2021 Fears Brunswick Brown 175th Anniversary Limited to 5
Ref: BS23800A
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Fears bespoke wooden presentation box and paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original Fears straps with its signed buckle, plus the other original Fears straps are included. The watch is from February 2021 and is sold in worn but great condition as you can see, worn a handful of times at most. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a 2021 Fears Brunswick Brown 175th Anniversary, hand-built in Britain with a Limited run of just 5 pieces. A unique serial number is engraved between the lugs at 12 o’clock, this number can identify the watch's history from its master database. The inspiration for the case for this watch comes from a Fears watch originally made in 1924. Manufactured in Germany, its wonderfully curvaceous 38mm case is made from 316L stainless steel, the finish and depth of polishing are quite exquisite and showcase the skill and attention to detail of the German manufacturers. To facilitate daily winding the watch features a traditional “onion” shaped crown, this being made in Switzerland. On the dial, numerals expertly applied by hand, capture and play with the light as you gently wind the crown to begin your day. A domed sapphire crystal sits above an incredible Fears Brunswick Brown dial, the Burnt Ochre dial undergoes an extraordinary 59 production processes to achieve its multi-tone colour, the dial is made up of a galvanic coating of Rhodium and a clear lacquer which has a bespoke shade of brown pigment. The ring of the dial on which the numerals sit is hand-brushed meaning the surface is unique to each watch, truly a masterclass in dial manufacture. Hand-applied numerals and pips marking the hours are machined from brass and polished to a mirror finish, they then receive a hand-painted cream enamel coating, this same hand-painted cream enamel coating is given to the elegant skeletal “Fears” Hands which are all finished by their expert in-house watchmakers in the UK creating depth and finishing that has rarely been seen on mass-produced, stamped hands. Watch hand production and construction is a practice performed by only a handful of British watch brands. On the reverse, we have a case back with the 175th Anniversary logo, laser engraved with a brown hue that complements the dial. The number out of 5 is also engraved at the bottom and infilled with the same brown hue. Inside we have a hand-wound ETA 7001, 17 jewels, and 18,000 beats per hour. First introduced in the 1970s it quickly gained a reputation for being reliable. Its slim design incorporates an Incabloc shock system. Each movement is serviced and hand-finished here in Britain, applying Côtes de Genève striping and Rhodium plating, once re-assembled and thoroughly tested it receives its “Golden Pipette” which is handmade and applied to the bridge. The watch comes with three quick-release straps, a rich chocolate brown Bund strap handmade in Belgium from European Buffalo nubuck, a brown NATO strap with seat belt weave and finally a Mink Brown strap handmade in Belgium from Indian Madras goat's leather, the accompanying stainless steel pin buckle carries the final flourish of an engraving of the Fears pipette logo. The Brunswick Brown is presented in a bespoke wooden box, crafted in Britain from English Ash, which is stained Fears Blue, lined in genuine cream suede, the watch sits proudly on a special cushion.
Personal Note
As many of you reading this will know, I personally own one of the 5 Brunswicks and I am so glad to be part of such an exclusive club of those owners, many of you compliment the watch and mention how you wish you were quick enough to get one... Well, here is your chance to add one of the elusive 5 to your collection! One other has been sold in the past, making this the 2nd, I suspect it will be a long while before we see another, if ever...
The Brand
The year was 1846 and a young watchmaker named Edwin Fear established a workshop and showroom in his own name at 33-35 Redcliff Street in Bristol. The company ‘Edwin Fear’ that he created became more and more successful and eventually, in 1866 needed to expand to their second premises, on Bristol Bridge, which served as Fears headquarters until the 1940s. During this period, the company had three different Managing Directors. Following the passing of Edwin in 1877 the business was handed down to his son, Amos Daniel Fear, who in 1908 saw the company become a limited company whilst also changing its operating name from ‘Edwin Fear’ to ’Fears Limited’. Amos also safely navigated the company through the First World War,1914-1918, after which he established an export department, called ‘Fears (Export) Limited’ at No. 14 Brunswick Square in Bristol. In late 1945, following the War, Fears moved to new premises in Clifton, Bristol, just in time to celebrate the company’s centenary in 1946 with a new watch collection. Fears continued to thrive through the post-war years until it sadly closed its doors in 1976. It was not until 40 years later in 2016 when an aspiring young apprentice watchmaker at Rolex in London, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the great-great-great-grandson of Edwin Fear, re-launched his family’s company at the SalonQP watch show on 3rd November 2016. Keeping the name ‘Fears’ he released their first wristwatch in the twenty-first century, the Redcliff. Rolling with the success of the Redcliff in 2017 they released their second wristwatch, The Brunswick, named after Brunswick Square in Bristol.