A Very Special Custom Commission - The RGM Model 25 “Kauai”

Last year we started talking with our client about a watch he wanted to make with the Island of Kauai on the dial. After a few conversations and some brainstorming, we helped him with the design concept and the end result was one of the most stunning custom pieces we have ever made.

We recommend a multi-piece dial the gives depth and helps with the transition of color and techniques. Engine-turning was used to give the look of water, we also did it in a random way to help with the waves being more natural-looking. The island itself is slightly taller than the engine-turned water and is engraved with the map details, it also has a solid gold setting holding a small diamond to mark the city of our clients choice.

We also thought engraved solid rose gold plaques screwed to the dial would be a beautiful way to show the island name and of course RGM.

For reading the time we have classic blued steel Breguet style hands, and in the track, we have four roman numerals and diamond-shaped five-minute markers. The watch is a customized version of our RGM Model 25 with a solid rose gold winding rotor.

The end result of the watch exceeded our client’s expectations, we hope he has many years of enjoyment wearing his custom RGM watch.


Link to Article SJX did on this watch - Click Here

RGM Team

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Teddy Baldassarre Visits RGM (See Video)

We had a very nice visit from Teddy Baldassarre a few weeks ago and showed him many of the things we do when making our watches. Teddy and his team did a great job creating the video below. Enjoy

The Story Behind 3 Different RGM Tourbillon Models

RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon (In-House Movement)

Here at RGM, we have had an interest in tourbillon watches for a long time. Most followers of RGM know about our in-house movement Pennsylvania tourbillon, the first tourbillon watch made in America in a series, but most are not aware of the other 2 models we made.

RGM Model 104-T (Lemania Movement)

The first RGM tourbillon model 104-T was made in the mid 1990’s and it was fitted with a Lemania movement, gold case, and of course a real engine-turned dial.

This was a very beautiful limited edition watch of 15 pieces, but only about 7 were made in rose gold, we also made one or two in white gold.

801 Tourbillon - Unique Piece (In-House w/Habring cage)

Around 2007 we wanted to introduce another RGM tourbillon, we had some talks with Richard Habring and we decided to make a prototype watch with his flying tourbillon cage. We modified one of our Caliber 801 movements by making a new main-plate and a few other parts, then the Habring cage was fitted to our movement.

Only one watch was made because by the time it was finished we had already decided we needed to have an in-house tourbillon cage and movement, so we abandoned the Habring project and put our efforts into making the Pennsylvania tourbillon here in the USA. The Pennsylvania tourbillon was released in 2010.

Links of interest

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Pennsylvania Tourbillon

Podcast with RGM's Roland Murphy

Independent Thinking - Roland G Murphy of @rgmwatches talks independent watchmaking and American horology‬

Fifth Wrist Radio

‎Link - Fifth Wrist Radio: Independent Thinking -

Another episode of the Independent Thinking Show for FifthWrist Radio. This is a place dedicate to showcasing the great people doing interesting and cool things in the world of horology.

Host: Roman (@TimesRomanAU) and Adam (@mediumwatch)

Guest: Roland G Murphy (@rgmwatches)

In this episode, we chat with a very special guest - American independent watchmaker Roland G Murphy of RGM Watch Company.

Join us for a conversation about independent watchmaking, American horological history, the art of engine-turning; and Roland’s forthright advice for watchmakers and collectors based on his nearly 30-year career as an independent horologist.

If you are passionate about watches, horological art and independent watchmaking – you do not want miss this one!

Shout-outs in this episode to friend of Fifth Wrist Radio: Jochen Benzinger (@benzingerwatches), David Walter (@davide.walter) and Joshua Shapiro (@jnshapiro_watches).

