Fears Brunswick Pt Watch Review

The new Fears Brunswick Pt watch is an ambitious design that exhibits several design codes taken from a model from the 1920s.

There is a very notable British charm to be admired in the design of the Brunswick watch collection by Fears. The company has been enjoying plenty of success since Nicholas Bowman-Scargill took a chance and revived the company back in 2016. Since then, the company, which was originally founded back in 1846, has continued to grow, releasing models that not only hark back to important historical timepieces from a bygone era, but also some that impress on a huge scale with their hand-applied finishes, time-honoured techniques, and unwavering attention to detail.

Furthermore, this profound dedication to the small details has always been key to the popularity of Fears as a reputable British watchmaker. The company enjoyed many years of success before hitting some challenges, namely the Wall Street crash and the bombings of the Second World War, which subsequently caused the company to collapse later down the line. It was the great-great-great-grandson of Edwin Fear, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill who was not only proud of his family and his heritage, but also had watchmaking in his blood. The watchmaker had previously worked at Rolex and shared a passion for quality craftsmanship and materials.

One of the most technically impressive watches to have launched from Fears recently is the Brunswick Pt watch. Models from the Brunswick collection exude a classic round bezel positioned on top of a cushion-shaped case and the Pt watch is no exception to that rule. Just as the inaugural “Redcliff” watch is named after Edwin Fear’s first workshop and showroom at 33-35 Redcliff Street in Bristol, the Brunswick watch collection is named after Brunswick Square and is inspired by a model from 1924. Infused with many vintage elements, the first of the Brunswick series was equipped with a powerful ETA movement – the 7001 and featured a striking white dial. New dial variants have been born since then, as well as an unusual bronze version coated with two layers of gold. The Brunswick watch collection also marks a significant point in the brand’s journey – the point at which it moved away from its quartz-powered watches and focused on its mechanical wristwatches.

Above all, some features stand out in the design of the Brunswick watch; a small seconds sub-counter at 6 o’clock and a pair of skeletonized central hands to name a couple. A traditional chemin de fer technique also frames the dial and the Arabic numerals seen on the hour track of a Brunswick watch are period style.

The Brunswick Pt watch by Fears

Crafted from the noblest of materials, the Fears Brunswick Pt watch is forged from platinum and is housed in a cushion-shaped case measuring a diameter of 38mm. There’s an anthracite dial with platinum dot indexes that you can check out here or a diamond dot alternative for those with a preference for something a little more luxurious. Either way, both designs evoke finesse and elegance, promising to pair well with formal and professional attire, as well as something a little more relaxed at the weekend. The anthracite grey dial is produced in Germany and has undergone a total of 58 separate production processes to achieve its unique finish. Likewise, there’s a blue dial, equally as eye-catching. Three separate dial finishes create a light-changing effect to give the wearer a two-tone effect through the watch’s sapphire crystal glass front – a material that has also been treated with ARdur® anti-reflective coating on both sides. A coating of real Anthracite combines with this layered effect on the dial to create something completely unique in a watch display. The case of the Brunswick Pt watch is also integrated with 30-meter water resistance.

Platinum Arabic numerals pair with diamonds or platinum dot markers to create a legible dial that is inviting, clear and uncluttered. The case of the watch is polished and features an onion-shaped crown that is easy to grip under the fingertips and has been developed in a way that compliments the shape of the case beautifully. Here is where the design of the Brunswick Pt watch differs from other models in this Fears watch collection. The hands are solid as opposed to skeletonized and each one is water cut from a sheet of platinum and bevelled for a three-dimension finish. Each hand takes an entire day to complete and boasts contrasting polished and frosted effects to increase legibility and a unique interaction with the light.

As any experienced watch manufacturer will agree, the beating heart of every good timepiece should reflect the level of craftsmanship on the watch’s surface. The Brunswick Pt watch is powered by that same tried and tested mechanical movement – the ETA 7001. Having undergone over 500 hours of tests and timing checks, each movement is signed off by the company’s managing director himself and features a modified bridge shape, a platinum plating and linear graining. The movement was first developed in the 1970s but has been fully dismantled and re-shaped before being implemented into the heart of the timepiece.

A leather strap completes the aesthetic of these new Brunswick Pt watches. Made using high-strength Kevlar® with contrasting platinum coloured stitching and a Fears Blue Alcantara® lining, this Fears strap secures firmly and comfortably around the wrist with a platinum pin buckle that mirrors the unusual shape of the case. Every model can also be swapped with a different strap to transform its look without the need for any tools.

Every Fears watch is individually numbered – a small detail that is engraved into the surface of the metal between the 20mm lugs of the watch at 12 o’clock. Continuing traditions in more ways than one, the new Pt watches from the Fears Brunswick collection come displayed in a presentation box that resembles the dark blue traditional Fears box issues years ago. Accompanied with a special key, this wooden box is crafted in Britain from English Ash and stained in the signature Fears blue colour. Lined in genuine cream suede, the watch sits beautifully inside its case adorned with a hidden collage of Fears logos upon the outside of the lid.

If you’d like more information on the new Fears Brunswick Pt watch, you can check out the details in full here or call our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453