An unfussy approach to design that’s guided by purposeful precedents and an acknowledgement of heritage and quality, British design is appealingly straightforward. Think of the red K2 telephone box and the Mini Cooper, or in our watch universe, a frosted ¾ bridge plate in favour of sharp interior angles and ubiquitous anglage. Us Brits are pretty good at the understated stuff, and the latest Fears signed watch is an intelligent example of this.

Fears Brunswick x James Porter & Son Limited Edition on wrist.

Fears is a brand that's been on a hot streak recently. From the larger 40mm size of the Brunswick 40, the instant classic that is the Brunswick Salmon, and the technical highlight of the Fears Garrick. It's not just their regular production models that have been enjoying the limelight, with special edition pieces such as the Alliance 01 (a watch produced to promote watchmaking in Britain with Christopher Ward) or the Jubilee of 2022 (to mark the Queen's platinum jubilee year) emphatically exciting watch collectors the world over. Today marks the day a piece created exclusively to celebrate Glasgow-based retailer James Porter & Son’s magnificent watch boutique is announced, and it introduces a fresh appearance for the Bristol-based brand. Feast your eyes on the Fears Brunswick x James Porter & Son Limited Edition.

It's all about the gunmetal grey galvanic plated dial here with its unique shifting tone from bronze, to grey, to blue, giving this revitalised Brunswick a new personality. Coupled with a vertically brushed grain, the dial truly steals the show, achieving a sleek image that’s heightened by additional pigments of black added to the lacquer. This creates an intense and rich contrast that the piece interacts with depending on the light available. The dial furniture consists of applied 'Edwin' numerals and skeletonised Fears style hands that are both diamond polished and rhodium plated, a unique impression countered by silver printing for the subdued typography on the dial. Bar the Fears signature and 'ENGLAND' sitting below the railroad track at six, the James Porter & Son retail signature elegantly hugs the top portion of the subsidiary seconds.

The remainder of this piece is textbook Brunswick, with its 38mm case in stainless steel offering versatile and durable daily wear credentials. Inside is the credible manual wind ETA 7001 with Côtes de Genève finishing, which delivers modernity and additional elegance. Completing this bespoke-themed Brunswick is a Fears Pewter Grey leather strap that wonderfully matches the tone of this accurate gunmetal grey timekeeper. 

Personal Thoughts

The present-day custodians of Fears continue to gracefully modernise its 176-year-old name while remaining respectful of its lineage. Founded just 12 years after Fears in 1858, James Porter & Son is another shining example of this, working to bring brands to the Glasgow showroom you don't often see in physical stores. They demonstrate a commitment to the watch community through sharp, class-leading photography, in-person events, and even facilitating these very pages you're reading right now. Despite the ages of these two 19th-century-old brands, the forward-thinking prowess of both collaborators is strikingly evident with this 25 piece limited edition.

The Brunswick platform rightly receives plenty of praise, with strong characteristics and levels of refinement standing as an adaptable canvas of both traditional and contemporary realisations – and this Brunswick x James Porter & Son Limited Edition is an outstanding example of the latter. There's a very youthful and almost urban flair to the format of this Brunswick. Much like the Pure the brand released in 2022 to celebrate the model series, its appearance distils the watch to its core elements, making it a sharp yet unassuming offering. And how about the James Porter & Son dual signature?! I don't think I could ever get bored of a retail-signed dial. The positioning, silver-tone and tasteful relationship with the sub-register deliver the right balance of being present but not overpowering.

Understated yet not lacking in refinement, this is the lowlight, stealthy Brunswick, with its humble nature being contrasted by highlights of diamond polishing and its galvanic-plated dial that accentuates the craftsmanship once the light catches it correctly. The brushed dial with the applied numerals has been seen previously from Fears on the Salmon, but its execution is entirely individual with this James Porter & Son Limited Edition. If I were to add a Fears to the collection today I’d say the draw of the Brunswick White’s traditionality is hard to resist, but the unique implementation of this edition, with its neatly integrated retailer signature and level of versatility akin to the White, makes this piece incredibly fitting of its limited edition nature. 

Specifications

Reference: Fears Brunswick x James Porter & Son Limited Edition.

Limited Edition: Yes. 25 pieces worldwide.

Case: Stainless steel.

Glass: Domed sapphire crystal.

Diameter: 38mm.

Thickness: 11.25mm.

Lug-to-lug: 42mm.

Water Resistance: 50m (5ATM).

Dial: Vertically brushed gunmetal grey galvanic plated.

Hands: Hours, minutes, seconds.

Strap: Fears Pewter Grey leather.

The Movement

Calibre: ETA 7001.

Power Reserve: 42 hours.

Winding: Manual wind.

Finishing: Côtes de Genève.

Availability 

The Fears Brunswick x James Porter & Son Limited Edition is available exclusively from James Porter & Son and costs £3,950.00. Limited to just 25 pieces worldwide, you can order now directly from the James Porter & Son website or in-store.

Shop Now

Learn more about Fears here.