'Greatest living watchmaker' honoured
Date Posted: 31/Dec/2009 07:02
By: Manx Radio
Isle of Man resident Dr George Daniels has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List.
The 83-year-old watchmaker, who has previously been awarded the MBE, has been given the higher honour for his services to horology, which is the science of making timepieces.
Revered in the world of watchmaking, Dr Daniels invented the co-axial escapement which has been adopted by prestigious brands such as Omega, as well as the makers of some of the most expensive chronometers in the world.
He is one of the few living watchmakers who can create a complete watch by hand, including the case and dial.
Regarded as the greatest living horologist, he revived interest in hand-made mechanical watches in the early 1970s, at a time when Swiss watch-making schools were closing down as the quartz watch became increasingly popular.
In 2006 Sotheby's held a retrospective exhibition to celebrate his work, examples of which are also displayed in the British Museum and the Clockmakers' Museum.
Dr Daniels has won numerous awards, including the Gold Medal of the Clockmakers' Company and the Tompion Medal.
He has also been given the title of 'living national treasure' by Country Life Magazine.
A quiet and studious man who likes to keep a low profile, he has lived in the north of the Island for a number of years where he has continued to make extremely valuable and collectible watches, write books on watchmaking and indulge in his passion for vintage Bentleys.