Error on my part: In the video I state that there is a la-joux-perret movement in the watch. This is not correct. The Brunswick is available in 38 and 40mm which i state in the video. The 40mm version has a la-joux perret movement. The 38mm version has an ETA 7001 hand wound movement. Power reserve is 46 hours. Accuracy wise it’s going to get you the same kind of non-cosc performance as the lajoux There is a 250 dollar price difference on the two models on bracelet. This was all in the original edit but unfortunately I was a little agressive on what ended up on the cutting room floor and ended up mixing up the movement specs of the 40mm with the review model. Apologies.
Quick note on the price. Fears has this on the bracelet for $3,700 USD. Collective Horology has these in stock for $3,500 on the strap. The Brunswick 40 will run you $3,950 on the bracelet.
@@bscott8478 Wierd. I just checked to be sure and when I select the USA on their site as delivery destination it quotes me a price of 4.740. Don’t know if it’s a cookie/browser thing. But true - at dealers it’s listed around the price you state.
The hands take a day to make, they are made by hand, polished by hand, and the mainspring is uprated to accommodate the extra weight of them. The dial is made by one of Germany’s finest dial makers who also creates dials for some of the finest brands. The indices are diamond polished to a perfect mirror finish before, in this case, being blacked, or left polished on some of the other models. The details in the Brunswick absolutely account for the price. These are small batch watches when compared with the other pieces mentioned, and as such command a premium for that exclusivity and hand built manufacture.
I have owned the Brunswick 38 Salmon for three years, and wear it casually on a light grey suede strap. It is incredibly comfortable on the wrist, winds smoothly, and is finished incredibly well. What made this special in my eyes was how unique the watch elements were and how harmoniously they fit together. The raised anthracite coated numerals, the brand specific skeletonized hands, vintage cushion case, hand textured dial, and mesmerizing crown all blending into something I deem special. Most of my watches have some small flaw in design or workmanship, but Fears has put enormous effort into moving this watch into something beyond that level. I plan on keeping this for all my days!
This is the perfect example of why I watch this channel. No idea of the brand before but now I have heard of it, but most importantly for me it’s an interesting conversation about watch design. This watch is not something I’d purchase because of my lifestyle but I’m glad I know about it and how it fits in the middle of the Venn diagram. As always I’m glad this channel feels like having coffee with a friend and nerding out on watches rather than someone selling me something or screaming at me.
I picked up a 1940s Fears watch on eBay for £20. I spoke to Fears in Bristol about the watch and they ended up buying it for their archive. They were a super company to deal with.
Interesting, I would argue that a MK XX, especially the coloured dial versions would also arguably meet the dress/sport watch crossover criteria as well... Just about…
Happy you discovered this watch. I bought this exact one on leather strap a few years ago. Understated elegance describes it perfectly. I was and still am particularly fascinated with the 3D numbers. They can be both dark and bright, depending upon the lighting. I wouldn’t use it a sports watch, though, out of fear (no pun intended) of scratching this beautiful machine.
The 38mm Copper / Salmon dial that you have is my favourite Fears Watch that they make. I would take it on the leather strap rather than the bracelet though because it appeals to me more as a Classic Dress Watch with a sporty cushion case twist. The textured striping on the copper dial is exquisite and is another reason it feels more Dressy to me. I would love to get one of these Watches someday. The Jump Hour Watch that Fears do looks awesome too. I just wish that they still produced it in the cherry red colour like the original Alliance 01 collaboration with Christopher Ward that was made in a limited run of 50 for the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers. A great ‘off the cuff’ review here Mike. Not something we’ve seen much from you before but, hopefully we’ll see more of again!
Very thoughtful and interesting breakdown of the Fears. Felt like I could apply much of your positive argument towards the dress sports space to my 37 mm Longines Spirit with the blue sunray dial too.
I tried that one at their beautiful shop in Bristol, very crisp, felt like very nice materials and finish all around with the other models too. Felt solid indeed like a sport watch. The salmon dial was more interesting and popping than my Mr01. The price unfortunately is over my comfort zone for now but definitely aspirational.
Honestly, I’m lucky to own one the exact piece. Mine is from the earlier production runs, made before they switched to having the cases produced in Hong Kong and the hands in Germany. My piece still features the original suppliers, case and hands made in England, while the dial came from Germany as per the description at that time. Back when the cases and hands were made in England, the price felt reasonable. But with the newer versions Mark 2, now fully outsourced to suppliers outside England, I find the pricing hard to justify. That aside, this watch is truly stunning. You never get bored of it, thanks to the exceptional finishing and the way the dial plays with light, it’s a breathtaking dress watch. The bracelet was gifted to me, but I only wore it once. It felt like it killed the elegance of the watch. It’s so much better on leather straps. I’ve reached out to them several times, urging them to go back to their original suppliers and move away from the Hong Kong manufacturers. But the response is always the same: costs would go up if they did. I’m proud of the piece I own and wouldn’t sell it. It’s not just a watch with “England” stamped on it like nowadays production-it was actually made there. As for the current versions, I can’t bring myself to accept seeing “England” on something that’s merely assembled there. Great review and I enjoyed it, Bravo!
“Honestly, I wasn’t fully convinced by your argument today. What you’re describing sounds more like a popular category: the GADA (Go Anywhere, Do Anything) watch. There are plenty of options in this space, and, in fact, all the examples you mentioned-like the Aqua Terra-fit well within the GADA category. Grand Seiko is another great example, and even the IWC Portuguese could be considered a GADA watch. For a more affordable alternative, the Seiko Presage Classic Series ‘Araigaki’ offers a similar look to the Fears.”
I have the Club Campus 38 Night, which I like for the grey dial with the beige Arabic/Roman numerals outlined in green, and the orange small seconds hand.
'Swiss made' is ostensibly about purity of manufacture and protecting the market, but the reality is it's now just a marketing term. If they truly cared about it, they wouldn't still have 50% of the watch made in China.
I feel like the limited C63 sh21(blue marine/ snow leopard) from CW fits this mold pretty well. Maybe the dials are a bit too "playful" but the design overall to me fits perfectly in the sports/dress hybrid space. Small seconds, power reserve complication, and the classy light catcher case design really allows it to flourish in more formal settings as well.
I have a Mido Belluna II that I think sits in the middle of the dress/sports Venn diagram. I think some older iterations of the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date could also fit in this category.
