We have added an optional bezel that is polished and has a different design, it gives the model 400 chronographs a little dresser look. You can also get an optional Onion crown to go along with the polished bezel if you desire.
Of course many people prefer the standard bezel and crown as it gives the watch a more technical look.
We are all about options here at RGM!
Following up on the success of our 801-COE we decided to introduce a smaller automatic version of the Corps of Engineers design. A perfect complement to its bigger brother, the 151-COE has many of the same design features that made the 801-COE so great, like the real glass Grand Feu enamel dial and classic style blued steel hands. The 151-COE also has a beautiful RGM-made solid gold rotor specifically designed for this model.
Click Here For More Information
The inspiration:
When the United States joined “The Great War” in April 1917, British and French governments made the arrival of American engineers their top priority. By the end of August 1917, nine newly organized engineer railway regiments, recruited largely from the nation’s private railway workers, had arrived in France. Since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had adopted the General Railroad Timepiece Standards of 1893, they brought with them about 1,000 American-made Hamilton railroad watches that met those standards. Each watch incorporated several technical features to ensure easy winding, legibility and accuracy to within 30 seconds a week. In an effort to reduce reliance on transAtlantic shipping routes, the AEF Quartermaster Corps chose to procure more watches from within Europe, ordering from several Swiss companies.
When we worked on the design of the Caliber 20 movement I knew I wanted something very special. I have always loved shaped movements from the first time as a young watchmaker I restored a few classic ones. First was the Hamilton 980, 982, and the best of the three the 982M.
They are wonderful little barrel shaped movements and the early 982M's had a real solid gold medallion set into the bridge. Of course I have one in my collection.
Then one day many years ago I received the first watch I would work on with the classic Patek movement caliber 9-90. This is another favorite in the shaped movement category.
So when designing the Caliber 20 I wanted a few special features and I wanted a larger movement then these old favorites. I also wanted beautiful shapes and curves. I am totally happy with the beauty and quality of our movement and I think it can stand with the best in the world.
We had been wanting to use the "Motor-Barrel" system that were in many of the highest grade American Railroad watches, so this was the movement to start with. We also incorporated a precise moonphase, and the seconds on a disc. Click here for more information on the Caliber 20.
Now I have my own classic shaped movement!
Regards,
Roland
For the first time we have added a store to the RGM webiste, now you can order some accessories online. We have some straps, buckles, and other items online now. Over time we will be adding more items. Not every item will be on the store, so some strap models and other parts will have to be requested thru email.
Let us know what you think.
Click here for Accessory store page
RGM
If you are considering a 151-P or 151-B you might consider the optional vintage (cathedral) style hands that are available in place of the hands we normally put on these models. We also have an optional onion style crown that can be used on any 151 model. These two options give the 151 a very vintage feel.
Optional vintage (cathedral) style hands for the 151 models are available in three finishes. Silver Rhodium (pictured), White, or Black.
Here the 151-B is shown with and without these options.
RGM
Every so often we will make a basic instruction video to help people understand how to properly use their watch. These videos are also useful for repair customers as well us ones who are not familiar with using mechanical watches.
Below are a few I have made so far, feel free to share them.
Best Regards,
Roland
This is the second custom watch we have made using this historic and very rare caliber, the famous Peseux 260. Here is a link to the first one we made "Click Here"
This one has a real glass "Grand Feu" enamel dial. The movement has been re-staffed, serviced, and a new mainspring fitted. We also hand polished "Black Polish" all the steel screws and other parts on a tin block. The final result is a very special no excuse watch that you could be proud to show any watch enthusiast or expert!
We also made a dummy movement to hold the original dial and hands in the chronometer testing case. The movement could be put back in the original case at anytime if desired.
The dial:
Grand Feu (French for “Great Fire”) technique was uses to make the enamel dial. Creating an enamel watch dial is a high-risk art. Enameling is a technique in which colored powdered glass is applied to a metal plate. The surface is then heated to a temperature high enough to cause the powdered glass to melt and form a new surface. The Grand Feu technique ups the stakes. The repeated baking of successive layers of enamel at extremely high temperatures ensures a uniquely crisp aesthetic while permanently setting the enamel. Using such high heat to create these beautiful dials also poses a risk: each time it is re-fired, the danger of cracking, melting or burning increases. With great risk comes great reward - the appearance of a real glass enamel dial is unmistakable!
http://www.fashionbeans.com/2016/best-american-watch-brands/
Some things are iconically, unmistakably American. Menswear staples like jeans, the MA-1 bomber jacket and the Woolrich flannel shirt all have their roots in the land of the free. But watches? The Swiss clinched that one, right?
