I wanted this to be the last post of 2023, to close the year. But it ended up being the first one of 2024, which I don’t disagree with. At the same time, we are almost out of the beginning of 2024. Very busy times on my end. Work keeps me busy and I am trying to keep up with all my hobbies and interests, which are more than a few. I am not British by any means, but I write this while listening to “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen and after drinking a black tea at around 3PM. I have been a fan of British watchmaking for some years now, and Fears had been on my radar for a while. There has been something about the brand that always felt like pulled me in.
The Brunswick, to me, is the icon of the rebirth of Fears. This is another watch marketed as a dress watch, but I have a hard time taking it off to do other, not so dressy activities. I am not a neat freak but I check my kids faces and hands before they give me a hug. Granted, I don’t dive, climb the local mountains or save lives on the regular. But I do garden work or oil changes with my daily clothes, 90% of the times. I mean, I am a big deal for my Kindergartners. The looks are deceiving, it looks dressy and delicate but it can go with you anywhere. From washing dishes to wiping your 5 year old’s nose. Now, a fun fact. According to the legend Luc Albert, you don’t want to use a mechanical watch while using a sledgehammer. I believe him. You can ask him for the full story (IG).
The Brunswick has been a very coveted watch from my end. I have looked at it and lusted after it for a while. The watch is simple, no BS about it. I would say I love it but that word I keep it for my family and friends. I enjoy it, I like it, I appreciate what Fears has done here and I am sure they are not done. Have you seen the rest of their collection? Equally impressive. I do have details I do not like, like the lack of hacking seconds. 40 – 42 hours of power reserve are not horrible but if you were to have , let’s say, a three watch collection, by the time you have to pick this one again, it would be dead. The blue strap that the polar dial comes in, is pretty stiff, even after a few weeks of wearing it.
The Brunswick is extremely elegant, versatile and capable. A watch that is hard for me to take off. This is a brand that I can get fully behind, and as a matter of fact, I am. The cushion case, the minimality of the dial, the clean case back. This watch is a winner in my book. The hand winding experience is something I really appreciate. I definitely prefer manual winding over automatic movements. The Sapphire crystal, 100 meters of water resistance and the hand winding ETA (which you can find more information HERE.), are very minimal specs for the modern watch nerd, but they make a watch that has kept living in my head rent free.
Thank you for stopping by,
DL