Garrick Introduces the S6, an Evolution of their Entry Level Watch

When we last checked in on Garrick, the small British indie had just unveiled the S5 series of watches, their most high-end and luxurious creations to date. Coming in at nearly $20,000, many longtime admirers of the brand might have felt some sticker shock (although not too many – the initial run was pre-sold to existing clients before the embargo lifted). It will be a relief, then, to note that Garrick’s latest watch, the S6, is back to four digit territory, and a deliberate evolution of the S4, the brand’s entry-level line. There are some minor aesthetic tweaks to the S6 that give it a noticeably different character than other Garrick creations, but they allow the artisans who work on these watches to really flex their muscles when it comes to dial work. And of course they are still completely customizable, so the end result, almost by definition, is precisely what you were looking for. 

The key differentiating factor between the S4 and S6 is the dial layout, specifically the lack of large numerals at the perimeter that remain a defining feature of the S4. Garrick’s goal with the S6 was to achieve an aesthetic that’s more contemporary (the S4’s design language, like all of Garrick’s creations to a certain degree, is rooted in classic English pocket watch design). On the S6, time is read via a thin chapter ring at the outer edge of the dial, with small markers for the minutes and hours that have been hand filled with ink. Removing the numerals gives the dial considerably more room to breathe, and puts the focus more clearly on dial finishing while giving the watch a cleaner overall appearance. 

Of course, each Garrick owner is given the opportunity to choose from a multitude of options when it comes to how the dial is presented, which is an enormous part of the charm of these watches – each is essentially a unique, custom, creation. For the S6, Garrick offers dials with frosted, hand-hammered, laser textured, and engine turned finishing. If a client chooses to have their dial finished via engine turning, they have additional options when it comes to patterns, as Garrick uses their own rose and straight-line engines, a real rarity in contemporary watchmaking. Garrick also offers customers the chance to choose the finishing of the small seconds subdial, which can either match the finishing of the main dial, or contrast with it. Hand-set options include Garrick’s signature “anchor” hands, or a simpler lancine hand-set, both of which can be customized with grained, polished, or heat-blued finishing. 

Like the S4, the S6 runs on Garrick’s Calibre BF03 movement, which is a heavily customized hand wound ETA 6498. Customization extends to the finishing of the movement bridge, which can be engraved, hand-hammered, textured, or frosted with plating in silver, rhodium, yellow gold, or pink gold, all based on the preferences of each owner. The movement is quite beautiful to look at, and includes classic flourishes like beveled and polished bridges and heat-blued screws. 

The case used for the S6 is the same as that for the S4, and measures 42mm in diameter and 10mm thick. It’s made from 904L stainless steel, and is finished in a rather traditional way, with polished elements on the tops of the lugs with contrasting grained and frosted sections elsewhere providing contrast. It’s water resistant to 100 meters, which is a nice and somewhat unexpected feature for a watch in this style, but makes it a candidate for a true everyday wear possibility for just about anyone. 

As with other Garrick watches, pricing for the S6 ranges depending on the custom options selected. For watches with frosted dials, the price is listed at £5412.50, and for watches with engine turned or hammered dials the price is listed at £6245.83 (both without VAT). For more information on the S6, be sure to head to Garrick’s website here.