Comments:
This message has been edited by Hororgasm on 2013-02-27 11:52:01
And yes, I must say that I loved it.
The finish of the movement, this dial ,the nice clin d' oeil porvided by the hands to some well known vintage watches. Yes, I liked it!
Superb post, which was a pleasure to read.
Best,
Nicolas
Here in Rome logging in to make sure there are no trouble makers on this august forum and ended up reading this wonderful essay.and a hearty congrats to you.
Was there another that you considered before chasing this beauty?
Best, Horo
What’s a lighthouse got to do with it???...
It was an uncharacteristically sunny day in Geneva when an earnest and clearly overworked young Irishman found himself standing amongst a sea of IWC ambassadors at the Mandarin Hotel. Out front, a stream of IWC-branded limos disgorged a steady stream of former Wimbledon champions and v-e-r-y leggy models, closely followed by their entourages of managers, photographers, stylists and sundry hangers-on.
SIHH was in full swing, and the Mandarin Hotel was serving as an operations centre for the assault of one of Richemont’s more utilitarian brands. The reception desk was working overtime with the demands (some major, some trivial but rarely any polite…) of the hangers-on; though it has to be said that the ambassadors themselves rose above such… minutiae.
As a consequence, the restaurants and bars of the Mandarin were claustrophobically packed, and hot – the sun (usually identified as a UFO in Switzerland at that time of year) was taking its toll on the air-conditioning of the hospitality areas and the pancake make-up of the less porcine brand ambassadors (should that be ambassatrices???). Impeccably groomed and tanned brand executives exercised their credit cards with gay abandon, being careful not to spill the Dom Perignon on their Brioni suits or Louboutin shoes.
Our Irishman had travelled in from Neuchâtel and could spend only a little while in Geneva before heading off to a commitment in Montreux and then to visit a client in Los Angeles (from whom we will hopefully hear soon). Nonetheless, he had very graciously agreed to meet a rather uncouth and unsophisticated Australian enthusiast and to share a glass of cheer to celebrate the culmination of a strangely multi-cultural journey.
After connecting in the lobby (his face is instantly recognisable to anyone who visits this forum) we found a small table close to the sunny window and ordered an obligatory bottle of champagne. Being both of rebellious and larrikin colonial stock, the curtains of politesse quickly fell away and much jolly jabbering ensued.
Our Irishman was Stephen McGonigle. That day he was wearing the prototype Tuscar ‘One of Ten’, and what a delight it was to see it, finally, in the metal. But briefly; only briefly – for reasons which will soon become apparent.
The conversation may have begun over watches, but it soon ranged far and wide. You should know that Stephen has an Irish pub in Neuchâtel; the stories of its acquisition and its thriving are his and his alone to tell. Be sure, though, to book a bed and you may survive the Guinness onslaught you are certain to enjoy.
What was meant to be an hour or so at lunchtime became a ‘craic’ for the rest of the day. ‘What goes on tour stays on tour’, as they say, but it was comforting to learn later that Stephen had in fact made it to Los Angeles as planned (although Montreux may be another story…).
Sadly, the Brothers McGonigle were not able to arrange their schedules such that they could be in the Mandarin simultaneously. Never mind; just as the patient waitress was clearing the empty champagne bottles and cocktail glasses from the table, Brother John arrived to ‘sub’ for his recently departed brother. John had flown in from Ireland that afternoon, and had driven straight from the airport to the hotel, just in time for… more champagne.
Fortunately, the IWC executives, ambassadors (and ambassatrices??) had not completely exhausted the supply of bubbles, for this time there was additional cause to celebrate. John was wearing his prototype Tuscar also: this time, the prototype for the production series. Again, the story of that watch is his and Stephen’s story to tell, and hopefully it will see much cyber-time soon: you will be impressed. However, he also had with him a second watch – the watch which is said to be the first of the ‘One of Ten’ to be delivered. By this time, one or two other Antipodeans had been drawn to the bar on the promise of this revelation.
