A much coveted and rare George Daniels wristwatch has been sold for a whopping $4 million at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction in Geneva. The timepiece — George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon — is one of the two wristwatches handmade by the independent British watchmaker for personal use.
British watchmaker George Daniels
Crafted from 18K yellow gold, the
timepiece comes in an ingenious two-part 40mm case with an inner section holding the movement, which is hinged to the outer, so that when released by a pusher in the band it springs open to reveal the reverse dial. In order to make this whole mechanism flawlessly work, Daniels positioned the crown between the watch's lugs.
Completed in 1992, the George Daniels Spring Case
Tourbillon features guilloché silver dials that have been perfectly executed with the signature style of Daniels. Apart from this, there are gold registers that indicate the hours, minutes, and small seconds, in addition to a sub-dial for the power reserve. Meanwhile, the reverse dial comprises the calendar indication and visible tourbillon escapement. The watch is powered by a manual winding movement.
The George Daniels Spring Case Tourbillon is paired with an elegant black leather
strap.
According to the statement released by the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction, Daniels “reluctantly parted with it (the Spring Case Tourbillon) in 2005 after a friend eventually persuaded him to sell it.” It added that it was the first time that the timepiece was offered in public at an auction.