Right at the start of 2024 British watchmaker Garrick released one of their most unusual watches, the S2 Deadbeat Seconds. It’s a watch that purposely takes the iconic sweeping motion of an automatic seconds hand and replaces it with the pausing intervals most commonly seen on cheaper quartz movements. However, this novelty has proven to be so popular that they’re introducing it on another of their models, the S3. This of course results in the new Garrick S3 Deadbeat Seconds.
It’s worth noting that a deadbeat seconds does have a practical purpose beyond confusing people trying to identify if your watch is quartz or not from across the room. It actually traces its history to the medical profession, where the pause of the seconds hand at each marker makes it easier to time short intervals, such as when you are counting a patient’s pulse rate. Plus, a well-paid doctor is one of the careers where you might eventually be able to afford a Garrick with smart saving.
When talking about Garricks it’s also important to remember that they produce an extremely limited number of watches on a made to order basis. Only three to five S3 Deadbeat Seconds watches will be produced each year and as such, Garrick take pains to ensure that each model is customised to their owner’s preferences. That means the 42mm x 11mm case can be produced from a variety of materials such as frosted or polished steel as well as gold.
The display consists of Breguet hands over a handcrafted German silver dial. As an S3 model it features an openworked display with Garrick’s signature Trinity free-sprung balance at 6 o’clock, one of the largest in horology. The movement is the DB-G07, which is tested and regulated over the course of three weeks, ensuring a daily variance of just +3 seconds meaning it sits within chronometer tolerances. There’s also a power reserve indicator at 2 o’clock. Again, the amount of customisation for the finishes across the dial, bridges and components is basically endless.
With the level of detail and attention lovingly lavished on each watch by Garrick’s in-house team, it’s no surprise that the price is pretty exclusive. £48,000 incl. VAT. However, that doesn’t stop their order book being completely filled year after year.
Price and Specs:
More details at Garrick.
What can I say! It’s a Garrick, and only a few being made, but at £48k, probably just as well.
Can’t dispute the technical excellence, but too busy on the dial face.
Interesting that the dead-beat movement style has being resurrected as opposed to the sweep second that has reigned for many years, with the reference to originally being the preferred option for the medical profession, but I really wouldn’t want my pulse rate to be read by anyone using one of these overly confusing dials, I would be concerned that the Kaa effect would take over by watching the cogs and wheels (the Kaa reference is to the hypnotic eyes of the snake in the Jungle Book films). I shouldn’t have to worry really as only a few are being made, and despite the salaries of certain medical professionals, a £40k watch on the wrist of a medic, would certainly raise my blood pressure to cardiac arrest levels.