(photo of John channeling Stepan Sarpaneva at the Mandarin, courtesy ‘aptronym’)
Those who have followed the story of this watch will recall that ‘One of Ten’ means simply that: there is no ‘Two of Ten’ or ‘Three of Ten’ – there is a sort of stubborn Irish equality to be shared amongst the ten lucky subscribers to the first of the series. So: what’s a lighthouse got to do with it?
Well, the watch itself is named for a solitary lighthouse standing on a bleak rock 11Km off County Wexford to the South East of the Irish mainland – in Gaelic, “An Tuskar”. It is apparently the first sight that travellers from that direction will see of the Emerald Isle; the first warning, also of the treacherous seas thereabouts which have claimed more than 170 ships in recorded maritime history. Here’s a photo of the rock, courtesy of Micheal Sean O Mathum from the McGonigle Facebook page:
The Brothers McG clearly have a deep and abiding passion for their admittedly wet homeland. Both trained as watchmakers and lived and worked in Switzerland for a time. John eventually returned to Athlone in Ireland, whilst Stephen remained in Switzerland, establishing himself in Neuchâtel (although it has to be said that his idea of ‘establishment in Switzerland’ involves teaming up with an Irish partner and inflicting Irish hospitality on the gentle Swiss!). Somehow they sustain their brand cohesion from these two very different bases, each working to the same degree of obsession on the perfection of the same watches.
John, presumably conscious of the vehicle he had left nearby, moderated his consumption of cheer to an amount which would fell only a few mere mortals. Growing pile of empty bottles notwithstanding, we were all coherent and buzzing as he reached into his rucksack and, with a maniacal grin worthy of Jack the Ripper, handed across a wound, set and fully-functioning Tuscar.
And here it is:
The things which, visually, are most distinctive about this time-only beauty are the beak-like balance bridge, the large balance wheel, the modern architecture and the impressive barrels.
The balance bridge was to have been in white gold, like the case. However, white gold proved to be too pliable, so the perfectionist Brothers McG switched to titanium, and then worked at finishing the titanium to be coherent with the case and other bridgework.
Here are bridges fresh out of the CNC machine (production pictures lifted shamelessly from the McGonigle Facebook page):
Finishing the bridges:
The final product:
The bridge holds a balance wheel of 13mm diameter, free-sprung and counter-weighted with eight variable inertia screws to replicate the lazy but traditional 18,000bph. The Brothers McG consider that this adds to stability and longevity (not to mention the increased power reserve: a conservative 90 hours on twin barrels).
What’s not to love about these blued hands?
Early prototypes featured two types of hands – blued, and all over ‘white’ metal. There is no doubt that the blued hands make for easier reading.
The appeal is not solely aesthetic. The watch wears its innovations quietly. Take, for example, the winding mechanism. Rather than utilise the standard ‘straight cut’ gears meshing at right angles (much like the ‘direct cut’ non-syncro gears of the early Minis, come to think of it…), the Brothers McG devised conical gearing for the interface of the winding pinion and lower crown wheel. This, they say, maximises efficiency on winding and reduces wear. Who knows? It certainly has a buttery-smooth action, and it certainly looks pretty:
But back to aesthetics. The ‘One of Ten’ series is favoured with engraving by Frances, the Sister McG:
(photo from McG Facebook page)
In keeping with the subtle yet distinctively Gaelic character of the watch she draws her inspiration from early Gaelic design motifs such as those to be found in the Book of Kells, an illustrated gospel manuscript created by Celtic monks around 800AD:
Some of the engraving on the watch represents animals – mythical animals or birds – as is the case with many of the illustrations in the Book of Kells. Other of the engraving is a nod to the Ogham alphabet, an ancient Pictish/Celtic method of writing and counting. This ancient ‘alphabet’ can still be seen in Ireland carved into stones used as territorial markers or signposts;
It appears, also, on the crown of the Tuscar (note the irregular engraved lines and scallops), although what it says there remains a mystery!
It’s a lovely, quirky little touch that distinguishes this essentially Swiss watch as essentially Irish – if that doesn’t sound too ‘Irish’.
A few more images of the watch itself:
…including a last wrist-shot in the light of a setting Antipodean sun:
There were subtle variations between the prototypes and the finished product, just as there will be subtle variations between the ‘One of Ten’ and the RG series-production Tuscar. That is for you to discover at another time.
