The absolute greatest watchmaker of the 20th century, a visionary icon of British watchmaking, Dr. George Daniels truly lived up to the definition of determination, innovation and dedication. Relentless in pushing the boundaries as an individual and in the world of horology, Daniels single-handedly challenged the quartz crisis in the late 60s with his impeccable skills of the 34 trades requisite in creating a watch entirely by hand. During the new dawn of quartz watches, Daniels’s inception of his ground breaking Co-axial escapement changed the landscape of horological innovation since Thomas Mudge’s invention of the lever escapement in 1755, that’s 250 years of history.

Lever escapements in conventional watchmaking requires lubricants and always has its shortfalls on long-term accuracy, whether by temperature, shock or aging. The Co-axial escapement by Daniels in 1975 draws on elements from the detent escapement that functions with a three pallets system that separate the locking function from the impulse, thus avoiding possible sliding friction, omitting the viscosity of lubricants once and for all.

“My association with the Omega Company goes back fifty years to the time when I worked as a young watchmaker in London with Omega watches…I know that the integrity of their products is as great now as ever it was and so their interest in the Co-Axial was most important to me.—Dr. George Daniels”

With rigorous testing and modification following almost twenty-five years of discussion with multitude of Swiss brands, the Co-axial escapement finally took its revolutionary turning point in mechanical watchmaking in 1999.

Debuted at Baselworld, Omega announced a new limited series for the DeVille linage as the first serially produced timepieces featuring the Co-axial escapement made under the direct aegis of George Daniels himself. Notably the prototype numbered 000/999 engraved “To Our Friend George Daniels, From Omega Ltd. April 30, 1999” was presented to Daniels to celebrate this milestone. The ground-breaking innovation was a success with remarkable performance. Phillips is honoured to present the DeVille with Co-Axial skeleton movement set to our dear collectors. A tribute to the grand tradition of the art of Mr. Daniels and Omega master watchmakers, each skeletonized movement crafted by hand is therefore, unique. Three exclusive sets of the Omega DeVille Co-Axial Skeleton were ever made and numbered in each metal: yellow, pink and white gold. Exposed with intricacy, the Omega caliber 2402— an exclusive skeletonized version of the caliber 2500 with the Co-Axial escapement in each metal are paired with faceted blued steel skeleton leaf-shaped hands and indexes. Daniels himself used the blued steel technique on some of his most famous timepieces, including the Grand Complication and the Space Traveller. Numbered 3/3, the present set is the last one to be produced and is preserved in an impeccable condition accompanied with its original accessories and memorabilia.

An exceedingly rare opportunity to own a set of wristwatches that features this achievement, one in which Dr. George Daniel’s had a personal and intimate role in its creation, the DeVille Co-Axial Skeleton set is a true collectible for every watch lover.