Heritage
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.
Edwin Fear, circa 1850
Fears business card, circa 1846
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.
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.
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’.
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.
The 1920s saw Fears experiment with different case shapes for their first wrist watches
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.
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.
The bombed wreckage of No. 4 Bristol Bridge, circa 1940
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.
The new Fears premises in Clifton, Bristol, circa 1946
The 1946 'Centenary watch collection'
1976
Fears continues to thrive through the post-war years, until closing its doors in 1976.
Post-war Fears, circa 1966 (left) and circa 1970 (right)
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.
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the 4th Managing Director
The Fears Redcliff
2017
Fears releases its second wristwatch, the Brunswick, named after Brunswick Square in Bristol.
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.
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.