Fears Archival 1930vsGarrick S2 Deadbeat Seconds

Owners and reviewers widely praise the Fears Archival 1930 for its elegant, vintage-inspired Art Deco styling, featuring a captivating champagne dial with Deco numerals and heat-blued hands. The watch is noted for its comfortable, thin 8.54mm case and surprisingly substantial wearability, even on smaller wrists, due to its curved caseback and light weight. Its pull-out crown is easy to grip and wind, and the use of a new old stock ETA 717 movement from the 1930s adds historical appeal. However, some owners and forum members question its value proposition, citing components like an ETA 7001 movement and a Hong Kong case, with a power reserve of 38-40 hours requiring frequent winding. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Fears Archival 1930 highly for its unique vintage design and comfortable wearability, despite some reservations about its price relative to its components.

The Garrick S2 Deadbeat Seconds is praised for its handcrafted dial and in-house DB-G06 movement featuring a deadbeat seconds complication. Reviewers note the movement is regulated to within +3 seconds per day and offers a 45-hour power reserve, with traditional decoration and a large balance bridge. The 42mm stainless steel case is 10mm thick and boasts 100m water resistance. A significant drawback is the substantial wait time, ranging from at least a year to 16 months, and the watch is priced at £19,000 before taxes, with only 10 produced annually. Overall, reviewers highlight the Garrick S2 Deadbeat Seconds as a highly personalized and handcrafted timepiece, with the long lead time being the primary consideration.