Fears Watch Company has launched a new rectangular shaped watch to mark the 175th anniversary of the company being founded in 1846 by Edwin Fear. The Archival 1930 is the first watch in a new Archival family of watches that are proportional re-creations of pieces from the extensive Fears archive using new-old-stock vintage movements.
The Archival 1930 is a re-creation of an Art Deco style rectangular watch Fears made in 1930, which has been re-introduced using new-old-stock movements dating from the 1930s and 1960s. The case of the Archival 1930 is machined from 316L stainless steel in matching proportions to the 1930 original, simply increased in size slightly to suit modern tastes. The slim, rectangular case features a curved profile that comfortably hugs the contours of the wrist. Linear graining is used on the case sides and back with the svelte bezel, lugs, and case back bevel featuring a deep polish, adding a subtle contrast.
The Archival 1930 features a ‘Vintage Champagne’ dial with a polished base coated in 18ct yellow gold which shines through as a border, contrasting with the smooth, matte finish of the main dial surface, which is also coated in 18ct yellow gold. The crisp black printing recreates the Art Deco style slim numerals and minute track exactly. The contrasting blued hands are solid versions of the ‘Fears’ shape watch hands and feature a central bevel with diamond polishing on either side.
Finally, each Archival 1930 is fitted to a vintage-style handmade Oxblood Red calf leather strap. The bespoke coloured leather used is tanned in Bristol by Thomas Ware & Sons, Britain’s oldest vegetable tanner, the same tannery who created the leather for Fears’ watch straps when the original watch was made in 1930.
The Archival 1930 is limited to 175 pieces, in recognition of the significant anniversary the watch has been created to mark. Along with a serial number, each watch’s case back is also engraved with one of the years from 1846 up to 2021. The 175 watches are split into two models to reflect the 136 years the company has been operational (1846 – 1976 and 2016 – present day) and the 39 years when it lay dormant (1977 – 2015). A subtle nod to this part of the Fears heritage. The first watch, with the founding year, 1846, on its caseback, has been donated to the Bristol Museum for their permanent collection.
“I am privileged that the 175th anniversary of Fears’ founding has fallen during my tenure as managing director. A significant anniversary like this had to be marked in a special way, which I feel the Archival 1930captures perfectly. The launch of this first watch in the new Archival family is a delightful way of allowing us to pay respect to our heritage and extensive archive, in a more direct way, while not being beholden to it. By recreating this elegant watch that we made in 1930, using original movements from the period, and finding a subtle way to mark the 39 dormant years I feel we’re doing this anniversary justice. The past five years since Fears was re-established have been incredible, with watches bearing the Fears name once again being worn on wrists all around the world and makes me start to think how we might celebrate the 200th anniversary in 2046!”
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, (4th) Managing Director, Fears Watch Company
The two models differ by the movements that power them, with the two-handed Archival 1930 (136 watches) using a new old stock manual winding movement dating from the 1960s (39 watches). While the three-handed Archival 1930 Small Seconds uses a new old stock manual winding movement dating from the 1930s. Each movement, having never previously been used, has undergone a full re-build and recondition in the workshop while receiving an upgraded mainspring to enhance reliability.
The Fears Archival 1930 and Archival 1930 Small Seconds are available to order from today, retailing for £3,500 inc. VAT and £3,950 inc. VAT respectively with delivery commencing in October.
Technical Specifications
Fears Archival 1930:
| CASE | 316L stainless steel, 40mm x 22mm rectangular-shaped with curved front and back (depth 8.54mm). Closed caseback. Made in Germany |
| LUG WIDTH | 20mm |
| MOVEMENT | New-Old-Stock, Swiss made ETA 2360, circa 1968, manual winding, 17 jewels, 18,000vph (2.5Hz) and 40 hr power reserve. Reconditioned, serviced, and fitted with an upgraded main spring in the UK |
| GLASS | Sapphire Crystal to front with ARdur® Swiss anti-reflective coating on inside and outside. Crystals made in Hong Kong, Anti-reflective coating applied in Switzerland |
| DIAL | Vintage Champagne with 18ct yellow gold coating. Polished and matte finishes. Glossy black printing. Made in Germany |
| HANDS | ‘Fears’ hands – Bevelled, diamond polished and Blued. Made in Germany |
| FUNCTIONS | Time |
| WARRENTY | 2 Year guarantee from date of purchase |
| STRAP | Oxblood Red, British calf leather, lined in Alcantara®, handmade. Leather tanned in the UK, Strap made in Belgium |
| SERIAL NUMBER | Individually numbered, sequentially |
| LIMITED EDITION | Engraved with a unique year from 1846 – 1976 and 2016 – 2021 |
| MODEL REFERENCE | BS8-1930-0 |
| RETAIL PRICE | £3,500 inc. VAT (£2,916.67 ex. VAT) |
Fears Archival 1930 Small Seconds:
| CASE | 316L stainless steel, 40mm x 22mm rectangular-shaped with curved front and back (depth 9.28mm). Closed caseback. Made in Germany |
| LUG WIDTH | 20mm |
| MOVEMENT | New-Old-Stock, Swiss made ZentRa 185/ETA 717, circa 1935, manual winding, 15 jewels, 18,000vph (2.5Hz) and 38 hr power reserve. Reconditioned, serviced, and fitted with an upgraded main spring in the UK |
| GLASS | Sapphire Crystal to front with ARdur® Swiss anti-reflective coating on inside and outside. Crystals made in Hong Kong, Anti-reflective coating applied in Switzerland |
| DIAL | Vintage Champagne with 18ct yellow gold coating. Polished and matte finishes. Glossy black printing. Made in Germany |
| HANDS | ‘Fears’ hands – Bevelled, diamond polished and Blued. Made in Germany |
| FUNCTIONS | Time with subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock |
| WARRENTY | 2 Year guarantee from date of purchase |
| STRAP | Oxblood Red, British calf leather, lined in Alcantara®, handmade. Leather tanned in the UK, Strap made in Belgium |
| SERIAL NUMBER | Individually numbered, sequentially |
| LIMITED EDITION | Engraved with a unique year from 1977 – 2015 |
| MODEL REFERENCE | BS8-1930-0 |
| RETAIL PRICE | £3,950 inc. VAT (£3,291.67 ex. VAT) |
For more information please visit http://www.fearswatches.com/archival1930