The McGonigle Brothers

by Ron DeCorte

December, 2005

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Let me start by saying I’ve known John and Stephen McGonigle for many years when they both lived and worked in Vallee de Joux Switzerland. We’ve remained close friends since and so it’s with great pleasure I’m able to introduce their first watch to the public.

John and Stephen have both paid their dues working for numerous Swiss watch companies over the years, but their hearts remain Irish to the core. Needless to say when they decided to make their own watches they would be made in Ireland, with great pride. Why make an Irish watch that looks like it’s from Switzerland?

So here you have it, a true Irish watch. The case is a prototype and not indicative of the expected final design, so please excuse any minor imperfections. The hands are of polished steel with 18K gold pointers. The dial is translucent sapphire with exposition at the bottom for the tourbillon cage, and at the top for the wolf toothed barrel.

Another important point to note is the lack of serial numbers. John and Stephen decided that every watch they make will be unique for the owner. Say you want a gold case with blued steel hands or a variation of engraving, no problem, talk to John or Stephen. They welcome and appreciate the opportunity. No need to serialize their work when it’s unique, right? Each watch is signed by either John or Stephen, including the month and year, depending on which brother made the watch from beginning to end. One thing that you notice immediately is the Celtic influence of shapes and hand engraving, very unique.

Have a close look at the tourbillon cage with free sprung balance. Fine regulation of timing is accomplished by turning the four timing screws (at 12, 3, 6, and 9 in the above picture).

I made all the internal photographs at the bench using available components rather than disassembling a complete watch. You may notice that the escapement jewels in this cage are blue sapphire (except the pallet stones) which means it would be for a platinum cased watch as compared to red ruby jewels for gold cased watches.

The plates and bridges are made from German silver with a uniquely different finish. It’s this unique finish that creates a distinctive visual impression when viewed through the translucent sapphire dial.

Between the plates it’s easy to see the extensive hand finishing of the steel work, beveling of the bridges, and the wolf toothed barrel and wheels (more about wolf tooth later). Even the screws are hand finished.

From top CW, Barrel assembly with steel winding wheel, 3^rd wheel with pinion, and center wheel without pinion. Notice the steel wind wheel has a conventional horological tooth form while the barrel, 3^rd wheel, and center wheel use a wolf tooth pattern. Why wolf tooth wheels (gears)? Well for starters they look elegant, especially combined with the arched spokes of the wheels. Secondly the wolf tooth is a bit stronger than a convention horological tooth.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate John and Stephen for realizing their dream of making their own unique watches, which are very well done. I look foreword to photographing the first two platinum cased watches in the near future and sharing them on the TimeZone Independent Forum.

The McGonigle brothers relaxing with a pint by the river Shannon. John (left) and Stephen (right)

Who says the Irish can’t make great watches, not me!

For further information please visit the McGonigle Watch web site: www.mcgonigle.ie

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