Thanks Tim. Great to get a closer look at Roger Smith's work. Some time ago I saw a series of TH-cam videos showing him making a watch. The level of work forming a small gold block into a watch case using hand powered tools, and even just creating the hands, was truly astonishing.
What separates the R.W Smith from a $200k Greubel Forsey in terms of value? If they were ballpark same price range that would make sense but I'm just confused about where the value truly lies in the Smith. I'm not as experienced in the world of horology so I'm just trying to gain a better understanding.
Like Tim explained, a lot of that 900k is buying you into the genius watchmaker himself as well as in the history of RW Smith with the likes of George Daniels. Apart from that production numbers are way lower. The number of Greubels watches produced are multiple times the number of RW Smith. So exclusivity and customization
I'm sure that if you offer to send them $900,000 for the Roger W. Smith watch, they'll agree to throw in the JLC as a beater for when you don't want to wear the Rog
The JLC Masters should get a 100m water resistance and more dial color/texture/indices choices. The Ultra thins should be the clear dress choice, the Polaris the clear sport choice and the Master should be the luxury sport crossover.
The Smith is incredible, no doubt. However, that JLC is mighty beautiful too. I appreciate both. I think I'd still take the JLC though. Just for the looks of the dial alone. If course is subjective, but that's my choice. Great pieces and video.
Thank you, Rob. It's important to consider the quality offered by the JLC. Obviously, the Smith is fantastic for those with a limitless budget, but the JLC's total quality is closer to the Smith than the price differential implies. Best, Tim
Yeah, mistakes will be made. I know the rhyme, but it's a one-take, and it won't be the first time I've misspoken about something I've known since I was five. Best, Tim
I think the RWS is one of the most charismatic watches I've seen on this channel. The problem I have with it is $900,000 opens the door to pretty much any watch you could want, with some exceptions, BUT for only about $300,000 more you can get a Phillipe Dufour Simplicity. And what's $300k when you're looking at stratospheric watches? If you can afford this you can afford that. That's my problem, too many watches I prefer over this, in fact, I'd make one hell of an entire high horology watch _collection_ for the price of this one piece. Its also a pretty nice house where I live.
JLC of course, it's a great fairly affordable watch. Roger Smith is a genius and I highly recommend the documentary on he and George Daniels. Two iconic figures in horology
The sad thing is counting all 10 of the series 4 together i bet they only spend a dozen or two days out of the safe in a year for the the raason jlc can be worn daily and enjoyed it is the better watch. The smith is amazing though
Thanks for another great video Tim. In my opinion, the JLC wins where it matters, wear ability and looking classy on the wrist. Shame they put that much effort into the R Smith and then threw it in the wrong case, especially for this type of watch.
I bought it from the AD, and I tired another one to make sure that the issue wasn’t only on my watch. The reverso’s don’t have issues but the master control calendar surely does.
@@ShauryaSharma-bk8tz very strange. They are known for their watchmaking. And i have the same model and it feels great. Very strange! A bad one can happen to any brand i suppose. Sad that you got one
The dial of the Roger W Smith is handmade and visually beautiful - it is like going to a museum and seeing an artist’s work. I’m writing this while wearing my Reverso. I revere Jaeger-LeCoultre in the same way I do the original Citroën DS line of automobiles - beautiful, innovative and without any of the DS foibles. JLC captures my imagination with their UltraThin movements, Reversos, and the Memovox watches- for the exact opposite reason than RW Smith - JLC and Citroën (70 years ago) showed quality that the middle-class could afford. If price were no option, I might own this watch and it would have its own handmade wooden and glass watchbox. I would still wear my Reverso though.
Love the Roger Smith. It’s the watch I prefer. But, I would go with the JLC. If the missus allowed me to spend $900,000, I could buy a lot more great watches.
Honestly, I'm just not a fan of that R.W Smith. It's too thick, and just aesthetically a little ugly to my eye. and frankly for that absurd price, it can't compete with something like the Greubel Forsey handmade One, or really any Phillipe Dufour in any way. The finishing is just not all that special. And like you say, the hand engraving is straight up mediocre. worse than you get on a 20,000 Lange. It seems like the appeal is literally just in the name.
I never understand the “buying into a legacy” stuff. I just buy what I love: artisanal pieces carefully assembled and finished by hand with designs I enjoy. I don’t care anything about the history of these companies.
Legacy to me just translates into "this manufacturer is part of Richmont or Swatch Group or Rolex and so your grandkids will still be able to get the thing serviced in 60 years." Good luck finding someone to service that $900k museum piece.
In an imaginary world, you buy a painting directly from Picasso, and have a personal relationship with him, and get to know the artist behind every stroke. That’s Roger W Smith.
