Essays: Georges Daniels At 100 And A Personal Reflection By Roger W. Smith OBE
This piece reflects on the 100th anniversary of horologist Dr. George Daniels CBE's birth, featuring an essay by his protégé and friend, Roger W. Smith OBE. Smith discusses Daniels' profound influence on modern mechanical timekeeping, his innovative approach to watchmaking, and his legacy, which Smith continues to uphold. The essay delves into Daniels' meticulous craftsmanship, his groundbreaking co-axial escapement, and his ability to bridge historical horology with practical innovation.
George Daniels made only twenty-four pocket watches and two wristwatches in his lifetime, yet these pieces contained ideas that fundamentally changed modern mechanical timekeeping.
Daniels' first pocket watch, completed in 1969, featured a self-starting detent escapement, a significant improvement over previous designs.
Daniels' greatest technical contribution is arguably the invention of the co-axial escapement in 1974, which he spent decades promoting to the Swiss watch industry.
Roger W. Smith began working with Daniels in 1998 on the Millennium wristwatch series, finding his instructions clear despite Daniels' reputation for being difficult.
Smith notes Daniels' audacity in rethinking accepted problems and his willingness to dismantle conventional thinking in his mechanical solutions.
Daniels' passion for motoring connected him with collectors and historians who shared his fascination with vintage cars and horology.