Fears And Andrew Morgan Bring The Brunswick Jump Hour Story To A Close
The final chapter of one of British watchmaking’s most distinctive modern complications arrives in the form of the Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Ultimus’.
For Fears, the Brunswick Jump Hour has evolved into a contemporary interpretation of an historical complication that perfectly reflects the Bristol-based company’s understated approach to design.
Now, after several years of development and successive editions, Fears has unveiled what it describes as the final evolution of the collection, the Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Ultimus’, created in collaboration with British watch journalist and presenter Andrew Morgan, (below).
Rather than simply producing another limited edition, Fears has chosen to close the chapter with a watch that looks both backwards and forwards. The result is arguably the boldest and most technically expressive Jump Hour the company has produced.
A Contemporary Interpretation of Art Deco
The inspiration begins in the 1920s, a defining decade both for Art Deco design and for Fears’ early wristwatches. Strong geometric forms, restrained colour palettes and the emergence of cushion-shaped cases all influence the ‘Ultimus’. Its monochromatic dial immediately recalls vintage jump hour watches, with crisp black and off-white tones creating an almost architectural appearance. Yet closer inspection reveals an entirely modern construction.
The hour display is layered beneath three sapphire components, exposing elements of the normally hidden mechanism and allowing the rotating hour disc to become part of the watch’s visual theatre. A frosted minute track appears suspended above a luminous ceramic centre, while an integrated magnifying window enlarges the current hour in a way that resembles a droplet of water resting on the dial. It’s a remarkably clean design considering the complexity involved.
Two Watches in One
Perhaps the ‘Ultimus’ most distinctive characteristic emerges after dark. The luminous ceramic centre combines with the rotating hour disc to create a vivid blue glow that transforms the personality of the watch entirely. During daylight it is restrained and elegant; in low light it becomes dramatically contemporary, with the floating minute track and illuminated hour display producing an almost futuristic aesthetic.
Few watches manage such a convincing dual identity without compromising legibility, making this one of the most interesting aspects of the design.
Collaboration with Purpose
Collaborations have become commonplace throughout the watch industry, but the partnership between Fears and Andrew Morgan feels more organic than most.
“The ‘Ultimus’ presented a great opportunity to push Fears into a more contemporary space for the final Jump Hour, whilst still maintaining the classic elegance Fears is known for.” Andrew Morgan
Morgan, widely recognised for his thoughtful approach to watch media, worked closely with Managing Director Nicholas Bowman-Scargill throughout the project.
“The Brunswick Jump Hour has become one of the defining watches of the modern Fears story… The ‘Ultimus’ honours the design language that has shaped this collection while introducing contemporary materials and details that push it further than we have before.” Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director of Fears Watch Company
The shared appreciation for thoughtful design is evident throughout the finished piece.
Familiar Foundations
Beneath the new dial architecture remains the familiar Brunswick case, measuring 40.5mm across with its elegant cushion profile and polished surfaces. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres, while power comes from the Christopher Ward JJ01 jumping-hour module built upon the dependable Sellita SW200 automatic movement.
Owners can choose between Fears’ handmade Obsidian Black Epsom leather strap or the company’s five-link stainless steel bracelet, with the latter supplied alongside the leather strap.
One Week Only
Rather than limiting production by number, Fears is adopting an increasingly popular approach by making the Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Ultimus’ available exclusively during a one-week ordering window from 10th–17th August 2026.
Pricing is set at £4,450 on leather or £4,750 on the bracelet, with every watch individually numbered.
As the final instalment of the Brunswick Jump Hour series, the ‘Ultimus’ represents more than another limited edition. It serves as a celebration of how far Fears has come during its modern revival, combining British design sensibilities, contemporary execution and a complication that has become one of the company’s defining signatures.
Whether this really is the final word on the Brunswick Jump Hour remains to be seen, but if it is, Fears has chosen an appropriately memorable way to conclude the story.
Technical Specifications:
Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Ultimus’
| CASE | 316L Stainless Steel, 40.5mm x 38.5mm cushion-shaped (depth 12.8mm to top of domed sapphire glass). 47mm lug to lug. Onion shaped crown, engraved with Fears cypher. Open display caseback. AMW logo on the underside of one lug.10 ATM (100 m) water resistant.Made in Hong Kong |
| LUG WIDTH | 20mm |
| MOVEMENT | Christopher Ward JJ01 jumping hour module with Sellita SW200 base, automatic winding. 25 jewels, 28,000vph (4Hz) and 38 hr power reserve. Custom decorated rotor featuring the ‘Bristol Flower’. Made in Switzerland |
| GLASS | Sapphire Crystal front and back, with ARdur® Swiss anti-reflective coating on inside and outside. Crystal made in Hong KongAnti-reflective coating applied in Switzerland |
| DIAL | Phantom WhiteBlack outer ring with Fears logo. Luminous rotating hour disc with black numerals below gradated transparent layer.Central luminous ceramic disc with printed minute plots surrounded by a frosted semi-transparent ring with printed minute numerals and hour magnifier.Made in Hong Kong |
| HANDS | Fears’ shaped hand – solid, dual beveled, diamond polished and brushed, black-plated.Made in Hong Kong |
| FUNCTIONS | Time with jumping hour in window at 12 o’clock, minutes. |
| WARRANTY | 2 Year guarantee from date of purchase |
| STRAPS | Obsidian BlackMatte textured premium Epsom calf leather with tonal stitching and Fears Blue Alcantara® lining. Brushed and polished bespoke Fears pin buckle Hand made in Belgium |
| BRACELET | 5-link bracelet in 316L stainless steel, dual finishing with polished and brushed elements. Removable full and half links. Butterfly clasp with push-button release. Quick-release spring bars. Made in Hong Kong |
| SERIAL NUMBER | Individually numbered, sequentially. |
| MODEL REFERENCE | BS240.500A |
| LIMITED EDITION | Limited to a one week order window (10th-17th August, 2026) |
| RETAIL PRICE | £4,450 inc. VAT (£3,708.33 ex. VAT) (strap)£4,750 inc. VAT (£3,958.33 ex. VAT) (bracelet & strap) |
For more information please visit Fears