January 23 2026

Fears Looks Back To 1846 With A New Brunswick 40 Special Edition

MRSTATELESS FEARS, NEW RELEASES 2026, Limited Edition, Small Seconds, Sterling Silver 0

Fears has unveiled its first British Watchmakers’ Day special edition for 2026 with the Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’, a watch that directly references the brand’s origins while remaining firmly rooted in its modern Brunswick collection. Produced exclusively for British Watchmakers’ Day, the model draws inspiration from one of the earliest Fears pocket watches made in the year the company was founded.

A historical reference

The designation “1846” refers to the year Edwin Fear established the Fears watchmaking business in Bristol, exactly 180 years before the 2026 event. The release also coincides with a decade since the contemporary revival of the brand in 2016. Rather than commemorating these milestones through overt branding, Fears has chosen to express its heritage through materials, proportions, and dial design.

Sterling silver case

The Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’ is housed in a 40mm cushion-shaped case crafted from 925 sterling silver and hallmarked in London. Silver has historical relevance for the brand, as it was commonly used in early Fears pocket watches, and it has become a recurring theme for the brand’s British Watchmakers’ Day releases.

While the overall silhouette remains recognisably Brunswick—with its cushion profile, onion-style crown, and compact lugs—the case has been subtly reworked for improved wearability. The diameter remains 40 mm, while the lug-to-lug measurement extends slightly to 47 mm. Thickness has been reduced to 11.10 mm, making it slimmer than the standard steel Brunswick 40 and helping balance the visual presence typically associated with cushion cases.

Pocket-watch-inspired dial

The dial closely follows the layout of the 1846 pocket watch that inspired it. It features applied Roman numerals, a recessed and oversized small seconds subdial, and thermally blued spade-style hands. The proportions and typography are deliberately traditional, resulting in a display that prioritises legibility and historical accuracy rather than modern reinterpretation.

The enlarged small seconds register is a defining visual element, anchoring the lower half of the dial and reinforcing the pocket-watch aesthetic that underpins the entire design.

Manual-winding movement

Powering the watch is the La Joux-Perret G121M manual-winding movement. It offers a 60-hour power reserve and was selected in part for its small seconds placement, which allows the subdial to sit further from the centre and maintain the oversized layout seen on the dial. The movement is concealed behind a closed caseback, which is engraved with individual edition numbering.

Limited availability

As a British Watchmakers’ Day exclusive, the Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’ is limited to 25 pieces. The watch will be available for purchase exclusively at the event on March 7, 2026. Pricing is set at GBP 4,350.

With its historically faithful dial, sterling silver case, and restrained mechanical specification, the Fears Brunswick 40 ‘1846 Edition’ serves as a material-focused tribute to the brand’s early years while remaining consistent with the design language of its modern collection.