America-Based RGM Watch Company Unveils 25th Anniversary Watches

You may recall a few weeks ago we encouraged those in or visiting America to go out to Mount Joy, PA, for the 25^th anniversary of American watch brand RGM. Some of you attended that weekend event on September 15 and 16, and from what we understand you were treated to not only a grand tour of the workshops but also the unveiling of three new RGM anniversary watches and a new RGM caliber. Among the watches:

The RGM Chess Enamel, introduced earlier this year

For the unveiling of the new timepieces, Roland Murphy, owner of RGM chose the nearby NAWCC Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, as the setting. There, the first watch he introduced for the brand’s anniversary – a special chess-inspired piece that was unveiled earlier this year – was also on display. After an impressive guided tour by Murphy, wherein he showed off his favorite clocks and watches in the museum that inspire him, he unveiled the new watches and the new caliber.

The new Central-Second Calibre RGM 801SW

The 801SW caliber is the fourth in-house-made movement from RGM. It features a center sweep second hand and is a new version of the original RGM 801 movement. The caliber, inspired by America’s great watchmaking history, is built using a newly devised main-plate in order to accommodate the center seconds function and to make servicing of the watch easier.

For this caliber, Murphy reconfigured the typical movement with center second. Whereas most center second movements are equipped with a wheel that is friction fit onto a pivot from the third wheel coming through the bridge, the RGM 801SW caliber combines the third wheel and the sweep drive wheel on the arbor – sitting under the bridge. This double wheel system eliminates the friction wheel method. According to Murphy, even though the new system requires more components and assembly, it is a more reliable construction and makes for better full servicing of the watch.

The RGM 801SW-COE Watch

Recalling the past, the RGM 801SW features bridges inspired by the “Edward Howard” model made by Keystone Howard Watch Company and a winding click inspired by the “Illini” watch by Illinois Watch Company. Murphy selected its beloved Corps of Engineers family of watches to house the newest 801SW caliber in. The regular 801-COE watches have a similar look – with outer minute track and outlined stylized numbers – but the new 801SW-COE model with large blued steel center second hand against the white Grand Feu enamel dial just gives the watch a bit more “attitude.”

This 42mm watch is being crafted in brushed 316L stainless steel and features a sapphire crystal and case back. It is finished with a rugged, vintage-looking brown leather strap.

The RGM Model 222-RR RailRoad Watch

In addition to the new caliber and the 801SW-COE watch, and easily our favorite piece (in terms of looks) of the four watches created for the anniversary, is the Model 222-RR (Railroad), which captivates and delights us with its vintage looks. The round dial features an offset 12:00 position on the dial and the crown is offset at 1:30 on the 41mm stainless steel case. Inspired by the Boxcar style American railroad watches of yesteryear, this watch is a tribute to timepieces of a century ago.

The white railroad-themed Grand Feu enamel dial contrasts magnificently with the blue outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial at 6:00 with blue numbers and markers, blue numerals and blued steel hands. The Model 222-RR is powered by restored Hamilton movements, either the manual wind Hamilton 921 or 923 calibers – much like the other watches in the RGM 222 line. Each Hamilton movement is rebuilt using parts in the finest condition and each component is hand polished on a tin block. The 921 movement, with 21 jewels, is fairly plentiful, while the 923 movement, with 23 jewels, is less abundant, as fewer than 4,000 pieces were ever made.

The RGM Model 25 Guilloche

Of course, any anniversary of significance from RGM would not be complete without one classic timepiece, and so Murphy doesn’t disappoint his followers. The Model 25 watch is a statement of elegance and timelessness thanks to the 40mm coin-edged case (similar to the brand’s Pennsylvania series watches) and the stunning dials. The center of each hand-cut dial features an engine-turned motif done by hand in the RGM workshops.

Some Examples of the Model 25 watches, with Guilloche dial

Rose engines and hand-turned designs are a speciality of RGM. Each dial is a unique work of art because each is made by hand individually. The Model 25 watches are offered with different guilloche patterns such as barley, moray and spiral guilloche and in a variety of metallic galvanic colors, ranging from silver to copper and beautiful royal blue. The 40 mm stainless steel cases for this series are made in America and the movements are Swiss ETA 2892-A2 automatics movements with hour, minute, second and – on certain models – date function.

Roland Murphy demonstrating the art of Guilloche

With the unveiling of these new watches, the new caliber and the Chess watch unveiled earlier this year, RGM reaches another new milestone. The 25-year-old American brand has never introduced so many models in a single year – making this a banner celebration. www.rgmwatches.com.

This article has been written by Roberta Naas, founder of watch-magazine A Timely Perspective. Roberta is also the author of six books on watches.