There is a definitive sense of exhilaration when offering a George Daniels wristwatch, considering that he made or oversaw the making of 141 timepieces bearing his name, each piece coming to the market is a transcendental moment to be celebrated.
Dr. George Daniels is revered as a 20th and 21st century horological master, whose ingenious Co-axial escapement had a profound impact on the history of mechanical timekeeping. A Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, Daniels studied watchmaking’s traditional past, seeking to improve upon it, and advancing precision timekeeping. He studied the 18th/19th century master Abraham‐Louis Breguet, who Daniels said was his single greatest influence, and over time, he became a leading authority on Breguet. The sublime, eternally classic dials found on Breguet’s pocket watches are mirrored in the work by Daniels, as well as the exquisite quality of each component within his movements.
Daniels’ 1975 Co-axial escapement was a radical 20th century invention which resulted from Daniels' detailed historical study of all known previous escapements and was designed to incorporate the key features required for a practical, high precision escapement. It functions with a system of three pallets separating the locking function from the impulse, avoiding the sliding friction of the lever escapement. This makes lubrication of the pallets theoretically unnecessary and thereby eliminates one of the shortcomings of the traditional lever escapement. The Co-axial was so revolutionary and well-received by the horological world that the brand Omega began fitting it in their high-grade wristwatches in 1999, and today is found on virtually all of their mechanical wristwatches.
In celebration of the 35th anniversary of this groundbreaking invention, George Daniels set out to produce 35 hand-made watches. Inspired by his famous tourbillon chronograph pocket watch created in 1994, Daniels and his protegé and successor Roger Smith set out to create a new British caliber that was to be produced by Roger W. Smith and finished to Daniels’ exacting standards and style.
The Anniversary Watch is a concentrate of Daniels' genius and design ethos in a wristwatch. Says Daniels about this piece “My goal has always been to make watches which provide historical, technical, intellectual, aesthetic, amusing and useful qualities. This wristwatch is a culmination of over 40 years of watchmaking and unashamedly takes inspiration from several pieces in my body of work. The 18 carat gold case houses a completely new and original Daniels calibre which is fitted with a calendar and power reserve complication and, along with the minute, hour and seconds, provides all the information that a fine watch should.”
Every element, of this watch, may it be the case, the dial, each single component has been crafted without a shred of compromise. The 40mm gold case sits perfectly on the wrist whereas the hand guilloché dial is a gem of design and craftsmanship. The movement tactfully balances traditional British looks and the groundbreaking co-axial escapement.
Daniels only made 35 Anniversary pieces in yellow gold of which the present example is number 24.
For enthusiasts and collectors, any George Daniels timepiece is the pinnacle of watch collecting and the present Anniversary would be a crown jewel in any collection.
