Fears introduces the charming new Brunswick 39 Perpetual Calendar

• It is the revived British watch brand’s first grand complication and the first to feature a moon phase display. • Belonging to the brand's Brunswick Collection, it also “sits within” their Eminence Collection. • A bespoke Dubois Dépraz automatic movement drives the perpetual calendar functions.

Kunaal Khemka

August 29, 2026

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What is the new Fears Brunswick 39 Perpetual Calendar?

It is Fears Watch Company Limited’s (“Fears”) first perpetual calendar or “high complication” watch. It is also the first watch by the revived British brand to feature a moon phase display. It belongs to the brand’s Brunswick Collection, a family of elegant, hand-built, vintage-inspired cushion-shaped watches and the Eminence Collection, an indication that the movement is finished by hand. It is not a limited edition.

A distinguished family-owned name in British watchmaking, Fears was founded in 1846 in Bristol, England by Edwin Fear, a young watchmaker. The quartz crisis eventually led to their closure in 1976. Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the great-great-great grandson of Edwin Fear relaunched his family’s erstwhile watch brand on 3^rd November 2016 at the SalonQP in London. Nicholas’s watchmaking background includes a role as an apprentice watchmaker at Rolex in London.

What are its dial features?

Silver Mink dial. It is coated in warm pure silver and features black printing. The subdials for the date (3 o’clock), day of the week (9 o’clock), year and leap year (12 o’clock) and moon phase display (6 o’clock) feature a snailed pattern. Subdial markings are black, with “31” in cyan blue. The black lacquer moon phase disc features two silver moons hand finished with Charbonage, a Parisian-inspired watchmaking finishing technique.

The hour-markers are applied on the dial. Bevelled on four sides, they are diamond polished and black gold plated. The Fears “pipette” hour and minute hands, bevelled on three sides are diamond polished and black gold plated. The subdial hands are polished and black gold plated.

What are its case and strap features?

The cushion-shaped case is made from 316L stainless steel, measuring 39 mm * 37 mm * 9.4 mm (thickness, not including the 0.7 mm sapphire crystal). Lug width is 20 mm. Lug-to-lug distance is 45.4 mm. The case features facetted sides and brushed and polished surfaces. Dial side features a domed sapphire crystal with ARdur® anti-reflective coating on both sides. The caseback features a sapphire crystal. Water resistant up to 5 ATM or approximately 50 metres.

The watch comes with a hand-stitched and matte finished walnut brown-coloured Ostrich skin strap. It features Fears Blue Alcantara lining and is fitted with a brushed and polished Fears pin buckle.

Does the movement feature a solid 18K gold rotor?

Yes. It is powered by Dubois Dépraz 55115, an automatic movement “made specially for Fears.” It comprises of a Dubois Dépraz perpetual calendar module and a Sellita SW300 base. It drives the hours, minutes, perpetual calendar functions, and moon phase display. It comprises 25 jewels, beats at a modern frequency of 4 Hz or 28,800 vph and delivers a power reserve of 47 hours.

What do we think?

I recall reading an article a few years ago about the struggles Nicholas Bowman-Scargill faced when reviving his family’s watch company. Now in its 10^th year, it has come a long was as a revived British watch brand. One that would surely make Nicholas’s ancestors proud. The brand is a member of The Alternate Horological Alliance, a group of select watch brands that include Horologer MING, Fleming, J.N. Shapiro and Massena LAB.

The modern Fears remains true to the brand’s legacy. The range of watches across the four collections (Brunswick, Redcliff, Arnos and Eminence) will make the brand’s 39-year absence (closure in 1976 until its revival in 2016) negligible over time.

The Brunswick 39 Perpetual Calendar is an audacious project for the brand. Based on the images and supporting information, it is evident that no stone has been left unturned in its overall execution. I also applaud their approach to transparency. They have listed out where each major component is made (mostly Switzerland).

At GBP 26,950 (approximately CHF 29,500), it is an expensive watch, especially from a brand where most of their watches are priced in the GBP 2,200 to GBP 3,600 range. However, it is not the most expensive perpetual calendar in the market, one of the three classic grand complications (along with the tourbillon and minute repeater). This does not guarantee the brand will have it easy as it faces serious competition at its price point. The Glashütte Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar and Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar – both in stainless steel – are priced at CHF 24,400 (approximately) and CHF 27,700 respectively. Another serious contender is the Frederique Contant Manufacture Classic Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel is priced at GBP 8,695 (approximately CHF 9,500).

Watch purchases are driven as much by emotion as they are by cold hard logic, and often there is no right or wrong answer. With its vintage-inspired design and thoughtful execution, the Brunswick 39 Perpetual Calendar is a compelling choice for the watch collector seeking this grand complication laced with British charm and heritage. It is also a reflection of how far the brand has come since its rebirth in 2016.