Well, yes and no. While most watch enthusiasts will point you towards the Matterhorn when asked for their recommendations on the most haute in horology (and they’re not wrong), the US can still fight its corner.
Prior to World War II, America was actually considered a world leader in watchmaking, producing timepieces just as finely finished and functional as their British and Swiss counterparts, but at a much higher yield and for a fraction of the cost. And today, although it’s been some time since the home of the brave had anything homegrown worth flying its flag for, stateside watchmakers are putting it right back on the map.
These are the names to know:
Founded in 1992 by US watchmaker Roland G. Murphy, Lancaster, PA-based RGM Watch Company produced the first in-house American-made movement for four decades – the RGM Caliber 801 – in 2008.
Riding on the success of that breakthrough, the company has continued to roll out new models – each new timepiece featuring the extraordinarily deft Guilloché (engine-turning) work that not only ranks RGM top of the class at home in the states, but also sees it hold its own among Swiss competitors, too.
Also known as the first serially produced tourbillon made in North America, this watch lets you fully appreciate RGM’s in-house signature movement and the guilloché that’s made its name in watchmaking.
$95,000 in stainless steel, rgmwatches.com
Most of the 801 models we make are in stainless steel, but we also make them in solid gold. Pictured here is a PS-801-E with an 18k rose gold case. The dial of course is solid silver and Engine-Turned by hand. The blued steel hands are a very nice compliment to the gold and silver.
Just as a side note the first 4 years or so of RGM we only made solid gold or platinum watches, we did not make a stainless steel RGM until the mid 90's. We offered our first Titanium case in the late 2000's, our model 151.
RGM has announced a new model in its automatic pilots’ watch lineup – RGM Model 151-PR “Professional Pilot.”
This new model has a very technical but traditional pilot style dial with large Super-Luminova numbers for low light visibility. Two versions are available: one with a date window at 3 o’clock and a more period look without a date. The dial displays hours 1 thru 12 and the minutes 5 thru 60. The dial and second hand have red accents which blend nicely with the classic rhodium finished sword style hands.
A prominent element of all 151 models is the American-made case, in stainless steel or titanium. Each case part is cut from a solid block of 316L surgical stainless steel or aircraft quality titanium. The 151-PR is a functional, technical and aesthetically pleasing pilot watch which fits very comfortably on the wrist. It is a welcome addition to the RGM 151 lineup of technical Pilot watches.
In the early 1990's when we first started we only made solid gold watches for the first few years. The first box we put these watches in were made in Italy by Scatola del Tempo. I loved the feel and smell of those beautiful hand made leather boxes. We stopped using them after 5 years or so because they changed their distribution in the USA and it was not working out for us. I looked into using them again from time to time but did not find the right box, that is until a few months back when they showed me this wonderful piece of leather art. I am happy to be working with them again after all these years!
The new box is as beautiful as the first ones we used years ago. Even though it is very different from our first ones it's just what I was looking for. I don't like most of the huge boxes you see that come with many high end watches today. Once you open it up what do you do with it?
In the 1940's high grade watch boxes were not big. They were small but well made, and practical too, as you could travel with them or keep a watch in a dresser drawer. I wanted that type of useful quality box for our watches.
The new RGM Scatola del Tempo leather box will be used for our American made models, some custom watches, and a few others. It can also be purchased separately.
Regards,
Roland
The model 107 was the first RGM watch made with a stainless case, before the 107 all RGM watches were solid gold, or platinum. It is also the watch that has been in our lineup longest, since the mid to late 90's.
Now you can choose from the long standing black dial, or the new deep blue dial.
It's a great watch for those with a smaller wrist, or for women who like a watch that is easy to read.
Below are some of the specs.
Movement Caliber: RGM-ETA 2892-A2 - Automatic, 21 jewels, 28,800 vph. Rhodium finish - Cote de Geneve lines and perlage
Functions: Hour / Minute / Second / Date on some models
Case: 316L Stainless Steel, 35.0 mm x 7.5 mm. Sapphire crystal front and back, 18 mm lug width and water-resistant to 5-ATM.
