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With the release of their Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour watch in 2024, Fears built on the already elegant jump hour platform that debuted with their Alliance 01, built in collaboration with Christopher Ward in 2023. Continuing this form, the Bristol-based company has announced the Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Edwardian Edition’ to celebrate British Watchmaker’s Day 2025.
Limited to 10 pieces and available exclusively at the British Watchmaker’s Day event on Saturday, March 8th, the Edwardian Edition features much of the same elegance as its predecessors, albeit with a few special details. The full-polished sterling silver case—Fears’ second such case in 100 years—wears a London Assay Hallmark, Fears’ own maker’s mark, and a flawless diamond-set crown, while the strap sports a matching sterling silver buckle. Like the original Brunswick Jump Hour, the Edwardian Edition is powered by the Christopher Ward JJ01 jumping hour module, which features automatic winding and a 38-hour power reserve.
What sets the Edwardian Edition apart, though, is the stunning, hand-polished white lacquer dial, which features numerals and a Fears’ logo derived from the brand’s Edwardian-era pocket watches; a hand-varnished and diamond-cut glossy black minute hand pops against the multi-layer lacquer. In addition to the dial, an exclusive heritage-inspired hour disc and a maple red Alcantara strap (lined with English Tan calf leather) further elevate the Edwardian Edition. Each watch is also individually numbered on the screw-down case back.
For those unacquainted with the concept of a jump hour watch, the Edwardian Edition’s take on the complication is cleanly designed and easy to parse. In short, the dial features a “jumping hour” window at 12 o’ clock, which displays the hour, while the minutes are signaled by a single hand in the center of the dial. The jump hour design can be traced to the 19th century, when the complication was patented by Austrian watchmaker Josef Pallweber in 1883. This historical context makes Fears’ jump hour line all the more meaningful especially given the naming convention of the new special edition—the Edwardian Era encompassed the years 1901-1919, intersecting neatly with Fears’ own history, and that of the jump hour-style watch.
Perhaps I’m biased, having met and enjoyed several lovely conversations with Fears’ Managing Director, Nicholas Bowman-Scargil, but upon seeing the press images for the Edwardian Edition, my heart skipped a beat. I have also tried on the raven black Brunswick Jump Hour and the Edwardian Edition features the same dimensions—40.5mm in diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, with a 12.8mm thickness. The 20mm lug width opens the door to strap-swapping, but it would have to take something special to displace the eye-catching supplied strap. A vintage-inspired domed sapphire crystal tops it all off.
If you’re one of the lucky ten who gets your hands on an Edwardian Edition watch, you’ll have a timepiece that draws the eye and wears Fears’ heritage with pride. Just keep in mind that you may have to pull out the history books to give your admirers full context.
The Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Edwardian Edition’ will be available exclusively at the British Watchmaker’s Day event at Lindley Hall in London, UK on March 8th, 2025, with a retail price of £5,450. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Alliance of British Watch & Clockmakers to support their work in the field of watchmaking. Fears
