Horological Meandering

While we were there, we were treated to a visit with John McGonigle in Athlone smack dab in the middle of Ireland.  A gentleman completely.  Our visit with him and his wife, Linda, was filled with talk of watches, watches, life, family, good food and life.  And the watches?  The Tuscar is an amazingly beautiful watch.  Can't wait to see the finished product and bring it home.  Then there is the tourbillon!  I was speechless.  It is understated and elegant.  A piece that attached itself to my wrist and wouldn't let go.  

This message has been edited by Mitch K on 2012-10-28 12:14:31

now please we wanna more pictures lot more

I've never been to Ireland, but it certainly is green!  

people.  That said the most unexpected pleasure was the quality of the food.  We had some wonderful meals to the point that we think that one of the meals that we had, in a town called Dingle, was one of the top 10 meals that we have ever had.  It is a country absolutely worth a visit.  

It'd be worth it to visit just to try the food!  

No message body

I hope to meet the McGonigle family soon... a long time without having seen them.

Thanks Mitch for the nice report!

Fx

to receive mine.

And remind me to give you hell for your bountiful truthiness and lack of detail! ;-)

Best,

CaliforniaJed

Any guesses?

Mitch

MTF

 

 

 

PS. Once a year we all toast Arthur......we...... being Guinness fans of the world.

in the pubs.

...you did not make that pilgrimage and leave without a watch???

a lot less patiently now, having seen one in the making).  Truth - my 60th birthday is soon upon me and it should be celebrated with a special watch.  Truth - I have long resisted the rabbit hole of turbillons but, have recently fallen deeply into the hole because of a very special one that i have acquired (can you guess which one or who the maker might be?).  Truth - if one combines some of these truths, one could well imagine what may have resulted from this visit with John.

Your dare is to answer honestly: counting the Tuscar, at some point before or after your impending milestone, will you be the owner of two watches by the brothers McGonigle?

But perhaps you are correct.

The challenge, is also to guess which watch sent me down that rabbit hole.

Mitch

The tourbillon has always seemed something of an affectation, and a disproportionately expensive one at that. Speaking personally, the exceptions would be FPJ (prototype and Rd'E versions), Smith (if only Daniels had gone down that road in wristwatches!), Klings and Haldimann. Just putting it out there - was it a Roger Smith that sent you down the rabbit-hole? It would have a similar 'artisanal, Anglicised beauty' to the McGonigle; it is an Independent piece, and the Isle of Man is not as far from County Athlone as Switzerland is...

My wife and I were able to visit Ireland in May.   One of the highlights for us was visiting John and his family as well as touring his studio.  They are great people and would have liked to spend even more time touring Athlone.   As it were, felt very lucky to meet John and discuss his fine timepieces.....a great experience.  

independent watchmaking community.  Spending time with the watchmaker who will be responsible for producing a watch that I will wear lends a special significance to that watch filled with not only mechanical wonders but also fills it with a soul and memories that a mass produced watch tends to lack.

Hope all else is well with you Mitch.

No message body

No message body

I hope it was fruitful horologically too

Sean's does not broadcast that they are the oldest in the world but they do have their Guiness certificate in full view posted as being the oldest pub in Ireland.  A fine brew is to be had there.

Ireland's one of the few countries in that corner of the world that we haven't visited. 

No message body

I like the scenic country side - a great place to have holiday.