Recommendations from this episode

Roland: Book: “American Watchmaking: A Technical History of the American Watch Industry, 1850-1930” by Michael C Harrold

Adam: Otto Frei Store (https://www.ottofrei.com/)

Roman: @apam002

Follow Roland on Instagram @rgmwatches or rgmwatches.com

New Theme Music for 2021: Circle Round by Spinning Clocks (via YouTube Free Music Channel)

Follow us on Instagram: @FifthWrist

Fifth Wrist website and Fifth Wrist Radio podcast are projects run entirely by a bunch of enthusiasts, watchmakers and collectors. We pride ourselves on being by the watch community and for the watch community. We have zero sponsorship or advertising and welcome all honest and unbiased opinions. We reject all forms of outside brand intervention and take no cash, watches or other goods from watch companies.

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RGM Adds New Vintage Inspired Chronograph to Collection - Pre-Order Yours

RGM introduces the Model 600 Chronograph

The Model 600’s design was inspired by military and pilot chronographs of the 1960s and ‘70s. The dial’s military aesthetic makes it easy to read; the time and chronograph functions are legible with a simple glance at the wrist.

Each detail was carefully crafted to reflect the appeal of vintage military watches, including the general layout, and replicating numerical fonts to achieve a bona fide military chronograph look. The dial and hands feature X1 SuperLumaNova for low-light visibility. As an homage to vintage design, we opted to forgo including a calendar or display case-back.

The Model 600 is RGM’s first production model with a box-style raised sapphire crystal, bolstering the classic design element and allowing for a slimmer profile.

The watch will be available at the End of May 2021, and to reward you for the wait anyone who pre orders the Model 600 before the end of May will receive the following extra perks.

Pre Orders only get:

  1. -Extra strap - you will get a Brown and a Black strap

  2. -3 year warranty in place of the standard 2 year warranty

  3. -RGM watch related gifts

Price $4250.

Click here for link to Model 600 Webpage

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We have a new RGM chronograph coming!

This new RGM chronograph will have an automatic Valjoux 7753 movement and will be 42mm in diameter. It will be the first RGM series piece with a raised sapphire box style crystal.

More news soon!

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New Dial Colors for the RGM Model 500-GMT

Model 500-GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

The Model 500-GMT is the first RGM with a bi-directional-turning GMT bezel. The watch is designed as a sport watch that is also ideal for travel when using the 24-hour GMT hand and bezel.

Now we have added two more dial colors to widen the appeal of this beautiful sport/tool watch. We have chosen a matte gray and green dial, and added rhodium finished hands. These new models also have a world map engraved on the case-back. You might also notice the GMT hand is also new, making these new versions much different then the Richard Sachs version that is still available.

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The Missing RGM Watch Made for Terry Bradshaw


A few years ago we were approached by a representative of the Friars Club to make a watch for football legend Terry Bradshaw. The watch had to be ready before Super Bowl XLIX, so that it could be gifted to him in Arizona that week.

Unfortunately, it seemed like the entire country was battling some kind of inclement weather, and Terry’s arrival in Arizona was delayed. The Friars Club decided that they would have to reschedule the surprise presentation, and determined that it would be presented to him at an upcoming luncheon in New York.

We found out many months later the watch was missing and no one knew what happen to it. Presumably it was lost or stolen in Arizona during pre-game Super Bowl festivities that week.

Knowing that Terry would never receive this watch, disappointment set in at RGM. This is the first time we are showing full photos of the custom RGM 151 bearing Terry Bradshaw’s signature on the dial.

Special Offer for our Followers

Special offer for our followers-

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Order any RGM watch before the end of the year and receive the following.


1. 3 year warranty.

2. An extra strap.

3. RGM goodies.


Just mention this special offer when placing an order.





The New RGM Model 207 Replaces the Old Model 107

New RGM Model 207

The Model 107 was the oldest watch in our line dating back to around 1997. The new 207 is the same diameter as the 107 at 35mm, but it’s a bit thicker ( 7.5 mm to 8.8mm) to accommodate a better construction that will also allow for more custom dials of a greater thickness.

