Daniel Roth 'Mid 1st Series'

Before independent watchmaking became an industry unto itself, Daniel Roth was helping define what it could look like. After formative years at Audemars Piguet and a remarkable fourteen-year tenure at Breguet, Roth established his namesake manufacture in 1989, becoming one of the earliest modern watchmakers to put his own name, aesthetic, and ideas directly on the dial.

The Reference 2157, appearing in catalogs around 1992–1993, comes from this fascinating early period. Collectors have come to classify it as part of Roth’s “Mid-1st Series,” alongside the slightly larger Reference 2167. While conceived with more compact, broadly wearable proportions than pieces such as the 2187 Tourbillon and 2147 Chronograph, it retains the design codes that make early Daniel Roth watches immediately recognizable.

Most obvious is Roth’s signature double-ellipse case, a shape somewhere between a rectangle, an oval, and something entirely his own. The dial is equally distinctive, with its vertically striped Ligné decoration, circular Roman-numeral chapter ring, dotted minute track, and blued hands. This particular example is especially appealing in yellow gold, which gives the idiosyncratic case architecture an appropriately rich early-1990s presence. A navy alligator leather strap keeps the focus squarely on that unmistakable dial and case.

Today, Daniel Roth’s earliest independent work occupies an increasingly important place in modern horological history. The 2157 is particularly interesting: less complicated than the celebrated tourbillons and chronographs, perhaps, but an unusually pure expression of Roth’s visual language from the period when that language was still being invented. Early independent watchmaking, distilled to its essentials. So elegant! 

Daniel Roth is one of the defining figures of modern independent watchmaking. A master watchmaker trained in the Vallée de Joux, Roth built his reputation restoring and developing complicated movements at Audemars Piguet before joining Breguet in the 1970s. There, he played a pivotal role in reviving the historic house and reintroducing many of the classical design codes collectors now associate with Breguet.

In 1989, Roth launched his own manufacture, becoming one of the earliest pioneers of the modern independent watch movement. His watches were instantly recognizable thanks to the signature double-ellipse case, hand-finished guilloché dials, and an uncompromising devotion to traditional Swiss watchmaking. Producing tourbillons, perpetual calendars, and other complications in small numbers, Roth established a design language that balanced classical craftsmanship with unmistakable individuality.

Today, the brand is experiencing a modern resurgence. Under LVMH ownership, Daniel Roth has been relaunched with a renewed focus on the founder’s original philosophy — highly refined finishing, distinctive case design, and small-scale production that honor the spirit of Roth’s pioneering independent work.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

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Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

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Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.