George Daniels

• gilt brass movement with single going-barrel, 36-hour duration, Daniels slim Co-Axial escapement mounted in a polished steel one-minute tourbillon carriage under a polished steel balance cock, mono-metallic stainless steel three-arm balance with gold adjusting weights, differential screw mechanism for the reserve of winding, instantaneous perpetual calendar mechanism to Daniels' design with retrograde date and indication of leap-year cycle, annual calendar ring with kidney cam and equation of time indication, minute repeating on two gongs, bi-metallic thermometer • silver engine-turned dial with gold chapter and seconds ring, roman numerals, retrograde date indication, centigrade thermometer within the seconds ring, subsidiary dials for days of the week and month with concentric leap-year cycle indication, aperture for moon-phases, gold Daniels hands for hours, minutes and seconds, blued steel calendar hands, cartouche signed Daniels London • Daniels keyless pendant and bow winding, repeating slide and calendar setting in the band, glazed aperture in the case back to reveal quadrants for the equation of time, year calendar and power-reserve • dial and movement signed • with yellow gold double-link chain

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Exhibition, British Clock and Watchmaking today, 19th October - 6th November, 1987
George Daniels Retrospective Exhibition, Exhibit No.22, Sotheby's London, 18-23 July, 2006

George Daniels, All in Good Time, 2006, p. 85, plate 22
George Daniels, A Practical Watch Escapement, p. 77

The movement is fully operational at the time of cataloguing, however it may benefit from a clean. Dial in very good condition. The case with some scuffs but overall in good condition. A complete service should be carried out by Roger W. Smith. A service of this watch will be in the region of £10,000 - 15,000 + VAT. All prices are a guide only and subject to a full strip down and inspection of the piece in the Roger W. Smith Ltd studio, Isle of Man.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Accompanied by a George Daniels presentation case.

Dr. Daniels said that that the grand complication was made to show the complexity that is unavoidable in a watch designed to demonstrate the artists craftsman's work.

The early Daniels watches were extremely simple and classic in their design, this watch was in complete contrast. It is a masterpiece of engineering incorporating an impressive number of features. The watch includes temperature indication, phases of the moon, equation of time, state of winding and not to mention perpetual calendar. To further impress all the calendar functions are advanced instantaneously at midnight, something rarely accomplished in a watch.  

Andrew Crisford, Introduction to The George Daniels Retrospective Exhibition, Sotheby's, p.18.

The Grand Complication was exhibited at the Clockmakers' Company in London during an exhibition dedicated to the watchmaker as an artist craftsman. Although Dr. Daniels had hoped that this idea would grow into a biannual event, the 1987 exhibition was the only such exhibition held.