed gold hour and minute hands, tipped with spades.

At ten o'clock sits a power-reserve indicator. The up/down hand is made from steel which is flame-blued to a purple hue. The boss and counter balance are black polished. The hanging chapter is made from silver.

The large, sub-seconds register at six o'clock, is detailed through a grained seconds chapter, circumnavigating it. Black, drilled dots mark the seconds, centring around a slim, flame-blued steel seconds' hand, with an elegant counter-balance at one end.

The beautiful movement is revealed through the sapphire case-back. Much like the dial, the movement also shows multiple layers of depth. This, together with the dominating three-quarter main plate, shows what makes Roger W. Smith the flag-bearer of British haute-horology. The movement is very-much inspired by the British style of pocket watches of Tompion, Graham and Arnold. It has a custom, english, floral-engraving, a raised barrel bridge and balance cock, and again english-finished, frosted and gilded plates.

Finally, the watch is equipped with the first iteration of Roger's modified, single-wheel Co-Axial Escapement, invented by the late George Daniels.

Closer look