Garrick's S8 puts the movement where I want to see it

I like the Garrick S8 most when I can follow the mechanism around the dial. The large wheel up near ten, the small-seconds ring at six and the blued hands give the exposed movement a layout I can actually make sense of. There is a lot going on, but it looks deliberate. I'd give it 103 out of 120 bezel clicks, and I'd much rather spend time looking at those details than pretending the price is remotely within reach.

Garrick published its S8 announcement on November 9, 2026. Its November 12–15 showing in Singapore is a later event, not the launch date. This first look uses Garrick's announcement and retained product information alongside Monochrome's coverage. I haven't handled the watch, and the brand's wrist photograph below isn't my wrist or evidence of my experience with it.

Small enough to keep the mechanism interesting

The stated dimensions are 39 mm across and 8 mm thick. That is a particularly appealing combination for an exposed movement: I don't want the case to become enormous just so every component can have its own display window. In the brand photographs, the narrow polished rim keeps the attention on the mechanism, and the fairly conventional lugs give the case a shape I like.

Garrick specifies 904L steel for the standard case and also offers precious-metal versions. The announcement shows different movement finishes, including warm gold-colored and cooler rhodium-colored treatments. A gold-colored movement photograph does not establish a gold case. I prefer the warmer mechanism with the blue hands; the contrast makes the hands easier for me to pick out in the pictures.

There is still a practical compromise. The background has screws, wheels, openings and several different textures, so telling the time at a glance may take more effort than it would on a solid dial. I enjoy an exposed movement when the architecture is worth looking at, but I would want to check the hand contrast in everyday light.

Five a year is a serious wait

The S8 is manually wound and has a stated 60-hour reserve. Garrick says one watchmaker finishes and assembles each watch, including making the hands. The company advertises five pieces a year and is taking orders for 2029 delivery. Those are manufacturer statements about production and ordering, and I can't turn them into a guarantee of an available slot.

The price starts at £59,500 before VAT in steel and £73,000 in precious metal, checked November 10. I don't have a confirmed US dollar quote, so I haven't assigned one for the chart. Water resistance is listed at 100 meters, a welcome specification for such a thin watch, although I haven't tested it.

At this level I would need to understand the deposit, delivery commitment, servicing and what happens if the schedule slips. The watch itself is compelling, particularly in the warmer movement finish, but 2029 is a long time to wait for a watch you've only seen in photographs.