McGonigle Ogma | INTRODUCING

Borna Bošnjak

• Legendary Irish watchmaker Stephen McGonigle reveals the ultimate design of the Ogma, a watch that has been rumoured since mid-2024. 
• The Tuscar’s successor sports activities a brand new design language for McGonigle, however retains acquainted components such because the outsized stability and sceptre-like stability cock.
• Extremely, the primary run of 20 items in tantalum offered earlier than collectors even knew what the watch would appear like, with additional sequence coming sooner or later.

Let’s face it, the times of perusing watch boards like WatchProSite have been largely changed by scrolling previous yet one more submit of Mike Nouveau flexing a tiny Cartier in Paris or some rapper posing subsequent to a steering wheel stuffed with Richard Milles. However there may be worth nonetheless in the old-fashioned, as you may discover whispers about watches like this – the McGonigle Ogma. Again in mid-2024, rumours began percolating a couple of new watch by the Irish grasp watchmaker, solely to be confirmed in September by McGonigle’s publishing of the above video. Now, we lastly get a better have a look at the brand new Ogma, which downsizes considerably in comparison with McGonigle’s previous watches, however loses not one of the hand-crafted magnificence you’d anticipate from somebody entrusted with the restoration of the Breguet Pendule Sympathique.

The Ogma is known as after the Irish god of eloquence, and the inventor of the Ogham script that has featured in all McGonigle watches till now – you’ll see it used on this one shortly. With a 39.3mm diameter, the Ogma is about to be way more wearable than its predecessor, the Tuscar, which got here in at 43mm. Whereas the prototype you’re right here reveals off intricate frosted and polished finishes in metal, the primary Ogma sequence is definitely a run of tantalum items. I look ahead to seeing the pictures of these, because the muted, bluish hue of the infamously difficult-to-work-with metallic will give the Ogma one other dimension.

Trying on the dial from afar, the structure is a refined however nice evolution from the Tuscar, too. The time is not displayed centrally, shifting to an offset sub-dial, balanced out by the small seconds at 8, and the brand new energy reserve indicator at 10. On a regular basis-telling dials get a brushed, PVD-coated end, set towards a frosted backdrop of German silver, which not solely seems phenomenal now, however will look even higher as soon as patina units in.

The centrepiece of the dial continues to be the escapement, nonetheless, with the cantilevered, massive stability wheel a simple inform that this can be a McGonigle watch. It’s free-sprung and sports activities a Breguet overcoil, with massive regulating weights on the cardinal factors and a gradual beat fee of 3Hz. I additionally love how the polished metal componentry for the remainder of the escapement, because the uniquely formed bridge, escape wheel, and pallet fork distinction towards the matte components of the dial.

And speaking of the escapement and ending, the Ogma sports activities a brand new motion, regardless of the nomenclature carrying over from earlier McGonigle watches. It’s nonetheless referred to as the McG01, and it’s nonetheless manually wound with a 90-hour energy reserve, nevertheless it not encompasses a double-barrel design like within the Tuscar, quite choosing a big single one, seen by means of the cut-out within the high left. The Ogma can also be not notably showy about its internals, hiding all of it away beneath tightly becoming German silver plates. I’m an enormous fan of the visible cut up between the frosted and hand-engraved parts, with the latter sporting a design created by Stephen McGonigle’s sister, Frances. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover that aforementioned Ogham script, spelling out “OGMA”, as it’s possible you’ll anticipate.

McGonigle Ogma pricing and availability

The McGonigle Ogma is debuting as a restricted sequence of 20 items in tantalum, all of which have been offered earlier than the watch was unveiled. McGonigle shall be saying the subsequent sequence of Ogma watches quickly. Value: CHF 79,000 (tantalum), TBC for future sequence