Stephen McGonigle creates new brand Magon and introduces the Fórsa

The Irish independent watchmaker Stephen McGonigle have created a new brand which they call Magon and releases a new collection – the Fórsa (Irish for force) with two references – the Dubh and Titanium, both in a tonneau shaped case.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

McGonigle creates new brand Magon and introduces the Fórsa

Retail pricing for the Magon Fórsa Dubh is CHF 11,870 and the Magon Fórsa Titanium is CHF 9,800.

Commentary

Debuting as Magon, Stephen McGonigle, a well known Irish independent operating in Switzerland releases two new references of his new chronograph in a tonneau shaped case. We have covered Stephen’s work with his brothers and sister under the McGonigle banner and were impressed with the watches. Here is our review of the McGonigle Tuscar Bánú.

The two watches are inspired by rugby, and perhaps the only true rugby watches ever made. Others we have seen in the market say they are inspired by the sport, but most are existing models with new dials and straps. The Magon is designed with rugby in mind, and carries some interesting references to the sport.

Various options are available in the two cases – both in titanium, but the base model is in polished titanium, while the model they call the Dubh has a DLC black coating. The cases are made by the same company that made Sarpaneva and Gronefeld cases. And Stephen tells us that the Magon case was one of the most complicated they ever made.

The movement is a customised movement by La Joux Perret. It is a more traditional column-wheel, automatic chronograph.

Pricing looks to be very modest for the watch at about CHF 10k. The nearest in terms of case shape is perhaps the various Franck Mullers, which are only available in steel as base models (or precious metals, no Ti), are more expensive, and have derivative movements. No doubt the Magon being available only direct from their website helps keep the pricing modest.

Release details

When we decided to create a brand in this particular end of the market, we knew it would have to be better than most if it was to stand any chance of success.

The Fórsa (Irish for force) Dubh (dubh meaning black – pronounced ‘dove’), is the only titanium, tonneau-shaped, Swiss made automatic, column-wheel chronograph at this price point in the market.

The timepiece doesn’t include any new innovations and doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. That’ said, we set ourselves an extremely difficult task. Create a mid-range chronograph, using a very challenging design, collaborating with the best craftsmen in Switzerland and Germany and using the best materials and components available.

Design and development took almost 3 years, working with some of the best companies in Switzerland and Germany (case maker).

Starting with the movement, we chose a classical column-wheel chronograph over the more common mass-produced cam-actuated system. A collaboration with the Swiss manufacture, La Joux Perret, brought to fruition a custom finished, clean and strikingly designed mechanism, that offers a high-end chronograph at an affordable price. The finish on the bridges, steel work, column wheel, rotor and even the screws, help make the Fórsa a unique and special chronograph mechanism.

The dial alone is a collaboration between 3 separate dial companies in La Chaux de Fonds. The dial follows the same curves as the case and glass, demanding extreme precision. Forged from a single block, then machined to accommodate the movement, the dial has all the Superluminova applied by hand.

The case is testament to German engineering. Ensuring a waterproof tonneau case is never easy, yet we achieved 10 ATM in this grade 5 titanium case. Every detail of the case has been considered, from the pushers which mimic the curves of the case itself, to the crown which is a nod to our Irish roots and inspired by the ancient Irish alphabet, Ogham. The Fórsa Dubh has a DLC (Diamond Like Coating) coating on it’s sandblasted case. This make the water resistance of 10 ATM all the more impressive (there are added technical issues sealing the glass to a sandblasted bezel).

The strap was developed with Biwi SA and is the result of over a year in design and development. MAGON’s criteria included sustainability, durability, design, uniqueness, animal welfare and comfort. The results speak for themselves.

As with most creations, it needed inspiration and we chose the wonderful sport that is rugby. While, by no means a ‘rugby watch’, subtle hints throughout the design helped to mould this into the watch you see before you. There are countless sports watches and sports sponsored by watch brands but the MAGON Fórsa is one of the very few ever created from the ground up with a particular sport as inspiration.