I had the pleasure and fortune to get to go over to Ireland last month and meet with John & Stephen McGonigle. These two independent watchmakers have recently completed the first 2 McGonigle watches, a platinum cased tourbillon of superb quality. What follows is a brief pictorial for all to enjoy. It goes with saying the local beverage of choice, Guinness featured regularly in the 34 hours I was in Athlone and Dublin.
Where John creates his horological art 10 minutes outside Athlone:

Going inside:


To the bench we go:

This is what John prototypes and builds for some of the big companies, his specialty Westminster chiming minute repeating tourbillons!, so here is an incomplete movement that I had the rare opportunity to have the repeating mechanism demonstrated to me under a microscope. Quite the most fascinating time I've ever had in this field:

Ok, here is the watch:



The rather beautiful rear, with the celtic design engraved back plate, designed by their sister Frances, an artist from Dublin:



Here a wrist shot:

And the masters, captured on the main bridge over the Shannon river in the heart of Athlone:

Now the Guinness shots:



A huge thank you to John and Stephen for so generously hosting me and showing me a glimpse into their world. Loved the Guinness! It is so much better in Ireland.

Cheers,

Tim

I've got to have a real Irish Guinness at some point.

It is a sublime taste and smooth. Very enjoyable!
Cheers,
Tim

(NT)

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. . . in my opinion, and the backside engraving is beautiful. Thanks for the report and photos.

Dan

The watch is something quite special and hopefully these guys will soon get the recognition they deserve in the world of haute horology. They also happen to be great people and it is good to see people of this caliber(no pun intended) succeed.
Cheers,
Tim

nt

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Chris
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/

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Nothing like great company, watches, and beer

Cheers,
Anthony

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Hi, Tim,

I've been waiting to see the development from these guys since I was introduced to them a couple of years ago in Basel.

I really like the font they've chosen, and the design looks very interesting. Looking forward to seeing it in person.

The design reminds me of Claret's work, as well as the GP Three Bridge Tourbillon.

Is there any inspirational relationship, or working background?

Thanks for sharing this with us, Tim, and cheers, John and Stephen! Good show!

TM

Hi Thomas,

there certainly is a relationship. Both John & Stephen have at some time have worked for Claret in the prototyping development dept. They are what I would call, the behind the scenes genii, who have created some of the most celebrated complicated movements in recent times.

John, who moved back to Athlone 6 years ago, and Stephen who shares his time between Switzerland & Ireland, still do specialist contract work for some of the major companies that require their expertise when it comes to minute repeaters and tourbillons. I spied a couple of Westminster chime minute repeater triple bridge Tourbillon movements that John was working on, whilst surveying his bench!

Their project started 4 years ago to create the first McGonigle wristwatch. John at the time was working for Claret and happened to be conducting a tour for some American collectors. He was approached by a couple of visionaries, who suggested he make a watch under his own name. I was very fortunate by some karmic happenstance, to have scheduled my trip to Ireland, at the same time one of these gentlemen was picking the very first Mcgonigle watch.

John & Stephen designed their first watch as a Tourbillon. To quote John, it is difficult to make a good tourbillon and very difficult to make a great one, so here was their inspiration, make a great tourbillon. From my persepective, I'd say they succeeded, although there is allways the subjective aspect style, which means some might not like the end result! They were familiar with and had access to a Claret ebauche, so that was the basis with which they began the project. The use of wolfs tooth gearing is a nod to tradition and creates an elegant style. I studied the finishing in and around the tourbillon and found it superb. The case is intersting in that it is very slightly oval, 1mm wider from 9-3 than 12-6. I love the Celtic design of the engraving, not too much, the lads didn't want to create a watch with four leaf clovers and leprechauns! Irish they are, but tacky they most definitely are not.
Their website will shed more technical information and pictures for those wanting to learn more.
Cheers,
Tim

. . . seriously, after the Stones and watches, ale is my third passion. Only tough guys can polish off one Guiness stout after another, so I'm sticking with Smithwick's as the Irish beverage of choice. Very nice watch, by the way, quite intriguing . . . cordially, Art

thanks Art.
If you ever get the chance to drink Guinness in the motherland, I think you'd find it possible to enjoy more than one pint, in fact it is difficult not to want 2 or 3 if the company and enviroment is right. They took me to purportedly (according to the Guinness book of records 2004) the oldest pub in Ireland, Sean's bar in Athlone, for a pint!
Yes, these lads cetainly take the time to enjoy life. They work hard, but also make the time to do other things they enjoy.
Cheers,
Tim

to walk through the construction and operation of a Westminster minute repeating tourbillon. Thanks.

Dave Barnes

do you think i could get the irish discount. ;} great looking watch.

cheers from the McCabe clan

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