The S3 Deadbeat Seconds becomes Garrick’s most expensive watch, but is it worth it?

Borna Bošnjak

• Garrick’s latest S3 Deadbeat Seconds advances on the handsome S3 MK2 with a less busy dial and more complex movement.
• The 42mm case is available in 904L steel or 18k gold, while the German silver chapter rings can be bespoke-coloured by the customer.
• Powered by the DB-07, the movement now features a central deadbeat seconds, along with a host of hand-finishing that can also be customised.

There’s no doubt that British watchmaking is once again becoming exciting after years of dormancy, thanks to a number of small, independent UK brands that have been popping up over the last few years. Garrick, however, has been fighting the good fight for nearly a decade now, and doing so the hard way – manufacturing as many of their own components as possible. Cased in 42mm of 904L steel or 18k gold, the latest Garrick continues to offer something the brand has always been open to – customisation – while incorporating a central deadbeat seconds complication that’s now fully on display from both sides.

Visually, the S3 Deadbeat Seconds (DBS, for short) is one of the least Garrick-looking Garricks to date, as it omits the hand-made guilloché dials that defined so many of their early efforts. Unlike the aforementioned S3 MK2, the seconds move to the centre, and the power reserve sub-dial is now fully see-through. Will this mar legibility somewhat? Yes, probably. Does that matter? Not really, no. And if you are concerned about legibility, you’re able to outfit the S3 DBS with four different handset styles, all of which can be heat-blued, purpled, or polished, while the German silver chapter ring can be coloured however you wish.

I love the oversized Breguet/observatoire style pictured above, but having them heat-purpled would be a next-level flex. The dominating aspect of the dial, though, is undoubtedly the slow-beating Trinity balance at 6 o’clock, which Garrick says is “arguably the largest on any watch”. Now, now – it’s not all about size, is it?

What it really is about with the S3 DBS, and any Garrick, for that matter, is the movement and its degree of finishing. That is why you’re buying a mid-five-figure independent watch, after all. The S3 line continues the use of the UT line of movements developed with Andreas Strehler’s UhrTeil, carrying the name DB-G07 for the latest Deadbeat Seconds iteration. On paper, the manually wound movement sports a beat rate of 18,000vph and a power reserve of 45 hours, with the main highlight being the deadbeat seconds. The execution of this complication is easily visible from the caseback, with a spring, reversing wheel, and central wheel carrying the seconds hand.

There are some really nice touches here, both from the front and reverse sides of the movement. The screwed chatons visible dial-side are always a treat, as are the polished gear spokes and ratchet wheel teeth. While the plates on the example above are frosted, you can option them as grained or mirror-polished instead, while the wheels can be in gold, silver, or rhodium, with optional engraving, too. So if whatever you see here doesn’t quite float your boat, it can likely be changed. For example, I much prefer the black-polished finish of the steel components on the caseback to the brushing found on the keyless works dial-side.

With all this customisation, I do wonder whether it’s possible to opt for an even higher degree of finishing.  Let’s look at the skeletonised cock in the very centre, for example. I’m a fan of its bottle opener-like cut-out, but find some sharp interior angles sorely missing. The same can be said for the surround of the jewel above the escape wheel, and the long, steel bridge on the dial side running from 12 o’clock to the centre. I’m sure these aren’t missing because Garrick’s watchmakers aren’t capable of executing them – quite the contrary. The complex click spring assembly is a good example of this finishing method, as is the beautiful balance bridge at the front. I just wish it extended to more parts of the movement.

On the wrist, the S3 DBS will be a head-turner, both because of its all-polished finish and the 42mm diameter. This is a common point of contention with the brand’s UT-powered releases, and one I can understand given that many collectors prefer this style of watch in a smaller size. That said, it seems to me that this is purely a movement size limitation, though one that Garrick does their very best to justify with the attention to finishing detail.

904L steel has now become the standard for the brand, with a full gold case raising the price by “only” £7,500, a welcome sight considering the S3 DBS is now comfortably the most expensive watch Garrick has ever made. Is it also the most refined? Certainly – it’s the culmination of the journey from the S2 to the S3, combining the former’s complication with the latter’s design, and dressing up the movement. But it’s also a far cry from the brand’s beginnings, offering customised Unitas calibres with engine-turned dials for way under £10,000. I don’t say this as a positive or a negative, it’s simply the result of an ambitious brand reaching ever higher, which will always come with increasing price tags. The decision whether it’s worth it is one you’ll have to make yourself, but if you think it is, you’ll get a pretty sweet watch to gawk at.

Garrick S3 Deadbeat Seconds pricing and availability

The Garrick S3 Deadbeat Seconds will be made to order, with an expected production capacity of three to five pieces per year. Price (exc. VAT): £40,000 (steel), £47,500 (gold)

Brand	Garrick
Model	S3 Deadbeat Seconds
Case Dimensions	42mm (D) x 11mm (T)
Case Material	904L stainless steel or 18k gold
Water Resistance	100 metres
Crystal(s)	Sapphire front and back
Dial	Open, German silver chapter rings
Lug Width	22mm
Strap	Grey leather, case-matching pin buckle
Movement	DB-G07, manual winding
Power Reserve	45 hours
Functions	Hours, minutes, deadbeat seconds, power reserve
Availability	Made to order, approx. 5 pieces per year
Price	£40,000 (steel, excl. VAT) £47,500 (gold, excl. VAT)