The Pinnacle of British Watchmaking: Garrick S3 Deadbeat Seconds in 18K Gold
The Garrick S3 Deadbeat Seconds in 18K yellow gold represents British independent watchmaking's contemporary zenith. This full precious metal variant pairs the rare deadbeat seconds complication—jumping like quartz but regulated entirely by hand over three weeks—with solid gold construction that transforms exceptional timepiece into generational heirloom. With only ~5 pieces built annually from Garrick's Norwich workshop, this is where 300 years of British horological heritage meets modern technical mastery.
Why the 18K Gold Case Matters
Garrick's 18K gold case offering isn't luxury signaling—it's heritage connection. Britain's watchmaking masters—John Harrison (marine chronometer inventor), Thomas Mudge (lever escapement creator), George Graham, Thomas Tompion—all worked in precious metals as standard practice. This gold variant continues that 300-year tradition of British goldsmithing excellence while delivering contemporary horological achievement.
The solid 18K yellow gold case transforms the S3's character entirely. Gold's density creates substantial wrist presence—you feel the quality before you see it. The warm gold tones harmonize with the silver frosted dial and thermally blued hands, while the German silver chapter ring creates visual cohesion. This is the S3 for collectors who understand that precious metal construction adds intrinsic value alongside technical mastery—when independent watchmaking meets investment-grade materials.
British Watchmaking at Its Finest
David Brailsford and Simon Michlmayr founded Garrick in 2014 to resurrect Britain's lost haute horology tradition through uncompromising modern craftsmanship. Watchmaker Stuart Smith hand-builds each DB-G07 movement over months in their Norfolk facility. The deadbeat seconds mechanism demands exponentially more regulation than conventional timekeeping—which is precisely why even major manufactures rarely attempt it. Garrick produces only ~50 watches annually across all models; the S3 Deadbeat Seconds accounts for just 5 of those.
Every component showcases traditional British finishing: hand-beveled bridges with black polishing (achieved through tin plate and diamantine paste, never machine buffing), frosted surfaces creating dimensional texture, and the oversized Trinity free-sprung balance dominating at 6 o'clock. That balance features Garrick's proprietary Sircumet alloy—anti-magnetic with weighted screws positioned "in-board" to minimize air turbulence and maximize precision. Three weeks of positional regulation bring each piece to ±3-second daily accuracy, surpassing COSC chronometer standards.
Back-to-back GPHG Finalist recognition (2024, 2025) places Garrick alongside Philippe Dufour, F.P. Journe, and Roger Smith—the independent masters defining contemporary haute horology. The DB-G07 was developed with master watchmaker Andreas Strehler, bringing Swiss precision engineering to British aesthetic traditions.
Investment & Value Positioning
At $72,000, the 18K gold S3 Deadbeat Seconds occupies strategic territory in the independent watch market. You're acquiring genuine scarcity (~5 annual production), precious metal construction delivering intrinsic value, in-house movement development, GPHG-finalist pedigree, and British independent watchmaking heritage—elements typically requiring six-figure budgets from established names. The $11,000 premium over steel delivers solid gold case and buckle, increased material value, and positioning within the investment-grade independent watch segment.
Exquisite Timepieces data shows consistent demand for timepieces in the $50K-$135K range, with particular collector interest in independent makers who control their entire production chain. As one of only 4 S3 Deadbeat Seconds variants—and the sole precious metal offering—this represents the apex of Garrick's technical and material achievement.
Who This Watch Is For
This is for serious collectors who recognize that true independent watchmaking requires controlling every production step—from dial finishing to movement architecture to thermal hand-bluing. If you're beyond entry-level independent collecting and already own pieces from established makers, the gold case S3 Deadbeat Seconds represents British horology's contemporary voice in precious metal. You're commissioning a 24-month build where Stuart Smith personally regulates your specific DB-G07 movement for three weeks across all positions.
The 18K gold case signals collector sophistication. This is the variant for those who understand that Garrick's rising GPHG profile, limited production numbers, and British independent positioning create both horological significance and potential appreciation trajectory.
The Exquisite Timepieces Advantage
This new S3 Deadbeat Seconds in 18K yellow gold includes complete Garrick presentation, box, and warranty papers, backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty. As a Garrick authorized retailer with comprehensive inventory (26 Garrick models in stock), we guarantee authentication, provide expert consultation on the full Garrick collection, offer trade-in evaluations for your existing timepieces, and deliver personalized concierge service at our Naples, FL showroom. Financing available for qualified collectors.
