In fact in many ways his skills and talents are keeping the flame burning for an art form — that of English horology — that had flourished in the days before mass-produced watches.

As well as producing his own R W Smith Series One and Series Two watches — the latter will be available later this year — he is also the only watchmaker to his knowledge who accepts commissions.

His career has developed with some interesting twists and turns.

Mr Smith, 35, who is originally from Bolton, studied horology at a college in Manchester for three years.

In his final year master English watchmaker George Daniels, who also lives in the Island, gave a lecture.

Little did he know at the time, but that encounter would change Mr Smith's life.

He said: 'It is an amazing thing to see how somebody can make a watch by hand. George had written a book called Watchmaking which I had bought a copy of. I thought if George could do it, maybe I could have a go.'

Mr Smith dedicated a year and a half to construct his first handmade watch.

He decided to seek out Mr Daniels in the Island for his opinion.

'He congratulated me that I had made a watch. He said a watch that's handmade should not look as if it's been handmade and he told me to go away and start another watch.'

Mr Smith had to learn all the different skills associated with English watchmaking — a staggering 25 or 26 trades.

'I had to learn all these different disciplines,' he said.

He started his number two pocket watch which took a staggering five years to make. He actually remade it four times as his skills continued to improve.

Mr Smith again came to the Island to ask George Daniels for his expert opinion.

'At the end of five years I thought "enough is enough" and I came over here to see George. I thought if it's no good I would give up watchmaking.

'George saw the watch and his face lit up. He was delighted with it. He congratulated me and said: "At last, you are a watchmaker."'

Mr Smith went back to Bolton satisfied and, six months later, Mr Daniels offered him a job in the Isle of Man.

At that time Mr Daniels was making a series of watches called the Millennium watch. At first, the arrangement was going to be for just one year, but that became three years as the planned dozen watches became 50.

Mr Smith said: 'After three years we went our separate ways. I wanted to get back to making my own watches and I developed the Series One watch. I made nine of them and they sold very quickly, mainly over the internet.'

The Series Two watches are set to leave his workshop near Ramsey at the end of the year.

The high quality work and hand finishing involved in his watches means they are very exclusive products. A Series Two watch is set to retail at about £35,000, while a specially commissioned watch could cost from £60,000 upwards.

He is working with a leading jeweller in London and is planning to distribute his watches in the Far East.

'I have always been practical. I was more practical at school than academic,' said Mr Smith.

His practical approach means that he puts in long hours in his workshop but he has two people working for him as well — Andy Jones, whom he has known since his college days — and Frenchman Francis Rossignol who has worked in the Swiss watchmaking industry.

The three of them are working on high quality — for the most part handmade — products which aim to firmly put the art of English watchmaking on the map again.