Like your conversations! I’m in the high-end audio business and your “conversations” are relevant to a number of issues here as well. Keep up your good work.
One of the most beautiful dials around, but a bit pricey. (Used not bad at all though!) More affordable alternatives that come close (and I've experienced them side by side): The Formex brushed bronze dial gives you a lot of the same dial effect (sportier, but dressier when fitted with the steel bezel and mesh strap options), and the Farer cushion case line (Durham, Mansfield) get you into that dress-sporty cushion case territory for a lot less. I'm a fan of the dress-sporty intersection too (Rolex Yacht-master is another favorite).
I believe this channel isn't about precision or convenience, though. Nonetheless, very interesting content even for someone who isn't going to spend a small fortune on a watch. It's still fascinating to learn more.
@@event4216 quartz can also about finishing, innovation, value for money, robustness, antimagnetism, and other things. See Grand Seiko, FP Journe, etc. A watch is a watch is a watch. This channel is very much about precision. Every other video goes into METAS, COSC, etc.
@@event4216 quartz watches are about much more than just convenience and precision. See Grand Seiko, FP Journe, etc. A watch is a watch is a watch. Also, this channel is most certainly about precision. Every other video discusses a mechanical watch's METAS or COSC certification (or lack thereof), and virtually every video discusses a mechanical watch's movement precision numbers.
Interesting. You’ve made me think about why I gravitate towards the watches that I do. Also, you mentioned the different aspects of cases in dress v sports watches and now I will pay more attention to the conventions in the watches I like. As for this watch, I am really interested in seeing it on a strap. 40mm case and only 43mm lug? Wow, seems like it could work on a lot of wrists. Even my baby squirrel wrists! Maybe. 😂
Noce overview. I got to try on a Brunswick 38mm with white lacquer dial at the Wind-Up Watch Fair a few weeks back, and was just as impressed as you were - it hits the right note of understated, unfussy elegance while being just that bit more interesting than the usual suspects. *My* personal indulgence for something semi-dressy is a Seiko Presage SARW025 (Laurel tribute), larger than the Fears ( hair over 40mm), but suits my wrist, budget, and sensibilities wonderfully. Looking forward to your getting hands on the Fears Jump-Hour.
from the initial shots of the watch in the first 35 seconds, I thought: interesting. Then you said the price and flashed the cost on the bracelet: eff that: pass. Hand me something from the Presage collection. From the brand name to the watch, to the cost; it is not worth it. Even Baltic can scratch the itch for nearly 1/10th of the price, no need for 150m on a dress watch. I tend to think of these watches as the sporks of the watch world; unsatisfying in either category. The Santos you reference, while could be both, I have yet to see anyone doing anything remotely sporty with one. It is an exercise in theory rather than practicality. I am happy it exits though, new things should be tried.
I own the Fears Brunswick 40 Toppers Pacifica dial edition. I agree that it’s a very versatile watch. I wear it with their bracelet and it feels great on the wrist. It’s a wonderful daily watch that does straddle sport and dress. It reminds me of a more affordable Laurent Ferrier. I think some of the integrated models like the Cartier Santos or the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF line also work as well”dressy sport watches”. I have no problem wearing those with a sport jacket or even a suit.
Great video. There are a few Grand Seiko heritage models (44GS case/spring drive) that straddle the dress/sports space better than most. Aqua Terra 38mm for sure. Cheaper? I would throw in the Monta Noble.
Interesting watch. Also, I enjoy your POV because it always challenges some of my preconceived notions. First, to me the steel bracelet is the fancy option and anything else makes it more casual/fun. But then I think about all the very top end watches and most are on leather. So that has shifted my own thoughts on the hierarchy of straps. So I have to agree that leather, in the right conditions, does make the watch more dress. You had in your video the Tudor BB 31/36/39/41 (no bezel) in the sports group, I’ve never seen that piece on the leather and it would be the first that comes to my mind that might bridge this gap. But I also have a limited understanding of the design style, another reason I like your videos, and I rely more on my office space. Which is not a major city like NYC/London/Tokyo and I think dress is a more open concept in more rural areas. Cities with a mere 2 million people (yeah I’m a hick, what can I say hahaha). I do like this brand, though I really only like small seconds in chronos, otherwise I want that sweeping full dial look. It grabs me more, and I know it’s a more complicated movement and I enjoy the effort of stacking every arm.
Hard to say. I've committed to measuring everything in scandinavian nautical miles. To me it feels like this system of measurements is going to win out over the metric system and the us customary system. But about 1.778e-5 of a scandinavian mile. Give or take. 😀😀
The Datejust on a strap you've shown is an older reference and IMHO pre-2000's-ish Datejusts do work as dress watches. They're small, with thin hands, *thin indexes,* small lume dots, narrow lugs, patina, and sometimes interesting dials, like linen. Yes, there's still that sporty Rolex spark which might not suit everybody, but it would totally suit me.
This reminds me alot of the Hamilton Khaki Field and the Murph, especially since it has the brushed case/polished bezel with Arabic numerals. That's why I wear the Khaki Field as an everyday watch for anything except extreme water exposure or full on business or evening wear.
Mike many thanks. An interesting watch design . . . For me the Brunswick 40 ‘Boutique Edition’ is the most appealing with green dial and steel bracelet 🙂 I guess this could become my green-faced watch.
Love seeing you review watches more niche. I know this is out of your comfort zone. Purely positive criticism, I’d want to see more footage of the watch. Different lighting, different outfits, etc.
Fair point - Watch filming is new to me, so I'm slowly trying to dial in the basics and hopefully I'll get better at giving them the right canvas for display as it were. Cheers -😀😀
if we are talking about a mixture of sports / dress watch.... there are other companies that had been doing it for a while... I am not going to pick a price range but give examples of other companies that do it. Chopard L.U.C 1860 very good looking that fits your requirements...Grand Seiko SBGW295 looks stunning in jet black. Orient Bambino 38 has a very similar look to Fears. King Seiko SJE089 (white dial) or SJE091(jet black dial) both fit your requirements as well and even AP Code 11.59 with a burgundy dial that looks insane. Now as for the Fears Brunswick... It's a nice looking watch and I am sure there are people who will buy it and love it, but $4000+ USD price tag is crazy. For that money you can get Bremont Terra Nova or Cristopher Ward Bell Canto if you want to stay with the British watchmakers.
