2022 Fears Brunswick "Jubilee Edition" Royal Purple
Ref: BS2360A

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 20mm handmade Royal Purple with platinum coloured stitching plus a Fears Pewter Grey with dark grey stitching Barenia leather strap. The watch is from December 2022 and is sold in worn but great condition as you can see, worn a handful of times at most. The watch comes with its Manufacturer’s Warranty.

The Watch

Here we have a 2022 Fears Brunswick "Jubilee Edition" Royal Purple made in small batches this special piece was only made and sold during the Jubilee year of 2022. The inspiration for the case for this watch comes from a Fears watch originally made in 1924, and manufactured in Germany, its wonderfully curvaceous 38mm case is made from 316L stainless steel, and the finish and depth of polishing are quite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 Royal Purple dial which perfectly replicates the historic colour of royalty, expertly made in Germany by one of the world’s best dial makers. As you rotate your wrist the rich tones of the Royal Purple lacquer magically change from light to dark, something you have to experience in person to appreciate. This striking dial is complemented by the concentric circle finishing on the sunken sub-seconds, at 6 o’clock. The numerals are applied to the dial by hand, machined from brass and mirror polished before being coated in Rhodium to give them a brilliant shine. Inspired by the many different typefaces Fears has used throughout its history, they were designed especially for Fears by a horological typographer. Truly a masterclass in dial manufacture. Each set of hands is subtly skeletonised and mirror polished before being coated in Rhodium to give them a brilliant shine.  On the reverse, we have a special engraving celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, each piece has a unique serial number engraved, this number can identify the watch's history from its master database. 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 reassembled and thoroughly tested it receives its “Golden Pipette” which is handmade and applied to the bridge, each watch is individually checked by Nicholas before it leaves the premises. Fitted on a 20mm handmade Royal Purple with platinum coloured stitching lined with Alcantara dyed a deep shade of blue, plus a Fears Pewter Grey with dark grey stitching Barenia leather strap, this premium calfskin leather takes its name from the village of Barr in Alsace, used in saddles the complex process of tanning is only known by a few craftsmen, the soft lining is made of soft Alcantara which has been dyed in a deep shade of blue. The accompanying stainless steel pin buckle carries the final flourish of an engraving of the Fears pipette logo. The Brunswick ’Jubilee Edition 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

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, who is 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.