We Brits love an excuse to get patriotic and throw a street party and nothing sets us off quite like a Royal occasion. Next week marks Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, a celebration of the monarch’s 70 years on the throne. It truly is a historic occasion and one likely to tempt even the most stalwart republican to enjoy a Victoria sponge with their local community. The watch world is also paying tribute to the occasion with the revival British brand Fears leading the way with the new Fears Brunswick Jubilee and Champagne editions.
Both watches present fresh interpretations of the flagship Brunswick model with new dials in bright and exciting colours. That means the cases are identical to the existing Brunswicks we know and love, 38mm cushion shapes in stainless steel with onion crowns. Although the Jubilee version has a slight difference in that its solid caseback is engraved to commemorate the occasion.
Let’s focus on those dials though as that’s where the real (street) party is taking place. The Jubilee edition is royal purple with sun ray brushed finishing and a snailed small seconds subdial. Purple is the colour dominating Jubilee festivities and is even the signature colour for the new Elizabeth Line underground in London, the opening of which was one of the first major events of the Jubilee last week. It’s beautifully presented here on the Fears Brunswick and will only be available through 2022.
What’s a summer party without champers? The Brunswick Champagne has yellow gold dial with a bead-blasted finish that emulates the festive appearance of sparkling wine. It’s worth noting that while Brunswick Champagne is being launched alongside the Jubilee edition, it’s joining the existing Salmon model as part of the regular collection and will continue to be available after 2022, unlike the Jubilee version.
Both dials are completed by Fears’ signature, custom Edwin typeface numerals and open worked hour and minute hands. Under the surface the watches are the same too, housing the ETA 7001 manual wind calibre. It has a power reserve of 45 hours but winding it daily is part of the joy and daily ritual of owning a Brunswick.
In terms of price, the Fears Brunswick Champagne is the same as the existing collection at £3,350 whereas the limited production of the Jubilee edition makes it a touch more at £3,450. All that remains is to decide which of the two is your favourite and there really isn’t a wrong choice. The rich purple sways might vote toward the Jubilee even though I’m not a diehard fan of the Royals. My only question is why didn’t they use the Brunswick Platinum as the base model for the Platinum Jubilee?
Price & Specs:
- Model: Fears Brunswick ‘Jubilee Edition’ and Champagne
- Case/dial: 38mm diameter, 42mm lug-to-lug, 20mm lug width (depth 11.25mm to top of domed sapphire glass), polished & brushed stainless steel case, screw down bezel & case back, polished ‘onion’ shape crown
Royal Purple lacquered dial, sunburst brushing to surface, with sunken subsidiary seconds counter at 6 o’clock, CNC milled and diamond polished ‘Edwin’ Arabic numerals, coated in Rhodium and hand applied (Jubilee Edition)
Champagne dial with 18ct Yellow Gold galvanic coating, glass bead frosting to surface with sunken subsidiary seconds counter at 6 o’clock, CNC milled, polished ‘Edwin’ Arabic numerals, coated in Black Gold and hand applied (Champagne) - Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
- Movement: Top-grade ETA 7001, manual winding, finished with Côtes de Genève and a golden Fears ‘Pipette’, COSC certified, 17 jewels
- Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
- Power reserve: 45h
- Functions: Hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock
- Strap: Royal Purple Bristol made calf leather, lined in Alcantara®, handmade with additional Pewter Grey strap (Jubilee Edition)
Pewter Grey Barenia calf leather, lined in Alcantara®, handmade (Champagne) - Price/availability: £3,450 (Jubilee Edition) and £3,350 (Champagne), the Jubilee Edition will only be available during the Jubilee year of 2022.
More details at Fears Watches.