Selitta is having a bit of a competition from LJP and that’s a good thing. If well regulated the LGPs do perform at COSC tolerances. Indeed it’s refreshing to see this watch. Excellent review..
It’s a lovely watch and well made but I struggle at that price point. It doesn’t seem that long ago ( although it was 12years!) that I got my brand new Omega Planet Ocean for the same price. For similar money now you can get Tudor or Nomos either in house movements. I struggle to compute paying north of £3k for a watch with a fairly bog standard movement
While not Mike, I feel that the GS sbgx261 is a good compromise between dress and sport. The quartz movement seems to be a good movement on the sport side and the polish of the case is good on the dress side. It also doesn't look that bad on a leather strap.
Great video about a great watch- I particularly like the pink dialled version, its got quite an allure. Just out of curiosity, what watch are you wearing in this video please?
Thanks so much for posting a second video. Here in the States we coil use the distraction. I enjoyed the presentation because I like anything that can be dressed up and down. Unfortunately I could not get ast the color.
Interesting. By your analysis my Eco Drive BV1111 is also a dressy sport watch, completely silent and less than 1/20 the cost. Feeling pretty good about my choice :)
You remind me a bit of Andrew Robinson, like he says about sound equipment lol (the only person who has to like the sound of your system is you). Appreciate your takes a lot and that you aren’t bought or swayed by anything. Keep up the good stuff!
Thanks for this, I rather like the Brunswick largely because it is so high on both the usability and the classy scales. It's a nicely balanced and well conceived line. I thin that goldy/champagne dial one is my choice.
I thought that my Norqain Adventure Neverest with rose good bezel straddles that line as a hybrid. It has a fancy dial but clean indices and hands, a diver’s bezel that is narrow enough to get out of the eye’s way, and a brushed case exterior with a hint of polish to withstand life’s rich pageant. To be clear, it is a sports watch brand, but it does cross over.
I own this model on a leather strap. Kept looking for a good deal on a slightly used model and I’m so pleased with it. It’s just gorgeous watch. But I’m a dress watch guys and I have small wrists. Suits me perfectly.
I understand your reasons for covering this timepiece. Try as I might I can’t think of many other watches that do the same. The santos and (for me) the datejust succeed in this transition between sport and dress effortlessly, particularly if it’s the two tone/fluted bezel. I very much find this company and their ethos endearing. I absolutely agree about their pride re their Bristol heritage and don’t feel the need to slap Swiss made anywhere near it. But the price is a little prohibitive for me. As usual your video has made me think which is refreshing. Thank you
There's one brave choice they've taken: No lume and no fancy polishing on the indicating parts either. The indexes reflect a bit, but the hands are just matte black, or skeleton black. The contrast lies solely on the dial. Very original, with one big advantage: It won't degrade with time... as much as lume does.
Love my Fears Archival 1930. a modern re-issue of their piece from that time. Many positive comments from friends and colleagues, most of whom aren’t interested in watches.
I still think the IWC Portugieser is in that dress / sport watch quadrant… certainly the Yacht Club. 🙃 Nice episode once again, stimulating the brain. 🤗
This is a very good example of the Grey territory Dress-Sport. More sporty for me. A rarity undoubtedly, beginning with the brand :) Cheers Mike. Well Done!
the venn diagram and dress/sports analysis is hilariously consultant. I hope Thierry Stern watches this luxury watch consulting audition video so you can save Patek from itself.
This watch looks like an aqua terra case with portuguese dial in cream colour. As for this segment of the market I feel it is "new" only now because the older aqua terras etc were far more restrained and would fit perfectly this niche. I prefer the older aqua terra in the right colour on the bracelet or the older chinese Parnis Portuguese homage (silver face, blue markers, blue strap) which I bought on ebay for about 100 euro and it keeps going all these years and I love it. I have both aqua terra and the actual IWC portuguese so I can compare directly with the reviewed watch, aqua terra was a present from my dad and the first watch in my collection. My choice for this segment of the market are also the older model navy face IWC ingenieur on a blue leather strap - goes great with jeans and with blue suit. Same thing with the Parnis. Unfortunately the crown would not screw in anymore on my aqua terra and that's 700chf fix so it's sitting in the drawer while I'm wearing the chinese clone that looks and feels identical and cost me below 500. I bought the clone after sourcing the bracelet in China for my aqua terra (genuine are obscenely expensive) only to find that the chinese bracelet was just as good as the original minus all the wear. Out of watches I have (mix of genuine and clones) the Aqua terra, older model IWC ingenieur, IWC big pilot chrono get 90% of wear time because they are in this perfect spot of matching with shirts I wear. I always end up wearing Jaeger polaris when I plan to do some activities e.g. trekking in the mountains - it's a light and very comfortable watch on a rubber strap. By the way, clones are a great way to try the watch long term before buying genuine piece and I recommend this path for everybody. Once I removed the price bias out of equation and just look at the piece for what it is, I reached very surprising conclusions - the watches I wanted the most were the most disappointing and I don't wear them at all e.g. omega speedmaster racing (I can't see the time basically, too busy dial) or panerai (too heavy, too big). I would say that because of clones I'm looking past the marketing BS. Nowadays I'm more interested in the likes of a titanium Citizen BM7470-84L or a Tissot PRX than expensive stuff. Ironically, these two watches show that you can have 90% of the luxury brand watch literally for few hundred bucks and, along with homage watches like Parnis et al you can skip the whole clone thing altogether.
Dear Mike, I think I know another watch that succeeds at combining the dress and sport vibes - it's omega constellation globemaster 39 mm. Same deal - amazing dial of a dress watch with pie pan shape, an interesting case with carbate fluting bezel, rough but classy, decent bracelet that isn't a afterthought(as the fearer comes on the leather). there you go, my gada watch I suppose
I heard about this company when they were first resurrected by a descendant of the founder. At that time they made big play of the cushion cases which were a big part of the company's DNA. I liked them and thought definitely one to store on a possibles list, as they were priced very reasonably under £1K. Now just a few years later this one is close to £4K. WTF happened?? Nice watch but way too expensive for what it offers.
