99
99
George Daniels
A RARE YELLOW GOLD AUTOMATIC CENTRE SECONDS WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND DANIELS' SLIM CO-AXIAL ESCAPEMENT NO MCM MILLENNIUM MADE IN 1999
Estimate
Restricted Species
Lots with this symbol contain a restricted species
80,000 — 120,000
GBP
LOT SOLD. 200,000 GBP
JUMP TO LOT
99
George Daniels
A RARE YELLOW GOLD AUTOMATIC CENTRE SECONDS WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND DANIELS' SLIM CO-AXIAL ESCAPEMENT NO MCM MILLENNIUM MADE IN 1999
Estimate
Restricted Species
Lots with this symbol contain a restricted species
80,000 — 120,000
GBP
LOT SOLD. 200,000 GBP
JUMP TO LOT

Details & Cataloguing

Watches

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George Daniels
A RARE YELLOW GOLD AUTOMATIC CENTRE SECONDS WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND DANIELS' SLIM CO-AXIAL ESCAPEMENT NO MCM MILLENNIUM MADE IN 1999
Movement: automatic gilt brass jewelled slim Co-Axial escapement 
Case: 18k yellow gold, sapphire crystal display back
Dial: silvered engine-turned
Bracelet/Clasp/Buckle: yellow gold George Daniels buckle
Diameter: 37mm
Signed: case, dial and movement, case hallmarked for London 1999, maker's mark GD
Accessories: a letter from George Daniels including photographs of the Millennium wristwatch, a George Daniels certificate, business card and presentation case.
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Catalogue Note

Dr George Daniels began making watches in 1967 as he was motivated by, and deeply sceptical of, the rise of the quartz watch movement; one entirely reliant upon a battery. Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, he admitted that he was, "incensed by the hysterical adulation of the quartz watch by people who didn't really understand it's failings". One of these failings he went on to describe, stating that, "it is the dedicated ambition of every battery to commit suicide as soon as possible." 

To Dr Daniels, watches had historic, intellectual, technical, aesthetic, useful and amusing qualities and with this in mind there is perhaps no watch that embodies his mantra quite so much as the present lot.

Instantly recognisable, it is fair to say that Dr Daniels, in his creation of his Millennium wristwatch, produced a 20th Century horological icon. The dial is a perfect combination of form and function in the quintessential Daniels style, clearly influenced by the aesthetic of his pocket watches.  Of course, as with any of his work, the beauty of this watch continues beneath the dial, as Roger Smith describes -

"... [the Millenium] houses some of the first co-axial movements off the Omega production line and is the culmination of a lifetime's work by George to convince a reluctant Swiss watch industry that his escapement was the future for mechanical timekeeping."

The co-axial escapement, which was initially devised by Dr Daniels in the mid 1970s, was an attempt by him to improve the longevity of the mechanical watch movement. This was achieved by creating a mechanism that ran virtually without sliding friction so that, unlike the lever escapement, the rate remained constant, regardless of the viscosity of a lubricant.  

The present lot made in 1999 is one of only 47 yellow gold examples ever produced and, from the collection of the original owner, it comes complete with its original accoutrements including the letter from Daniels himself to the watch's proud recipient.

Fig. 1
untitled

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