In Case You Missed It - The GEO.GRAHAM Tourbillon Orrery

This is not a "hot drop" in the traditional sense. It is not new, it has been around for awhile. But the interesting thing for 3 lucky collectors out there, is that there are still a few available!

Courtesy of Graham

Known as "Honest George Graham" by fellow watch makers, George Graham was an unlikely hero in the quest for longitude, or more specifically the ability to determine true longitude at sea. John Harrison was provided an introduction to Mr. Graham, who in turn became an advisor to him. Honest George provided Mr. Harrison with interest free loan to begin work on his marine chronometers, and introduced I'm to the Board of Longitude.

Courtesy of Graham

When taking George Graham's horological exploits into account, there really couldn't be a more fitting tribute than the GEO. GRAHAM Tourbillon Orrery. A modern tribute to George Graham's original Orrery - a clock-bound mechanical solar system that was presented to the 4th Earl of Orrery, Charles Boyle in 1713.

Courtesy of Graham

Per Graham -

The Orrery's display includes the Moon, Earth, Mars, and the Sun based on a 300-year calendar. The Sun is represented by a pink gold (18K) hand-engraved Tourbillon bridge with 2 Phoenix heads which celebrate the decoration used by George Graham. The year counter on the case back enables correction for the planets (Moon: 7 years, Earth: 1156 years, Mars: 25 years).

The case is of gold, and measures 48mm x 17.60mm. The movement is noted as caliber G1800. It is manual winding with a 72 hour power reserve. It was created in cooperation with Christophe Claret.

Courtesy of Graham

Tribute to John Harrison

How do you solve an unsolvable problem?

We take a lot of things for granted.  I was trying to explain the idea of a typewriter to one of my decidedly younger millennial colleagues.  Eventually he asked - "but how did you cut and paste?"  I handed him a pair of scissors and a glue stick. 

Believe it or not, up until the 18th century, it was as much a matter of luck as solid seamanship that a boat would make it to port.  Latitude?  No problem.  Longitude?  To quote the film of the same name - "like a blind man in a brothel".  Ships were dashed upon rocky formations that could not be accounted for, because although the latitude was known, longitude was quite the other thing.  And for those of you just tuning in -  Longitude helps to determine a particular location on Earth east or west of the prime meridian.

Put in a different way, you couldn't just pop the address into your Garmin.

John Harrison was not a trained watch maker - in fact his daily watch was made for him by John Jefferys,  But sometimes it takes an outsider to look at a problem from a completely different perspective, and solve it.  And in many ways, Mr. Harrison was an outsider on a few levels.  

When the  Board of Longitude was established in 1714, it was with the goal of solving the riddle of longitude, it was believed that this could best be determined by astronomical observation as best carried out by academics and men of the cloth.  Mr. Harrison was neither of these things either.  But he felt certain that with the right time keeper, he could solve this problem.

In fact George Graham assisted John Harrison not only technically, but financially, and without his help and the patronage of King George III, it might have all been for naught.  And for those of you out there who feel that 3 months is too long to wait for your new watch to be delivered, try working for forty years!

Courtesy of Girard-Perreguax

So it is safe to say, that the new Tribute to John Harrison holds a special place for me.  If a brand needs to partner with someone famous, I'd say this is the most appropriate partnership I have seen for some time!

So courtesy of Girard-Perregaux, here are the details, straight from La Chaux-de-Fonds-

Girard-Perregaux Traveller Large Date, Moon Phases & GMT, Limited Edition 

Traveller John Harrison

Technical specifications

Case in pink gold

Diameter: 44.00 mm

Dial: eggshell

Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire

Case-back: sapphire crystal, secured by 6 screws

Water resistance: 100 meters (10 ATM)

Girard-Perregaux movement GP03300-0093

Mechanical, self-winding movement

Diameter: 30.40 mm (13 ½’’’)

Frequency: 28,800 vph - (4 Hz)

Power reserve: minimum 46 hours

Jewels: 35

Functions: hour, minute, small second, large date, moon phase indicator, 24-hour 2nd time zone with day/night indicator 

Brown alligator strap

Folding buckle

Reference: 49655-52-133-BBBA

50-piece limited edition.

A Few Minutes with George Graham

As you know, whenever possible I try to have an interview to coincide with a 15 day review - and with the review of the Graham Silverstone Time Zone it seemed like a good time to run this "interview".


And now, a few minutes with George Graham -


James Henderson - What was your first watch, was it a gift?  Is there a story behind it?


George Graham - I am not sure that I can remember beyond when I joined my mentor - Mr. Tompion to work with him and I moved to London.  Together we created many wonderful things - and I was also fortunate to make the acquaintance of his niece Elizabeth, who would later become my wife!


JH - When you were a boy, what did you want to be "when you grew up"?


GH - It's difficult to go back that far.  As you know - timekeepers in the form of watches are still a new novelty.  I was, however, very interested both in the natural sciences and had a good head for mechanics.


JH - Where did you go to school, what did you study?


GH - I really consider my apprenticeship with Mr. Tompion to be my formal education - that was in London.

JH - I know that it is difficult to chose a favorite - but is there any one of your creations that holds a special place for you?


GH - Well, I have been blessed with many beautiful and talented "children".  I came up with a timekeeper that could measure - and "capture" actual elapsed time.  We will have to come up with a better name for it - something like "stop watch" perhaps.   I am also quite pleased with the "Dead-Beat" escapement.  Some folks have taken to calling it the "Graham" escapement, but I suppose that is for others to decide.






JH - Who else out there is making watches that interest you?


GH - Well of course Mr. Tompion made some fantastic timekeepers.  There is this new fellow - John Harrison.  He has made a clock out of wood - WOOD!  And that clock is fantastically accurate!  He has also come up with something that people are calling the "grasshopper" escapement.  It is virtually frictionless and requires no lubrication!

He also has it in his head to construct a timekeeper for sea travel, to hopefully aid in the calculation of the longitude at sea.  I know it is mad - but I honestly think that John might be the man to solve this problem.






JH - But I have to ask - why help him as you have?  Surely you could create a clock capable of this?


GH - While I might be able to - he has!  Granted we have worked together, but the inspiration and work has been his own.  I have helped in my own small way - much as Mr. Tompion helped me, but I feel safe in saying he will be the man to solve this riddle!




JH - Maybe that is why they call you "honest George"?


GH - Well I am not the man to say, but I would be happy and proud to help any fellow watch maker in his efforts.  




JH - You've been at the forefront of British horology - who do you think will be the next George Graham?


GH - I know that this is near blasphemy - but it would not surprise me if someone in France will come up with something interesting in the next 20 - 30 years.  Someone who will make amazing things even for royalty.  But if I really think about the future - and in Britain in particular, I sometimes have a vision of a solitary man, working away in some quiet place - maybe a smaller island - Orkney, or maybe the Isle of Man.  I suspect that he will be someone originally born of the city - maybe even London - who was fascinated by the workings of a forgotten watch.  Someone who despite all difficulties of early life will go on to do amazing things.  He may even take Mr. Harrison's idea of the grasshopper escapement and focusing on the idea of a modern escapement that will need minimal "human intervention" he will maybe champion Mr. Harrison's ideal of making something practical and useful to the masses.  It is not the fashion today, but maybe some day watches will be made on a larger scale - hundreds - maybe even thousands per year.  He will probably be the sort of person who will be a bit reclusive, a bit hesitant to take on an apprentice - but I believe that there will be one man who will somehow convince him to take him on.  I know that this will be more than 200 years from now, and I will long since have left this earth for a prior appointment with my creator - but I somehow sense that both the master and his apprentice will reestablish British horology.