I love Fears. Seen them at windup and the quality and finishing are amazing. Also run by very nice people. I do wish they were a bit more affordable, but I largely disagree with comments that they are overpriced. Great video as usual
Fascinating, I really like the appearance of dress watches, but don't have many opportunities to wear one. I would be pleased if manufacturers made more dressy watches, but with 100m WR and a little practicality plus a quick release bracelet 👍
I guess this is the point where I am out of my depth in terms of watch designs. To me all of these luxury sports watches would fit a dress neatly. But then again I wouldn’t have the money to afford them anyway and will stick to my G-shock when doing sports… Still a great video as always!
Well... Multiple case and dial components are finished by hand driving up the cost quite significantly as man hours are slow and expensive. Whether it's worth 3-4 or 5 thousand is a reasonable enough question but the work that went into it was not on the cheap manufacturing side. 😀
Thanks for another interesting video Mike! On the less expensive end of the spectrum, do you think that Seiko cocktail time watches might also occupy a similar in-between space? You said you were trying to think of other examples.
The Fears Brunswick sports watch is a unique take on the dive-watch genre, but let's be honest-it's hardly going to make seasoned dive watch fans forget about their Tudors, Rolexes, or Omegas. First off, it’s branded as a "sports watch," but it doesn’t exactly scream rugged or adventure-ready. Its 38mm case is certainly elegant, but it might feel small for a modern sports watch, especially for those used to the bolder, chunkier styles typical of this category. Then there’s the water resistance: while 100 meters is technically okay for some casual water exposure, it’s not exactly what you'd expect in a true dive or adventure watch. This isn’t a piece you’d take on deep dives or extreme sports adventures; it's more “splash-proof on a rainy day.” Fears has focused on refinement, so instead of bold lume or a robust bezel, you get a more subdued, classic look that feels more at home in an office than the great outdoors. So while the Brunswick might be a beautiful, classic piece, its sporty label might be a stretch for enthusiasts who value function over form.
Another remarkable video Sir. You may disagree, but in my humble and biased opinion there are some Japanese pieces on that narrow path. I am biased because I collect them :). The generic Grqnd Seiko snowflake is there for me (or very ambiguous) and their evolution 9 are super versatile. Finally the citizen AQ6021-51E - the first iteration of their incredible solar calibre 0100 is a dress and sport watch for me (yes despite being in titanium). Just my two cents :)
Spprts capable dress watches are a heavily underrated category. Seiko has quite a few of them. Also, Sinn, Mühle Glashütte and Union Glashütte. Especially the German brands I've listed are absolutely incredible in that category. A classy moonphase on a bracelet with 100m WR? Not a problem for German engineers...
The prices as stated seem to be with Vat included. In the US we typically have prices presented to us without tax. Does European audience prefer to have the Vat included even if they are purchasing from different where Vat may be different?
What do you think of the original Bulova Spaceview watches, from the 1960s? I am tempted to buy one because you can find very nice examples for £500-1K.
Thanks for sharing this. I recently went to a watch show and fears is a brand I know of but always brushed off as unattractive and overpriced. After handling them in person however my attitude did a 180. It became one of the few brand I want to buy and can afford with savings. A lot of the other brands that I looked forward to handling instead became too bland for me. I think it’s very hard to convey how interesting their watches are given a lot of us only see them online.
For me , Fears has a printing problem. Was contemplating buying one but always ended up looking at their competition cause the price point (legacy brands. On the other hand for me an equivalent on the 1.5k territory is the MIDO Big TV ! Check it out! Sporty and dressy !
Error on my part:
In the video I state that there is a la-joux-perret movement in the watch.
This is not correct. The Brunswick is available in 38 and 40mm which i state in the video.
The 40mm version has a la-joux perret movement.
The 38mm version has an ETA 7001 hand wound movement. Power reserve is 46 hours. Accuracy wise it’s going to get you the same kind of non-cosc performance as the lajoux
There is a 250 dollar price difference on the two models on bracelet.
This was all in the original edit but unfortunately I was a little agressive on what ended up on the cutting room floor and ended up mixing up the movement specs of the 40mm with the review model.
Apologies.
Thank you for the clarification.
Quick note on the price. Fears has this on the bracelet for $3,700 USD. Collective Horology has these in stock for $3,500 on the strap. The Brunswick 40 will run you $3,950 on the bracelet.
@@bscott8478 Wierd. I just checked to be sure and when I select the USA on their site as delivery destination it quotes me a price of 4.740.
Don’t know if it’s a cookie/browser thing.
But true - at dealers it’s listed around the price you state.
@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatchyeah…its still calculating VAT for some reason.
Too expensive for what it is.
A bit, it’s very nice though. Worth £2500
Exact same thought before I tried it on
The skeletonized hands and brushed dial look great, but the price should be halved.
Fair enough. It is a little high considering especially the movement 😀
The hands take a day to make, they are made by hand, polished by hand, and the mainspring is uprated to accommodate the extra weight of them. The dial is made by one of Germany’s finest dial makers who also creates dials for some of the finest brands. The indices are diamond polished to a perfect mirror finish before, in this case, being blacked, or left polished on some of the other models. The details in the Brunswick absolutely account for the price. These are small batch watches when compared with the other pieces mentioned, and as such command a premium for that exclusivity and hand built manufacture.
I have owned the Brunswick 38 Salmon for three years, and wear it casually on a light grey suede strap. It is incredibly comfortable on the wrist, winds smoothly, and is finished incredibly well. What made this special in my eyes was how unique the watch elements were and how harmoniously they fit together. The raised anthracite coated numerals, the brand specific skeletonized hands, vintage cushion case, hand textured dial, and mesmerizing crown all blending into something I deem special. Most of my watches have some small flaw in design or workmanship, but Fears has put enormous effort into moving this watch into something beyond that level. I plan on keeping this for all my days!
I have the same watch for similar period too and I mostly agree with you. It's not a value proposition for most people, but it does make me smile.
This is the perfect example of why I watch this channel. No idea of the brand before but now I have heard of it, but most importantly for me it’s an interesting conversation about watch design. This watch is not something I’d purchase because of my lifestyle but I’m glad I know about it and how it fits in the middle of the Venn diagram. As always I’m glad this channel feels like having coffee with a friend and nerding out on watches rather than someone selling me something or screaming at me.
Well said Jeffdavis8525, I totally agree.
Thanks for that - It was precisely my goal 😀😀
I picked up a 1940s Fears watch on eBay for £20. I spoke to Fears in Bristol about the watch and they ended up buying it for their archive. They were a super company to deal with.
