This George Daniels watch just broke British auction records: made by the master horologist whose invention now lies at the heart of all Omega watches, the Spring Case Tourbillon sold for US$4 million

Nov 8 , 2022

George Daniels made the Spring Case Tourbillon for himself, and only produced 27 watches in his lifetime. Photos: Getty Images; Phillips

Considered to be this century’s finest watchmaker, George Daniels made just 27 watches in his lifetime and died in 2011 – the Spring Case Tourbillon was for his own use

The British horologist is famous for inventing the coaxial escapement, which revolutionised mechanical watchmaking and is now used by Omega in all its high grade watches

A timepiece by legendary mechanical watchmaker George Daniels fetched more than US$4 million under the hammer – the second highest price ever achieved by an independent watchmaker, auctioneers Phillips said on Monday, November 7.

One of the exceptionally rare wristwatches made by master watchmaker George Daniels. Photo: Phillips

The watch was estimated at US$1 million but eventually sold to a bidder in the room at the Geneva Watch Auction for over US$4 million.

“This marks the highest price ever achieved for a wristwatch by a British maker, but also the second-highest price achieved by an independent watchmaker – a true milestone in the market,” Phillips said.

The double-dialled Spring Case Tourbillon in yellow gold, completed in 1992, was a unique watch, and one of two that Daniels made for his own use.

The late master horologist George Daniels, pictured here in his workshop in 2010, was one of the few watchmakers who could create a complete watch by hand. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images

Daniels, who died in 2011 aged 85, is considered among the greats in the field of luxury mechanical watches. He completed 27 unique watches during his career, outside of prototypes.

Daniels invented coaxial escapement, which is now used by Omega and was “the first practical new mechanical watch escapement to be launched in 250 years”, according Omega’s parent company The Swatch Group.

The escapement is the “heart” of a mechanical watch, with Daniels’ invention reducing the friction, resulting in greater stability of the watch’s precision.