Weight: 0.0 oz. (with Stainless Steel Bracelet : 0.0 oz.)
Since we started offering the Motor Barrel system from the caliber 20 on the caliber 801 we have had several people order it. It works very well, and looks so classic! Compare the pictures below of the caliber 801 with motor barrel, to the Illinois Sangamo Special with motor barrel.
The Motor Barrel is an old American system used in the highest grade Railroad watches like the Illinois Bunn Special and the Hamilton 950. The Motor Barrel allows the mainspring barrel to ride between jewels when the watch is running. In America's great watchmaking past there were two Motor Barrel types: one protected the movement if the mainspring broke; a later system reduced wear and friction, and made a more stable barrel in the movement. We use the later system. Prior to the Caliber 20, the last watch with a Motor Barrel was made more than 50 years ago.
We have a few dials with an off white color that were made years ago for a custom version. We do not have the black hour and minute hand. You can have the Rhodium hands, or we can paint the hour and minute and replace the lume. So now there are three dial options, the Black or off white GMT, and the silver Engine-Turned dial.
This 18K solid gold watch was made for a customer who wanted the second timezone that could be set easily by turning the crown. It has a hand cut Engine-Turned dial that has a galvanic treatment to make it black. The movement is automatic with a GMT dial at 6 and a big date. It makes a great travel watch for those who frequent different time-zones.
Recently MyWatchLifestyle.com visted RGM and made the video below. They did a very nice job to help show what goes on at RGM, I want to personally thank them. Best Regads, Roland
We make many custom watches here at RGM, but we also personalize many of our models, there are many options depending on the watch and what you want to put on it.
Etching Crystal: We use a local glass company to etch the inside of the case-back crystal. We cannot do very fine detail but many things can be done, it's a very subtle way to personalize your watch.
Full Engraved Case-Back: For some models we have some full case-backs that can be engraved with very detailed engraving. We can create almost any type of artwork. It can be hand engraved or deep laser engraved.
Engraved Dial: We can also create a work of art on the dial, you come up with the idea and we can make it happen. Hand engraving is mostly used in this application.
Engraved Case-Side or Back: We can personalize your watch with engraving on the side of the case, or around the edge of the case-back depending on the model.
Custom Dial Printing: If you do not want o make a new dial we can print on existing dials, you can personalize your watch where you can see it all day. Not all models have room for this but many do.
For a fraction of the cost to make a full custom watch you can personalize many RGM models. If you nee more information contact us here at RGM.
We did not get the 10 orders we needed, but we have made the decision to go ahead so we can take care of the clients who have placed orders for these watches. We will keep the opportunity open since we will have some movements.
We have found parts to build a small quantity of the RGM Model 110-A and the 110-A GMT, we have dials, cases, and hands. The one part we need is the movement. I have a found a source for some remaining movements so we have decided to offer them to our RGM Family of followers and clients.
If we can sell 10 watches we can make this happen, that's the minimum quantity of movements we can buy.
The 110-A Alarm watches have a very vintage feel to them, with the serpentine alarm hand to the buzz of the mechanical alarm. The 110A-GMT Alarm version has a classic pilot look with the addition of the useful GMT function in a window, and the easy readability of a black dial.
My friend and RGM client Awadagin Pratt is one of the most talented people I know. He's such an artist with the piano, I love to watch him play and see how he brings to life each piece of music. He's truly a master at his craft! During a recent trip to Pennsylvania he sat down and talked a little about how he found out about RGM, and how we met years ago.
Awadaigin is a very accomplished musician and artist, in fact he has played for the President, and even been on Sesame Street!
The watch Awadagin is wearing is an RGM PS-801-EE.
All the Best, Roland
Below is the video and a little of his biography from his website www.awadagin.com
Among his generation of concert artists, pianist Awadagin Pratt is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involving performances in recital and with symphony orchestras.
Born in Pittsburgh, Awadagin Pratt began studying piano at the age of six. Three years later, having moved to Normal, Illinois with his family, he also began studying violin. At the age of 16 he entered the University of Illinois where he studied piano, violin, and conducting. He subsequently enrolled at the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he became the first student in the school's history to receive diplomas in three performance areas - piano, violin and conducting. In recognition of this achievement and for his work in the field of classical music, Mr. Pratt recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Johns Hopkins.