For a little more money I’d rather have a 36mm or 39mm Explorer with an Alligator strap or an IWC mark XX.
Interesting, I would argue that a MK XX, especially the coloured dial versions would also arguably meet the dress/sport watch crossover criteria as well... Just about…
Yeah 5000 is a lot for a mid movement
I'd have the Mark XV over the XX
Mark XX would (and is) my choice tbh 😀😎
Happy you discovered this watch. I bought this exact one on leather strap a few years ago. Understated elegance describes it perfectly. I was and still am particularly fascinated with the 3D numbers. They can be both dark and bright, depending upon the lighting. I wouldn’t use it a sports watch, though, out of fear (no pun intended) of scratching this beautiful machine.
I picked up the Brunswick 38 'Mallard Green Boutique Edition' last year and it's a beautiful piece! Nicholas is killing it!
Cheers,
Richard
The 38mm Copper / Salmon dial that you have is my favourite Fears Watch that they make. I would take it on the leather strap rather than the bracelet though because it appeals to me more as a Classic Dress Watch with a sporty cushion case twist. The textured striping on the copper dial is exquisite and is another reason it feels more Dressy to me. I would love to get one of these Watches someday.
The Jump Hour Watch that Fears do looks awesome too. I just wish that they still produced it in the cherry red colour like the original Alliance 01 collaboration with Christopher Ward that was made in a limited run of 50 for the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers.
A great ‘off the cuff’ review here Mike. Not something we’ve seen much from you before but, hopefully we’ll see more of again!
The green boutique edition is the one I would consider also but not enough to justify a trip to England for me unfortunately
Very thoughtful and interesting breakdown of the Fears. Felt like I could apply much of your positive argument towards the dress sports space to my 37 mm Longines Spirit with the blue sunray dial too.
I tried that one at their beautiful shop in Bristol, very crisp, felt like very nice materials and finish all around with the other models too. Felt solid indeed like a sport watch.
The salmon dial was more interesting and popping than my Mr01.
The price unfortunately is over my comfort zone for now but definitely aspirational.
Honestly, I’m lucky to own one the exact piece. Mine is from the earlier production runs, made before they switched to having the cases produced in Hong Kong and the hands in Germany. My piece still features the original suppliers, case and hands made in England, while the dial came from Germany as per the description at that time. Back when the cases and hands were made in England, the price felt reasonable. But with the newer versions Mark 2, now fully outsourced to suppliers outside England, I find the pricing hard to justify. That aside, this watch is truly stunning. You never get bored of it, thanks to the exceptional finishing and the way the dial plays with light, it’s a breathtaking dress watch. The bracelet was gifted to me, but I only wore it once. It felt like it killed the elegance of the watch. It’s so much better on leather straps. I’ve reached out to them several times, urging them to go back to their original suppliers and move away from the Hong Kong manufacturers. But the response is always the same: costs would go up if they did. I’m proud of the piece I own and wouldn’t sell it. It’s not just a watch with “England” stamped on it like nowadays production-it was actually made there. As for the current versions, I can’t bring myself to accept seeing “England” on something that’s merely assembled there. Great review and I enjoyed it, Bravo!
“Honestly, I wasn’t fully convinced by your argument today. What you’re describing sounds more like a popular category: the GADA (Go Anywhere, Do Anything) watch. There are plenty of options in this space, and, in fact, all the examples you mentioned-like the Aqua Terra-fit well within the GADA category. Grand Seiko is another great example, and even the IWC Portuguese could be considered a GADA watch. For a more affordable alternative, the Seiko Presage Classic Series ‘Araigaki’ offers a similar look to the Fears.”
Thanks for your inside, excited for the jumping hour model. my cup of tea. Keep up the good job!!!
Thought of oris big crown pointer date under this sports/dress watch category. Informative video as always!
The Nomos Club 703.1 is another great combination of dressy (with its leather strap) and sporty (with its striking red hands)
I have the Club Campus 38 Night, which I like for the grey dial with the beige Arabic/Roman numerals outlined in green, and the orange small seconds hand.
I'm liking these semi square watches more and more. It's definitely Radiomir shaped, but that's a good thing.
Cushion case
Fears made this case shape before Panerai. The managing director, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, highlighted this point in one of his many interviews.
'Swiss made' is ostensibly about purity of manufacture and protecting the market, but the reality is it's now just a marketing term. If they truly cared about it, they wouldn't still have 50% of the watch made in China.
yup
I feel like the limited C63 sh21(blue marine/ snow leopard) from CW fits this mold pretty well. Maybe the dials are a bit too "playful" but the design overall to me fits perfectly in the sports/dress hybrid space. Small seconds, power reserve complication, and the classy light catcher case design really allows it to flourish in more formal settings as well.
I have a Mido Belluna II that I think sits in the middle of the dress/sports Venn diagram. I think some older iterations of the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date could also fit in this category.
Like your conversations! I’m in the high-end audio business and your “conversations” are relevant to a number of issues here as well. Keep up your good work.
One of the most beautiful dials around, but a bit pricey. (Used not bad at all though!) More affordable alternatives that come close (and I've experienced them side by side): The Formex brushed bronze dial gives you a lot of the same dial effect (sportier, but dressier when fitted with the steel bezel and mesh strap options), and the Farer cushion case line (Durham, Mansfield) get you into that dress-sporty cushion case territory for a lot less. I'm a fan of the dress-sporty intersection too (Rolex Yacht-master is another favorite).
Quartz watches, especially solar and high accuracy, are massively underrated right now. Would love to see vids on quartz watches, Mike. Thank you 🙏
I believe this channel isn't about precision or convenience, though. Nonetheless, very interesting content even for someone who isn't going to spend a small fortune on a watch. It's still fascinating to learn more.
@@event4216 quartz can also about finishing, innovation, value for money, robustness, antimagnetism, and other things. See Grand Seiko, FP Journe, etc. A watch is a watch is a watch.
This channel is very much about precision. Every other video goes into METAS, COSC, etc.
@@event4216 quartz watches are about much more than just convenience and precision. See Grand Seiko, FP Journe, etc. A watch is a watch is a watch. Also, this channel is most certainly about precision. Every other video discusses a mechanical watch's METAS or COSC certification (or lack thereof), and virtually every video discusses a mechanical watch's movement precision numbers.