Roger needs to improve the ugly case. And no screw holes. The crystal is way too reflective. Why doesn't the date ring rotate instead of having a tacky frame? No excuses at $900K! So for these reasons I'd take the JLC. With the money leftover I'd buy a Ferrari or Lambo. It's a no-brainer: Watch only. Or watch + Ferrari.
I'm with you there. Smith thinks he is George Daniels. He is not. There are other independent watchmakers out there that make much more compelling pieces for much less than Smith's, the only reason he can get away with charging what he does is the Daniels connection
@@thephotochadserial or limited edition number. As there are so few of R. W. Smith pieces, it's possible to track down ownership history, so to protect clients who are offering their pieces on the secondary market, these identification marks are hidden. It's common practice and good business customer service.
$900k for the Roger Smith is absolutely insane, even by the standards of atellier hand-made watches. Rexhep Rexhepi for example, Dufour, and others, would be way higher on my list in the supercar price range of watches.
Thanks Tim. Great to get a closer look at Roger Smith's work. Some time ago I saw a series of TH-cam videos showing him making a watch. The level of work forming a small gold block into a watch case using hand powered tools, and even just creating the hands, was truly astonishing.
Where else could I get such a wonderful guided tour of these micro mechanical works of art? Thanks for your videos, Tim!
Vs. videos are my favorite Watchbox content.
What separates the R.W Smith from a $200k Greubel Forsey in terms of value? If they were ballpark same price range that would make sense but I'm just confused about where the value truly lies in the Smith. I'm not as experienced in the world of horology so I'm just trying to gain a better understanding.
Like Tim explained, a lot of that 900k is buying you into the genius watchmaker himself as well as in the history of RW Smith with the likes of George Daniels. Apart from that production numbers are way lower. The number of Greubels watches produced are multiple times the number of RW Smith. So exclusivity and customization
Really wanted to love the JLC, but in person & on wrist it doesn’t live up to the renders imho. Shame.
Nice to see the Smith...too costly for me and most. Just amazing. Why I have a SBGC201...also handmade....
I'm sure that if you offer to send them $900,000 for the Roger W. Smith watch, they'll agree to throw in the JLC as a beater for when you don't want to wear the Rog
I owned a Master Control calendar. I miss it and should buy one again. Too bad it has legibility issues (which is why I sold it to begin with).
i think roger should bang out a modern style watch just for the hell of it. i would like to see that
The JLC Masters should get a 100m water resistance and more dial color/texture/indices choices. The Ultra thins should be the clear dress choice, the Polaris the clear sport choice and the Master should be the luxury sport crossover.
I'd like to see that. Ultimately, the only reason I *wouldn't* prefer 100m would be if it were to add thickness to the case.
Best,
Tim
The Smith is incredible, no doubt. However, that JLC is mighty beautiful too. I appreciate both.
I think I'd still take the JLC though. Just for the looks of the dial alone. If course is subjective, but that's my choice.
Great pieces and video.
Thank you, Rob. It's important to consider the quality offered by the JLC. Obviously, the Smith is fantastic for those with a limitless budget, but the JLC's total quality is closer to the Smith than the price differential implies.
Best,
Tim
I’d love a steel Series I with an all copper dial (without the white part). Gorgeous!
“This is what Zeus would wear” you can’t get better than that!
And it definitely is. Well, it would be this or a Breguet-era Breguet pocket watch with complications.
Best,
Tim
The date change on breitling datora b25 is also seems instant. Is the on the same level as the roger smith?
If RWSmith is manufactured by hands only, it would be worth it.
september has 30 days and not 31
Yeah, mistakes will be made. I know the rhyme, but it's a one-take, and it won't be the first time I've misspoken about something I've known since I was five.
Best,
Tim
Thanks for the versus! Love them so much. I am not able to appreciate that RWS in the manner you are.
Casio and Timex will get you to the opera on time.
If you pay 11k for that Jaeger your on drugs. you can get these for 8-9k all day long.
I think the RWS is one of the most charismatic watches I've seen on this channel. The problem I have with it is $900,000 opens the door to pretty much any watch you could want, with some exceptions, BUT for only about $300,000 more you can get a Phillipe Dufour Simplicity. And what's $300k when you're looking at stratospheric watches? If you can afford this you can afford that. That's my problem, too many watches I prefer over this, in fact, I'd make one hell of an entire high horology watch _collection_ for the price of this one piece. Its also a pretty nice house where I live.
That JLC is gorgeous. What a grail piece.
JLC of course, it's a great fairly affordable watch. Roger Smith is a genius and I highly recommend the documentary on he and George Daniels. Two iconic figures in horology
I like the series 4, reminds me of George Daniels pieces, which makes sense since Roger was his student. Excellent comparison btw!
The sad thing is counting all 10 of the series 4 together i bet they only spend a dozen or two days out of the safe in a year for the the raason jlc can be worn daily and enjoyed it is the better watch. The smith is amazing though
I think the R.W Smith is more like buying fine art. Your buying into the name and provenance rather than the physical object itself.
