Of all the watchmakers that date back to the 19th century or earlier, Fears still seems to be one of the most underrated. Opening in 1846, the brand shuttered its doors during the quartz crisis in the 1970s, only to reemerge in 2016 after the great-great-great-grandson of the founder (and former Rolex apprentice) decided to revive the name. Still among the oldest in its home country, the British watch brand also somehow managed to be family-run after all these years.
Celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2026, Fears has unveiled a very special timepiece, echoing the aesthetic of Edwin Fears’ very first pocket watch.
A Sterling Silver Trilogy
This marks the third consecutive year Fears has released a sterling silver exclusive for British Watchmakers’ Day, following the 1924 Edition in 2024 and the Edwardian Edition last year. The Brunswick 40 1846 Edition takes its design cues from that original pocket watch from 1846, translating Victorian proportions into a contemporary wristwatch without losing the essence of what made those vintage watches so elegant.
The fully polished 925 sterling silver case measures 40mm across with a 47mm lug-to-lug and sits at just 11.1mm thick — slightly slimmer than the standard Brunswick 40. That reduction comes courtesy of the manual-winding La Joux-Perret G121M movement inside, which offers a 60-hour power reserve and allows for an enlarged sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock. The architecture of this new caliber positions the seconds mechanism further from the dial’s center, giving Fears the freedom to create an oversized subdial that nods to the proportions of the pocket watch.
Traditional Details Done Right
For the dial, multi-layered white lacquer with an enamel-style construction creates depth, accented by black Roman numerals and a railroad minute track. Those thermally blued spade hands are lifted straight from Edwin Fear’s archive, hardened by flame just as they would have been 180 ago. The blue shifts from near-black to electric depending on the light.
Following Fears tradition, the caseback bears hallmarks from the London Assay Office along with the initials “NBS” for Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the current managing director. The diamond-set crown complements the precious metal construction, while the Fears Blue pigskin strap with tone-on-tone stitching and sterling silver buckle completes the period-appropriate package.
Spec Sheet
Model: Brunswick 40 1846 Edition
Case Material: Sterling (925) silver
Case Size: 40mm
Lug-to-Lug: 47mm
Case Thickness: 11.1mm
Movement: La Joux-Perret G121M, manual winding, 60-hour power reserve
Dial: White lacquered with Roman numerals, railroad track, sub-seconds at 6 o’clock
Hands: Thermally blued spade-shaped
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap: Fears Blue pigskin with Alcantara lining, sterling silver pin buckle
Limited Edition: 25 pieces
Pricing & Availability
Priced at £4,350 ($5,950), the Brunswick 40 1846 Edition will be limited to just 25 pieces. All 25 will be available exclusively at British Watchmakers’ Day on March 7. Based on how quickly last year’s releases sold out, you’ll want to be at the Fears table early if you’re serious about securing one.
Recap
Fears Brunswick 40 1846 Edition
Fears is celebrating its 180th anniversary with a sterling silver Brunswick 40 that takes direct inspiration from Edwin Fear’s first pocket watch back in 1846 — complete with Roman numerals, thermally blued hands, and that oversized sub-seconds dial. Only 25 pieces will be sold exclusively at British Watchmakers’ Day in March.
