My first contact with Nicholas Bowman-Scargill was through Twitter, he thanked me for mentioning their here in July. Fears Watches is based in Rotherhithe only a sort cycle away from Greenwich, the home of Grinidgetime. Nicholas suggested we meet after the “summer” and he would tell me all about the brand and show me the watches.

Holidays over and we finally met. I must say meeting people that are following their passion is always interesting, Nicholas certainly didn’t disappoint.

Nicholas told me his life story so far, about his interest in watches and trains. After graduating in Economics  he went to work in PR for a few years, this he realised was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, his passion led him to convince Rolex to take him on as an apprentice and he worked with them in their after sales department in London for five years.

He still had an “itch” to scratch and was discussing with his family about what sort of business he could set-up for himself, his Mother suggested “why don’t you revive the family watch company – Fears?”

Nicholas knew there were watchmakers in the family but he didn’t realise there was a brand.

Past glory a 1940’s Fears

Nicholas is great-great-great grandfather founded the Fears Watch Company 170 years ago in Bristol. After passing through the business the business wound down in the 1950’s.

Now after two years Nicholas is ready to re-launch the company at this years Salon QP. He does as much possible within the company himself, he explained how for example he had been on a course to master Adobe rather than employ an outside agency to produce his promotional brochure.

I have seen and tried the prototypes. The watches are very nicely proportioned with a, on trend ( I keep hoping), 38mm case. Nicholas wants to keep the details quiet until the official launch. Nicholas says he wants to remain true to the company’s products and market a well designed watch with a Swiss movement at an affordable price.

I wish him the success his efforts and enthusiasm merit. I still have my doubts as to how much space there is in this segment of Anglo-Swiss watches.