The brand from Norfolk focuses on the details.
Since Bremont's year-on-year revenue increase of 28 % in 2021, the watch company based in the town of Henley-on-Thames has secured an investment of almost GBP 50 million. Roger Smith is overtaking George Danials at the auctions with pocket watches selling for USD 4.9 million (a record for a British timepiece).
Another watchmaker fighting to revive traditions is the Norfolk-based brand Garrick. The brand was founded by David Brailsford and Simon Michelmayr in 2014, who believe in creating limited edition models with top-notch finishing.
The company with an annual output of just 70 pieces presented a new model this summer called the Stellar S5 Moon Phase, which provides an insight into the brand's DNA. Garrick's first watch with an astronomical complication is also limited to mini-batch build slots of ten pieces in 2024 and ten in 2025.
The Stellar S5 Moon Phase is equipped with the Garrick UT-GO5 movement used in the S5 series with an added module for the moon-phase display. The movement's architecture, which is remarkable in and of itself, has been combined with an interesting finishing: the three-quarter plate has been given a frosted finish.
The only component visible from the caseback side is the balance, overarched by a "three-spoke" bridge. The power reserve ensured by this manually wound movement which beats at a frequency of 21,600 vph (3Hz) is 60 hours.
The in-house dials that are guillochéed by hand on a rose engine lathe are a source of pride for Garrick. The Stellar S5 Moon Phase is no exception. The model unveiled was an edition with waves that radiate out from the center, which is encircled by lozenge shapes in a ring around the edge of the dial.
The space between the two patterns is filled by a steel chapter ring with engraved Roman numerals that are inked by hand. Seeing as the company is client-oriented, future owners can choose from different dial motifs and new colors for their future watches (the watches that have been unveiled were launched with gold and blue dials).
Even the moon-phase indication can be customized. The model is housed in a case made of gold or steel measuring 39 mm in diameter.