For Fears, 2026 represents a landmark anniversary, marking 180 years since Edwin Fear opened his first workshop in Bristol in 1846.
To mark the occasion, and to do so on home soil, the brand has created something deliberately restrained, historically grounded, and resolutely for collectors: the Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’, made exclusively for British Watchmakers’ Day 2026.
Limited to just 25 pieces, this is not a watch designed to shout. Instead, it speaks fluently in the language of British watchmaking heritage.
The familiar Brunswick silhouette has been subtly refined here, with a slimmer profile that enhances wearability without disturbing the character of the case. Executed entirely in solid sterling silver (925), the fully polished case carries the reassuring weight and soft lustre that only precious metal can provide. Hallmarked by the London Assay Office, it bears the registered Fears maker’s mark alongside the initials NBS — a contemporary echo of the very traditions Edwin Fear established with his first silver pocket watches.
Look closer and the details reward attention. The diamond-set crown — now a quiet Fears signature — discreetly signals precious metal, while the solid screw-down case back is individually numbered and engraved with a bespoke 180th anniversary emblem, unique to this model alone.
“Marking 180 years of Fears is a rare privilege, and entering our 10th anniversary year since Fears’ revival in 2016 makes it even more special. The Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’ distills the clarity and purpose of Edwin Fear’s earliest work into a watch made for today. Creating it exclusively for British Watchmakers’ Day feels especially fitting, celebrating both our heritage and the vibrancy of British watchmaking in the present day. British Watchmakers’ Day is a unique opportunity to showcase the creativity and skill of our industry, and as a founding member of the Alliance of British Watch & Clockmakers, we are proud to support their ongoing work in promoting and sustaining excellence across British horology. This watch is a celebration of our history and a reflection of the collaboration, passion, and ambition driving British watchmaking today.”
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director, Fears
The dial is where the watch truly reveals its intent. Inspired directly by Edwin Fear’s original 1846 pocket watch, it features a two-part white lacquer construction that mimics the depth and clarity of enamel. Roman numerals, a generously proportioned recessed sub-seconds register, and thermally blued spade hands combine to create a dial that feels both historically faithful and impeccably balanced. Nothing here is decorative for decoration’s sake — every element serves proportion, legibility, and lineage.
Power comes from the Le Joux-Perret G121M, a manually wound movement offering a generous 60-hour power reserve. Its architecture allows the seconds mechanism to sit further from the centre, enabling the enlarged sub-seconds display without compromise. More importantly, the act of daily winding reconnects the wearer with the rituals of 19th-century watch ownership — a tactile pause in an otherwise automated world.
Completing the watch is a Fears Blue pigs’ leather strap, fold-edged and lined with matching Fears Blue Alcantara®, finished with tone-on-tone stitching. This is no arbitrary choice: pigskin was the material most commonly used on early Fears wristwatches, particularly silver models from the 1910s and 1920s. It’s a small but telling nod to continuity.
This is also the third sterling-silver British Watchmakers’ Day exclusive from Fears, reinforcing a modern tradition that mirrors its historic roots — special watches, made in small numbers, for those who understand why that matters.
The Fears Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’ will be available to purchase (and take home) exclusively on the day at British Watchmakers’ Day (7 March 2026) in person, retailing for £4,350 inc. VAT.
Technical Specifications:
| CASE | 925 Sterling Silver, Hallmarked by the London Assay Office, 40mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 11.1mm thickness (to top of domed sapphire crystal). Cushion-shaped with diamond set crown. Closed, engraved screw down caseback with edition number. 100m (10ATM) water resistant.Made in Hong KongHallmarked in England (London) |
| LUG WIDTH | 20mm |
| MOVEMENT | Le Joux-Perret G121M manual-wind movement, 60 hr power reserve. Made in Switzerland.Made in Switzerland |
| GLASS | Sapphire Crystal with ARdur® Swiss anti-reflective coating on inside and outside. Crystal made in Hong KongAnti-reflective coating applied in Switzerland |
| DIAL | Lacquer White multi-layer dial with an enamel-style construction. Black printed Roman numerals and a large recessed sub-seconds dial. Inspired by Fears Archive ‘1846’ pocket watch. Dials made in Hong Kong |
| HANDS | ‘Fears’ thermally blued spade-shaped hands with radium cut. Made in Hong Kong |
| FUNCTIONS | Time with an enlarged subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock reminiscent of the 1846 pocket watch. |
| WARRANTY | 2 Year guarantee from date of purchase |
| STRAP | Fears Blue Pig Leather strap, lined in English calf leather. Folver over edge with matching stitching. Fitted with a sterling Siver (925) hallmarked Fears Cipher bespoke pin buckle. Leather made in England. Strap made in Belgium. |
| SERIAL NUMBER | Individually numbered, sequentially |
| MODEL REFERENCE | BS240.006 |
| NUMBERED EDITION | Limited to 25 pieces |
| RETAIL PRICE | £4,350 inc. VAT |
For more information please visit Fears