One of the more interesting trends in the watch space over the past few years is the rise of small batch watchmakers that straddle a line between what we traditionally think of as a microbrand and the world of true haute horlogerie or independent watchmaking. Depending on how you define your terms (on either side of the equation) there are a lot of brands and watchmakers that could fall into this category. Ming is an often cited example. In addition to their more modest offerings (that always sell out immediately) they experiment freely in a much higher tier and seem to have aspirations of living in more rarified air. I also think of brands that specialize in unique and artisanal craft projects, like the silver cased watches of James Lamb, or the impeccable custom finishing you?ll find in a Laine. One of my favorite brands in this category is Garrick Watchmakers, which focuses on traditional watchmaking by hand in an inherently British style, with an emphasis on customization and in-house movement and manufacturing innovations. Brand founder Dave Brailsford has been working on their latest watch, the S5, for quite some time, and it?s finally ready to be shown publicly. 
According to Brailsford, the operating principle behind the S5 was to create a watch with a smaller diameter that could be worn by Garrick customers and fans who thought their previous models to be a bit too large. Garrick?s past efforts have come in at 42mm in diameter, a function of the custom m...