(photo courtesy 'aptronym')
But no doubt you were interested to hear how the day ended? ‘Craic, Part Two’ wound into full swing until even the IWC ambassadors (and ambassatrices???) tired of the free hospitality and wandered off to check their pecs, cheques and Botox, leaving us to ponder the meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything (the answer to which, incidentally, was reflected in the case diameter of our watches!).
(original photo courtesy 'aptronym')
The night might have been complete at that point, but there was yet a cherry to be added to the top of the cake. John had – very sensibly – given up any thought of driving away from the hotel to his digs nearby. Food therefore became an imperative. John had been invited to a low-key gathering of a few fellow watchmakers and, after the mandatory polite call to check, soon had a couple of eager Australian enthusiasts in tow.
It would be impolite, here, to drop the names of those in attendance. Suffice to say that, if it were an Indie rock concert, those attending would be the counterparts of Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Lennon and Sibelious (cut some slack here – how many Finnish rock stars do you know???). Can you imagine a long table, in the middle of SIHH, where any number of Indie watchmakers are slurping truth serum and passing around their novelties and prototypes? Kiddie Heaven! It was also fantastic to meet a few of our own who were at that same table: ‘you know who you are’, as they say.
Did the night end there? No, it did not. A post-prandial visit to an Irish pub (yes! – in the middle of Geneva!) was mandatory. Once that closed it was enlightening to learn that (without mentioning any names at all…) Dutch watchmakers have an amazing capacity for sniffing out early morning purveyors of libations.
Stephen, John: thank you. It was an honour and a privilege to break bread with you. It is an honour and a privilege to be wearing your Tuscar. Sith agus sláinte 'bha!
Cheers,
pplater.
This is pure...
... awesomeness! P, you never cease to amaze. Your posts always make me feel like I was right there with you.
- Scott
Honestly, this is a superb watch. A good friend of mine let me play with his...
And yes, I must say that I loved it.
The finish of the movement, this dial ,the nice clin d' oeil porvided by the hands to some well known vintage watches. Yes, I liked it!
Superb post, which was a pleasure to read.
Best,
Nicolas
Great report pplater!
It was also great to have you guys join us for our small gathering with the rock hall of fame and beyond... I would publish some photos of later (and much later) in the evening but my photoshoping skills are not to your level. Also useful for future blackmail material ;-) I hope you can join us again next year!
All I can add is that these watches truly are beauties and after having time to study them over dinner while sitting next to John, I can only say that the design, finish and balance of the watches are truly beautiful!
Cheers
Andrew
Much appreciated Andrew...
...and, as you can tell, the night out with you, Rob and 'the band' was a major highlight of the SIHH period and indeed the trip.
Speaking of 'bands', there is probably one photo which you could show without photoshopping (if you are minded to do so), although people may struggle to believe it hasn't been photoshopped: that is the photo of a certain elf wearing a certain something on a red band. That is a 'money shot' if ever there was one!
Cheers,
pplater.
Speaking of 'bands', there is probably one photo which you could show without photoshopping (if you are minded to do so), although people may struggle to believe it hasn't been photoshopped: that is the photo of a certain elf wearing a certain something on a red band. That is a 'money shot' if ever there was one!
Cheers,
pplater.
I had the chance to see the Tuscar in 2011 if I remember well...
And I was immediately seduced by its inspired design.
But it is the Tourbillon which always remains in my mind:
Thanks Pplater for your great post!
Fx
But it is the Tourbillon which always remains in my mind:
Thanks Pplater for your great post!
Fx
what a fantastic experience and essay!!
Here in Rome logging in to make sure there are no trouble makers on this august forum and ended up reading this wonderful essay.and a hearty congrats to you.
Was there another that you considered before chasing this beauty?
Best, Horo
Ave, Caesar!...
Hopefully Rome is treating you in the style to which you wish to become accustomed?
Thanks for the kind words. This one was not so much a choice or a chase: it was an opportunity which seemed too good to pass up. It was a little wait, but nowhere near as long as we are sometimes accustomed to waiting!
