After weeks of delay here is finally the photomontage of the independent watchmakers John & Stephen McGonigle. Handling the watch and photographing it, I was able to appreciate the level of attention given to the finishing of the watch. It was also easy to see with the watch in hand that the brothers wanted to present a watch with classical qualities such as high horology finishing with artistic hand engraving of the bridge on the back of the watch - which included the signature of Stephen in this particular Pink Gold piece. Yet the watch has its intrinsic Irish influence with the motifs and lettering fonts clearly reflecting the celtic roots.

It is not apparent in the images - which I tried very hard to capture with limited success - that the dial itself is a layer of sapphire crystal. That layer of crystal gave the dial a kind of high gloss finish but yet at some angles the markers and brand text appear to float. The hands are distinctly McGonigle with the diamond like ends in pink gold. I certainly have not seen hands of this design in other watches.

The tourbillon cage found at 6 o'clock takes up nearly a third of the dial. The cage is uncluttered and very clean with a stylised bridge in the shape of an M. I was not sure that I appreciated the design of the bridge or the design of the brand logo when I first saw the watch but having processed these images for some time now, they seem to bother me a lot less.

Overall, this timepiece is wonderfully executed with high finish and that can be appreciated in the images. The design itself is distinctive and recognisable and that is saying a lot in times when there are too many 'me too' tourbillons. My congratulations to both brothers for executing such a fine time piece for the collecting community.

To view the photomontage CLICK HERE.

-HT