Fears Brunswick: Their First Mechanical Watch

It seems like yesterday when, nearly two years ago, I met an excited Nicholas Bowman Scargill to hear how he was reviving Fears, a Bristol watch brand founded in 1846 by his great great great grandfather. The last year has seen the introduction of an attractive range of quartz-powered watches, but this month marks the significant introduction of the company's first mechanical watch since its revival. Much of it is British-made, indicating a future direction of travel for this family business. 

The Fears Brunswick - Fears first mechanical watch since its revival and available from early 2018

The Fears Brunswick (named after the Bristol square which was the address of the first Fears export business) has a vintage feel, homage to early Fears cushion-cased watches (pictured second below), but, at the same time, has a simplicity that makes it look very contemporary.

The case shape is refreshingly different to the modern rather clone-like watch shape and this, for me, makes it a desirable and attractive timepiece. In the flesh, the watch is even more attractive than it appears in photos.

The Fears Brunswick (left) and an early twentieth century Fears wristwatch

Significant too is that Nicholas Bowman Scargill has made great strides towards producing a watch largely manufactured in the UK. The mechanical movement is, of course, Swiss made, but it has been decorated in the UK and the case, dial and hands have been manufactured here. Within a year or so of its revival, Fears is making watches as it would have done over a century ago. Being hand-built, the Brunswick will be made in short batch runs, the first being available in early 2018.

The clear case back allows you to see the Geneva stripe decoration, applied in the UK. The final production model will vary slightly from this sample as there will be further finishing to case back and movement

At 38mm the case is exactly the right size for a watch straddling vintage and contemporary styles. The beautifully decorated movement is visible through the transparent case back. The white dial is a nod to old Fears pocket watches and the movement is, of course, hand wound. I love that contemplative moment in the morning when I wind my watch before putting it on. If you're used to a quartz or automatic mechanical movement you may find you forget at first, but in due course you'll look forward to that moment when you power up your tiny clockwork motor. 

I love this watch and look forward to being able to try one again after its introduction early next year. Price £2850 inc. VAT. For more information, see Fears. [The price was updated September 2019].

For past blog features on Fears, click here. 

Schofield - wristwatches designed in Britain

A good classic watch is essential in any search for style. Regulars here will have guessed that I'm a wristwatch enthusiast. So, while at the Best of Britannia exhibition early in October, I was delighted to find a British watch designer. Giles Ellis is the enthusiastic founder and owner of Schofield Watch Company. Such was his love of watches that he founded a business to design a timepiece he would himself wear.

Talking to him, it was clear that he was motivated to produce a watch of the highest quality  As with any successful design, the devil is in the detail - the smallest elements of the watch have been thought out with the greatest care. The watch is based on very British elements - influenced by the design of lighthouses of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The watch is, at 44mm, slightly larger than I would normally wear, but having tried it, I would revise this view. The case is large and chunky, but so intelligently made, curved, angled and proportioned that it looked fine, even on my slim wrist. The GMT function enables you to keep time in another time zone without having to adjust the watch. There is also a power reserve indicator. The movement is a high quality Soprod Swiss automatic, beautifully finished (but the owner will never see this).

Everything about the watch and the accompanying accessories is beautifully presented. To continue the British theme, some of the straps are made from British materials - Moon Mills tweed, British Millerain waxed cotton and, to come, Ventile. All these materials I'm covering in other posts this month in the context of the best of British fabrics and fashion. (I'd love to see these produced in other sizes, 20mm and 22mm, for other watches - these are the sort of well-designed and attractive British product that deserves a wider audience).

Finally, among the accessories available is a mouthwatering (I never thought I'd use that adjective, but it's apt here) watch case that has been made in collaboration with Cherchbi. I was delighted to see that the Herdwick wool has been used in its construction. I mentioned this Cumbrian sheep in my post here. Farmers have sometimes had to throw their fleeces away due to its low value. Yet here we have a sheep that has been farmed in an area of England (which I love and visit regularly) since the Vikings lived there. So, to see a  product which uses its fleece was very welcome. We should support such collaborations and wear them with pride.

So, once again, a great British-designed product made with passion and attention to detail.