A top UK watchmaker based in the island is working on a ’ground-breaking’ design to create the ’perfect’ watch.

Roger Smith OBE announced at the British Government’s ’Designing Our Future’ trade and technology show in New York that he is working on a watch that will never need to be serviced again.

The horologist has been working with experts at Manchester Metropolitan University using nano technology to remove the need for oils as lubricants in watches.

’The potential is quite staggering and it’s actually about lubrication rather than mechanics,’ said Mr Smith.

’Once you’ve optimised the mechanics of a watch, you still have to address the deterioration of lubricant oils. It’s a centuries old barrier to progress.

’Even as far back as the 18th century the great watchmaker, Breguet, recognised this fundamental problem when he said; "Show me the perfect lubricant and I will show you the perfect watch!".’

Within the past year, Roger Smith’s workshop - based in the north of the island - has collaborated with Dr Samuel Rowley-Neale and Dr Michael Down, who are two research associates at the Manchester Univerity leading in the field of nano-materials.

With promising results, the team believes the potential impact of their work on the industry could be ’far reaching’.

’The science is proven by Manchester Metropolitan University and we’re already creating the parts which will have the nano-coatings applied,’ Mr Smith said.

Dr Rowley-Neale announced that the new watch will be working within six months and will have completed testing in 12 months.

The ’Designing Our Future’ event features the UK’s advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainable urban transport and ageing.

Those who attended Mr Smith’s panel - which was moderated by Sophie Bushwick of technical editor of Scientific American Magazine - included Nick Manousos from Hodinkee magazine and Paige Reddinger from The Robb Report.