RGM Caliber 20 Watch Review

IN 1992, an independent watchmaker set up shop in Lancaster County, Penn., and began writing a new chapter in America’s horological history. Twenty years later, that chapter had become a book, and last year Roland Murphy celebrated his first two decades with his third in-house movement, known as Caliber 20. At this year’s Geneva Time Exhibition, Murphy revealed his fully formed vision: Caliber 20 cased up and ready to go.

Murphy endows each of his in-house movements with a symbolic name. His first, Caliber 801, was taken from his company’s location in a former bank building at 801 West Main Street in Mount Joy, Penn. His second, the Pennsylvania Tourbillon, requires no explanation. Caliber 20 of course represents his 20th anniversary, and it’s not just a pretty face; it’s powered by a little-known American contribution to fine watch- making.

During the horological Jurassic period when large American railroad-grade pocketwatches ruled the planet, some of the finest, made by Hamilton and Illinois, incorporated an American invention known as the motor barrel. The barrel’s design represented an important advance – one that was almost lost to time.

In a movement, the mainspring barrel is where torque and friction are at their highest. The motor barrel fights these forces of evil with jewels and a modified construction. In a motor barrel, the barrel arbor is jeweled to the plate and bridge and to the barrel case as well. Murphy says the result allows the main- spring barrel to function more like a normal wheel turning between jewels. Murphy also fixes part of the arbor to the barrel, increasing stability. When he restores 100-year-old pocketwatches with motor barrels, Murphy says he finds no significant wear.

The rest of Caliber 20 lives up to the motor barrel’s standards. The move- ment, which is manually wound, runs in 22 jewels at a classic 18,000 vph. The mainplate and bridges are German silver with hand-applied anglage, circular côtes de Genève and perlage. The bridges have lyrical shapes with inside angles that highlight the craftsman’s skill. The open space between the bridges reveals an oversize screwed balance.

On the other side, the solid silver dial is available in skeletonized (shown) and full guilloché versions, both created by RGM. Blued steel hands with keystone- shaped tips – unique to RGM – indicate the hours and minutes. A rotating disk in the dial’s top right corner marks the passing seconds, while in the lower left corner, a precise moon-phase indicator with blue accents tracks the lunar phases. The polished stainless-steel case, also made in the RGM atelier, measures 42.5 by 38.5 by 9.7 mm, with sapphire crys- tals front and back.

Available on a brown or black Louisiana alligator strap, Caliber 20 starts at $19,500, and, like most of Murphy’s creations, it can be customized.