The Story of the Co-Axial Escapement: Roger’s HSNY Lecture

Roger recently delivered a special lecture for the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), charting the five-decade evolution of the co-axial escapement.

Hosted by Phillips Auctioneers in New York, the lecture offered a personal perspective on the mechanism's journey - from Dr. George Daniels’ original 1970s invention through to the launch of the single-wheel co-axial and Roger's subsequent refinements.

Roger reflected on his early days at the bench on the Isle of Man, including his initial daunting realisation of the micro-tolerances required for wristwatches, and working alongside George on the Millennium Project. He also recalled standing next to George at Baselworld in 1999 when Omega launched the first industrial co-axial wristwatch - a moment that firmly cemented George's place among history's greatest watchmakers.

The full lecture recording is now available to watch here.

“It was a real privilege to return to HSNY, particularly in the same room where my Pocket Watch No. 2 was auctioned a few years ago. In this 25th anniversary year for my workshop, it felt especially poignant to revisit George’s legacy and reflect on what it truly takes to develop and advance the co-axial escapement. George always carried the ambition to see his work recognised among watchmaking’s greatest technical achievements, and witnessing the industry embrace it has been incredible. My sincere thanks to HSNY and Phillips for hosting such an engaging evening.”