GRAHAM

George Graham was born in the county of Cumberland in the year 1673. George's father died while he was a child, and he was raised by his elder half-brother, William, in neighboring Sikeside. George left Cumberland as a young lad and traveled to London.

In 1688, he began a seven-year apprenticeship with Henry Aske. After finishing his indentures in 1695, he was admitted a freeman of the Clockmakers' Company and immediately went to work for Thomas Tompion, beginning a lifelong association that was only ended by Tompion's death in 1713. In 1696, he married Elizabeth, Tompion's niece. During Tompion's latter years, a few clocks and watches were signed "Tompion & Graham."

Following Tompion's death, Graham maintained the company at the same premises, at the junction of Water Lane and Dial Street in Fleet Street, London. In 1720, he moved to a new home, The Dial and One Crown, on the opposite side of the same street, nearer Fleet Bridge, adjacent to the Globe and Duke of Marlborough's Head Tavern, where he stayed until his death.

Graham became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and a Member of the Royal Society's Council in 1722. He submitted 21 pieces to the Philosophical Translations on a variety of topics. In 1722, he was appointed Master of the Clockmakers' Company.

After the patents of Booth, Houghton, and Tompion expired, Graham focused his attention on the cylinder escapement, which he developed to almost its present form in 1725 and put into all watches after 1726.

Graham's frank presentation of his brethren in the art in other nations contributed significantly to English horology's reputation on the Continent throughout the 18th century. Julien Le Roy acquired one of Graham's watches with cylinder escapement in 1728 in response to queries, and the French horologist's liberal avowal of its superiority is worthy of his recognized excellence.

In 1715, he devised the dead-beat escapement, and in 1720, he invented the Graham gadget, a form of wall chronograph, and in 1726, he invented the mercury pendulum. This is a collection of seventy-four clocks of various types, numbered 600 to 774.

In contrast, he produced approximately 3,000 timepieces. No. 4369, which is still signed Tompion & Graham, cannot be earlier than 1713, and No. 6474, the highest number known to date, has the markings of 1751, Graham's death year. Graham, like Tompion, had a distinct series for repeaters, extending from No. 402, hallmarked for 1713, to No. 965, which must be the final one, because No. 968 is signed by Graham's successor, Thomas Colley.

Even during his lifetime, Graham's watches were heavily faked, although this can typically be recognized since he not only marked the number on the back plate, beside his name, but also on the pillar-plate, beneath the dial, and on the underside of the cock.

Graham died at Westminster Abbey in 1751 and was buried there. There was some rivalry to claim Graham's goodwill shortly after his death. "Thomas Mudge, watch-maker, apprentice to the late Mr. Graham, carries on business in the same manner as Mr. Graham did, at the sign of the Dial and Crown, opposite the Bolt and Tun, on the Fleet Street," the General Advertiser reported two days later.

Eric Loth, who founded the British Masters SA firm in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1995, relaunched the Graham brand.

Eric Loth, who was born in Bienne and grew up in Le Locle, has been involved in the engineering world since he was a youngster. His father was a professor at the Neuchâtel Engineering School, thus he has always been surrounded by engineers and technicians. His foray into the realm of watchmaking was purely unintentional.

He graduated from the Neuchâtel Engineering School with a degree in mechanical engineering (polytechnics). Graduated from the University of Neuchâtel with a master's degree in physical metallurgy and the higher Business Management School I.M.D. in Lausanne with a master's degree in business administration.

With the help of his family, friends, and partners, he came up with the concept of buying a premium watch business in 1994. He was seeking for a unique brand that would allow him to convey his enthusiasm for innovation and art. This sparked a lengthy search that yielded an unexpected result: the names and extraordinarily rich histories of some of England's greatest innovators from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Between 1996 and 1999, a research and development phase was launched, inspired by the rich heritage of George Graham, inventor of the Chronograph among other things, and John Arnold, inventor of breakthrough escapements, winner of the prestigious Longitude Prize, and by far the leading supplier of Marine Chronometers to British ships (Royal Navy as well as merchant- and explorer- vessels).

The product development work was done by taking these discoveries and concepts in a much larger sense and transforming them into highly distinctive, modern timekeepers that will dazzle today's watch enthusiasts.

As a result, two distinct Swiss luxury watch brands emerged: Graham and Arnold & Son. Graham SA (formerly British Masters SA) is situated in La Chaux-de-Fonds and makes Swiss-made luxury timepieces under the Graham brand.

Citizen Group, located in Japan, purchased the Arnold & Son trademark in 2012.