Daniel Roth is one of the earliest pioneers of independent watchmaking in the 20th century. His attractive and radical watches are now being featured in headline auctions like Phillips; prices will continue to rise as Roth's importance becomes more widely appreciated.

While F.-P. Journe was still at school, Roth was already at work revitalising Breguet, where he developed two perpetual calendars and the open-dial tourbillon that later became his signature piece.

Our "Seconds at 6 O'Clock" is from the second series of Roth's production, from 1995–1998. His solid 18ct gold hand-made "double ellipse" case houses an early calibre (self-winding Lemania base '1918') and features the low serial number 18, indicating that this watch is from 1995.

Hand-engine turned dial in an attractive anthracite "pinstripe guilloché". Flame-blued hands with black-polished arrowheads and seconds counterpoise, all in an acknowledged Daniels pattern. Original 18ct Daniel Roth signed buckle on alligator strap.

Along with Dufour, Journe, Andersen, Daners and Daniels, Roth is one of the handful of makers whose names stand above the industrialised horology of their era. Roth was bought out by Bulgari in the year 2000. This distinctive example comes from the tiny number of watches made during the short time when he was still at the helm with his original vision.