The new Model 207 case has a larger crown for ease of winding and setting. The case changes make it easier for us to refinish and service the watch, which is a big improvement for the customer and the watchmaker.

The movement and the dials are the same and we will be adding new dial options over the next few years, and of course we can always work on a custom dial option.

Click here for the Model 207 page

Old Model RGM 107

WatchTime Live, Today Thru Saturday

You can see RGM’s Roland Murphy on Saturday

2:00pm | The Future of Watchmaking

Moderated by Roger Ruegger with

Joe Kirk, Grand Seiko Brand Curator

Roland Murphy, Founder & Watchmaker RGM Watches

Tickets: https://www.watchtimeevents.com/

You can see the full weeks schedule here, https://www.watchtimeevents.com/schedule

October 21-24, 2020
Wednesday 5pm EDT

Thursday - Saturday | Panels start at 9am EDT

 Bringing the watch community together

We are very excited to keep the connection between collectors and watch brands strong this year.

 

WatchTime LIVE brings the best of WatchTime's live events to you in a new virtual format featuring watch brand presentations, industry panel discussions, and interactive conversations between collectors and brands.

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  • WatchTime Live is accessible from anywhere in the world! The event
    will be live streaming via ZOOM so please have the most updated version
    on your device.

RGM adds new Railroad dial version to the Model 222-RR series

Type II Montgomery Marginal Minute Dial

Model 222-RR (Railroad)

Inspired by America's Great Railroad Watches from the Past

The Model 222-RR is a modern wristwatch with a vintage heart, featuring a Hamilton 10 sized pocket watch movement. RGM was the first to use these wonderful classic movements in a wristwatch.  Our vintage Hamilton movements are rebuilt using parts that are in optimum condition, including a new mainspring made for this movement. We flat polish the steel parts by hand on a tin block to better-than-original condition. The entire process of careful reassembly to precise adjustment of the movement is managed by one watchmaker. The grade 921 movement has 21 jewels and was made in large quantities; the grade 923 has 23 jewels and is rare, with less than 4,000 movements manufactured.

The Grand Feu Real Enamel dial is modeled after American railroad watches from the past. The blued-steel hands remain true to the classic form and the 1:30 crown position pays homage to early 20th century timepieces. It’s also very natural to read the time when worn on the left wrist.

New Dial Version - Type II MONTGOMERY MARGINAL MINUTE STYLE DIAL

Henry S. Montgomery was the General Watch & Clock Inspector of the AT&SF Railroad from 1896 to 1923. Mr. Montgomery patented his first marginal minute safety dial design Type-I around 1906. RGM’s dial is inspired by the rare Type-II dial variation that was patented in 1920.

Patent Drawing from 1920

A Montgomery dial displays minutes 1-60 along the outer edge, with every fifth number in red. Some collectors say that a "true" Montgomery dial must have an hour number 6 visible inside the seconds register. Dials approved for use on the railroads needed to be functional and readable, even under adverse conditions. Most American watch companies used Montgomery dials on many of their railroad-grade watches.

LINK TO WEBPAGE CLICK HERE

Last week, WatchTime launched its first virtual event: “An Hour up Close with Three of the World’s Leading Indies”

Last week, WatchTime launched its first virtual event: “An Hour up Close with Three of the World’s Leading Indies” moderated by our longtime event partner and close friend Jeff Kingston. The virtual event included brand presentations, industry panel discussions, and a live Q&A with watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, founder of the Geneva-based MB&F brand Maximilian Büsser, and WOSTEP-trained watchmaker and founder of RGM Watch Company, Roland G. Murphy. 

After three presentations — on movement development, the re-introduction of traditional American designs, and the tribulations of being an independent watchmaker — the discussion began, in which attendees from across the globe were able to ask a series of questions, on topics ranging from how to make it as an independent watchmaker to where each panelist’s love of horology began. If you were unable to attend the live webcast, the full video discussion is below.