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Graham Swordfish 46mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 04220000484
The Swordfish is Graham's most theatrically designed chronograph, and this reference makes the central conceit immediately clear: two raised magnifying lenses are ground directly into the flat sapphire crystal, one sitting over each sub-dial at three and nine o'clock, amplifying the registers by twenty percent and giving the watch the appearance of a deep-sea instrument panel rather than anything conventional. It is a deliberate provocation, and it works because the rest of the design commits to the same logic — the case architecture slopes downward through the lugs so that 46mm sits closer to the wrist than the diameter suggests, and the crown and pushers are knurled in a Clous de Paris pattern that gives a positive, textured grip on the controls. The G1710 underneath is a modified Valjoux 7753, Swiss-made and finished to a standard the movement's workhorse reputation does not immediately imply — circular graining on the plates, Côtes de Genève on the bridges, blued screws. The 48-hour reserve and Incabloc shock protection make it a mechanism built for actual use, and the rubber strap, structured with an integrated mesh motif, reinforces that intent.
- Reference
- 04220000484
- Brand
- Graham
- Collection
- Swordfish
- Case size
- 46mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- G1710
- Functions
- Chronograph
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Graham
George Graham was born in Cumberland in 1673 and apprenticed in London to Thomas Tompion, the finest clockmaker of the age, whose niece he later married. He is remembered for two inventions that shaped precision timekeeping: the deadbeat escapement of 1715, which removed the recoil that had limited pendulum accuracy, and the mercurial pendulum of 1726, which cancelled out the expansion of the rod as temperature changed. Clocks he made kept time to within a second a day at a period when a minute was thought respectable.
He also built the orrery that gave the instrument its name, lent money to a young John Harrison so that he could pursue the marine chronometer, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He was known in London simply as Honest George Graham.
The watch company carrying his name is a modern one, founded in Switzerland in 1995 and based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Its Chronofighter is the piece most people recognise, with the chronograph trigger mounted on the left of the case rather than the right — a layout drawn from the oversized levers RAF pilots needed in order to operate a stopwatch while wearing flying gloves.
- 1715
- George Graham invents the deadbeat escapement
- 1726
- The mercurial pendulum compensates for temperature
- 1995
- The modern Swiss company is founded in his name
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,405), Stainless Steel Watches (2,927), Automatic Watches (1,634), Chronograph Watches (1,132), Watches 44mm and Over (781) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (326).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 46mm is a large watch with real presence
Graham Swordfish alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 04220000484 | 29.2430.679/21.C753 | CBN201C.FC6542 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,495 | £4,795 | £5,700 |
| Case size | 46mm | 45mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 50 hours | 80 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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