Cover Space Traveller I and II, two of George Daniels’ most renowned pocket watches
Space Traveller I and II, two of George Daniels’ most renowned pocket watches
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The George Daniels 100 exhibition celebrates the work and legacy of one of the greatest watchmakers of the 20th century
Independent watchmaking would not be the thriving scene we see today without one man: British watchmaker George Daniels. Credited with defining the modern spirit of independent watchmaking, Daniels is said to have written a book—titled simply Watchmaking—that every watchmaker has on their shelf, speaking volumes about his influence.
You can discover more about the man—awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to horology—his groundbreaking timepieces, and his legacy at the George Daniels 100 Exhibition, to be held at IAMWATCH in Singapore from November 12-15. The exhibition will also feature an advance screening of The Watchmaker’s Apprentice, telling the story of Roger W. Smith’s apprenticeship with Daniels.
This highly anticipated exhibition, which marks the centenary of Daniels’ birth, is made possible through a partnership with Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo. “I truly believe that without George Daniels, we would not be here today, in the presence of the next generation’s brightest, cleverest, and most creative horological minds and makers,” says Aurel Bacs, senior consultant of Phillips Watches.
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Above George Daniels (Photo: The George Daniels Educational Trust)
George Daniels (Photo: The George Daniels Educational Trust)
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The legacy
In an era when quartz watches dominated, Daniels was quietly working on his craft, focused on preserving and expanding the artisanal expertise of mechanical watchmaking. The self-taught watchmaker mastered 32 of the 34 disciplines required to craft a watch, making him one of the rare masters who could build an entire watch by hand.
Given that each watch typically took 2,500 hours to complete, his lifetime portfolio of 24 pocket watches and two wristwatches might seem small, but they hold considerable significance in modern watchmaking.
His most famous invention was the co-axial escapement, the first significant escapement development since the lever escapement came into the picture over 200 years ago. Daniels’ co-axial was a great improvement in that it reduced reliance on lubrication to deliver long-term precision. Omega has since adopted his co-axial escapement.
But perhaps his biggest accomplishment is his tireless commitment to rethinking every aspect of mechanical watchmaking, from movement and architecture to finishing and the process itself, which has inspired a new generation of watchmakers to follow in his artisanal footsteps.
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Above De Ville, the first Omega watch to incorporate Daniels’ co-axial escapement
De Ville, the first Omega watch to incorporate Daniels’ co-axial escapement
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The watches
The exhibition will feature 22 timepieces, including his most consequential pair of pocket watches—Space Traveller I and Space Traveller II—reunited for the first time. The watches feature an independent double-wheel escapement to operate a dual display of mean solar and sidereal time.
Daniels sold the first watch, regretted it, and made a second piece—this time, incorporating a chronograph capable of measuring both mean solar and sidereal time. This piece became his personal watch until his passing in 2011.
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Above The Space Traveller I
The Space Traveller I
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Above The Space Traveller II
The Space Traveller II
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“We have long taken the view that George Daniels was the first true independent watchmaker of the twentieth century. His work is so fundamentally central to the current state of independent artisanal watchmaking that one cannot fully appreciate today’s creations without understanding his role in making them possible.”
Above George Daniels’ Four-Minute Tourbillon, one of two wristwatches he ever created on his own
George Daniels’ Four-Minute Tourbillon, one of two wristwatches he ever created on his own
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
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