Next week, the American independent watchmaker RGM will return to WatchTime New York to present its latest artistic creation. This year, the brand will present the RGM Model 25 “Birds of America” (Glossy Ibis), which uses the original Model 25 as a base and brings to it a masterwork of miniature painting, working to bring together American heritage art with fine horology and natural artistry.
Like previous editions, the new Model 25 features a 40mm stainless steel case, inspired by RGM’s larger Pennsylvania Series watches. The case has ribbed sides and a contoured bezel designed to highlight the dial with its large opening, making the Model 25 both visually striking and comfortable on most wrists. The case was crafted using American steel and manufactured in Pennsylvania, in line with RGM’s roots and commitment to American craftsmanship.
At the heart of this watch is the artistic dial, featuring a hand-painted miniature of the Glossy Ibis, one of the bird species from John James Audubon’s Birds of America prints. Chosen by RGM founder Roland Murphy, this dial works to capture the essence of American natural history. The original Audubon prints, published between 1827 and 1838, depicted rare North American bird species, and the Glossy Ibis was among them. Murphy and his team worked meticulously to modify Audubon’s artwork to fit the round format of the dial, making each watch a tribute to both art and nature.
The painting process requires extraordinary patience and skill. Each dial begins with a light pencil sketch on a mother-of-pearl background, followed by multiple layers of paint applied with a fine brush— often containing only one or two natural hairs. Between each layer, the dial is fired in an oven at 90°C to thoroughly dry. This process is repeated around 20 times, resulting in a vibrant, durable work of art. Rhodium-plated hands complement the silver chapter ring on the dial, ensuring the beauty of the hand-painted bird is undisturbed.
Powering the RGM Model 25 is a heavily modified version of the Swiss-made ETA 2892-A2. RGM has replaced the automatic winding system and modified the mainspring barrel to increase the power reserve to 53-56 hours. The movement is beautifully finished with perlage, côtes de Genève, and a rhodium-plated surface, while the gold winding rotor is made in-house by RGM. The watch is water-resistant to 5 ATM and features sapphire crystals on both the front and back.
While not a piece unique, the RGM Model 25 “Birds of America” (Glossy Ibis) is available on demand for $17,900 USD. Prospective clients can also request their own custom miniature-painted dials featuring other bird motifs from Audubon’s Birds of America or other themes of their choice, allowing for a personalized timepiece of their own.
The RGM Model 25 “Birds of America” (Glossy Ibis) is available for $17,900 USD.
To learn more, visit RGM, here.
And to secure your tickets to WatchTime New York 2024, click here.