I watch for the history lessons.
'900K watch' 'the engraving is amateurish'
Thanks for another great video Tim. In my opinion, the JLC wins where it matters, wear ability and looking classy on the wrist. Shame they put that much effort into the R Smith and then threw it in the wrong case, especially for this type of watch.
Jaeger-LeCoultre listen to how it sounds in German , just for myself to know how it really is, and the video is interesting
I would go for the JLC and with the difference would buy a flat.
RW Smith are made in Pennsylvania!
And RGM watches are made in the Isle of Man.
RWS - Isle of Man.
RGM - Isle of Pennsylvania.
The JLC has terrible crown action. It feels like a $1000 watch, also had all sort of problems with timekeeping.
I have 1, but don't have those problems.
Are you sure it was a real jlc you tested and not a copy? I have alot of watches and that is not the feel i have gotten from the jlc
I bought it from the AD, and I tired another one to make sure that the issue wasn’t only on my watch. The reverso’s don’t have issues but the master control calendar surely does.
@@ShauryaSharma-bk8tz very strange. They are known for their watchmaking. And i have the same model and it feels great. Very strange! A bad one can happen to any brand i suppose. Sad that you got one
Problems definitely happen! I’ve purchased three Rolexes, all as gifts to others, and two out of the three had problems.
The dial of the Roger W Smith is handmade and visually beautiful - it is like going to a museum and seeing an artist’s work.
I’m writing this while wearing my Reverso. I revere Jaeger-LeCoultre in the same way I do the original Citroën DS line of automobiles - beautiful, innovative and without any of the DS foibles. JLC captures my imagination with their UltraThin movements, Reversos, and the Memovox watches- for the exact opposite reason than RW Smith - JLC and Citroën (70 years ago) showed quality that the middle-class could afford.
If price were no option, I might own this watch and it would have its own handmade wooden and glass watchbox. I would still wear my Reverso though.
Love the Roger Smith. It’s the watch I prefer.
But, I would go with the JLC. If the missus allowed me to spend $900,000, I could buy a lot more great watches.
JLC is way more beautiful than other one no matter that is 90times more expensive....😂
You’re trolling lol objectively the Roger W Smith floating dial is unbelievably beautiful
JLC always nails their proportions. It’s hard to explain but I find JLC dial layouts sometimes even better than the likes of Patek and VC.
@@TheSaladin777Beauty by definition is not objective
Honestly, I'm just not a fan of that R.W Smith. It's too thick, and just aesthetically a little ugly to my eye. and frankly for that absurd price, it can't compete with something like the Greubel Forsey handmade One, or really any Phillipe Dufour in any way. The finishing is just not all that special. And like you say, the hand engraving is straight up mediocre. worse than you get on a 20,000 Lange. It seems like the appeal is literally just in the name.
I never understand the “buying into a legacy” stuff. I just buy what I love: artisanal pieces carefully assembled and finished by hand with designs I enjoy. I don’t care anything about the history of these companies.
Legacy to me just translates into "this manufacturer is part of Richmont or Swatch Group or Rolex and so your grandkids will still be able to get the thing serviced in 60 years." Good luck finding someone to service that $900k museum piece.
In an imaginary world, you buy a painting directly from Picasso, and have a personal relationship with him, and get to know the artist behind every stroke. That’s Roger W Smith.
Roger needs to improve the ugly case. And no screw holes. The crystal is way too reflective. Why doesn't the date ring rotate instead of having a tacky frame? No excuses at $900K! So for these reasons I'd take the JLC. With the money leftover I'd buy a Ferrari or Lambo. It's a no-brainer: Watch only. Or watch + Ferrari.
I'm with you there. Smith thinks he is George Daniels. He is not. There are other independent watchmakers out there that make much more compelling pieces for much less than Smith's, the only reason he can get away with charging what he does is the Daniels connection
Outrageously thick
That's what he said about her..
Yuck. Way too thick. Hate the Smith. The “cheap” one is far more attractive
Rubbish Talk. Rubbish valuation that contradicts Horologie
RW Smith looks like a kit watch put together by training students.
Flip it over and look at the lovely, . . . Oh never mind, they taped this one too. Ridiculous.
What is it that they tape?
@@thephotochadserial or limited edition number.
As there are so few of R. W. Smith pieces, it's possible to track down ownership history, so to protect clients who are offering their pieces on the secondary market, these identification marks are hidden.
It's common practice and good business customer service.
@@thephotochadThe serial number for privacy.
A number @@thephotochad
JLC loses value, but Rolex doesn't!!!
$900k for the Roger Smith is absolutely insane, even by the standards of atellier hand-made watches. Rexhep Rexhepi for example, Dufour, and others, would be way higher on my list in the supercar price range of watches.