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During his lifetime George Daniels was considered by many the best horologist in the world and was famous for creating the co-axial escapement, used by Omega in their highest-grade watches since 1999, and described as the most important horological development for 250 years since the invention of the lever escapement by Thomas Mudge in 1754.
George Daniels was born in Edgware in 1926. He recalled being fascinated by watches as a child. Finding a cheap wristwatch in the street at the age of 5, he later wrote: 'I managed to get it open and I was intrigued with the workings - it was like seeing the centre of the universe. I knew that's what I wanted to do; I wanted to spend the rest of my time with watches.'
After serving in the Second World War, Daniels studied horology at night classes and began work restoring and repairing watches, eventually setting up his own business.
He was one of the few modern watchmakers who could create a complete watch by hand, including the case and dial. George Daniels introduced 'William' to his name which was used for the first chronometer inscribed 'G W Daniels' in 1954. In 1964 he married Juliet Ann Marryat at Christ Church Esher, daughter of Robert Marryat, collector. They went on to have one daughter, Sarah.
He produced his first watch in 1969 and during his lifetime Daniels' total hand-made production consisted of 24 pocket watches, 4 wrist watches, 56 millennium wrist watches, 1 chronometer, 2 Breguet three wheel clocks, and 5 Grasshopper conversions to long case regulators.
In 2006, to celebrate his achievements and his 80th birthday, Sotheby's and Bobinet Limited (the antique watch dealer) held a retrospective exhibition of his work.
Daniels served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1980 and was awarded their Tompion Gold Medal as well as the Gold Medal of the British Horological Institute, the Gold Medal of the City of London and the Kullberg Medal of the Stockholm Watchmakers' Guild. He was also awarded Hon Degree of Doctor of Science from City University, London in 1994. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours List.
Daniels wrote a number of seminal works on watchmaking. An expert on the French watchmaker Breguet, he spent many years concentrating on the repair and restoration of his watches, and published 'The Art of Breguet' in 1975. His other books include 'Watches', Cecil Clutton and George Daniels (1965); 'English and American Watches' (1967); 'Clocks & Watches in the Collection of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers', Cecil Clutton and George Daniels (1975); 'Watchmaking' (1981); 'The Practical Watch Escapement' (1994); and an autobiography, 'All in Good Time - Reflections of a Watchmaker' (2000).
Daniels lived and worked at 21 Thornsett Road, Bromley, London and later at Riversdale, Jurby Road, Lezayre, Ramsey, Isle of Man. Both residences were fitted with a workshop.
On his death on 21 October 2011 George Daniels left instructions to establish a charity to be known as The George Daniels Educational Trust, with the object to further the education of pupils studying horology, engineering, medicine or building construction. In November 2012 The George Daniels Horological Collection was auctioned at Sotheby's.
For further information on Daniels' life see 'George Daniels. A Master Watchmaker and His Art. The story of the man who invented the co-axial escapement', Michael Clerizo (London : Thames and Hudson, 2013)