The latest stamps from the Post Office celebrate the island’s links with watchmakers.

Three watchmakers - John Harwood, George Daniels and Dr Roger W Smith OBE, who all called the Isle of Man their home - and their luxurious timepieces feature on the six stamps.

John Harwood (1893-1964) settled in the Isle of Man after returning from the First World War to work in a Douglas workshop repairing wristwatches.

It was here that he invented the first self-winding wristwatch for which he was awarded a patent in 1924. His 1929 model ’The Automatic’ was produced on the Isle of Man and is depicted on the 62p stamp.

One of the greatest watchmakers of the modern era, George Daniels (1926-2011), had his breakthrough with the invention of the co-axial escapement, ultimately resulting in increasing the efficiency of the mechanism.

It is considered by many to be the most important development in horology in 250 years.

Sotheby’s London sold Daniels’s ’Space Traveller’s Watch I’ in 2019 for the sum of £3,615,000 making it one of the most expensive watches ever sold.

The author of ’Watchmaking’ and several other books is depicted on two of the six stamps and shares a third one of them with Roger Smith OBE, who wrote the issue text for this collection.

Dr Smith’s horological career began, aged 16, at the Manchester School of Horology. He graduated top of his class and was awarded the British Horological Institute’s bronze medal, which is awarded to the most outstanding graduating student of any given year.

During the course, Dr George Daniels, attended as a visiting speaker and inspired Dr Smith’s ambition to hand-make watches.

After eventually working alongside Dr Daniels to create the Millennium Series of watches, Dr Smith established his own studio in the Isle of Man in 2001.

Carrying on the legacy of the Daniels Method of watchmaking with his own individual style, over the years Dr Smith has been recognised by receiving numerous awards and honours including the Barrett Silver Medal and was also awarded an OBE in 2018.

In 2019, Dr Smith announced a collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University to develop the world’s first mechanical watch using nano-materials.

Dr Smith said: ’[The stamp issue] reminds us not just about the achievements of John Harwood and George Daniels, but also the Isle of Man as a very special place in the pantheon of horological invention.’

Maxine Cannon, general manager Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, said: ’We are proud to be able to showcase another facet of our island with this landmark stamp issue.

’It is incredible to think that some of the horological society’s most highly rated master watchmakers were connected to the Isle of Man in such an inextricable way.

’Our gratitude goes out to Roger W Smith OBE and Alastair Audsley whose contributions and support were invaluable in the creation of this stamp issue.’