12 Video Views·Jun 5, 2025
'This idea where one man designs and builds a complete watch from start to finish. That's something that George did and I will do probably till the day I drop dead.'
Watchmaker Roger Smith and Daryn Schnipper, Senior Vice President of the Sotheby's Watch Division, recount fond memories with the great watchmaker and pioneer of the co-axial escapement, George Daniels. From his time at Sotheby's to his collaboration with Roger Smith, he left a deep impression on those around him. The art of independent watch making which bloomed from the practice of George Daniels continues to live on through the workshop of Roger Smith today.
Watches by George Daniels and Roger Smith are truly unique in their visionary philosophy, quality of craftsmanship, rarity and history. It is impossible not to mention Roger Smith when discussing George Daniels, as it is impossible not to mention Daniels when discussing Smith. Certainly, such has been the case with watches by both makers that have appeared on the market thus far.
My whole life was built around everything he'd ever done
and everything I'm still doing today is because of George.
He is the grandfather of all independent watchmakers of the 20th century.
This idea, this notion of making handmade watches was
something that George created single-handedly.
I first collaborated with George Daniels in 1998 with the Millennium Project.
George, I was wondering if you could have a look at this please.
I always describe it as the finest finishing school you could wish to go on.
George brought me in as a young pair of eyes.
Working with George was quite remarkable.
He was known to be quite fearsome.
I remember the first nine months were very intense
but what I also took from that was he was so approachable.
He was there to listen and to assist
and suddenly I realized that this possibly terrifying person wasn't that terrifying.
What was really remarkable about the fact that they became a team
was that George didn't make watches with other people before this time.
So it was quite remarkable that he was able to
collaborate with Roger in a really meaningful and substantive way.
I met George Daniels my first month at Sotheby's but I knew of him before that
and he was a bit gruff and he always said what was on his mind.
He never held back.
It was magical.
You know he always talked very fondly about his time here at Sotheby's.
For him it was again another learning phase of his career.
There was one story that he told me where he'd heard that a
very eminent American watch collector was going to sell his complete collection
and George really wanted to get this in through the doors of Sotheby's.
George immediately booked a Concorde flight to fly him out that day.
This collector was so blown away that somebody would jump on Concorde
and fly out and meet him that he just gave the whole collection to George.
But that was George.
He was very very driven.
As he got more and more involved with his wrist watches
he didn't have as much time for us unfortunately.
No one was doing independent watchmaking which is what it's come known as
and he did everything.
He did the cases.
He did the movements.
He did the dials.
You know he did everything by hand and what differentiated him as well
is the fact that he created the first real innovation in an escapement in over 250 years
which was the coaxial which did not require oil which made it so revolutionary.
George always said to me he said you've got to try and make a difference.
You've got to try and improve the mechanical timekeeper and that is my focus.
Today in my workshop we have 15 staff members incredibly highly skilled watchmakers
making watches that I'm incredibly proud of.
These watches are incredibly rare.
They're all handmade.
This idea where one man designs and builds a complete watch from start to finish
that's something that George did and I will do probably till the day I drop dead.
What an impact he's had on my life.
It's been incredible.