Perhaps it's bc of that cushion case but I guess the Panerai Radomir (which I don't like either J) is also in that spot
Very interesting POV.
Also, the classic Datejust on leather gets an interesting dress vibe from the addition of end links i think.
Cool content!
Interesting. You’ve made me think about why I gravitate towards the watches that I do. Also, you mentioned the different aspects of cases in dress v sports watches and now I will pay more attention to the conventions in the watches I like.
As for this watch, I am really interested in seeing it on a strap. 40mm case and only 43mm lug? Wow, seems like it could work on a lot of wrists. Even my baby squirrel wrists! Maybe. 😂
Noce overview. I got to try on a Brunswick 38mm with white lacquer dial at the Wind-Up Watch Fair a few weeks back, and was just as impressed as you were - it hits the right note of understated, unfussy elegance while being just that bit more interesting than the usual suspects. *My* personal indulgence for something semi-dressy is a Seiko Presage SARW025 (Laurel tribute), larger than the Fears ( hair over 40mm), but suits my wrist, budget, and sensibilities wonderfully. Looking forward to your getting hands on the Fears Jump-Hour.
from the initial shots of the watch in the first 35 seconds, I thought: interesting. Then you said the price and flashed the cost on the bracelet: eff that: pass. Hand me something from the Presage collection. From the brand name to the watch, to the cost; it is not worth it. Even Baltic can scratch the itch for nearly 1/10th of the price, no need for 150m on a dress watch. I tend to think of these watches as the sporks of the watch world; unsatisfying in either category. The Santos you reference, while could be both, I have yet to see anyone doing anything remotely sporty with one. It is an exercise in theory rather than practicality. I am happy it exits though, new things should be tried.
i'd buy a plethora of offerings from CW before this.
You can buy 3rd party rubber straps for the Santos, and the watch looks good on them in my opinion.
I was looking at the Duckworth Prestex Verimatic recently. Similar vibe for those on a budget.
A brand from my city Bristol - Nicholas is a true gent and the boutique is great to visit - great enthusiasm in the Fears collectors group.
I own the Fears Brunswick 40 Toppers Pacifica dial edition. I agree that it’s a very versatile watch. I wear it with their bracelet and it feels great on the wrist. It’s a wonderful daily watch that does straddle sport and dress. It reminds me of a more affordable Laurent Ferrier.
I think some of the integrated models like the Cartier Santos or the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF line also work as well”dressy sport watches”. I have no problem wearing those with a sport jacket or even a suit.
Fears as a brand really appeals to me. The fact they don't feel the need to slap 'Swiss made' on all of their watches is part of it.
What a great video. Wonderfully argued, and you've really made me view the different elements of this watch. Thanks.
"You're Terrific" getting a nod. Nice. :)
I like his vids. Wish I could film the watches as well as he can 😀😀
Great video. There are a few Grand Seiko heritage models (44GS case/spring drive) that straddle the dress/sports space better than most. Aqua Terra 38mm for sure. Cheaper? I would throw in the Monta Noble.
Interesting watch. Also, I enjoy your POV because it always challenges some of my preconceived notions. First, to me the steel bracelet is the fancy option and anything else makes it more casual/fun. But then I think about all the very top end watches and most are on leather. So that has shifted my own thoughts on the hierarchy of straps. So I have to agree that leather, in the right conditions, does make the watch more dress. You had in your video the Tudor BB 31/36/39/41 (no bezel) in the sports group, I’ve never seen that piece on the leather and it would be the first that comes to my mind that might bridge this gap. But I also have a limited understanding of the design style, another reason I like your videos, and I rely more on my office space. Which is not a major city like NYC/London/Tokyo and I think dress is a more open concept in more rural areas. Cities with a mere 2 million people (yeah I’m a hick, what can I say hahaha). I do like this brand, though I really only like small seconds in chronos, otherwise I want that sweeping full dial look. It grabs me more, and I know it’s a more complicated movement and I enjoy the effort of stacking every arm.
great video!! if possible, make your videos longer. it’s such a joy to listen to you
How big is your wrist again?
Hard to say. I've committed to measuring everything in scandinavian nautical miles. To me it feels like this system of measurements is going to win out over the metric system and the us customary system. But about 1.778e-5 of a scandinavian mile. Give or take. 😀😀
The Datejust on a strap you've shown is an older reference and IMHO pre-2000's-ish Datejusts do work as dress watches. They're small, with thin hands, *thin indexes,* small lume dots, narrow lugs, patina, and sometimes interesting dials, like linen. Yes, there's still that sporty Rolex spark which might not suit everybody, but it would totally suit me.
This reminds me alot of the Hamilton Khaki Field and the Murph, especially since it has the brushed case/polished bezel with Arabic numerals. That's why I wear the Khaki Field as an everyday watch for anything except extreme water exposure or full on business or evening wear.
Mike many thanks. An interesting watch design . . . For me the Brunswick 40 ‘Boutique Edition’ is the most appealing with green dial and steel bracelet 🙂 I guess this could become my green-faced watch.
Love seeing you review watches more niche. I know this is out of your comfort zone. Purely positive criticism, I’d want to see more footage of the watch. Different lighting, different outfits, etc.
Fair point - Watch filming is new to me, so I'm slowly trying to dial in the basics and hopefully I'll get better at giving them the right canvas for display as it were. Cheers -😀😀
Thoughtful and thought provoking as always! I enjoy your content very much :)
if we are talking about a mixture of sports / dress watch.... there are other companies that had been doing it for a while... I am not going to pick a price range but give examples of other companies that do it. Chopard L.U.C 1860 very good looking that fits your requirements...Grand Seiko SBGW295 looks stunning in jet black. Orient Bambino 38 has a very similar look to Fears. King Seiko SJE089 (white dial) or SJE091(jet black dial) both fit your requirements as well and even AP Code 11.59 with a burgundy dial that looks insane.
Now as for the Fears Brunswick... It's a nice looking watch and I am sure there are people who will buy it and love it, but $4000+ USD price tag is crazy. For that money you can get Bremont Terra Nova or Cristopher Ward Bell Canto if you want to stay with the British watchmakers.
Selitta is having a bit of a competition from LJP and that’s a good thing. If well regulated the LGPs do perform at COSC tolerances. Indeed it’s refreshing to see this watch. Excellent review..