Safe travels chum.
Cheers,
pplater.
Thanks for the kind words. This one was not so much a choice or a chase: it was an opportunity which seemed too good to pass up. It was a little wait, but nowhere near as long as we are sometimes accustomed to waiting!
Safe travels chum.
Cheers,
pplater.
Is this a world exclusive?
...Well, at least a puristpro exclusive.
What a wonderful day you had. Perhaps Kurt Cobain was somewhere in the background, as it seems you were in Nirvana.
And great that aptronym was there to capture the moment for posterity. My guess is that may be the largest grin on earth underneath the smiley in that final photo.
May I ask if the box is decorated, perhaps by the sister McG? Is it worthy of a photo?
Congratulations on this delightful acquisition.
Regards,
Richard.
PS: In the final photo, is John wearing a Haldiman? 
Nothing escapes you, does it Richard?...
It is not quite a 'world exclusive', in the sense that our good friend and fellow PurisT 'aptronym' was in Geneva and present at the handover (present also, it has to be said, for the quickly degenerating evening/morning that followed!). Aptronym performed shutter duties, and therefore claimed first right to a sneak preview of a couple of the shots a little while ago.
It is also fair to say that the now-traditional smiley face hides a huge 'cheese-eating grin', and probably a couple of eyes verging on haemorrhaging!
The box, however, is a very straightforward piece of work compared to many. There's quite a story that comes with the box; it will take a review of the email inbox to find the story, but 'watch this space'.
As for the Haldimann? Yes: amazingly, John stripped off his prototype RG Tuscar seconds before the photo was snapped, reached into his rucksack again and strapped on the Haldimann H9! He swears by it - says it's a modern marvel of haute horology. We agreed to call it a night when the H9 showed midnight...
;-)
Cheers,
pplater.
The box...
It has taken a while, Richard, but for the sake of the record here you have it.
In John's words:
"With regards to the box; we wanted to avoid the problems we had with the presentation case of the tourbillon. We ended up lavishing so much time and expense on the tourbillon presentation case, in particular drying the bog oak (the petrified wood from the local bogs here), that we spent a disproportionate amount of time on what is essentially an accessory to the watch. At the same time we wanted a box of high quality that would do justice to a handmade watch. So we worked with a humidor maker to produce the box that you now have".
It's a large box: the wood is sycamore, stained black with red 'piping'. The interior is lined with black leather.
The jointing is precision work: no tolerances whatsoever:
The fittings are wonderfully solid: see the care that has been taken to align the screws:
It takes seven coats of lacquer to provide the deep lustre over the black stain:
All in all, it's beautifully understated.
Cheers,
pplater.
Thanks. Very understated but appropriate
And perhaps a secret compartment for a flask of .... .
.Regards,
Richard.
Well, cen...
...it was a most unexpected (and a little embarrassing) honour to be favoured with the first delivered, but that was the happy coincidence of SIHH. You'll have to be careful to go every year from now on!
Looking forward to sharing two of ten with you - soon.
Cheers,
pplater.
Brilliant post, very well written.
Two of the most amazing watchmakers, who happen to be lovely fellows with whom one can easily spend time. I am excited to catch up with John in Basel, having just had Stephen here to stay.
To my mind that Tourbillon pictured in Foversta's post is sublime and my favourite Tourbillon made today. The rise gold execution is superb.
Cheers and thanks for sharing your Tuscar, wear it in great health!
Tim
Appreciated, Tim, thanks...
Kind words from an Indie guru such as yourself.
If you are seeing John in Basel you have just enough time to get into training and organise the ensuing transfusion - good luck with that! Some of us will still be in rehab then...
All the best,
Cheers,
pplater.
Jorma Kaukonen . . .
. . . of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, right off the top of my head.
My favorite memory of John was his wry reaction to my standard line about being a quarter Irish. "Which side?", he asked, to which I replied, "It's my liver that's Irish."
Without missing a beat, he quipped, "And it's long and black, to be sure."
I do come, in parts (!) from the Black Irish
and remember seating myself on the dent left by Grace Slick, who was not completely or in the least Irish, on the edge of a mattress that she had settled upon only an hour before.
