SKELLY DRIVER
The Towson Driver is a limited production heritage piece that takes a look back at early 20th century American timepieces designed for usage on the road. The off-centered dial allows for a clearer read when the hand is placed in the proper automobile steering position. This timepiece is yet another that was produced in collaboration with Jochen Benzinger, the master guilloche artist out of Germany and longtime friend of TWC founder, Hartwig Balke. The outer dial is made of solid sterling silver, with applied black indices atop of the elegant brushed finish. The inner dial is uniquely skeletonized, exhibiting a dynamic layout of hand-guilloche outer-dials that overlap with one another, forming a sense of single-plane sculptural abstraction. The skeletonized dial also features rose gold elements, adding a formal elegance to the timepiece. Last but least, a lone second hand, painted in red, completes the complex aesthetic with a bold statement of contrasting tone.
The outer dial is made of solid sterling silver with applied black indices atop of the elegant brushed finish. The inner dial is uniquely skeletonized, exhibiting a dynamic layout of hand-guilloche outer-dials that overlap with one another, forming a sense of single-plane sculptural abstraction. The skeletonized dial also features rose gold elements, adding a formal elegance to the timepiece. A lone second hand, painted in red, completes the complex aesthetic with a bold statement of contrasting tone. The glossy-finished groove pattern is achieved using a hand-operated rose engine that allows for meticulous precision. This base plate is skeletonized for the TWC calligraphy artwork at 4 o’clock. The rhodium-coated gears and blued screws create a one-of-a-kind contrast to the sparkling black background. A torch was taken to the sterling silver portion of the dial and heated until it was completely tarred. The residue on the surface of these dial rings were then sanded by hand, revealing pure silver with natural color hues and finish. Prior to the movement’s assembly, each component is cut out, engraved, and plated in either rhodium or gold.
When our co-founder and master horologist, George Thomas, was in the midst of restoring President Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch, he found a hidden message inscribed by the watchmaker on the base plate of the movement. A heirloom that took centuries to uncover, extending the importance of these antique restorations that often change our understanding of history. George Thomas wanted to give his Towson Watch customers a similar experience to what he had when restoring Lincoln’s watch. The Skeletons are horological masterpieces for the wrist that allow the viewer to uncover the hidden intricacies within. Openings on the dial trace the hand of the watchmaker while exposing the true operation of time. Every timepiece takes 2-4 months to complete and no more than 10-15 units are made available each year.