I’d like to see more LJP solar quartz. Can’t promise I would get one but I might
La Joux-Perret sounds way fancier than Sellita or ETA.
It’s a lovely watch and well made but I struggle at that price point. It doesn’t seem that long ago ( although it was 12years!) that I got my brand new Omega Planet Ocean for the same price. For similar money now you can get Tudor or Nomos either in house movements. I struggle to compute paying north of £3k for a watch with a fairly bog standard movement
Hi Mike, love your content. What do you think about the argument that many Grand Seikos can straddle this line between sport and dress styles?
While not Mike, I feel that the GS sbgx261 is a good compromise between dress and sport. The quartz movement seems to be a good movement on the sport side and the polish of the case is good on the dress side. It also doesn't look that bad on a leather strap.
Great video as always Mike..a new watch to me so thanks for expanding my knowledge 👍
I love that you used @YoureTerrific’s wrist size as the reference for your own wrist size. 😂
It's the most accurate form of measurement 😃😃
Mike go the next reviews could you give your view on decade style of the watch? 30, 50, 70s etc
Mike, great video as usual!
Very interesting collection indeed..
Great video about a great watch- I particularly like the pink dialled version, its got quite an allure. Just out of curiosity, what watch are you wearing in this video please?
Thanks so much for posting a second video. Here in the States we coil use the distraction. I enjoyed the presentation because I like anything that can be dressed up and down. Unfortunately I could not get ast the color.
Life goes on. Watches can take your mind off things 😀
Interesting. By your analysis my Eco Drive BV1111 is also a dressy sport watch, completely silent and less than 1/20 the cost. Feeling pretty good about my choice :)
If you like vintage sports/dress watches,then the omega ref 166.010 or the 165.10 is worth a look.
You remind me a bit of Andrew Robinson, like he says about sound equipment lol (the only person who has to like the sound of your system is you). Appreciate your takes a lot and that you aren’t bought or swayed by anything. Keep up the good stuff!
Thanks for that 😀😀
Thanks for this, I rather like the Brunswick largely because it is so high on both the usability and the classy scales. It's a nicely balanced and well conceived line. I thin that goldy/champagne dial one is my choice.
I thought that my Norqain Adventure Neverest with rose good bezel straddles that line as a hybrid. It has a fancy dial but clean indices and hands, a diver’s bezel that is narrow enough to get out of the eye’s way, and a brushed case exterior with a hint of polish to withstand life’s rich pageant. To be clear, it is a sports watch brand, but it does cross over.
I own this model on a leather strap. Kept looking for a good deal on a slightly used model and I’m so pleased with it. It’s just gorgeous watch. But I’m a dress watch guys and I have small wrists. Suits me perfectly.
Glad to hear their are some happy owners out there 😀😀
Interesting review. Black longines heritage sector dial on the beads of rice bracelet fits into that venn overlap to me.
That could work in that range for me as well 😀
I understand your reasons for covering this timepiece.
Try as I might I can’t think of many other watches that do the same. The santos and (for me) the datejust succeed in this transition between sport and dress effortlessly, particularly if it’s the two tone/fluted bezel.
I very much find this company and their ethos endearing. I absolutely agree about their pride re their Bristol heritage and don’t feel the need to slap Swiss made anywhere near it.
But the price is a little prohibitive for me.
As usual your video has made me think which is refreshing.
Thank you
4700 dollars!? Fears should PAY people to buy their watches!
There's one brave choice they've taken: No lume and no fancy polishing on the indicating parts either. The indexes reflect a bit, but the hands are just matte black, or skeleton black. The contrast lies solely on the dial. Very original, with one big advantage: It won't degrade with time... as much as lume does.
How you don’t have more subscribers is a mystery to me.
Keep up the great work please.
❤🇨🇦
I will try at least - Thanks a ton 😀😀
Love my Fears Archival 1930. a modern re-issue of their piece from that time. Many positive comments from friends and colleagues, most of whom aren’t interested in watches.
Great to hear their are some fears fans out there
I still think the IWC Portugieser is in that dress / sport watch quadrant… certainly the Yacht Club. 🙃
Nice episode once again, stimulating the brain. 🤗
I always thought the Datejust was more of a dress watch with a sporty side.
For a moment there I thought the weekend had come around already
nope. Just a midweek extra 😀
Sounds like many Grand Seiko fit this category too.
This is a very good example of the Grey territory Dress-Sport. More sporty for me. A rarity undoubtedly, beginning with the brand :)
Cheers Mike. Well Done!
the venn diagram and dress/sports analysis is hilariously consultant. I hope Thierry Stern watches this luxury watch consulting audition video so you can save Patek from itself.
Gotta have a venn... 😀
Where do you think Grand Seiko models such as the Shunbun, Snowflake, or White Birch sit in that venn diagram?
What do you think about the modern King Seiko in this context? Are they in this space or are they too much or the sporty or on the dressy side?
Definitely in that space (I feel) 😀
This watch looks like an aqua terra case with portuguese dial in cream colour. As for this segment of the market I feel it is "new" only now because the older aqua terras etc were far more restrained and would fit perfectly this niche. I prefer the older aqua terra in the right colour on the bracelet or the older chinese Parnis Portuguese homage (silver face, blue markers, blue strap) which I bought on ebay for about 100 euro and it keeps going all these years and I love it. I have both aqua terra and the actual IWC portuguese so I can compare directly with the reviewed watch, aqua terra was a present from my dad and the first watch in my collection. My choice for this segment of the market are also the older model navy face IWC ingenieur on a blue leather strap - goes great with jeans and with blue suit. Same thing with the Parnis.
Unfortunately the crown would not screw in anymore on my aqua terra and that's 700chf fix so it's sitting in the drawer while I'm wearing the chinese clone that looks and feels identical and cost me below 500. I bought the clone after sourcing the bracelet in China for my aqua terra (genuine are obscenely expensive) only to find that the chinese bracelet was just as good as the original minus all the wear. Out of watches I have (mix of genuine and clones) the Aqua terra, older model IWC ingenieur, IWC big pilot chrono get 90% of wear time because they are in this perfect spot of matching with shirts I wear. I always end up wearing Jaeger polaris when I plan to do some activities e.g. trekking in the mountains - it's a light and very comfortable watch on a rubber strap.
