As one of the oldest family-run watch companies in Britain, we are very proud of our distinguished history. As the 6th generation of the Fear watchmaking family, our Managing Director brings the heritage of the company forward into the modern era.

1846

A young watchmaker named Edwin Fear establishes a workshop and showroom at Nos. 33-35 Redcliff Street in Bristol.
Fears British Watches - Edwin Fear, founder of Fears
Edwin Fear, circa 1850

Fears British Watches - First Fears business card for Edwin Fear, circa 1846
Fears business card, circa 1846

Fears British Watches - First Fears watch made by Edwin Fear in 1846 in Bristol
The first Fears watch, circa 1846

1866

The growing business expands to a second premises on Bristol Bridge, which serves as Fears headquarters until the 1940s.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Bristol Bridge premises painted on a pocket watch dial, circa 1868
The new Bristol Bridge address, proudly painted on a watch dial, circa 1868

1877

Following the death of Edwin Fear, the business is handed down to his son Amos Daniel Fear, who at 21 becomes the second managing director.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Amos Daniel Fear, (2nd) Managing Director of Fears from 1877-1931
Amos Daniel Fear, 2nd Managing Director, circa 1930

1908

Fears is incorporated as a limited company and changes its name from ‘Edwin Fear’ to ‘Fears Limited’. From the early 1930s, the business is known simply as ‘Fears’.
Fears Watches - British Watches - New Fears Limited logo displayed on a pocket watch dial, circa 1920
The newly incorporated Fears Limited logo proudly displayed on a pocket watch dial, circa 1920

1920

Fears establishes an export department, called ‘Fears (Export) Limited’ at No. 14 Brunswick Square in Bristol.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Examples of non-round Fears wrist watches from the 1920s
The 1920s saw Fears experiment with different case shapes for their first wrist watches

Fears Watches - British Watches - Brunswick Square offices and warehouse, circa 1920s
Brunswick Square offices and warehouse, circa 1920s

1931

Following the death of his father, Amos Reginald Fear becomes the third managing director of Fears. Amos Reginald steps into the role in the wake of the Wall Street Crash and the difficult economic conditions of the 1930s, but by the end of the decade Fears is booming and exporting to 95 countries around the world.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Gentlemen's dress watch, circa 1930
Gentlemen's dress watch, circa 1930

1940

During the Blitz of Britain in the Second World War, all of the Fears premises sustain direct hits. The Bristol Bridge headquarters is destroyed on 24th November 1940, and the Brunswick Square Export department is hit three times before it is permanently evacuated in 1942.
Fears Watches - British Watches - The bombed wreckage of No. 4 Bristol Bridge, circa 1940
The bombed wreckage of No. 4 Bristol Bridge, circa 1940

Fears Watches - British Watches - Bristol Delft tile saved from the bombed-out wreckage of Brunswick Square by the 3rd Managing Director Amos Reginald Fear
Bristol Delft tile saved from the bombed-out wreckage of Brunswick Square by the 3rd Managing Director Amos Reginald Fear

1945

Following the Second World War, Fears moves to new premises in Clifton, Bristol, just in time to celebrate the company’s centenary in 1946 with a new watch collection.
Fears Watches - British Watches - The new Fears premises in Clifton, Bristol, circa 1946
The new Fears premises in Clifton, Bristol, circa 1946

Fears Watches - British Watches - The 1946 'Centenary watch collection'
The 1946 'Centenary watch collection'

1976

Fears continues to thrive through the post-war years, until closing its doors in 1976.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Post-war Fears, circa 1966 (left) and circa 1970 (right)
Post-war Fears, circa 1966 (left) and circa 1970 (right)

Fears Watches - British Watches - Final issue of the ‘International Catalogue’, circa 1975
Final issue of the ‘International Catalogue’, circa 1975

2016

While working as an apprentice watchmaker at Rolex in London, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the great-great-great-grandson of Edwin Fear, re-launches his family’s company at the SalonQP watch show on 3rd November 2016. Fears releases its first wrist watch in the twenty-first century, the Redcliff.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the 4th Managing Director
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the 4th Managing Director

Fears Watches - British Watches - First Fears Redcliff in Fears Blue
The Fears Redcliff

2017

Fears releases its second wristwatch, the Brunswick, named after Brunswick Square in Bristol.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Fears Brunswick
The Fears Brunswick

2019

The first 1,000 days since the company was re-established are marked by the launch of a limited edition watch - the Redcliff ‘Streamline’, inspired in design and price by Fears’ original ‘Streamline’ watch from 1946.
Fears Watches - British Watches - Fears Redcliff "Streamline"
The Fears Redcliff "Streamline"

2020

Fears becomes a partner of the UK Government's GREAT Britain campaign. Part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy, this campaign was created to highlight the best the UK has to offer the world.

2021

Fears celebrated 175th anniversary of the company being founded in 1846 by Edwin Fear. Hosting a party at the top of the Shard, London, the tallest building in Western Europe.
175th Anniversary at the Shard, London

 

 Fears Launched a new rectangular shaped watch to mark the 175th anniversary. 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.
Archival 1930 Small Seconds, Original 1930's Heritage watch, Archival 1930

2022

 Fears relocated to its historic home city of Bristol, to establish a new Headquarters and Showroom. 
The Fears HQ, 5.11 Paintworks

2023

 A Very British Partnership
At the start of the year we launched the Alliance 01. Created in partnership with fellow British brand Christopher Ward for the Alliance of British Watch & Clockmakers.

Putting on a Show
As the year progressed, the Fears HQ and Showroom developed with the inclusion of an Archive to display items from our heritage alongside our current collection.

Fit For A King
Launched as part of King Charles III's Coronation celebrations, the Brunswick Au in solid 18 ct gold joined the Brunswick Pt in our precious metal collection.

2024

In April Fears opened its first stand-alone boutique. Nestled in Bristol's historic Clifton Arcade, in the beating heart of Clifton Village, our boutique sits just a stone's throw away from our historic address at Richmond Terrace.
Fears Boutique, No. 4 Clifton Arcade.