George Daniels Anniversary watch 4/35 at Sotheby’s

A rare opportunity: one of the Anniversary watches by George Daniels, made in collaboration with Roger W. Smith, his only protégé, who carries on the Daniels legacy in his own workshop. Only 35 were made, to celebrate the anniversary of the co-axial escapement invented by Daniels. This is number 4, lot 290 at Sotheby’s on 11 November, with an estimate of CHF 120,000–180,000.

In 2009 Daniels approached Smith with the idea, and the two spent a long time discussing the design and technical aspects of the watch. Smith asked whether he could fit his single-wheel version of the co-axial escapement into the series, and the master agreed. A dummy watch was first shown at SalonQP in London in November 2010, with immense success. For SalonQP in November 2011, Daniels asked Smith to make a watch and two movements for the presentation. Daniels died on 21 October 2011 and never saw the success of his anniversary watch.

Catalogue page with a gold wristwatch shown from the front and the back, on a black strap — Anniversary watch no. 1, front and back

Catalogue page with two views of the gold Anniversary movement — The movement of the Anniversary watch, from both sides

Roger Smith’s own account of working with Daniels on the watch appears in two books, “All in Good Time” and “A Master Watchmaker and His Art”.

Black and white photograph of a watchmaker at his bench, from a printed book — From the books on George Daniels

George Daniels Anniversary watch no. 4 of 35 at Sotheby’s