Fears Brunswick Blue
Ref: BS238000A-FB
The Watch
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. Through 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 1931 came the third Managing Director, Amos Reginald Fear and the early ‘30s saw another name change for the business - now to be named, simply, ‘Fears’. It was a tough time to take charge of the company as the World was still struggling through difficult economic conditions suffered in the wake of the infamous Wall Street Crash of late 1929. However, with determination and perseverance Fears was booming and by the end of the 1930’s was exporting to an astonishing 95 countries around the world. Then came the Second World War and the 1940-1941 German bombing campaign against the UK, known as ‘The Blitz’. All of Fears premises sustained direct hits. The Bristol Bridge headquarters was destroyed on 24th November 1940, and the Brunswick Square Export department was hit three times before it was permanently evacuated in 1942. 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 sadly closing its doors in 1976.
It was not until 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 from the Redcliff in 2017 they released their second wristwatch, The Brunswick, named after Brunswick Square in Bristol.
2019 saw the first 1,000 days since the company was re-established and to celebrate Nicholas launched a limited edition watch - the Redcliff ‘Streamline’, inspired in design and price by Fears’ original ‘Streamline’ watch from 1946. Now in 2020 Fears becomes a partner of the UK Government's "GREAT Britain Campaign". Part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy, this campaign was created to highlight the best the UK has to offer the world. Today Fears grows from strength to strength with their exquisite collection of Brunswicks and fine accessories.
Made in small batches each piece has a unique serial number engraved between the lugs at 12 o’clock. This number can identify the watch's history from its master database. The inspiration of 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 case has only one flat surface, its rear sapphire crystal. The finish and depth of polishing is quite exquisite and showcases 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 Blue dial. The blue, at first glance, appears two-tone but it's when you tilt the watch that you capture its true beauty of tri-tone. Made in Germany by one of the world's finest dial makers, they use 56 production processes to achieve this spectacular dial. It is made up of 3 layers and two surface finishes combined with a galvanic blue coating. 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 Rhodium coating to give a brilliant shine. This same Rhodium 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 rarely seen on mass produced, stamped hands. Watch hand production and construction is a practice performed by only a handful of British watch brands.
Inside we have a hand-wound ETA 7001, 17 Jewels, 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. Each watch is individually checked by Nicholas before it leaves the premises.
Fitted on a 20 mm handmade Fears Blue Bristol leather strap. Its calf leather is vegetable tanned in one of Britain's oldest tanneries in Bristol- Thomas Ware & Sons. The accompanying stainless steel pin buckle carries the final flourish of an engraving of the Fears pipette logo.
Points of Mention
Kibble Watches is an Authorised Stockist of Fears Watches. Each watch is brand new and unworn, comes with its official box and paperwork, and is guaranteed by ourselves and Fears Watches for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase. The watch can be purchased online where you will be redirected to the Fears website to complete the transaction, alternatively viewing and purchasing in person can be arranged at our Clerkenwell, London office on appointment only.
Personal Note
In 2016 I was fortunate enough to attend SalonQP, a watch event held in London, which, whilst allowing some of the more mainstream brands to exhibit also helps to showcase and promote smaller, luxury, boutique brands. It is here that I first came across Fears Watches. Sadly I did not get the chance to meet Nicholas on the day but I was able have a brief “hands-on” with one of their watches on show, the Fears “Redcliff”. I briefly mentioned Fears and the watch I had seen in a video I decided to produce following the event, the aim of which to document my experience of the show and also to share my thoughts and opinions on the watches I had seen and handled. “Really nice watches, but a bit expensive in my opinion" was my summary of Fears from memory. Out of the blue I received a personal message from Nicholas, firstly thanking me for visiting the booth, but also to say he would love to meet up over a coffee and explain to me the pricing make-up of the watches. I was absolutely blown away, at this point I was just an 18-year-old kid who was giving his opinion on watches on social media with only a few hundred subscribers, yet Nicholas wanted to give me his time to explain the brand and the pricing structure to me. If any of you have ever met Nicholas, the one thing that is immediately apparent is his passion for Fears, there is zero question of that. For hours we talked Fears Watches, the history, Nicholas' own story, and where he wanted to take the brand. It was following this meeting that I realised how wrong I had been. It was also the first time I really appreciated what goes into making a watch. From this point, and armed with this knowledge, my respect and admiration for the brand he is building and the watches he has created has just grown ever greater.
We regularly meet to talk business and watches in general. He has helped me no end with my own business endeavors and for that, I'll be forever grateful to him.
I have also attended most of his Fears events, not as an attendee but as part of his team, helping with the preparations, the hosting, and the sales. From this, I have gained a far greater and in-depth knowledge of the brand and its watches. Fears is a brand I truly believe in. I have been fortunate to be able to watch the company grow from the Redcliff to the Brunswick and to see the plans that Fears have for the future. I am honored to be a part of this journey and look forward to what the future holds.
Specification
Reference : BS238000A-FB
Movement : Manually Would ETA. 7001
Case Size : 38mm
Case Thickness : 11.25mmLug to Lug : 42mm
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Brand New
Box & Papers : Official Fears Box & Paperwork
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 24-Months Manufacturer Warranty