Island watchmaker Roger Smith has told of his delight after one of his hand-made timepieces was sold at auction for a record amount nearing half-a-million pounds.

Mr Smith said: ’It has been pointed out that the sale price for the watch is the highest auction price ever achieved for a wristwatch made by a British watchmaker. I’m a bit chuffed by that to say the least.’

The wristwatch went under the hammer at an auction in Geneva, Switzerland, run by auction house Phillips.

The watch was described as ’an incredibly rare and attractive rectangular white gold wristwatch with retrograde date’. Estimates for the watch ranged between 40,000 and 80,000 Swiss Francs, that’s approximately £30,000 to £60,000. In fact the watch’s final total sale price was 541,800 Swiss francs (approximately £430,000).

The watch was made in 2005 when it sold for £12,000.

From his base in the north of the island the horologist confirmed it was the biggest sale yet for one of his watches.

He said: ’This is a landmark moment for my work.’

What makes the sale even more remarkable is that the watch sold for more than Mr Smith’s most recent work.

Earlier this year he unveiled his 100th handmade watch which costs around £340,000.

Mr Smith told the Manx Independent: ’This sale outstrips the sale of any of my other watches.

’I believe the watch has been sold to a collector in Asia.

’It is great to know there is so much interest in my watches around the world - many people look on them as being like pieces of art.’

Mr Smith added: ’Periodically, one of my watches comes available for auction and, very rarely, it happens to be one of the more significant pieces I’ve made during my career.

’When our friends at Phillips informed me that the sole White Gold Series 1 "Theo Fennell" edition had been offered for auction, I was intrigued and felt I should share the news with my clients.’

He added: ’As this watch is the only Series 1 in white gold made, it is truly unique. This is a very rare moment.’

Mr Smith explained: ’As one of my earliest watches, the Series 1 was heavily inspired by George Daniels’ work and I really wanted to exemplify the rectangular design that was very popular at the time of the build.

’This particular watch displays an intricate guilloché dial, retrograde date and a rectangular movement with my typical English finish, with frosted and gilded plates, gold chatons and heat coloured screws.’

The horologist, whose business, Roger W.Smith Ltd, has been based in the north of the island for 20 years, was honoured with the OBE for his ’outstanding services to watchmaking’ in 2018.

He moved to the island in 1998 and worked with his mentor, the late acclaimed watchmaker George Daniels, before setting up on his own and launching his own business in 2001.

He has received congratulatory messages from watch fans around the world.

One thing is for certain - this auction sale underlines the reputation and esteem of Mr Smith in the world of watchmaking. One expert said: ’While we were expecting a large sum, this is certainly a result beyond our expectations.’