Being Fearless: Fears Celebrate 10-Years Of Modern History With New Book
A new book tells the story of how Fears, one of Britain’s oldest watchmaking names was brought back to life, revealing the ambition, determination and occasional uncertainty behind a decade of independent watchmaking.
There is something rather special about a British watchmaking name that refuses to disappear. Even more so when its revival is driven by a descendant of the family that first established the business almost two centuries ago.
For Fears, 2026 represents a particularly significant milestone. Not only does the Bristol-based watchmaker celebrate 180 years since its original founding in 1846, but it also marks a decade since Nicholas Bowman-Scargill embarked on the remarkable task of rebuilding his family’s historic watch company.
To commemorate this journey, Fears is publishing Being Fearless: The First 10 Years of Rebuilding a Watch Company, a new book written and researched by respected watch journalist Chris Hall. More than a celebration of watches and their evolution, it offers an unusually candid insight into what it really takes to resurrect a historic brand and establish it as a contemporary force within British watchmaking.
A Family Legend Reborn
The story begins in Bristol in 1846, when Edwin Fear established the business that would eventually become one of Britain’s oldest family-run watch companies. Remaining in the Fear family for more than a century, the company enjoyed a long history before closing its doors in 1976.
Four decades later, in 2016, Edwin Fear’s great-great-great-grandson Nicholas Bowman-Scargill decided to take an extraordinary risk. Leaving a secure position at Rolex, he set about re-establishing the family business on what would have been its 170th anniversary.
What began as a one-person operation has since developed into an established independent watch company employing 14 people, with its headquarters once again in Bristol.
Today, Fears produces watches that draw inspiration from its extensive historical archive while embracing contemporary design. Its collections have developed a distinctive identity, combining traditional British elegance with a confident modern sensibility.
However, as Being Fearless reveals, the journey from revival to recognition was anything but straightforward.
Behind the Brand
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is its willingness to look beyond the finished watches.
Written by Chris Hall, whose experience in British watch journalism has given him a unique perspective on the industry, the publication explores the people, decisions, challenges and unexpected setbacks that shaped Fears during its first decade of modern ownership.
Success stories are often presented as carefully constructed narratives in which every decision appears to have been the right one. The reality of building an independent watch company is considerably more complicated.
Hall takes readers behind the scenes, examining the pressures of running a small business, the difficulties of establishing a historic name in a highly competitive market and the determination required to keep moving forward when circumstances become challenging.
Indeed, the account does not shy away from some particularly difficult periods, when the company’s future was potentially threatened by bankruptcy.
That honesty is perhaps what makes the book particularly compelling. It is not simply a retrospective celebration of a successful business revival, but an exploration of the risks and resilience involved in creating something intended to last.
As Hall explains, the intention was to tell the whole story, including the stress, struggles and unforeseen setbacks, alongside the perseverance, good fortune and hard work that ultimately contributed to Fears’ development.
The book also features previously unseen behind-the-scenes photography, offering an additional perspective on the people and experiences that have shaped the modern company.
Rooted In Bristol
Fears has always maintained a close relationship with its original home city. From Edwin Fear’s first business in 1846 to the company’s return to Bristol in 2022, the city has remained central to its identity. Today, the watches are designed in Bristol and hand-built in Britain, reflecting a commitment to maintaining the company’s British roots while developing its position in the contemporary watch market.
This connection is also evident throughout the collections. The Redcliff takes its name from the Bristol street where the original business was established, while the Brunswick references the city’s historic Brunswick Square. The Arnos collection takes inspiration from the district where Fears’ headquarters is now located.
Such details demonstrate how the company’s history is woven into its modern identity without becoming constrained by it. For Bowman-Scargill, the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on a decade that has brought both considerable progress and some difficult lessons.
He was initially hesitant about the idea of a book, preferring to concentrate on what came next rather than revisit the past. However, the agreement that the story should be told honestly ultimately persuaded him.
It is a refreshing approach, particularly in an industry where heritage is so often presented through the lens of craftsmanship, design and enduring prestige, rather than the realities of running a business.
The Next Chapter
There is an important distinction between bringing an historic watchmaker back to life and building a business capable of sustaining itself for generations to come. Fears appears to understand that distinction.
Its first decade of modern ownership has been about more than reintroducing a familiar name. It has involved developing a recognisable design language, establishing a dedicated team, returning to its historic home and finding its place within an increasingly interesting British watchmaking landscape.
Being Fearless captures that process in a way that should appeal well beyond the traditional watch collecting community. Entrepreneurs, business owners and anyone fascinated by the stories behind independent brands will find plenty to engage with.
Perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that behind every successful watch company are people prepared to take risks, make difficult decisions and believe in something that others might consider impossible.
For Fears, the first ten years of its modern history have been quite a journey. With its 180-year heritage providing the foundations, the company now looks towards the future with an established identity and a story that is still being written. And that, perhaps, is the most interesting chapter of all.
BOOK DETAILS
Being Fearless: The First 10 Years of Rebuilding a Watch Company
Author: Chris Hall
Publisher: Bristol Books CIC
Publication date: 13 November 2026
Format: 176 pages, softback with gatefold flaps
ISBN: 978-1-909446-53-3
Price: £45
Available from the Fears Boutique in Bristol, the Fears website, Amazon and selected bookstores.