George Daniels escapement

padi65 · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject: George Daniels escapement

Well the George Daniels escapement its been available to the market for 20 plus years George Daniels had attempted to introduce his escapement to the Swiss industry.Omega,Patek,Piguet,Zenith and even Rolex had prototypes in 1986 and 1989. There are many reasons why these companies entertained Daniels and many reasons why they decided to pass on the escapement. It seems to me that in the main it was an issue of expense to retool and develop the escapement for already built series and that it was an unknown quantity, which was then made in one-offs for the connoisseur to try.Now the escapement needed to be oiled correctly to work 100% and many of the watch industry did not follow Daniels instructions to the letter,most did not follow his advice for the VPH (vibrations per hour).Now when Patek decided to try his escapement three wristwatch sized prototypes were made.

The prototype drawings were discussed and Daniels saw one big stumbling block, the proportion of the extra driving wheel. Patek rejected his notion,and even in the face of Daniels working drawings.And by 1982 his prototype was cased and dialled from the Patek factory. He says he gave the watch daily use for twelve years, when the self winding mechanism failed.Properly from lack of maintenance It was not serviced to test the effectiveness of the escapement over a ten year period. The Daniels escapement functioned perfectly and without any failure.The Patek analysis was quite critical and the prime fault was in the gears, which Daniels had mentioned at the beginning of the project.

So why is the Daniels escapement not used in many of the high end
watch houses.Well IMO I imagine it may have been as simple as "Not Swiss Made." or may turn out to be too complicated to make on a mass production scale or re-tool machines in-house?.But now Omega for one, plus a few more have made it work to a very high standard indeed.
After a few mistakes on Omegas part, with the lubrication of the escapement.

Now today when you think of the humble wrist watch,basically changing very little since John Harrison's days over 250 years ago.With only tweaks to the basic escapement over 250 years.I wonder what would have happened if Daniels was alive in Harrison's days.Well for me Daniels escapement must be one of the horological breakthroughs of the century.But the mighty Swiss took little notice of his new idea.You must ask yourself why IMHO the main reason again not a Swiss idea.But lets remember 30 plus years ago when the Japanese,took on the Swiss.And almost destroyed the complete Swiss watch industry with the heretic Quartz.And in many cases the Japanese mechanical watches like the Seiko Grand,were equal,and in most cases with better accuracy, and product finish to equal any of the Swiss.

But the mighty Swiss did little in reply,a bit like the once powerful British motor bike industry now gone,now dominated by the Japanese.But the swiss industry survived but horological speaking has not done a lot over the past 20 odd years.Must admit some of the watches being produced today,are just bloody awful and ugly,and some brands seems to me have lost the plot completely.With innovations like lets put four Toubillons in a wrist watch and other totally IMO unneeded complications, which only the chosen few could ever afford and horology speaking no more accurate than any chronometer watch.

Now these complication why, I suppose horological speaking are a watchmakers art.In real terms add little to the watch,except perhaps owning something that costs mega bucks which is fine.But don't think these types of watches are owned by real watch enthusiasts.Now with Rolex, I admire Hans a great man who ceased every opportunity,every new idea,and acquired it for his firm.And now the name Rolex must be the on top of the pile.But over the many years I have loved all watches.but I sometimes ask myself do some wear a watch, or a just wear the name brand.

I hope George Daniels escapement will find its way into the Swiss watch industry.And tweaked over the next 200 years again IMO the Daniels escapement horological speaking is far to important to let slip by.
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