By the way, clones are a great way to try the watch long term before buying genuine piece and I recommend this path for everybody. Once I removed the price bias out of equation and just look at the piece for what it is, I reached very surprising conclusions - the watches I wanted the most were the most disappointing and I don't wear them at all e.g. omega speedmaster racing (I can't see the time basically, too busy dial) or panerai (too heavy, too big). I would say that because of clones I'm looking past the marketing BS. Nowadays I'm more interested in the likes of a titanium Citizen BM7470-84L or a Tissot PRX than expensive stuff. Ironically, these two watches show that you can have 90% of the luxury brand watch literally for few hundred bucks and, along with homage watches like Parnis et al you can skip the whole clone thing altogether.
Dear Mike, I think I know another watch that succeeds at combining the dress and sport vibes - it's omega constellation globemaster 39 mm. Same deal - amazing dial of a dress watch with pie pan shape, an interesting case with carbate fluting bezel, rough but classy, decent bracelet that isn't a afterthought(as the fearer comes on the leather). there you go, my gada watch I suppose
I heard about this company when they were first resurrected by a descendant of the founder. At that time they made big play of the cushion cases which were a big part of the company's DNA. I liked them and thought definitely one to store on a possibles list, as they were priced very reasonably under £1K. Now just a few years later this one is close to £4K. WTF happened?? Nice watch but way too expensive for what it offers.
Grand Seiko has a ton of dress/sports options
Definitely not in the same price category, but I do have a Seiko 7T32 7H80 that I believe would fall into this category. Black dial version.
I love Fears. Seen them at windup and the quality and finishing are amazing. Also run by very nice people. I do wish they were a bit more affordable, but I largely disagree with comments that they are overpriced. Great video as usual
Fascinating, I really like the appearance of dress watches, but don't have many opportunities to wear one. I would be pleased if manufacturers made more dressy watches, but with 100m WR and a little practicality plus a quick release bracelet 👍
I guess this is the point where I am out of my depth in terms of watch designs. To me all of these luxury sports watches would fit a dress neatly. But then again I wouldn’t have the money to afford them anyway and will stick to my G-shock when doing sports… Still a great video as always!
We are talking about a Fears watch with a sub 300$ movement inside: there is nothing in this watch that justifies nearly 5000$ request.
Well... Multiple case and dial components are finished by hand driving up the cost quite significantly as man hours are slow and expensive. Whether it's worth 3-4 or 5 thousand is a reasonable enough question but the work that went into it was not on the cheap manufacturing side. 😀
Thanks for another interesting video Mike! On the less expensive end of the spectrum, do you think that Seiko cocktail time watches might also occupy a similar in-between space? You said you were trying to think of other examples.
I think they're more dressy. They don't quite work as sports watches but a king seiko perhaps 😀😀
The Fears Brunswick sports watch is a unique take on the dive-watch genre, but let's be honest-it's hardly going to make seasoned dive watch fans forget about their Tudors, Rolexes, or Omegas. First off, it’s branded as a "sports watch," but it doesn’t exactly scream rugged or adventure-ready. Its 38mm case is certainly elegant, but it might feel small for a modern sports watch, especially for those used to the bolder, chunkier styles typical of this category.
Then there’s the water resistance: while 100 meters is technically okay for some casual water exposure, it’s not exactly what you'd expect in a true dive or adventure watch. This isn’t a piece you’d take on deep dives or extreme sports adventures; it's more “splash-proof on a rainy day.” Fears has focused on refinement, so instead of bold lume or a robust bezel, you get a more subdued, classic look that feels more at home in an office than the great outdoors. So while the Brunswick might be a beautiful, classic piece, its sporty label might be a stretch for enthusiasts who value function over form.
Oris Pointer Date is a dress/sport watch
Another remarkable video Sir. You may disagree, but in my humble and biased opinion there are some Japanese pieces on that narrow path. I am biased because I collect them :). The generic Grqnd Seiko snowflake is there for me (or very ambiguous) and their evolution 9 are super versatile. Finally the citizen AQ6021-51E - the first iteration of their incredible solar calibre 0100 is a dress and sport watch for me (yes despite being in titanium). Just my two cents :)
You may be right. There are a couple that bridge that gap 😀
Antoine Preziuso SB-L might be a proposition for the in-between space...Thanks...HT, Denmark
Spprts capable dress watches are a heavily underrated category. Seiko has quite a few of them. Also, Sinn, Mühle Glashütte and Union Glashütte. Especially the German brands I've listed are absolutely incredible in that category. A classy moonphase on a bracelet with 100m WR? Not a problem for German engineers...
This seems like an elegant and timeless design. Hope you had a great day Mike!
looking forward to the week ending so I can have a beer 😂
@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch Sounds like a plan man. Enjoy!
“You’re Terrific sized wrists” 😂
IFYKYK
The Tonda PF does this well. As does the Blancpain Lemain Aqualung probably the best. Maybe the Moser Streamliner, a big Maybe.
I think the reverso is a sports dress watch
The prices as stated seem to be with Vat included. In the US we typically have prices presented to us without tax. Does European audience prefer to have the Vat included even if they are purchasing from different where Vat may be different?
Good question. I have quoted the us price as per what fears states on their site - also how they quote the usd price. 😀
Classy piece. I do like butterfly clasps personally. Will Google the dial colours. Edit: nice pink option
What do you think of the original Bulova Spaceview watches, from the 1960s?
I am tempted to buy one because you can find very nice examples for £500-1K.
I have a fears topper edition and I love it. It WAS overpriced but I'm willing to pay for a unique, high quality piece.
Thanks for sharing this. I recently went to a watch show and fears is a brand I know of but always brushed off as unattractive and overpriced. After handling them in person however my attitude did a 180. It became one of the few brand I want to buy and can afford with savings. A lot of the other brands that I looked forward to handling instead became too bland for me. I think it’s very hard to convey how interesting their watches are given a lot of us only see them online.
I feel they do something interesting that has some originality to it at least. Thanks for watching 😀😀
For me , Fears has a printing problem. Was contemplating buying one but always ended up looking at their competition cause the price point (legacy brands. On the other hand for me an equivalent on the 1.5k territory is the MIDO Big TV ! Check it out! Sporty and dressy !
Next on my list is the aqua terra 41 in the matt black dial. It’s just to good 👍🏻
I like seeing Fears get some youtube love. Out of my price range, but they are really lovely watches.