It was still warm!
I always arrive when everybody else has left.
Can somebody help me to fine-tune my time-travelling machine into a past-tense Then?
A Tuscar would be most welcome for taking me even farther back in that direction. As for the other - just wait for Vianney!
What should I do without both - and a Haldimann?
Cheers!
Amery This message has been edited by amerix on 2013-03-01 06:57:26 T
Ahis message has been edited by amerix on 2013-03-01 07:01:31 This message has been edited by amerix on 2013-03-01 07:17:17
I will respond to your Irish post with my own recently-learned Australian term...
...Bwah hah ha haaaah! (exclaimed at the Cafe Penéy on a memorable recent Monday evening).
A beautiful piece, my dear friend! Great to see you enjoying this piece, and your tale of its construction and delivery has the unmistakable erudition and humor that my drier narratives could use. And, of course, you are instantly recognizable in the photo!
It also seems that my brand and independent preferences end up with me spending much more time in tiny ateliers and at dinners with "the guys" than in the company of leggy ambassatrices -- live and learn, I suppose
AWHO, but for now you are alone!
All the best,
Gary
"Ya gotta work on the accent, cobber!"...
But a very passable effort from an imbedded Septic ('oversexed, overpaid and over here', as our truculent servicemen used to say of the 'occupying' US forces in Oz).
As for 'AWHO' - too cool! To borrow a line from an Australian movie which has passed into the argot,: "You're wicked, Muriel!"
Cheers,
pplater.
Congratulations my dear friend!
Tuscar is very unique in many ways. It's distinctive design is like no other watch out there.
When I saw aptronym's post about the Tuscar I suspected it must be for our common friend and how right was I!
Great choice of another quality Indie to add to your collection - you aim for nothing but the best!
Enjoy the Tuscar and hope to see it in the metal one day!
We can share, one day...
... the Tuscar and your incoming KV. Sound fair?
Thanks for those kind words, Sidney; hopefully there will be a reason - an excuse - to catch up soon.
Cheers,
pplater.
More than fair!
I already took advantage of your generosity with sharing the Dufour and the Grand Sonnerie! It's more than fair that I return a small part of that favour in the form of the KV It'll be in my hands VERY soon!
It'll be in my hands VERY soon!
Congratulations on the...
...addition of another wonderful indie piece to the collection! I have a soft spot for all things Irish, and the work of the brothers McGonigle is no exception. I've long been enamored of their tourbillion.
You wear your new Tuskar well, my friend!
Cheers,
Daos
Everything that an 'indie' post should have...!!
An intriguing title, a well-told yarn, excellent pics, some nice technical pics/diagrams/info, and a generous dose of humour !
Mermories of a great evening indeed. It was a real pleasure to meet such a discerning gentleman as yourself pplater, I'm glad our little evening contributed so successfully to your trip. I think it's safe to say that everyone enjoyed themselves immensely and 'had a good craic', so to speak. I left a few remaining hardcore liver-bashers at about 4am...some of us (well, one of us) had to work, and I still had another biggie coming up the next evening (but nowhere near us much fun!!!).
Anyway, congrats again on the Tuscar, wear it in good health. As I seem to say to Steve and John every time I talk to them, their pieces are too low-priced for what they are...You definitely got yourself a bargain. And a beautiful one !
Looking fwd to catching up again sometime.
Cheers!
Mermories of a great evening indeed. It was a real pleasure to meet such a discerning gentleman as yourself pplater, I'm glad our little evening contributed so successfully to your trip. I think it's safe to say that everyone enjoyed themselves immensely and 'had a good craic', so to speak. I left a few remaining hardcore liver-bashers at about 4am...some of us (well, one of us) had to work, and I still had another biggie coming up the next evening (but nowhere near us much fun!!!).
Anyway, congrats again on the Tuscar, wear it in good health. As I seem to say to Steve and John every time I talk to them, their pieces are too low-priced for what they are...You definitely got yourself a bargain. And a beautiful one !
Looking fwd to catching up again sometime.
Cheers!