Sotheby’s is set to host a London-based auction in celebration of the late George Daniels, and has released highlights of the sale that will feature both timepieces made by the legendary watchmaker but rare clocks and watches owned by him.
The sale, set to take place on November 6 at Sotheby’s in London, will feature Daniels’ first wristwatch, created in 1991, as well as his Space Travellers watch and the Grand Complication watch.
The Grand Complication watch, a 18ct yellow gold one-minute tourbillion with Daniel’s co-axial escapement, instantaneous perpetual calendar, equation of time, moon-phases, thermometer and power reserve indication, created circa 1987, is expected to be the hit of the auction, with an estimate of between £500,000 and £800,000.
Daniels’ Space Travellers’ watch, a gold chronograph with Daniels’ independent double-wheel escapement, mean-solar and sideral time, age and phase of the moon and equation of time indications from 1982 will also hit the half-million mark with estimates upwards of £400,000.
His first wrist watch, a four-minute tourbillion with the slim co-axial escapement and a compact chrono mechanism is another star of the auction, with an estimate of £150,000 to £250,000.
Other timepieces in auction will include clocks and watches by Joseph Knibb, Breguet and Benjamin Hills.
Sotheby’s has said it is “honoured” to hold the sale of George Daniels’ collection. It said: “the sale is truly a tribute to a life devoted to horology”.
A memorial service was held in London yesterday for Daniels, who passed away on October 21 last year. The service at St George’s church in Hanover Square was attended by members of the watchmaking community as well as fans of Daniels’ work.
